Advanced manufacturing in Georgia is a huge deal – the sector is responsible for 10 percent of state gross domestic product (totaling nearly $62 billion in 2019), 92 percent of exports, and employs more than 380,000 people. The sector’s importance is no accident. It’s the result of — according to the Georgia Department of Economic […]

By now, everyone’s heard about the shortage of baby formula in the United States. It stems from the fact that over 90% of U.S. infant formula is made by only 4 companies: Abbot, Mead Johnson, Nestle, and Perrigo. But, how did this happen? There are three, primary causative factors: There has been a lot of consolidation across the […]

The food manufacturing industry utilizes governmental and third-party food safety audits to ensure the quality of the products being produced and the safety of consumers. However, over the past few years, as manufacturing companies have limited the number of guests in their facilities, many have wrestled with the question of how to conduct a food […]

  This is a guest post from our partner, the Georgia Tech Safety, Health, Environmental Services (SHES) program. Every year approximately 30 million workers experience hazardous noise exposure on the job. Over 9 million are at risk for severe hearing loss from occupational exposure to noise, which remains a persistent cause of employee illness in […]

Strategic Planning is a powerful tool that can help companies define and meet both their short- and long-term goals. However, when we talk to companies about strategic planning, too often we hear, “We tried that, and it didn’t work.” Many companies develop a plan, only to see it collect dust on a shelf or in […]

Creating a Culture of Success – Committing to Quality and Safety Education Faith Allem, quality and safety compliance leader at Hitachi T&D Solutions, Inc. in Suwanee, Georgia, has been taking training classes at Georgia Tech for 20 years. She started her journey in quality and ISO auditing, working at Georgia Power in quality management. She then went […]

Despite our best intentions, strategic planning often gets postponed due to the urgency of daily tasks. In addition, the ambiguous nature and magnitude of strategic planning can lead to not knowing where to start the process. This can result in a plan that is poorly developed, not actionable, or even non-existent. In contrast, a well-developed […]

GaMEP Food Industry Project Manager, Wendy White, discusses how food manufacturers have had to pivot to beat supply chain challenges & meet Thanksgiving demand. Learn More About GaMEP Food Industry Training and Services. This month, many are marking their calendars and planning to gather around the Thanksgiving table with family and friends. But with supply […]

Since its inception in October of 2004, Cybersecurity Awareness Month serves as a reminder of the importance of cybersecurity, providing individuals and organizations with the information and tools they need to be safer and more secure online. However, even as the cybersecurity industry continues to grow at a rapid rate each year, many organizations – […]

Bringing together businesses and the community to solve workforce needs creates an innovative pathway that can prepare students for jobs in local manufacturing industries. The COVID-19 pandemic impacted apprenticeships and work-based programs across the state causing numbers to drop and now the companies, school systems, and communities are working hard to rebuild the demand for […]

It is likely that your firm has a number of “cost reduction” projects active at any given time. In most cases, these projects are created as opportunities arise. They enter the development process harmlessly and require relatively little resources or capital investment compared to larger programs. If your company is like many others, these projects […]

As the world begins to recover and return to a “new” normal, people are reassessing what is important and valuable to them. They now have different opportunities and more career choices to consider, with the U.S. Department of Labor reporting a record 9.3 million job openings as of the latest tally.* Additionally, according to a […]

Whether it’s the ongoing advancement in technology, the ever-evolving world of data, a company reorganization, or other unexpected curveballs (such as a global pandemic), manufacturers are constantly faced with change and the challenge to adapt. But just as change is a part of any manufacturing business, so is resistance to change – especially change that […]

When we talk about energy, the focus is usually on technology and technical solutions. However, energy behavior is gaining more attention as a “hot topic” in energy innovation. Until recently, in my experience as an ISO 50001 auditor of energy management systems, I found that in many organizations consideration of the role of energy behavior […]

Starting a new facility is an enormous undertaking.  There are thousands of things that must be accomplished, from hiring and training new staff to ordering and installing equipment.  This scenario is a perfect example of “Too much to do and not enough time to do it!”.  There’s always significant pressure to get up and running […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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) […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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, 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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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, […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 [...]

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 […]

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? 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 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 […]

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 […]

  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 […]

  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, […]

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 […]

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 […]

Completing an energy audit can help your company identify opportunities to save energy, reduce costs, and improve sustainability. On average, each assessment identifies opportunities to save more than 10% in annual energy expenditures. Still wondering what type of a commitment it requires from you, what to expect, and what benefits you will receive if you […]

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 […]

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. […]

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 […]

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, […]