Posts by Maria D. Craig
Head and Heart: “Real” Employee Engagement Reduces Turnover, Increases Productivity
Most annual performance reviews and employee surveys include a section about employee engagement, a nebulous catch-all category that attempts to measure how “sticky” employees feel toward their job and the company. The questions are often along these lines: Do you have a best friend at work? Would you recommend your company to your friends? Do…
Read MoreKeep High-Potential Millennials Engaged & Challenged With Thoughtful Resource Allocation
Many managers assign important projects and allocate resources with a short mental checklist: who has expertise in this area, and who’s got bandwidth to tackle it? That’s a shortsighted and limiting way to run an enterprise in this fast-changing competitive landscape. There is more competition than ever before for the best talent, especially among Millennials,…
Read MoreGross Margin Analysis: What to Consider after You’ve Figured Profitability
“Am I making money on what I’m selling?” For a quick, reliable answer to this deceptively simple question, conduct a gross margin analysis. This reality check can reveal early warning signs that a more detailed assessment is needed and when it’s not. Gross margin is the difference between what you’re paid for a unit of…
Read MoreDon’t Fear the 360-Degree Assessment
If you’ve spent any time in corporate America, you’ve probably heard of the 360-degree assessment. If the phrase brings to mind an episode of The Office, let’s set the record straight. In the right hands, no one should fear a 360-degree assessment. In fact, you should embrace it. It’s the most commonly administered psychometric test…
Read MoreHow the R&D Tax Credit Helps Manufacturers Invest in Top Engineering Talent
Innovate or die. The same rule applies whether you’re a manufacturer of industrial equipment, medical devices or consumer packaged goods. And the key to innovation is talent. In today’s competitive job market, manufacturers must have a plan to not only hire, but also develop and retain valuable research engineers. Here are some tips for ensuring…
Read MoreBuild Manufacturing Sales Strategy Through Sales & Operations Planning
A manufacturing sales strategy often turns out to be a combination of independent plans by the sales and manufacturing teams. But when manufacturing and sales develop strategies to maximize their own parts of the business, both fall short and the business itself can suffer. By using new manufacturing sales models to create a robust sales…
Read MoreManufacturing Automation, Recruiting — and the Human Resource Hurdle
Manufacturing automation is a topic of increasing importance, demanding businesses take a close look at their future recruiting, hiring and training.
Read More