Posts Tagged ‘BCI’
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, 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, May 7th, 2010
Did you ever notice that the age of anything has no impact on how well it looks or works? It all boils down to the great care taken to preserve, by someone who took ownership. In a nut shell, if it looks like crap you can sum it up to bad habits or a lack of caring ownership. If you have ever gone used car shopping, you quickly distinguish those that have had great care and that dealership tried to make look pretty. Those immaculate cars say a lot about their owners and their good habits. Ownership is not a requirement for these people to give great care, they treat others possessions as their own; just look in other areas of their life. Now look around and see what you think people are saying about your habits. Is your department or office clean and well organization? How do you treat others property? Would someone call your car immaculate? In a few minutes a day, you can begin to develop better habits; just by stopping to take great care of what you have been given responsibility for and remember ownership should not matter.
Tags: BCI, Bremen Castings, Bremen Foundry, status quo sucks
Posted in Manufacturing | 1 Comment »
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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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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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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Friday, March 5th, 2010
Negativity has the power to destroy all the good that an organization or team achieves. If I say the definition of human is less than perfect; then the definition of negativity would be the inability to ever strive for perfection because you can only focus on the negative side of an issue. Organizations and teams do not have room for any negative influence. Inherently, our assignment is to find ways to get done. The synergy of a team should take you beyond boundaries and reach new levels of achievement.
Tags: BCI, Bremen Castings, negativity, teamwork
Posted in Manufacturing | 1 Comment »
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
Posted in General | 1 Comment »
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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Wednesday, February 24th, 2010
The synergy that comes out of teamwork means the output from the team is greater than the individual parts. If we all agree with this concept, then why not always put the good of the team before our individual needs? Team players often put the team first; occasionally they can temporarily lose focus of the mission; however they come back for greater good of the team.
Non-team players can only focus on their little piece of the pie and, because they do not value being part of the team; often head in a direction either different or detrimental to the team. Remember, the team is guiding and directing the bus to their final destination. Their seats on the bus are strategic and give greater output to the goals and objectives of the organization.
Non-team players, you don’t have a seat on the bus; you are under the bus, hanging onto the carriage, and likely will fall off at the next speed bump. If you don’t like being under the bus, get with the program! Focus on the team mission and take your rightful seat on the bus to help the team achieve even greater output.
Carol Senour
Tags: BCI, Bremen Castings, bremen indiana, non team players, seats bus, SQS, status quo sucks, Team BCI, teamwork
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Tuesday, February 16th, 2010
Everything has a shelf life including people; an expiration beyond which their usefulness to the organization is null and void. A hiring decision was once made, because of their qualifications and cultural fit with the organization’s core values. Here is where we often miss the boat, the organization is evolving and we too must evolve or face extinction. Those stuck in status quo are often the first to expire, because they cannot accept change. We need to be refreshing, renewing and redefining ourselves; in step with the changes within the organization.
The easiest and most practical way to make sure your shelf life expires on your terms; read a variety of material daily, embrace change, challenge the way you do everything, learn something new from others in the organization every day, and keep up on technological changes in your field of expertise.
Tags: BCI, Bremen Castings, Bremen Foundry, bremen indiana, SQS, status quo sucks, Team BCI, technology
Posted in General | 1 Comment »
