What is a Kaizen Event?
By Gene Russell, President & CEO of Manex Consulting Let’s begin with the origin of Kaizen, which will help put the concept of a Kaizen event in a more easily understandable context. Pronounced “k-eye-zin,”
The Benefits of Lean Manufacturing
How Lean Ultimately Leads to Eliminating Inefficiencies, Fueling Profitability, and Cultivating Sales There are various benefits to Lean manufacturing, including increased profits, better customer service, and better sustainability. Learn more about Lean's key benefits
The Principle of the Matter: Manufacturing Efficiency
5 Principles of Lean Manufacturing Optimize productivity. Minimize inefficiency and waste. No one in manufacturing, or really any industry, would argue with these two directives. Yet, how do you accomplish both? In manufacturing, it’s
MFG Day: Empowering Manufacturers to Come Together
Held annually on the first Friday in October with events that continue throughout the month, MFG Day—Manufacturing Day—helps show the reality and future of modern manufacturing careers by encouraging thousands of companies and educational institutions
Do You Have a Plan for Becoming Part of the EV Supply Chain?
By David Boulay Reposted with permission from nist.gov. The growth of electric vehicles (EVs) poses various degrees of risk to auto suppliers that make parts for internal combustion engines (ICE). While no one can say
Business Continuity Planning
By Gene Russell, Manex President & CEO The sky is falling! What do we do? Chicken Little overreacts to perceived danger, so much so that she misses the clear signs of real danger in
Harnessing Your Supply Chain: The Competitive Edge for Manufacturing Companies
By Manex Supply Chain Consultant Richard Montellano In today's highly competitive business landscape, manufacturing companies strive to gain an edge over their rivals. While product quality and innovation are crucial, companies often overlook the
Balancing Reactive and Proactive Management
By Gene Russell, Manex President & CEO Reactive management is when team members and leadership respond to crises and issues as they arise. Proactive management is when you anticipate needs and challenges so that
George Chao: From His Own Startup to Helping Other Startups in Silicon Valley
Reposted with permission from nist.gov. This blog is part of series recognizing the contributions of Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders to the manufacturing industry. George Chao first learned about the MEP National NetworkTM when
Job Quality Toolkit
The challenge of attracting and retaining a diverse, productive, and engaged workforce has grown. Workers seek quality jobs, and companies that prioritize job quality become employers of choice. Job quality is not just about
Manex Secures ETP Funds for NorCal Manufacturers
Manex, the NIST MEP Manufacturing Center for Bay Area and Sacramento regions, is pleased to announce that we have received a new multi-employer contract effective March 27, 2023 through March 26, 2025. As a
Pricing Complexities and Solutions
By Gene Russell, Manex President and CEO Pricing a line of products in a complex and competitive market is not simple. It represents one of the most difficult jobs in manufacturing. If set too low,
Gross Profit Margin Drives Your Business Model
By Gene Russell, Manex President and CEO I’ve been writing strategy and financial plans for forty years. From the big one, AT&T, down to my various start-ups and turnarounds. In this blog, I want to
California Winemaking and Lean Production
By Gene Russell, Manex President and CEO California winemaking is massive as one might expect. The business is complex requiring many skill sets including farming, science, production, marketing, and finance. During the pandemic, wineries struggled
A Kaizen Success Story for Soapy Faith Soap Co.
Let’s see, what’s in my shopping cart this morning? “Patience is Power” and “Have Some Self Control.” What? It’s soap and it’s fantastic. The names and packaging are driven by self-affirmations which are almost