M Akingthebestofaslowdown
650 words text only full page; 580 with quote; 520 words with medium size image JANUARY 2009 / VOLUME 61 / ISSUE 1 staying sharp manager’s desk By Keith Jennings Making the best of a slowdown t’s a new year and if the pundits are correct, many of require reevaluation from time to time, which is never us are in the midst of a downturn, if not a recession. If convenient. The effort can reap rewards later, though. Ithis is your situation, the stress factor is probably high. Software training can also be important. With Even under these circumstances, however, there are ways to manufacturing technology becoming more essential, effectively use the extra time to add value to your business. exploiting it can provide a significant return on While most everyone prefers a full and busy workload, investment. Even though sitting in front of a training that’s not always the reality. Identifying some valuable computer all day sounds dull, a slowdown could be the activities and making time to complete them can have best time to get it done. This could include training a positive impact when your business rebounds. Under with a focus on better utilization of CAD packages, the present conditions, one of the best uses of time is manufacturing ERP applications or even Microsoft employee training. Office. We all need this on occasion. Can your employees “Training” has broad meaning and can include read and understand their productivity reports? Can education in plant safety, forklift operations, employees effectively use e-mail distribution lists and cardiopulmonary resuscitation skills, quality and prepare invoices, purchase orders and quality documents? inspection methods, Many probably can, and equipment functions and some probably have no clue.
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