Reality: While machines don’t make money when they’re stopped, they only really make money when what they produce is sold (in the quantities ordered – at a profit) not delivered into stock. Risk: Ideally each machine would be dedicated to produce vast quantities of one part number only without ever stopping to change over to another. In reality… Continue Reading

𝗠𝘆𝘁𝗵: Takt time must change every day to accommodate changes in product mix and volume. 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆: Variable Takt time means changing the “line design” i.e. the layout and number of resources and work to be carried out by each should change on a daily basis. This is rarely if ever practical. 𝗥𝗶𝘀𝗸: Orders are batched… Continue Reading

“You can’t have your cake and eat it.” Myth or reality? Back to manufacturing. Don’t we often hear….? Myth: “We can only remain competitive if we produce in lower cost countries, especially with a weaker £ pushing up import costs.” Reality: Lower costs overseas can be more than off-set by higher less quantifiable costs. Risk: Cost of… Continue Reading

Background – Business and the British Economy Lord Digby Jones, a dedicated “Captain of Industry” emphasises in both his books, “Fixing Britain” (2011) and “Fixing Business” (2017) the apparently self-evident fact that, “If it were not for the wealth created by Business there would be no tax revenue, there would be no Public Sector.” He… Continue Reading

Some people have come to question the value of Factoring, or Invoice Discounting. It can be seen as a warning signal that a supplier is getting into difficulty – and it’s quite costly at that. Occasionally it has caused customers to begin looking elsewhere, especially when a bank starts chasing them for payment. But it… Continue Reading