It’s one thing for food to taste bad, it’s another for it to make you feel bad. According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), however, 47.8 million Americans fall ill with foodborne illnesses each year — of those, over 125,000 are hospitalized, and more than 3,000 die. Put simply, food safety handling matters. […]
5 Tips to Improve Safety Observations and Reduce Workplace Risk
Unsafe processes and workspace pose a serious risk for workers and can lead to significant impacts on overall production performance. Consider recent safety data from the National Safety Council, which found that in 2020, more than 1.2 million workers suffered workplace injuries or illnesses related to their job that required time off from work. The message […]
Supply Chain Disruptions: What They Are — And How to Avoid Them
Global Supply chain disruptions and supply shortages are expected to persist through the remainder of 2022, with forecasts saying they may persist into the following year — even as global economies see substantial recovery and consumer demands for the speedy delivery of goods and services continue to rise. But what exactly are supply chain disruptions? What impacts […]
Improving Operational Quality: The Role of Qualitative Risk Assessment
Risks are naturally associated with manufacturing and industrial operations. In 2020 alone, private industry employers reported 2.7 million nonfatal workplace injuries, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. As a result, it’s in a company’s best interest to mitigate risks — and their potentially negative outcomes — wherever possible. To accomplish this goal, organizations […]
Toolbox Talks: A Great Tool to Improve Job Site Safety
What is a Toolbox Talk? Tool Box Talks are brief and informal safety meetings that take place on the job site and include all parties working collectively within the environment from general employees to management. Held prior to the start of job shifts, toolbox talk topics discuss identification, prevention, and first aid response to hazards […]
What is 6S Lean — and How Can It Improve Your Operations?
Table of contents To manage supply chain challenges and ensure regulatory compliance, lean manufacturing has become commonplace for organizations. The approach isn’t new — American industrialists of the early 20th century employed lean processes that focused on reducing waste and improving efficiency as a way to increase overall value. The original 5S methodology, meanwhile, emerged as […]
What is a Corrective Action Plan? (CAP).
A Corrective Action Plan (CAP) is a step-by-step tool that addresses negative actions within business operations by offering the actions necessary to correct errors and return operations to meet standards and targets. The plan also instills preventive action to future similar situations from reoccurring. Why is a Corrective Action Plan Important? One of the largest […]
Supplier Selection: Finding the Right Fit
The right supplier network is essential for companies to effectively navigate the constant changes in global supply chains and prepare for future pressures. But creating a robust supplier framework is often easier said than done. While recent research found that companies now prioritize increased efficiency and visibility across their supply chains, what does this look like […]
Supply Chain Audit: A Key Tool to Improve Performance
“Unexpected” is an accurate reflection of the last two years for supply chain operations. Companies with seemingly robust and reliable supply chains found themselves struggling to bolster supply when the pandemic first hit in 2020 — and as noted by Forbes, supply chains in 2022 will continue to struggle with reduced product availability, increased material and […]
Reduced Risk, Increased Resiliency: The Advantage of Supply Chain Management Tools
While supply chains are beginning to stabilize in a post-Covid world, challenges remain. As noted by KPMG, issues related to logistics disruption, production delays, commodity pricing, and labor shortages will remain through 2022. The result? To maximize the efficacy of suppliers and supply chains, companies must focus on data-driven diversification: Finding ways to ensure they’re […]
