The struggling economy has made most companies and families tighten the screws of spending and involvement in profit and non for profit organizations, with that being said this should be a best practice that is always followed in any kind of economy as a fiduciary responsible party of that particular family or company. I can say that I have not really given this any thought before the last qtr of 2009. Most companies join their industry associations and probably another half dozen or so. Why does one do this? Does it make the company feel better? Is money no issue? Because they asked? You love acronyms? What ever the reason for joining these associations, I bet you can find waste. I have lately made a list of all the associations we belong too and five bullet points under each association. If I cannot list five significant benefits that we are receiving from that association, then our membership must be evaluated and dealt with.
Posts Tagged ‘Machining’
Association Junkies
Thursday, February 4th, 2010
Notre Dame Fires Charlie Weis
Monday, November 30th, 2009
Today was the end of Charlie Weis’s five year tenure at ND. With a 35-27 win loss record, and ending this year at 6-6, the stock holders at ND are less than pleased. Athletic director Jack Swarbrick announced the decision, saying in a news release: “We have great expectations for our football program, and we have not been able to meet those expectations.” Charlies is gone.
Those close to me all know that I am not a fan of Notre Dame (personal reasons) but I am a huge fan of sports and more importantly a huge fan of success and the fact that “Status Quo Sucks”. I have been listening to the fans, friends, co-workers, family and all others say: “Charlie needs to go!” Now that being said I respect ND as a business machine and a lot can be learned from ND as a business model. ND will need to belly up 15 – 20 mil to buy out CW’s contract than somewhere around another 5 mil for a new coach. Do you think the amount of money even comes into play? No amount of money will keep ND from making the correct decision. Summarizing the AD, they have expectations and it ain’t losing!
This brings me to another point. All sports teams are ran like a business: high school, NCAA and the pro’s. You can try to argue that they are not, but they are out there to win and be successful just like business. When there is a losing season or seasons the fans want the coach and/or coaches replaced. You never hear”Awwww, how can they fire him”, or “he has been with the team for years, how can they do that?” It’s always good riddance, bring on the next coach. Such the opposite in most work places. It’s kinda funny how one’s desire for a sports team to be successful vs the desire of the companies success. Just sayin.
Happy Thanksgiving
Thursday, November 26th, 2009Bremen Castings pours out well wishes and blessings to our BCI family and friends on Thanksgiving Day. As a tough economic year 2009 comes towards an end; we will be thankful today for all of you that helped us grow and remain strong during times like these. Families grow stronger weathering storms together and working together as a team. Today focus on all the things that you have to be thankful for; write them down and as the length of the list grows may you realize just how fortunate you are today and every day.
Carol Senour
Customer Service Rebound
Wednesday, November 25th, 2009The demise of customer service in America seemed to come about through a gradual decline over the last decade. Today, with the current economic climate, we are seeing significant improvements in our treatment as consumers. In the past, we were consuming in large amounts regardless of how we were treated as the customer. Contrast that with the current climate, where we have all reeled our consuming in favor of more saving and you see the decline in demand has dictated better customer service.
Consumers today are diverting their reduced dollars to those providing the best customer service. We have grown intolerant of poor customer service or have we always been intolerant? I would argue that we have always been intolerant and that we did not demand good customer service. We received exactly what we demanded, nothing more and nothing less. Today, we are demanding more and we are getting it or moving to where we receive better customer service. If consumers are smart enough to learn from the past, then we need to continue to demand good customer service even when we return to a new level of normalcy in the economy.
1/2 Empty or Full?
Wednesday, September 30th, 2009Over the years all these books, consultants, papers, teachers, parents, co-workers and everyone around us has heard and understands this over rated term. It’s the feel good attitude to look at everything as your glass is half full. What does that mean? You are a positive person? You are an optimist? You fit in the norm of socety and say the things that make you look smart or educated? I say you are lazy and dependant on others. It’s ok to look at the world as 1/2 full if you like comfort and Status Quo. I am not negative or a pessimist but for me, co-workers, sports teams, companies, lawyers, doctors and any other profession you can think of, works a hell of a lot harder, smarter and uses common sense when behind the eight ball or “The Glass is 1/2 Empty”. Think about it. The glass is at the same level whether it is 1/2 full or empty, correct? When it’s 1/2 full you are comfortable and you know that you have 1/2 left. When it’s 1/2 empty, you know you only have 1/2 left and you better fill the damn thing up before it goes dry. It’s all about the attitude.!
