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MODAPTS Blog

What does Donald Trump and work measurement have to do with anything?

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In Donald Trump’s first book, “The Art of the Deal” he discusses the importance of getting the job “done right the first time.” This is a fundamental key he proved with his success when building his skyscrapers. Downtime and cost overruns can ruin you. This truth rang totally clear in his book and it becomes crystal clear that this is also how the manufacturing industry succeeds – after all, skyscrapers cannot be built without making broad use of parts manufactured and assembled by the manufacturing industry. What Donald Trump understands – is exactly how important efficiency and smooth order-flow is for effective delivery in a timely manner – of any part or other assembled material resource that might be needed. The manufacturing industry isn’t any different when it comes to efficiency and effective use of resources and labor. How To Expand Efficiency During the Manufacturing Process Work measurement has everything to do with efficiency. Measuring every aspect of the manufacturing and assembly process is the only way to determine if your efficiency levels are as fine-tuned as they can be. Getting it “done right the first time” has everything to do with prevention of downtime and cost over-runs. As Mr. Trump points out – controlling and expanding your efficiencies are the direct result of predetermining precise timing for absolutely every element of the manufacturing-and-assembly process. Trump tells the story of how he personally found the level of the cement in the side walk outside one of his buildings to be off by ¼”. He followed up and held the contractor accountable for the difference. That is discipline. That paying attention to the details. As work measurement engineer’s it is our responsibility to know precisely how long it takes for every step, every element, and every movement required to assembly a part on an assembly line or even to fill a transport truck. This is work measurement. Performing at a world class level is paying attention to details. Just as Donald Trump pays attention to the details in building skyscrapers, it is just as essential for engineers as understanding the most efficient ergonomically-sensitive approach to part assembly, packaging or delivery. Each of these efficiencies is able to be exactly-calculated using predetermined time standards. Labor tasks of any kind can be streamlined and calculated using software for the most precise predictions making deliveries, assembly runs and project completions with astounding accuracy. Keep in mind, there are also limitations to using predetermined time systems. Profits Increase And Critical Reputations Are Maintained There is broad availability for utilizing predetermined time standards for work measurement or even modular applications of predetermined time standards – making it possible to save enormous amounts when considering the effects of unexpected down times and cost over-runs. Operations managers actually have few excuses for not training for and applying these efficiencies. Work measurement is a science. It delivers exact information that provides the ability to engage precise timing for projects and deliveries within any industry where human labor is utilized. With the delivery of high technologies that expanded the electronics assembly markets – utilization of predetermined time standards has helped close the gap between predicting a projects completion time and repeatedly meeting it with precision. Every successful company is reputation dependent, and dependability, quality-control and delivery timing are all critically tied to labor efficiency and prevention of cost over-runs. Position Your Company: Market Dominance Through Reputation Generating a culture of excellence, heightened market competition and quality employee relations – is the fastest road to market dominance. When your company is one that attracts and retains employees who truly care about the success or failure of their workplace – you will know you have arrived in that coveted position. Positioning your company for this level of success has everything to do with applying the sciences available today for accurately-predicting precisely how long any order will take to get from order placed – to a high-quality product delivered. Are predetermined time systems right for your company? Are you interested in improving their assembly line productivity? Do you use PDTS in your facility? Are you correctly using your PDTS? Are you considering using PDTS vs. a stop watch for setting production standards? Is a PDTS right for your organization and culture to determine with precision exactly what the reasonable amount of time is required to complete any defined task by any typical operator or laborer?

MODAPTS Blog

Traditional Classroom Learning vs. Online Learning


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Which works best: E-learning on a computer or traditional learning with an instructor at the front of the classroom? Look it up yourself and you’ll see that each method has its strengths. In a workplace environment with motivated learners, where time and cost are essential considerations, there is widespread agreement that E-learning is the best way to educate a larger number of learners in a more consistent manner and at a greater savings than in a classroom with an instructor. According to Executive Leadership Training in Brookfield, WI, E-learning offers hands-down training advantages for 75% or more of the information that organizations need to convey to employees. To be fair and balanced, E-learning is not always the best approach, but it is the best approach most of the time. E-learning is especially suited for motivated learners and offers distinct advantages such as convenience, standardized delivery, 24/7/365 self-paced learning and a variety of content, e.g., text, graphics and video. Here’s a quick review of each of these factors for consideration. 1: E-learning Empowers Motivated Learners The Internet is the educational cruise ship for the intellectually curious. It can take anyone anywhere at any time to learn about almost anything. Motivated learners, and especially managers and supervisors, become even more empowered when they find the training meaningful, when they feel competent to put the training into use quickly and when they believe that their training will have an impact on day-to-day and long-term productivity and their own professional success. A 2008 Thomas College study titled The Effectiveness of Online Learning concluded that “working professionals studying online significantly outperformed full-time graduate and undergraduate students in traditional classrooms” because: The online learning requirements were directly related to, and in the context of, the work experience of the professionals, and The professional online students had a vested interest in learning this new material. 2: Convenience How convenient? Boot up the Internet and class is in session. How can training be any simpler than that? No need to coordinate schedules for a day-long gathering across town or even a 2 p.m. meeting down the hall. Anyone can take an online course anywhere and at any time. 

