Tuesday, March 31, 2015

MESA International Announces Results of 2015-2016 Board Elections


MESA's boards are more active than ever and they've greatly increased in size and representation this term to continue work on MESA's expanded initiatives. MESA's Leadership Development Committee received interest from an exceptionally high number of board candidates and the leadership teams are eager to engage with the new boards to bring continued benefit to MESA's members, and the community at large.

Friday, March 20, 2015

The Real Skills Gap

By Patrick Weber, MESA International Technical and Education Committee member

There’s been a great deal of discussion in industry press about a growing skills gap – typically focused on technical skills but occasionally on leadership skills as well. The March 16th issue of Crain’s Cleveland Business had a front page article on manufacturing leaders nearing retirement; “Who”, they ask, “will run the manufacturing industry when the generation in charge eventually walks away?” The US Chamber of Commerce Foundation published a 2014 white paper entitled “Managing the Talent Pipeline: A New Approach to Closing the Skills Gap” which paints a dire picture of talent systems that are not keeping pace with economic requirements, and manufacturers who struggle to find the skills they need in the job market as talent nears retirement.

Thursday, March 19, 2015

Three reasons “Tribal Knowledge” is not effective in decision-making

By Gerhard Greeff, MES/MOM Proponent and Facilitator, MESA GEP Contributor and Trainer, Chairman - MESA Southern Africa


 
A comment on one of my on-line posts was that the post focused too much on data, did not question if the correct measures are used and glossed over the fact that there is a load of information at the shop floor known as “Tribal Knowledge” that is important. This statement is undoubtedly true and I have had first-hand experience regarding the value of “tribal knowledge”. In another post a person was offended as an operator that I stated that an HMI can lead to incorrect actions or decisions by operators, as it implies that as an operator he doesn’t know his plant. This person undoubtedly knows his plant and would make good decisions. The quality of the “good” decisions however will depend greatly on the “bias” introduced by “tribal knowledge” and the scientific basis of the related “tribal knowledge”.