Volume 13 Number 3 - March 10, 2015

CARING AND PERSISTENT

I have had the honor of walking through 100’s of manufacturing operations over the years. In every one of them, I could learn something, if only how not to do something. In most, I observed a number of great ideas and behaviors.

With those experiences, and working with a large number of client companies committed to becoming better, I see two behaviors that keep the best moving forward.

First, is caring.

High quality organizations care about their employee families, their business partners, their community, and the broader future.

Sure, we all get mad or frustrated, even with those we care about. Sometimes tough love is required. But an owner or executive cannot move an organization forward alone. Lasting success requires that all stakeholders move forward.

Meaningful success is generation after generation after generation. It is not 50 or 75 years. With enough money, an abusive organization can survive for a century; however, in time, companies that only care about the bottom line will collapse.

The second behavior is persistence.

Organizations that hop from one flavor of the month to the next will only get tired. Certainly leadership should look outside for better ideas and concepts, and some that feel right may turn out wrong. But once you identify the appropriate operating model, you must persistently infuse it in thinking and behavior.

The companies I see leading the pack develop a philosophy of improvement and are persistent with it. Activity failures are common, but are the basis of becoming a learning organization. With the value of caring leading the way, improvement will progress over time, along with development of people and organizations.

Persistence is wasted on a single-minded focus on day-to-day issues to the exclusion of long-term contribution to the betterment of mankind. High quality organizations live both caring and persistence.

What impact do you want to have on the world? Are you developing the environment where you can be successful?

The Starting Pistol

James Whitcomb Riley:
"The most essential factor is persistence - the determination never to allow your energy or enthusiasm to be dampened by the discouragement that must inevitably come.”

The Tape

Rebecca Morgan:
"Persistence, on the right path, is a requirement of success. Without caring, it can prevent success."

March 11, 2015: Cleveland, OH: Becky Morgan is the featured speaker for the Cleveland APICS chapter meeting at the City Club. She is speaking on: "Big Data in Operations: Liability or Asset?"

April 9, 2015: Cleveland, OH: Wire-Net, the Cleveland area non-profit economic development organization that focuses on strengthening manufacturing, has asked Becky Morgan to present 2 hours of non-stop value for its membership. She will be discussing "Why Lean Doesn't Stick and What Company Leaders Can Do to Change That." Sign up now!

April 8-10, 2015: Columbus, OH: The Ohio State University Center for Operational Excellence (COE) is presenting the Leading Through Excellence Summit. Workshops, tours, and interactive breakout sessions. Early-bird discounts are available.

April 19 - 23, 2015: Jacksonville, FL: The Additive Manufacturers Users Group (AMUG) conference includes presentations, hands-on learning, and vendors addressing 12 different additive technologies, ranging from 3D Printing to Fused Deposition Modeling to Selective Laser Melting. You know these technologies will impact your business. Consider learning a lot all in one place.

April 30, 2015: Burlington, Ontario Canada: Ron Harper, President of Cogent Power, will be leading a full-day workshop on A3 Problem Solving. When the company president can take the lead, you know they're good!

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