The Measurement Trap Companies love to measure things. Too often, they measure everything—without structure, purpose, or alignment. The result: a sea of metrics, bloated update meetings, and very little clarity. In Blog 1 (Operational Whack-a-Mole), we looked at how firefighting cultures erode long-term performance. Much of that chaos is fueled by how—and what—we measure. Let’s…
Why Firefighting Isn’t a Strategy Some organizations run on urgency. A late order. A machine down. A supplier miss. The team scrambles, pulls a heroic save, and celebrates. It feels productive. It isn’t. It’s operational Whack-a-Mole—and it erodes predictability, margin, and trust with customers. Lean Manufacturing exists to end this cycle. What a Firefighting Culture…
When we think about quality in the manufacturing realm, we generally limit our focus to the tangible aspects of products such as parts, components, and their fit, size, finish, and alignment. Poor quality, however, extends far beyond what you can feel and see. As do the effects, not just on the consumer but within the…
Employee attrition, or turnover, is a common problem for businesses of all sizes. It can be costly and disruptive, and it can also damage a company’s reputation. There are many reasons why employees leave their jobs, including uncompetitive compensation, lack of growth or development opportunities, unpleasant or unsatisfactory work environments, and poor management. In many…
No matter the size of your business, employee turnover is a significant problem. It is a costly process that affects not only the positions in question but also the entire organization. When employees walk out the door, they take with them the knowledge and proficiencies they’ve spent a lot of time and effort to acquire….
SOLUTION AREA: Operational Excellence
In a world where information is captured, analyzed and distributed at the speed of light, data can be your best
friend—or your worst enemy. In the first of our two-part data-focused series, “Five Action Tips to Slay the Data Monster in 2023,” the CBS team looks at how (and you’re your organization can leverage data to develop better business insight, maintain greater productivity and achieve significantly higher profits.
It is common for organizations to run into the everyday routines with the same problems affecting production, processes, or services, and learn to cope and live with them for months or even years. Ever ask yourself how your organization got there in the first place? Even more important, is there a way out of this…
SOLUTION AREA: Operational Excellence, Program and Project Management, Leadership and Change Management, Supply Chain, Acquisitions and Integration
There is no shortage of advice on how to solve a problem. However, for anyone in a position of responsibility—from a CEO to a floor supervisor—the real challenge becomes which problem to solve first.
SOLUTION AREA: Transform & Operational Excellence
Strong quality culture leads not only to higher customer satisfaction, but it also drives employee engagement, lowers costs, and improves efficiency throughout an organization. While it’s not as easy as flipping a switch, there are some key steps that can drive sustainable change.
© 2025 All Rights Reserved.
