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Spotlight – On the GaMEP Team
Sean Madhavaraman Welcome to the GaMEP! Sean is one of our newest team members, starting in December of 2020 as a project manager on the Strategy and Leadership Development team, leading our Industry 4.0 efforts. He has 17 years of process engineering and advanced manufacturing experience with a passion for technology and Industrial Internet of […]
Tips for Implementing Technology Solutions to Help Offset Productivity Issues
Change is hard. If this pandemic year has taught us anything, it’s how to adapt and adjust our way of thinking and doing business. The same goes for technology. It is always changing. Whether it is the latest upgrade for your smart device or the newest gadget to simplify your life, technology touches every facet […]
How to Avoid the 10 Biggest Quality Mistakes
Learning from other people’s mistakes is one of the most effective ways to improve. There are plenty of mistakes out there to learn from, but the trick is to recognize them and understand what to do instead. Let’s examine the 10 most common quality mistakes and see how they can be corrected. 1. Limiting quality […]
Own the Skills Gap: Workforce Readiness Starts with You
Hiring and retaining talent is a continuous concern and investment for every manufacturer, large or small, rural or multinational. It is hard to find and keep people with the right skills. It’s also expensive. According to The Society for Human Resource Management, in 2016 it cost over $4,000 and took 40 days to complete each new […]
Leaders: Are they Built or Born?
Have you heard someone say, “He or she is a born leader”? I don’t believe leadership is a quality that one is born with but rather a learned and practiced skill that develops over time. John Maxwell, in his book The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership, supports my beliefs and says “Leadership develops daily, not […]
Key Ingredients to Growing Your Business through Technology
Manufacturers, like other organizations are constantly being faced with the challenge of developing a growth strategy. When developing this strategy, it’s important to consider technology options. Two ways technology implementation can be successful are: 1. Bringing new technology into your company to increase your offerings to your current customer-base (they already know and trust you) […]
How Will Combining Safety and Lean in Process Improvement Efforts Increase Productivity?
The practices of safety management and Lean production have for many years been implemented separately in most industrial plants. The complexities of regulatory compliance have in large part dictated that separate specialists be dedicated to each area. Over time, in fact, these two essential functions have diverged to the point of being adversaries in many […]
6S: Getting Standardize Right
Whether a project involves cleaning out a storeroom or organizing an office or work space, the 6S process of Sort, Set in Order, Shine, Safety, Standardize, and Sustain is typically the same. The initial effort of sorting, cleaning, and organizing yields the greatest visible results, as well as the satisfaction of seeing improvements. After the […]
Best Practices Guide to Virtual Communication
During the Spring of 2020, the pandemic caused almost all in-person meetings and classes to transition to a virtual format. These sessions have become imperative to maintaining our country’s infrastructure and ensuring business continuity. During this time, we’ve learned that a virtual, remote setting can be a poor substitute for in-person interactions. Many facets of […]
Shift Schedule Considerations
There is little academic research as to the advantage or disadvantages of a 4-day; 10-hour (4/10) shift versus a 5-day; 8-hour (5/8) shift. When determining the best shift schedule for your operation, there are multiple things that you should consider. These include things such as employee desire, customer demand, efficiencies, and safety. Key Considerations Employee […]
Georgia Manufacturers Have a Story to Tell – GaMEP Client Survey
During the next month, the Georgia Manufacturing Quarterly Survey will be delivered to companies across the state. This survey is a key benchmark that provides us with critical information on Georgia manufacturers’ problems, needs, and business performance. Through a third-party administered survey, we ask our clients to answer questions that will help evaluate the quality […]
6 Tips for Keeping Your Manufacturing Plant Cool During the Summer
