Archive for the ‘General’ Category
Monday, August 16th, 2010
A wise man once told me that “we need to help each other be right; rather than finger pointing or placing blame”. He has tirelessly been repeating this lesson to our management team for years. For some, this lesson has fallen on deaf ears. In others; the seed has been planted, roots have sprouted and the fruits of his labor are being seen.
A team player desires for the other players on the team to succeed, ensuring the greater good of the team. Help those around you be right. Any time spent proving them wrong or hoping they will fail is fruitless to the team and time wasted.
Tags: BCI, Bremen Castings, status quo sucks, Team BCI, teamwork
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Friday, August 6th, 2010
BCI has been equipping certain individuals with iPads to help with their jobs and become more efficient over the last two months. The iPad is proving to be one of the best tools that I have used since the birth of the green screen Palm Pilot. With virtualizations and cloud computing your desktop, files and corporate software is at your side at all times anywhere in the world.
Even though this technology has been around for some time it was always difficult to look at blue prints or files on a PDA or truck around a large laptop. With the iPad being thin and compact it goes almost anywhere undetected.
As BCI started the paperless journey two years ago, the iPad is the final tool needed to complete the journey of a virtual and yet efficient environment. Bringing up work instructions, blueprints, system controls, emails and all other tools out on the shop floor is now just plain simple
Tags: apple, BCI, Bremen, Bremen Castings, iPad, jobs, technology
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Monday, June 28th, 2010
Hey smokers, at the moment you still have the right to pollute your lungs (which does make insurance rates higher, FACT) but you absolutely DO NOT have the right to litter your cigarette butts all over this earth! Throwing these cancer sticks out onto the earth is illegal in most states. All you with “Save The Earth” bumper stickers are such hypocrites. You can make all the excuses you want but its still littering and its ugly. There is absolutely nothing you can say to justify it.. If this pisses you off, then good! Stop littering and be responsible.
Tags: butts, cigarette, smoking
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Friday, June 18th, 2010
It is the season to celebrate graduations from college or high school and reflect on what has brought us success. While our experience cannot be a road map for everyone looking to succeed, it can provide important tried and true lessons for success. (1) you need a passion for your career choice, it is more than a job, (2) you need a passion for the organization that you work for and a belief in their mission, (3) you need to see the “big picture”, and lastly (4) you need to jump in with both feet and your whole heart; half way never leads to success. Success comes from loving what you do, the organization that you support, your fellow team members and waking up every morning excited to do it all over again.
Tags: Bremen Castings, Bremen Foundry, status quo sucks, Team BCI
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Monday, May 31st, 2010
On this Memorial Day take a few moments to reflect on what this day means, to observe the day and be mindful of the sacrifices of others and enjoy the freedoms they bought for us.
All Americans should understand the price of freedom and appreciate the importance of honoring our nation’s service members who have died in battle.
We should never grow complacent about the sacrifice of those who have paid the ultimate price for our freedom.
As we reflect on the true cost of liberty, visit a memorial, fly the flag, keep the tradition of observance alive. Always thank a veteran or active military person.
Thank you, Maryln Brown
Tags: BCI, memorial, memorial day, Veterans
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Saturday, May 29th, 2010
At one time or another, we have all been offended. Someone has said or did something that hurt our feelings. Regardless of how tough we are; it has happened to all of us. As our 24/7 lives become chaotic with daily demands, especially during extremely busy stressful times; I am noticing that the level of sensitivity goes up proportionally. Things that we would normally not think anything of and likely blow off; suddenly become a major offense. Just like a Rooster, the tail feathers are up in the air and we are on the defensive ready for a battle. Quite often, the intent of the comment (verbal or written) was not what we received or they were just having a bad day. Long after it has left their mind, we are still stewing over it; waiting for the next opportunity to get even. It should not be about us getting even, because it is really about us being too sensitive. Leave your sensitivity at the door and use anything said as an opportunity for improvement. Awareness is our greatest asset to improvement. So, put on your grownup panties and deal with it!
Tags: BCI, Bremen Castings, SQS, status quo sucks, teamwork
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Wednesday, May 12th, 2010
It takes the same amount of effort to have a good day than a bad day! With increasing needs from customers, co-workers, friends and family it is even more worth while and productive to have and maintain a positive focused attitude. Remember that your demeanor is infectious to those around you, if negativity is abundant then it will flourish, same goes for a happy positive attitude. Nothing gets done the right way with a negative approach; any situation that is currently on your plate will only get done and taken care of with a good solid happy approach. So let’s stop blaming our computers, departments, kids, boss and luck for our bad days and change the attitude, and a positive change is on the way.
HAVE A GREAT DAY! - Mike Menke
Tags: BCI, Bremen Castings, Bremen Foundry, teamwork
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Friday, April 30th, 2010
Quite frankly, one of the most overused words in the English vocabulary. Everyone thinks they are a team player and if there is a problem within the team, it is someone else on the team. True team players understand that either you are part of the solution, or you are part of the problem. Characterized by seeing the bigger picture and doing whatever is necessary for the benefit of the team are just two of their strong attributes. They also respect all members of the team. Often they use words like “We” and “Us”, not “they” or “them”. Motivated to exceed goals and expectations, each member of the team clearly understands their role and the expectations of the team. Peer pressure is far more effective in holding all team members accountable and members work harder to make each other be right than proving them wrong.