3: Standardized Delivery Even the best classroom instructors can forget or misstate information, but training created online is the same information every time a user clicks the mouse. Also, in a classroom setting, learners might hear the proper information and accurate messages from the instructor, but misinterpret it. But with online training, learners can essentially “rewind” and review the parts they are uncertain about. They can listen to the same section of a training session over and over, until they’re certain of it.

MODAPTS Blog

Industrial Sustainability: Creating an Equitable Future

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Industrial sustainability may sound difficult to achieve, but large-scale change IS possible. Not only is it possible – it has already begun to happen. Industrial engineering is a field of intense and complex problem solving. Since the Industrial Revolution, the advances made in manufacturing has had unforeseen environmental effects that we are just now starting to learn about and see in action.  Some of the unforeseen issues include raw material extraction, emissions, waste and invasion with subsequent destruction of critical natural habitats. Making The Call For Improved Technology Across the board today – every engineering discipline is engaged in sustainable design.  From employing various initiatives, especially initiatives like life-cycle analysis (LCA), pollution prevention, design for the environment (DfE), design for dis-assembly (DfD), and design for recycling (DfR). This engagement has begun replacing – or at least changing pollution control paradigms. An example of this includes the concept of a “cap and trade” program – a tested process that works well for some pollutants. This system allows companies to place a “bubble” over entire manufacturing complex’s, or even to trade pollution “credits” with the competing companies in the industry.   Changes In Regulations and Policies These kinds of policy and regulatory innovations require improved technology-based approaches. They also require better quality-based approaches. This means requiring specific actions like leveling out the pollutant-loadings or utilizing less expensive technologies to better remove the largest bulk of pollutants. Higher operation and maintenance standards for technologies – and for the more difficult-to-treat stacks and pipes – also needs to be in place. This total-effect can elicit a greater reducing of pollutant effluents and emissions than treating each stack or pipe as independent entities. The life-cycle analysis approach has been established as a foundation for most sustainable-design approaches. This approach prioritizes the most vibrant problems by size, level of challenge for correction and feasibility. Then you match the technology to apply to the operation. Adjusting Perspectives  Naturally, when it comes to paradigm shifts, all expectations have to be monitored from operational and technical perspectives simultaneously.  Dealing with past results, such as an uncontrollable waste stream, became a problem too vast and expensive to deal with effectively.  Industrial sustainability requires new ways of thinking and problem solving. Green industrial engineering has shown these processes to be inefficient – both economically and environmentally. Green industrial engineering approaches achieve four goals: Waste reduction Pollution prevention   Materials management Product enhancement Industrial engineering sustainability is not just about lowering carbon emissions and recycling; it’s about creating an equitable future for generations to come.   The World Engineering Partnership for Sustainable Development was formed to take responsibility for some of the following areas: Redesigning of industrial engineering responsibilities and ethical focus to sustainable development Analyzing and developing long term plans, finding solutions by exchanging information with vested partners with new technologies Solving the critical global environment problems, such as fresh water and climate change Industrial Engineering Goals: Energy and Resource Efficiency When Ford Motor Co. Executive Chairman Bill Ford Jr. began re-envisioning the Rouge he was influenced by Bill McDonough, a pioneering environmental architect. Working together with universities Ford  transformed the Rouge, an icon of the 20th century s Industrial Revolution, into a 21st century symbol of responsible manufacturing. Through comprehensive redevelopment, the historic brownfield site became a lean, flexible manufacturing facility an example of large-scale sustainability that has been benchmarked by companies, educators and organizations around the world. Years after its revitalization, the Ford Rouge Center continues to be a hallmark of sustainable manufacturing. The green technologies utilized in its redevelopment and operation inspires others to adopt similar solutions. Looking out the window at the facility’ s living roof one sees a field of green where Canadian geese, mallard ducks and killdeer nest and raise offspring. Seeing wildlife flourish at the Rouge Center would have seemed farfetched in 2003 when the Rouge was just black top, concrete and steel. The greening has transformed it. Among Ford Rouge Center’s sustainability solutions are the pollution-reducing, energy-generating fumes-to-fuel system in its paint shop; natural lighting and efficient artificial lighting systems in its assembly areas; an energy-efficient heating, ventilation and cooling system; as well as the creation of a wildlife habitat. The facility is best known for its innovative storm-water management system that includes the largest living roof in the automotive industry and one of the largest in the world. Sedum, a drought-resistant perennial groundcover, covers 10.4 acres of roof at the Rouge’ s Dearborn Truck Plant. Not only does the plant life help diminish storm-water runoff, it doubles the life of the roof, provides insulation, reduces cooling and heating demands by five percent, and absorbs carbon dioxide to reduce greenhouse gases. The transformation of the Rouge Center placed Ford Motor Company at the forefront of the sustainability movement. As an industrial engineer what are you doing to help your firm become Green”?

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