As temperatures increase in the summer months, so do the risks that are associated with a lack of proper cooling solutions at your manufacturing plant. Keeping the factory floor cool during the hottest part of the year is vital to providing your employees with a safe and comfortable work environment, and can also prevent equipment […]
Two Georgia Manufacturers Partner to Produce Face Shields for COVID-19 First Responders
Less than 100 miles of interstate and back-roads in Georgia separates one of the largest car manufacturers from an OEM manufacturing supplier. Eight weeks ago, these two manufacturers had never been in contact, let alone imagined they would connect over a product that neither were producing at the time. Fast forward to May of 2020, […]
Wendy White Discusses the Importance of Effective Environmental Monitoring Programs to Combat Food Contamination
Wendy White, food safety expert and GaMEP project manager, discusses major pathogenic contamination issues that can surface when food manufacturing plants remain too complacent in their typical sanitation routines and neglect to seek out effective solutions that can identify the root cause of the problem. Best practices and strategies for contamination prevention that White mentions […]
Steps to Take When an Employee Tests Positive for COVID-19
Over the past month, you have most likely come up with more questions than answers, you’ve accumulated more worries than you’ve ever had before, and are trying to keep yourself and your team afloat, like so many others across the world. In addition, you’ve probably used phrases that you’d never thought you’d have to say […]
Woman-Owned Manufacturer in Americus, Georgia, Sews New Path and Produces Face Masks for Area Hospitals
In 2015, Elena Carné, moved to Americus, a small town in South Georgia, with her three daughters. Her idea was two-fold: Be in a slower-paced environment where she could focus on her family and launch an athletic apparel company. Today, the already successful company, T31 (formerly Tepuy Activewear), a small, minority- and woman-owned manufacturer, has […]
7 Tips for Sustaining Your Manufacturing Company During COVID-19
During unprecedented times in which your company is facing monumental challenges and uncertainty, it is more imperative than ever to be proactive and follow best practices to ensure business continuity. But as pressure mounts and the stress of the current COVID-19 situation continues to grow, the best path to sustaining your company may not be […]
GaMEP Connects Atlanta-based Distillery With Resources to Provide Critical Materials to First Responders During the COVID-19 Pandemic
On the March 18 evening news, Paul Todd, GaMEP project manager, saw a story of a distillery in Atlanta that had shifted gears to produce hand sanitizer to meet the needs of the public during the coronavirus crisis. In the interview, Jeff and Craig Moore of Old 4th Distillery said they were struggling to meet the […]
Two different trainings for Manufacturing Leadership. Choose your best path.
In manufacturing plants, change is a given. Embracing it is not an option but a matter of professional progression. Whether you’re looking to boost your credentials to keep moving up in your company, or gaining skills that are immediately applicable in helping your organization prepare for the future, we have several different leadership training opportunities […]
The Generational Effect: How to Bridge the Gap for Maximum Production and Minimal Conflict
When most people think of diversity, they tend to think of things such as race, ethnicity, gender, religion, and culture. However, another aspect of diversity that almost every organization has, but many overlook, is generational diversity. According to the Boston College Center on Aging & Work, most organizations are still in the very early stages […]
How to Build a High Performance Maintenance Team
Many years ago I inherited perhaps the world’s most under-performing, unreliable, unpredictable, and unacceptable – and all other antonyms that are an antithesis for anything positive – maintenance team. The extreme lack of performance left all sorts of carnage piled up at the front door of the unemployment office. Maintenance managers did not last longer […]
Just Add Engineers to the Mix
For the state’s food manufacturers, a Georgia Tech partnership is the secret ingredient to growth. You would expect a building where vinegar is made to have a sour smell, highly pungent, perhaps with a whiff of apple. World Technology Ingredients (WTI) smells nothing like this. Their manufacturing facility, off a county two-lane in Jefferson, Georgia, […]
