Business Lessons from the Navy SEALs

If you are, or will someday be in a position of leadership, you don’t want to pass this up. Admiral Eric Olson, Retired, offers his insight on “confidently handling an uncertain and fast-changing world” in MSCI’s Forward Magazine.

His advice is for leaders and, though based on training the skills and mindsets of the Navy SEALs, will easily apply to anybody in your company who has to direct others, make decisions or be accountable for a productive outcome.

Take a look at the steps that Admiral Olson lists, and see for yourself how each one can be adapted to the purposeful and productive workplace:

• Know the purpose
• Focus on the mission
• Educate your team about the problem
• Listen carefully
• Stay calm
• Follow your instincts.

Read Admiral Olson’s article in its entirety here

Admiral Eric Olson is a retired U.S. Navy Admiral who served as commander of the U.S. Special Operations Command from 2007 to 2011. At the time of his retirement, he was the longest-serving Navy SEAL on duty.

Laser Cutting Hitting BIG Numbers

One of the fast-growing segments in the industry is laser cutting. (More and more of our customers are demanding tighter, stretched and leveled steel.)

No surprise then that the overall market for laser cutting keeps growing. According to a new report from Dallas-based Markets and Markets, the laser cutting market (across all materials) hit 2.08 billion last year – and will top 3.7 billion by 2018 (just five years from now).

Read more about it here.

And, just a reminder, here at Dalco Metals, we’re equipped to meet your laser-ready steel needs:

New Manufacturing Skills in Focus

We’ve commented here about the ‘skills shortage’ facing manufacturers, always highlighting the solutions being taken on by schools and companies here in the Midwest.

Now here’s an excellent article from the Wausau Herald on the steps being taken at Wisconsin companies and Tech Schools to very literally create a new generation of skilled workers.

And check out the terrific video, too

3-D Printing in Manufacturing

One of the hottest ‘new innovation’ topics in manufacturing surrounds the process of '3-D Printing.’ The name can be misleading…it’s more a process of building than printing….but the process is both adding and changing steps in manufacturing.

With 3-D Printing, a design is scanned, along with all dimensions. Then the printer gradually deposits fine layers of material, like plastic, carbon or metal, and builds a physical object.

The finished product can be as hard or as flexible as you want the printer to make it, and even include moving parts rather than being a solid block.

Applications run from creating instant molds to short run production. But it’s greatest use will likely be in the creative process. If you can think it...now you can make it.

You can read more about 3-D Printing here

Wisconsin Leads the Way

Area Development magazine is considered the leading executive magazine covering corporate site selection, relocation and facility planning. Editorial coverage provides valuable information pertinent to the factors, key issues, and criteria that affect a successful decision. Published bi-monthly and has more than 45,000 executive subscribers. ….examining the planning of economic development at the federal, state, locally and globally.

The April issue takes an interesting look at manufacturing in the 50 states, and features a graphic look at manufacturing trends. Fo example, the top ten states leading the US Manufacturing resurgence are: 1: Indiana 16.7% 2: Wisconsin 16.3% 3: Iowa 14.5% 4: Arkansas 13.3% 5: Michigan 13.2% 6: Alabama 13.1% 6T: Ohio 12.7% 8: Mississippi 12.5% 9: Kansas 12.3% 10: South Carolina 12.0%

They go on to say: "Manufacturing is the backbone of America. It’s in our blood. Americans know how to build — it’s how we forged a nation, won two world wars, put men on the moon, and shaped the “new economy.” American workers are among the most productive in the world. With new advances in technology, lean manufacturing techniques, and best practices, American manufacturing is becoming cost-competitive with offshore locations, resulting in more companies bringing their operations back to the United States (or near-shoring to Mexico)."

See more of the graphics and read the full article here

Manufacturing News in an Instant

The latest news on manufacturing, here and around the world, can be instant accessed via WMEP (The Wisconsin Manufacturing Extension Partnership) via Twitter.

Sign up to follow them at https://twitter.com/WMEP_News

MORE GOOD MANUFACTURING NEWS

Here’s one more look into the proverbial 2013 Crystal Ball on what to expect from the economy, business-wise.

In a 1st quarter survey of small and mid-sized manufacturers, predictions and plans were all good, if not solid in their predictions of steady growth for the balance of the year. Prime Advantage buying consortium releases their Group Outlook Survey twice a year, and their newest findings include:

68% expect revenue increases,

87% expect capital expenditures to grow or stay constant,

43% plan to hire more workers

The cost of raw materials is a big concern, named the top cost pressure among 90% of respondents.

Read a complete summary of the Group Outlook Survey here