Investing in Capacity With a Business Case Behind It
Manufacturers often face a difficult decision when customers begin discussing significant growth: Do you add capacity before the business arrives, or wait until the demand is certain? Wait too long and you may not be ready when the customer needs you. Invest too early and you may have expensive equipment sitting without enough work to […]
Using AI to Get More Organized on the Shop Floor
There is a lot of discussion today about artificial intelligence completely transforming businesses. In manufacturing, that can make AI sound more complicated than it needs to be. At KrisDee, we have found that some of the most practical uses of AI are much simpler. Recently, we used AI to help organize tooling and production strategy […]
When Is It Worth Switching Manufacturing ERP Systems?
Manufacturers tend to keep ERP systems for a long time—and for good reason. An ERP touches nearly every part of the business, from purchasing and inventory to scheduling, job tracking, quality, shipping, and accounting. Replacing it can be expensive and disruptive. At KrisDee & Associates, we have recently been evaluating whether newer ERP technology could […]
Managing Metal Market Inflation Without Losing Sight of the Bottom Line
Over the past year, one of the more difficult pricing challenges we have dealt with at KrisDee & Associates has been the continued movement in metal markets. For a manufacturer, increases in aluminum, steel, and other raw material costs are different from normal operating inflation. We are not creating additional value when the price of […]