Shutdown Success!
Thursday, July 16th, 2009Every Independence day week BCI goes down for a minimum of a one week shutdown to get the operations ready for the next year of manufacturing. What was different this year was is that we took our 40 ton electric holding furnace down. This process is usually a five year PM. This PM is one of the most crucial and observed PM’s that BCI has. We were all very happy that shutdown came to get this holder of molten metal back in shape to handle the next five years of production. Darin Spearman (Dir of Plant Engineering & Maintenance), Brad Harris (Foundry Manager), and George Walter (Melt Supervisor) headed up this project with their crews internal and external. These gentleman took their years of experience and applied it to a perfect execution of how a project is planned and executed by the day. Great job guys! Other major projects also included the replacement of our Hartley Compatibility Controller by Simpson Group http://www.simpsongroup.com/ with a one of a kind protective cage manufactured by Warsaw Engineering & Fabricating, Inc http://www.warsaweng.com/ (WeFab). There were many other projects that were planned and executed by our maintenance department (led by Mike Hardman) & WeFab that pertained to structure and equipment that most of you would not care about but essential to continue to be one of the leaders in the manufacturing of machined complete gray & ductile iron castings that are used all over this great earth. Great job to everyone involved both internal and contracted.
Short Term VS. Long Term
Saturday, April 18th, 2009The manufacturing world is starting to see a lot of customer movement due to some companies reducing their margins to very low levels or below their break even. Because of the decline in spending through out the world the need for goods has declined and companies are lowering their price to stay alive. Many companies are lowering their prices to 80’s level because of their struggle. As a result, customers that buy strictly on price are making themselves look good for a short term success. Once again, many are ignoring the total cost of doing business or the so called famous word “Partnership”. Moving work, quality , delivery, customer service and finally loyalty mean nothing to these short term success companies. I praise the companies that want to work with their current supplier to help reduce cost or have a game plan as a partnership so it is a win win situation for both without threats. These are the customers that can see the big picture and long term strategic planning goals are apparent. Team BCI is taught and delivers equal treatment and customer support to all customers, but it is hard (not impossible) when it’s a one way “Partnership”. Team BCI is still here for you year after year.
INDIANA, A Great Manufacturing State
Friday, April 3rd, 2009Yesterday we met with Governor Daniels in Elkhart, IN. Bremen Castings was awarded some grant money to help expand and keep jobs in IN. This is not exactly free money as there is a large investment by BCI and the other funds will help pay. As Long as BCI grows so does our workforce knowledge. Part of the responsibilities of a state and private business is to invest in our team and communities future. With the help of IN this will not be such a financial burden on BCI. Indiana has some of the lowest operating cost in the US and we invest in our Hoosiers to make better Hoosiers while other state, the incentives only are short term and go away after a number of years. Thank you, Indiana
Government Fired the CEO?????
Monday, March 30th, 2009It was announced last night that the GM CEO (Rick Wagoner) would be stepping down. Now the media is reporting that this came from President Obama and was forced to quit. Now if this is true how can the President force any private citizen to quit. I understand that GM, like many other companies, have taken lots of money from the government but that does not mean the the President can run the company! When the last monies were given to GM and Chrysler we were told by the President and our elected officials that every dollar would be accounted for. Where the hell did it go? Why is no one holding the President or Congress accountable for this?
Now back to the GM CEO, who was supposedly forced to quit. It was just announced on the news that the Government wants to put together a committee of GM execs and government officials to hire a replacement?????? What? When did GM become government owned? Does anyone not see what is going on out there. Does GM not have a board of directors. This is there job NOT the President of the United States nor any government branch. This is disgusting.
BCI Recieves ISO 9001:2008 Registration
Thursday, March 26th, 2009At the end of the yesterday, Underwriters Laboratories (UL) told the management team at BCI that they have successfully passed and met all audited requirements that meets ISO 9001:2008 standards. Once again this is a great accomplishment for all BCI team members. This registration does not mean that we are perfect but it does mean that we have a working quality system that has no major disconnects in the system. This can also be proven by our company metrics of scrap and RMA’s. BCI takes pride in our ISO system and proves that it works. GREAT JOB BCI!!!!