The Candle of 2010 Burns Away

The end of the year approaches and WOW what a year it has been! A year of bizarre weather patterns....a year of continued job cuts in the USA while the BRIC countries have all experienced rapid growth in many key business sectors. It has been the year that many techies will remember. Apple officially rocks....they have become the new Microsoft. Android has become something other than a 'space word'....

I am excited about 2011. My focus will be on innovation, safety and sustainability. I do not believe the 3 can be separated.....well, technically they can but only at a cost.

I have consistently preached quality, safety, lean, reduction of waste and sustainability during 2010. One by one I have watched the companies that are highly efficient remain highly profitable.....while those who refuse to embrace lean sustainability have watched profit margins wither away.

To all of the companies and employees I have worked with in 2010.....I wish you a safe and profitable 2011.

Look for more frequent updates in the future.

kml
2010

FABTECH 2010 - See you there!

I will be teaching a class at FABTECH 2010 this year.....starts next week in Atlanta, GA.....hope to see you there!

http://www.fabtechexpo.com/

kml
2010

FMA Safety Conference 2010 - People, Profit, Planet

Mark your calendar if you are a Safety Professional, CEO, Risk Manager or are in the HR field.  Amada America, Inc. will be hosting the Fabricators & Manufacturers Association, International Annual Safety Conference this year at their Schaumburg, Ill. facility. Check out the link here:

http://www.fmanet.org/training/event.cfm?eventid=379

I will be speaking this year on Wednesday April 14, 2010. Look forward to seeing you there.

kml
2010

2010 Opportunities Abound

I remember going into the ‘end of the year’ holiday season of 2008. I vividly remember the economic bloodbath that unfolded during January of 2009.

I was on Christmas vacation (late 2008) in Nashville TN with my family and was mentally gathering my thoughts about my next safety article that had to be at the publishers during the first quarter of 2009.

How the heck to you inspire safety professionals as companies are slaughtering quality control, R&D and safety positions by the thousands? It occurred to me that regardless of the economic situation, there are sound principles that must remain in place.

I believe 2010 can be one of the most productive years in American history. I will be taking several calculated risks this year as a small business owner. I will be paying very close attention to the quality of my work. It pains me to watch companies cut their best employees or opt to send their labor to another Country when we have the means to be profitable in America. There are cases when sending work to an area (Country) closer to the end user makes sense but too often companies are faced with trimming cost internally or just shipping production somewhere else and they choose the easier option…………….they send it out. I contend that we can reduce our ‘life-style’ and be innovative to get ahead. It takes hard work. We seem to have forgotten what hard work is in America. We want fast food, fast service, fast cars and overnight success. This is a fatal view of life.

We are in a new year and opportunities abound. Feel free to add your ideas of what it takes to be successful in 2010.

kml

2010