By Steven Hirt, President/Founder, Optima Associates, Inc.
There is no doubt that the factories will look much differently in the next decade than they do today. One only needs to look at what some of the premier companies are doing with Augmented Reality (AR), Robotics and the Internet of Things (IoT) Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES). For example, Amazon and AGCO are pioneering […]
It’s time to grab your 2018 calendar and register for these upcoming events including Optima’s TWI Certification Program and our special March workshop presented by Mike Hoseus. Click HERE
By Roger Wolfe
The pace of change is moving so fast today that to pinpoint what manufacturing in the future may look like is difficult. The areas of change are numerous related to technical improvements, information, culture and economics. I would like to relate my opinions on information, culture and technology in the future factory. The companies which […]
By Roger Wolfe
The 5S process is just about cleaning up and getting things neat and orderly, right? So, what’s so special about that? How can something so simple have a large effect on my business? Many of us have asked these same questions about 5S, so let’s talk about what makes 5S so special and how […]
The fall issue of the quarterly newsletter is out! Click the image below to take a look.
Constantly seeking to improve is a vital component of all successful business models. Incorporating a continuous improvement culture as part of your business’s growth strategy is key to not only staying profitable, but providing a roadmap during times of uncertainty. As a small business owner wearing many hats, it’s often difficult to find the time […]
By Dick Cole
Members of Optima’s Twin Cities Continuous Improvement Consortium met recently to share their thoughts on effective engagement and creating a culture of continuous improvement (CI). There is an undeniable correlation between creating a culture of continuous improvement and employee engagement. In any organization, implementing change will be an uphill journey if the company doesn’t embrace […]
By Matt Lemke
Mature lean organizations know what is in their lean tool box, and their people are familiar with tool application. Teams understand the need of improving service to their customers and have seen how lean tools can help in this aim. Change has become a little easier as it has become part of the culture, but […]
Optima is proud to have been invited to continue our support of Wisconsin manufacturers through our sponsorship of a program session addressing Growth Strategy Development at the upcoming Manufacturing First Expo & Conference. Optima’s President & Founder, Steven Hirt, will join representatives from Initiative One and Imaginasium in sharing expertise on the topic of “Leading Profitable Growth and Change […]
By Steve Levin
Helping businesses exceed their operational expectations is what we do every day. We’re delighted with two recent partnerships that demonstrate the confidence that companies nationwide have in our expertise. The first is a multi-year project with a national packaging supply manufacturer to develop a site selection model and facility layout for their multi-state expansion as […]
