Now in Management & Professional Practice
Ratcheting Up Wrench Time with Six-Sigma Analysis
A chemical plant identifies a team of machinery-monitoring technicians with an overtime budget more than 200 percent in the red. Management decided a thorough six-sigma analysis was the best way to diagnose and troubleshoot the sources of the problems. The process identified several specific ways to improve how the group performed its work. Three years later, the monitoring team has so much extra time that they are often sent to help monitor machinery at other nearby facilities.
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Knowledgebase
With a knowledge of employment law and a bit of diligence, engineering managers can protect their company’s trade secrets from escaping to the competition. Working in close cooperation with the human resources team, it’s critical to document that employees know your trade secrets policy from day one, that they’ve received ongoing training in this regard, and that they are reminded of their obligations during their exit interview.
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Knowledgebase
As the engineering workforce shrinks due to retirements and other factors, organizations are realizing they are losing a crucial source of practical know-how. As long-time employees leave, they take their competencies and first-hand experience with them. More and more companies are investing in competency mapping to capture some of that expertise while they still can.
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