Tags: BCI, Bremen Castings, SQS, status quo sucks, teamwork
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Wednesday, April 21st, 2010
Today is administrative assistant day, so it is a good time as managers to thank those that support our efforts behind the scenes and make us look good. Recognition for a job “well done” or “above the call of duty”; should be a regular part of our jobs as managers. In any organization, it takes a great team to succeed. Bremen Castings thanks all of our administrative professionals today and reminds them that their hard work does not go unnoticed; they are an integral part of the BCI team. Thank You
Tags: BCI, Bremen Castings, Bremen Foundry
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Tuesday, April 6th, 2010
With unemployment levels at a 26-year high and hovering around 10%; employees have been called on to push boundaries deep into unchartered waters. Employer expectations for performance, demand for customer service and the survival needs of the organization have all increased requirements on the employee. Employees are being required to wear multiple hats, think outside the box, help others be right instead of proving them wrong, work longer hours; all the while constantly reaffirming their value to the organization with great personal sacrifice. These stressors and the increased tension inside organizations have led to some unpleasant working environments due to poor attitudes. In an environment with a huge talent pool competing for a limited number of positions; a poor attitude can put the final nail in your coffin. Periodically step back and take a hard look at your attitude; if it sucks then you need to internally make some decisions for a better attitude. Remember our responses trigger responses in others, so if you want good responses you need to give good responses. Attitude, good or bad, is an internal choice that only you can make.
Tags: Bremen Castings, Bremen Foundry, SQS, status quo sucks
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Wednesday, March 31st, 2010
The fear of asking for help has derailed quite a few extremely talented employees. Asking for help is viewed by these individuals as a sign of weakness. This myth could not be further from reality. One could argue that knowing your own limitations and continuing to stretch those boundaries without breaking yourself; truly forms an “A” player. This also extends to managers, whose job has evolved from “doing” to “managing doers”. You are managing the talent assigned to your department; understanding the function each of your direct reports performs, delegating job assignments/tasks, holding direct reports accountable, and stretching your talent to maximize your departments output without breaking them. If you are successful in these managing aspects, you are the cream of the crop or the top 10% for that position. Ask for help, teamwork is what makes World Class companies.
Tags: BCI, Bremen Castings, Team BCI, teamwork
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Thursday, March 18th, 2010
In every organization there is a talent pool of highly skilled and highly motivated employees; the size of that pool (big or small) has a direct impact on the success of that organization. I find it interesting that we are quick to point out errors and problems; however often slow to offer praise. Stephen Covey gave the best illustration of this concept of having an equal balance between deposits and withdrawals; as he described the emotional bank account. Too many withdrawals without deposits will overdraw the emotional bank account; leaving the employee with nothing left to give. Instead of focusing on the negative or the problems; take a little time to smell the roses and realize that not everything is bad. Don’t overdraw your emotional bank account or anyone around you. Correction is a necessary component to change; however we should step up and be faster to tell someone when they are doing a good job. Positive words reinforce, encourage and motivate.
Tags: Bremen Castings, emotional bank account, Team BCI, teamwork
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Wednesday, March 17th, 2010
At 71 years of age, BCI still resides in Bremen, IN. Over the years BCI has gone through many changes as we all do. From no shirts and pitch-forking coke to the cupola to CNC grinders and painted assembled parts to our customers. All of these changes have come and gone with great team members through-out the years. BCI has always taken care of itself to prepare for the future to ensure a long life and just not a place of employment but a family style organization to help cast everyone and everything we touch into a valuable and responsible individual. It is crucial for everyone to be a team member and a active citizen within our communities. We do this under our core values followed up with the statement that we push down to everyone that “Status Quo Sucks”! HAPPY BIRTHDAY BCI!!!!!
Tags: BCI, Birthday, Bremen Castings, Bremen Foundry, bremen indiana, SQS, status quo sucks, Team BCI
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Monday, March 1st, 2010
Listening to the continued controversy regarding water boarding, it suddenly clicked that everyone has their breaking point. It may take longer for some to reach that point, but internally we all possess a breaking point. Reaching that point for some has meant violence from otherwise normal citizens. Still others end up in psychiatric hospitals, a prisoner of their own body. Interrogation techniques have evolved over the years as it has taken more extreme measures to abstract vital information from terrorists; terrorists that train long and hard on how to withstand our interrogation techniques.
Pushing employees to their breaking point is never an objective of any management style. Teamwork, accountability and peer pressure are far more effective management techniques; than brow beating an employee to their breaking point. If an employee is not on the right bus, help them find an alternate bus route. If they are in the wrong seat on the bus, help them change seats if one is available. With employees honesty is always the best approach, not always the easiest conversation but definitely the best. If you feel you are being pushed to your breaking point; your options include (1) giving up, (2) recommending changes that are good for the organization and yourself or (3) you can remove yourself from the bus and find your own alternate route.
Tags: BCI, breaking point, Bremen Foundry, SQS, status quo sucks, Team BCI, water boarding
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Sunday, February 28th, 2010
Transparency in an organization is a state the many organizations strive to achieve, but few will every reach. The light projecting through the organization to show every aspect, the good, the bad and the ugly; brings forth plentiful opportunities for improvement. Status Quo Sucks at Bremen Castings means no rock unturned and no aspect hidden. While human nature is that of survival of the fittest and playing politics; only transparency and hard work are our rewards. At the end of the day, the most important thing that we can hear is that we have done a “good job”.
Tags: BCI, Bremen Castings, SQS, status quo sucks, Team BCI, teamwork
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