Manufacturing Mastery: The Path to Building Successful and Enduring Manufacturing Businesses

Description

While there are those who say manufacturing is dying, it is not and will not. Without a universal vow of poverty, growing economies will only increase demand. Manufacturing in the 21st century is not a question of if -- Rather, it is a function of why, what, who, where, and how. The nature and pace of change in those factors are overwhelming many. Fear, futile resistance, and uncertainty are common. While manufacturing will not die, individual manufacturing companies will if they do not learn to thrive in this new world. This book is a dynamic guide for manufacturing leaders who want to reduce the ambiguity and overwhelming changes and develop a realistic, progressive, and responsive thinking process that enables success. It provides a business operating system framework that is the foundation for connecting the many pieces of a manufacturing business into an effective, profitable operation. The author walks through the elements, relationships, capabilities, and mutability 21st-century manufacturing requires. Executives of manufacturing companies will be better able to think about and execute viable strategies leveraging the changing economy. Essentially, manufacturing is becoming increasingly complex, as are business and socioeconomic and political realities. Rapidly evolving technology adds to the confusing environment that precludes “more of the same, better, faster and cheaper” as a workable business strategy. The tsunami of information hitting owners and leaders is overwhelming many, and it is easy to become frozen in place. Economic growth and improving standards of living require that all of this change be broken into bite-size understandable pieces that thaw the minds of executives, allowing them to assess what is best right now, and move forward. This book does not overwhelm with details and models; rather it provides thinking and examples in small chunks that enable manufacturers to develop and master skills for high-level strategic leadership in ambiguity. Cover Half Title Title Page Copyright Page Dedication Page Table of Contents Acknowledgments About the Author Introduction Chapter 1 The Manufacturing Metamorphosis Imperative Why All Manufacturers Must Change Lean and Continuous Improvement Determining Your Speed of Change Impact on Leading Today Chapter 2 If Vision, Mission, and Core Values Don’t Anchor Your Business, What Does? The Birth of the Profit Maximization Expectation The Purpose of the Corporation The Distinction between Success and Endurance Your Five Constituencies Investors Customers Suppliers Employees Community at Large Notes Chapter 3 Enterprise Capabilities Operational and Organizational Health Business Operating System (BOS) People Design Enterprise Capabilities Chapter 4 Relationships Were Easier in High School Constituents, Relationships, and Strategy Constituent Selection, Evaluation, and Development Transactions Benefit from Relationships Too Business Operating System and Constituent Relationships Chapter 5 The Road to the Future The Role of Strategy Strategy Development and Finalization Technology and Strategy Notes Chapter 6 The Fallacy of Trickle-Down Strategy Business Operating System and Strategy Deployment Communicating Strategy Verifying Strategy Implementation Decisions The Power of Why, What, and How Together Chapter 7 Transitioning Operations from Tactical to Strategic Thinking Escape the Cost-Center Mentality Demand Responsibility and Accountability for Customer Satisfaction and Retention Close the Chasm between Strategic and Tactical Thinking Design Structural Aspects to Facilitate Speed, Agility, Flexibility, and Robustness Identify the Capabilities That Matter Tomorrow Chapter 8 Overcoming Obstacles Low Expectations Poor Prioritization Slow Decision-Making Lack of Discipline Poor Metrics Yes, There Are More Chapter 9 Strategy Defines Organization Learning from Others The Circle Organization Structure Designing Optimal Structure Chapter 10 The Evergreen Manufacturer Begets the Evergreen Customer Enduring Growth and Dangerous Growth Building an Enduring Manufacturing Business Are You Ready and Willing? Establishing Your Baseline What Next? Conclusion Appendix Glossary References Index