Achieving Your Company’s Long-term Goals
As with any pursuit that is worthwhile, unfortunately, there is no “magic wand” that can create long-term change and growth for a company’s operations or culture. Instead you need a lasting commitment from your leaders for change to occur and be sustained. Implementing an Organizational Excellence Model is about more than an assessment or incorporating […]
What You Should Consider Before Implementing Electronic Work Instructions at Your Plant
As technology on the shop floor continues to advance, manufacturers are becoming more aware of new software tools and mobile hardware platforms, such as tablets and hands-free smart glasses, that are making a significant impact on the manufacturing process. On the market today, there are a variety of wireless software applications and tools available that […]
Wendy White Explains the Concerns with the Latest Food Trends
An expert in food safety and Taylor Swift lyrics, GaMEP project manager, Wendy White breaks down popular food safety trends that may actually create more harm than good. Examples include: When considering new trends like saving bad fruit that would otherwise be thrown away, it’s important to understand that damaged fruit with a broken protective […]
Tim Israel Named Director of Georgia Manufacturing Extension Partnership
The Enterprise Innovation Institute (EI2), Georgia Tech’s economic development arm, has named Tim Israel, director of the Georgia Manufacturing Extension Partnership (GaMEP). Israel, who had been GaMEP’s associate director and group manager of process improvement, will be responsible for the manufacturing resources and regional staff located across Georgia. He succeeds Karen Fite, who was named […]
How Industry 4.0 is Driving Changes in Modern Manufacturing
Industry Trends: Manufacturing Manufacturing makes the modern world possible, from the food we eat to the devices we use to communicate. But just as our technology evolves, so too does the approach to making it. But, manufacturing encompasses multiple technologies and disciplines — and change occurs in all of them. Here are the key trends […]
GaMEP Taps Wendy White to Lead Statewide Efforts in Food Safety Program
Wendy White, a nationally known food safety expert, has joined the Georgia Manufacturing Extension Partnership (GaMEP) as a food safety project manager. In that capacity, she will provide educational outreach and support to help Georgia food manufacturers improve their food safety and quality systems. Prior to joining the GaMEP, White was director of corporate food […]
Kia Plant Tour Drives Student Interest Towards Careers in the Automotive Industry
In April, a group of Georgia Tech students had the opportunity to tour the Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia (KMMG) automotive plant, an impressive facility spanning over 2,300,000 square feet located in West Point, Georgia. Hosted by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) Atlanta Section, the tour provided students with an in-depth look into KMMG’s history […]
A GR-R-REAT Consortium Event!
Recently, the Kellogg’s Bakery in Rome, Georgia, hosted the Northwest Georgia GaMEP Advanced Manufacturing Consortium for a deep dive learning event on, “Predictive Maintenance.” The speaker, Jeff Craig, Reliability and Maintenance Professional with Fuss and O’Neill Manufacturing Solutions, presented to the group on how to create a more efficient and accurate maintenance plan using tools [...]
Shun Griffin Makes her Mark in Manufacturing Leadership
Lessons from the first female Manufacturing Leadership Certificate graduate With ample experience in manufacturing, Lukisha T. “Shun” Griffin (pictured above) recently became the first woman to earn GaMEP at Georgia Tech’s Manufacturing Leadership Certificate. Knowing she always had a knack for working with machines, Griffin, who is currently studying Industrial Engineering at Kennesaw State University […]
Innovation Test Track Competition
The Innovation Test Track Competition is held each year during the Southern Automotive Conference and encourages companies with innovative products or services that could benefit the automotive industry to pitch their concept to a panel of judges who have a background in innovation. This year, GaMEP project manager, Mike Stonecipher, helped organize the event and […]
Is Online Learning the Right Fit for You?
