Open innovation--it's the business strategy buzzword of the decade according to a recent "Management Issues" article titled "Business strategy: the lessons of the 'big ideas'." And Matt Carpenter Jersey , "Enlightened companies are actively seeking innovatory ideas wherever they can be found." Nowhere is that more true than on the factory floor, where innovative shop management software is enabling better scheduling, work in process tracking, data collection and time and attendance labor management Yadier Molina Jersey , just to name a few benefits.

This trend toward innovation got its start in 1986, when Motorola implemented a strategy called Six Sigma. A business management strategy, Six Sigma sought to "improve the quality of process outputs by identifying and removing the causes of defects (errors) and variation in manufacturing and business processes," according to Wikipedia. Unfortunately Willie McGee Jersey , Six Sigma's innovators soon fell victim to the times, which called for new innovation. It was a case of either transform or be trounced.

"In the 1990s, the most visionary of the [management consultants] backed the 'virtual corporation,' by which activities were hived off Bob Gibson Jersey , [thereby] allowing management to concentrate on its core business," the article went on to point out. One 21st-century innovation that affords managers this luxury is a real-time data collection system that provides job tracking and factory floor control.

While the expertise of individuals within the organization lay at the crux of Six Sigma, today's factory floor lean manufacturing strategies leverage paperless factory floor technology. With a paperless production control system in place, shop floor managers enjoy visual control Stan Musial Jersey , rate-based measurements, problem identification, and process improvement to eliminate factory-floor documentation used for production control, quality tracking and ISO-9000 controlled documentation distribution. As a result Ozzie Smith Jersey , they are able to better control and manage their shop floor.

This modern-day lean manufacturing methodology isn't just an option for today's shop floor managers. It is a key element to improving a company's floor performance, its customer responsiveness, and, ultimately Throwback St. Louis Cardinals Jerseys , its bottom line. A positive bottom line is no guarantee in the face of a U.S. Commerce Department report that U.S. factory orders plunged 4.6% in November 2008. That figure outpaced estimates by more than 2% and followed on the heels of a 6% decrease in the previous month. In fact, in the one-year period leading up to the announcement, factory orders declined a total of 15.2%.

Just imagine how much more a company could do and, as a result Custom St. Louis Cardinals Jerseys , how much greater profits it could bring it, if it had complete control of the factory floor. If last-minute changes never affected its efficiency, how much more might it thrive? If a company could adjust work-in-process and schedules at a moment's notice and deliver all product on time, what would that mean for its bottom line?

The good news is that innovation exists that will allow factory floor managers to uncover the desirable answers to all of these questions. That technology comes in the form of a system that enables manufacturers to compete on speed rather than cost and delivers real-time Authentic St. Louis Cardinals Jerseys , continuous improvement for greater profitability and faster delivery to customers.
Health experts worldwide resoundingly agree that workers in all labor categories must maintain a balance between their work and social lives. The dangers of more or over work and less socializing cannot be emphasized enough especially for the Londoner. The advantages to having an active social life are many. Finding a healthy balance between our work and social lives is not always easy but some efforts towards developing that balance can assure we stay productive on the job and at the same time have a satisfying and healthy personal life.


We have all heard of the dangers of stress and overwork. But what about those of us that love to work or have to work for various reasons? There has to be more to life than working at our jobs. How do we find a balance that keeps us healthy in both these important areas of our lives? Years of research and scholarly studies from experts in the UK, London, and worldwide have found the answers to these questions.


While this article is about offering you the reader 'tips? on developing that balance, it is important to highlight the dangers any one of us can succumb to if we don't play or socialize in addition to working.


An awareness of your stress levels or symptoms of stress can give you a hint that you need more of a social life. Indicators of stress are many but the main symptoms to watch for are:


? Migraine's or headaches occurring more often
? Inability to concentrate
? Not wanting to get up in the morning or insomnia
? Over-tiredness
? Sudden mood swings not normal for you
? Isolation from friends and family