Manufacturers Alliance

Develop lean leaders who drive lasting change! Every organization needs a team that can identify waste, solve root problems, and improve quality at every level. The Lean Practitioner Certification, led by experienced manufacturing peers, equips your team with: ✅ Practical knowledge ✅ Hands-on activities ✅ A capstone project to apply learnings at your company Our first certification of the year begins January 15, 2025, at the MA Training Center in Golden Valley, MN. Enrollment is open—sign up your team today! (Link in the comments) #Lean #ContinuousImprovement #ManufacturingExcellence #problemsolving #5S #manufacturing

Dear Rapid Improvement Event Sponsor, What would you add to the list of Kaizen best practices and lessons learned? 3 Kaizen mistakes I’ve seen your peers make: -- Saying mistakes are not okay -- Not planning for success (check out the video) -- Improving processes not part of your future state 3 Kaizen best practices I’ve seen your peers implement: -- Use a charter to define scope & problem statement -- Include someone not from area to ? assumptions -- monitor the improvements made for 90 days Video credit to Matt Kanz Manufacturers Alliance

2024 was a year full of lots of growth and change. In our final podcast episode of the year, Kirby Sneen, Monica Smith, and Jeremy Blake share their favorite episodes, biggest lessons learned in 2024, and what you can look forward to from the Manufacturers Alliance in 2025! Enjoy reflecting on the year with the Manufacturers Alliance team and glean some actionable improvement ideas that you can take into the new year. Listen on Apple Podcast, Spotify, or our website.

When you notice silos forming within your organization, how do you address and prevent them from growing? Breaking down silos is essential to fostering collaboration and driving success. Here are four key strategies to consider: ➡️ Ensure a Common Purpose: Unify your teams by encouraging the mindset of being one team working toward a common goal. ➡️ Align Communication Style: Adapt communication to best reach others with their preferred communication styles.  ➡️ Work Cross-Functionally: Break barriers by encouraging teams to partner on projects and share expertise across departments. ➡️ Implement Cross-Training: Build flexibility and mutual understanding by training employees to understand and perform roles outside their primary responsibilities. If you want to learn more about preventing silos, reducing conflict, and improving collaboration in the workplace, listen to our recent podcast episode featuring Jody O'Neil, MBA, SPHR, SHRM-SCP  (episode linked in the comments). #manufacturing #silos #preventingsilos #workplaceconflict #collaboration

What’s Next for Manufacturing? Listen to our podcast episode featuring industry expert Laurie Harbour, partner at Wipfli, as she dives into Manufacturing’s Outlook.  In this episode, Laurie shares on: • The current instability in the industry • Emerging trends manufacturers should be watching • Key barriers to overcome in a  rapidly changing landscape As you prepare for 2025, Laurie’s insights will equip you with the knowledge to stay ahead in the coming year.  The Manufacturers Alliance Podcast is available on Apple Podcast, Spotify, and our website (linked in the comments).

Thank you to Robert Dewane and John Berger, PE, MBA, SSMBB for presenting in today's webinar on Developing a Critical Mass of Problem Solvers!

Supervisors and leads, start your 2025 strong by enrolling in the Supervision Fundamentals Certification.  You will learn from experienced instructors how to expand your leadership potential and maximize team performance with training designed specifically for manufacturers. Certification starts January 9, 2025. Secure your spot by clicking the link in the comment!

Celebrating a great year of peer groups with our annual Peer Group Mega Meeting! Thank you to our keynote Angie Wordell for sharing on Strategically Investing in People, Processes, & Plants and to our executive panelists Steve Zweber and Russ Soukup for their insights. Congratulations to our facilitator of the year, Bob Dummer—your leadership and dedication continue to raise the bar for collaboration and growth in our manufacturing community. And thank you to our Mega Meeting sponsor: Wipfli for helping make this event a success!

Have you struggled to keep up with today’s fast-paced demands in manufacturing? In today's podcast episode, Vivek Saxena, Founder & CEO of FactoryTwin walks you through how small manufacturing teams can speed up process improvement and achieve measurable results. Learn why the current way of practicing lean is slow, the barriers to going digital, and how you can speed up the pace of improvement. The Manufacturers Alliance Podcast is available on Apple Podcast, Spotify, and our website (linked in the comments). #manufacturing #lean #continuousimprovement #processimprovement

2025 Wage Survey participation is open! With pay transparency requirements going into effect on January 1, 2025, you need the knowledge to make data-backed wage decisions and salary ranges. Ensure your compensation strategy is backed with market data from Minnesota Manufacturers by participating in the 2025 Wage Survey.  When you participate, you will receive: • The Manufacturing Trends Report • A discount on purchasing the Survey • A customized participant profile ranking your data against other companies when you purchase the Survey • PLUS an exclusive report: 5 Mistakes Managers Make in Compensation Conversations Participate: https://lnkd.in/gmNN9DgC