Is Online Learning the Right Fit for You? Online learning is not new to education or business. Actually, according to the 2015 National Student Clearinghouse Research Center, 5.5 million people participated in some form of a class that was offered online. This number continues to grow, according to the Online College Student Survey. There’s been […]
Why You Should Consider an Energy Management System
Why You Should Consider an Energy Management System Did you know that the GaMEP Energy and Sustainability Group contributed significantly to the content of the original ISO 50001 standard? Or that ISO 50001 may be able to help your company save a lot of money? Randy Green, GaMEP project manager, has helped many companies throughout the United […]
Atlanta Business Chronicle Viewpoint: Call to Action for Georgia Manufacturers
Originally published in the Atlanta Business Chronicle on Friday, Aug. 24, 2018. View the original here. Georgia’s manufacturing industry is at a crossroad. For decades, Georgia has attracted manufacturing investment dollars from across the globe thanks to a large workforce, affordable real estate and robust logistics infrastructure. That favorable climate has attracted billions of dollars of […]
Atlanta Business Chronicle Viewpoint: Learning to Successfully Lead Manufacturing Teams Takes the Right Training
Manufacturers from across Georgia attend the GaMEP at Georgia Tech open enrollment training course, Lean Boot Camp. Originally published in the Atlanta Business Chronicle on Friday, Aug. 24, 2018. View the original here. Working with new and emerging leaders in more than 800 manufacturing plants a year, our team continued to hear, “I have […]
GaMEP at Georgia Tech awarded grant for food safety modernization program
U.S. Department of Commerce award will support targeted focus on small food and beverage manufacturers in four states. ATLANTA, Ga. (Sept. 12, 2018) — The Georgia Manufacturing Extension Partnership (GaMEP) at Georgia Tech was awarded a $986,805 grant to create a food safety program that will serve small food and beverage manufacturers in Georgia, Iowa, […]
GaMEP Awards First Manufacturing Leadership Certificate
The Georgia Manufacturing Extension Partnership (GaMEP) at Georgia Tech sat down with Chantrey Reece, master scheduler at BorgWarner in Asheville, North Carolina, who recently became the first recipient of the GaMEP Manufacturing Leadership Certificate, to learn what he gained from the program and how he’s using it at BorgWarner. Tell me about yourself. I’ve lived […]
Manufacturing Disaster Assistance Program to Help Georgia Companies Prepare For Natural Disasters
Manufacturers in seven Georgia counties can participate in new program offered by the Georgia Manufacturing Extension Partnership. SAVANNAH, Ga. (Jan. 30, 2018) — The Georgia Manufacturing Extension Partnership (GaMEP) is seeking eligible manufacturers to participate in a disaster assistance program designed to help companies that are located in the state’s coastal areas assess their preparedness […]
What to Expect at an Industrial Assessment Center (IAC) Energy/Waste Audit
If you are a small or mid-sized manufacturer in Georgia or North Florida, you may qualify for a no-cost assessment that will identify opportunities to help you save energy, reduce waste, and improve productivity. The assessments are done by staff and students from Georgia Tech, Florida State University, and Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU). On average, each […]
How Do You Develop Lean Leaders in Your Organization?
By: Sam Darwin, GaMEP Lean and Process Improvement Project Manager Are you using Lean as a point solution to try to solve an immediate need, or is it part of your company’s overall strategic plan? Have you discovered how to make Lean sustainable within your organization? Successfully taking the Lean journey takes a commitment from the team […]
What Automation Means for Economic Development
Automation. The word and what it represents is driving a lot of discussion about what that means for manufacturers and for those in economic development tasked with bringing industry — and jobs — to their communities. But automation is not the boogeyman people think it is, said Mark Ligler, vice president of Factory Automation Systems. […]
Georgia Manufacturing Extension Partnership Launches Outreach Initiative for Food Processing Manufacturers
ATLANTA (Aug. 28, 2017) — Georgia is a one of the nation’s leading agriculture states, with the industry contributing about $74.9 billion to the state economy each year. A related sector — food processing — is a strong and growing component of the Georgia economy, and accounts for $11 billion to $12 billion each year […]
2nd Annual GA CATT Apprentice Signing Ceremony
On Monday, August 14, 2017, the Georgia Consortium for Advanced Technical Training (GA CATT) program kicked off its second year with a signing ceremony for 21 new apprentices. This year the program expanded from one cluster to three, including students in the Coweta, Rockdale-Newton, and Spalding county areas. Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle spoke at the event, […]