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Companies need to be more intentional to tap the talents of their female leaders. Joel Garfinkle offers a three-step process. Winning the talent war isn’t about finding the right employees. You already have the right employees. They are just waiting to be engaged, empowered, and leveraged. If you’re wondering how your organization is going to find its next rising stars in leadership, don’t have them rely on recruiters to identify outside talent when top talent exists within their organization. In my corporate training called “ The Invisible Leaders: How to Find Them and Let Them Shine, ” I discuss how you can uncover the undervalued female leaders in your ...
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The essence of impactful leadership lies not in the multitude of tasks we accomplish, but in how we show up each day to create the conditions for learning and continuous improvement. "Don't focus on how to do, but rather, how to be.” This was a simple yet profound answer to a question posed on one of my recent Japan Study Trips, where leaders from around the world join me to learn about kaizen and the Toyota Way. We were visiting a company in the foothills of the Japanese Alps whose purpose is “happiness .” Someone asked the company’s managing director how the organization maintains consistency of purpose—and continues ...
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Breaking down these vulnerabilities will be key to prioritizing and optimizing security. Manufacturers continue ramping up their procurement and deployment of Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) equipment, sensors, and devices—and with good reason. Successful modernization depends on optimized supply chains, predictive maintenance, streamlined operating expenses, and other IIoT-device-enabling changes that directly affect manufacturers’ bottom lines. Yet for many, the rush into an IIoT future has left security on the back burner. Even with ongoing projects for IT/OT integration, gaps, and unmanaged devices remain, causing a need to understand ...
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You don’t have to look far to find an article or warning about the half-life of the workforce’s current capacity and the urgent need to upskill, reskill, and pre-skill workers to future-proof both their careers and their organizations. It seemed like hyperbole when, just a couple of years ago, the World Economic Forum predicted that half of all employees would need reskilling by 2025. But, given the pace and unpredictability of change, this is quickly becoming our reality, and this reality is not lost on employees. Gallup research finds that 48% of American workers would switch to a new job if it offered skills training opportunities. With today’s ...
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The MTI Technical Standards Committee is weighing in on rule changes by the ASTM E28.06 Indention Hardness Testing committee on E-18 specification. MTI would appreciate it if you would read the following description of the rule change and answer a one question survey at the end. This survey will be used as part of determining the argument on whether this revision should be considered. MTI’s ASTM Task Force liaison, Steven Keckler from Thermtech in Waukesha, WI stated, “The ASTM hardness testing committees are in constant motion in making change to these specifications. Getting feedback from Members is very important so we can deliver recommendations to the ...
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A reader recently told me, “I prefer to be brilliant behind the scenes.” If you’re an introvert — someone who’s more comfortable focusing on their inner thoughts and who tends to recharge in solitude — then you may relate to this sentiment. Many introverts value depth and thoughtfulness in their work over noise and showmanship. They’re content to contribute without constant recognition or the spotlight. While this tendency is admirable, it comes with pitfalls, especially in the modern, remote-first work world where being “out of sight” often equates to being “out of mind.” Perhaps you’ve been overlooked for a promotion because a senior leader wasn’t ...
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I was interviewing a leadership team member to prepare for an offsite planning retreat. I asked about the biggest challenges facing their team. She wearily said it was their unfocused frantic pace of activity. “We have lots of projects, goals, and priorities. We’re constantly making lists and setting action plans, but we seldom see anything through to completion before some urgent new priority is pushed at us. Our leader’s thinking seems to be ‘random brain impulse.’ He’s like a nervous water bug that flits from one half-baked strategy to another.” Sound familiar? When you and your team add new projects, objectives, or to-do activities, do you prune older ...
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You asked…MTI listened…Dochterman Insurance Delivered. Metal Treating Institute and Dochterman Insurance (previously known as Precision Manufacturing Insurance) are pleased to announce an exclusive commercial insurance program that includes property, liability, auto, excess liability, and workers’ compensation coverage for MTI Members. Heat treaters have extremely unique needs and circumstances when it comes to finding affordable insurance, and this coverage has been built specifically with your plant in mind. In the last year, MTI has saved numerous members 20% - 40% in premiums on quality coverage. With this new, exclusive program, it will help ...
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Tapping into workforce resources at the national level can advance the skills of the labor force locally. As U.S. manufacturing continues to recover from the challenges ushered in by the pandemic, the industry currently is facing a workforce shortage. According to a 2021 study by Deloitte and the Manufacturing Institute, 2.1 million manufacturing jobs could go unfilled by 2030. This statistic raises the critical question of how to fill these roles with qualified personnel tailored to the needs of industry. Technology continues to evolve and change, opening up career possibilities in the fields of additive manufacturing, robotics, automation, and ...
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The term artificial intelligence (AI) was first introduced in the 1950s , but it wasn’t until the launch of ChatGPT, which amassed over 100 million users within just two months in late 2022, that the public began to take notice. Similarly, the importance of “supply chain management,” a term coined in the 1980s , was largely overlooked until the COVID-19 pandemic led to prolonged shortages of various products, from personal protective equipment to semiconductors. Today, an increasing number of companies are turning to AI to manage their global supply chains. Two questions arise: can AI enhance supply chain resilience? What impact will AI have on employment ...
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Well-positioned sensors, including those in vision systems and wearables, help the manufacturing workforce detect risks to improve safety, quality and efficiency. IIoT (industrial Internet of Things), which refers to devices connected to an industrial network that collect, share and act on information, can also facilitate a safer and more secure work floor by monitoring vehicle accidents, employee absences, injuries, and other machinery malfunctions. Sensors placed on machines can quickly alert workers to a machine failure or breakdown. These sensors can also be used for predictive maintenance to signal workers when a machine needs servicing. Using ...
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Despite promising opportunities and pay, companies struggle to attract skilled supply chain employees. The supply chain and workforce that make up the sector are constantly evolving. Labor shortages in transportation and warehousing are quick to make headlines, but job opportunities across the supply chain continue to go unfilled despite promising pay and benefits. A study of over 1,000 industry decision-makers by Descartes found that 76% of today’s supply chain operations are experiencing notable workforce shortages, with 37% of respondents characterizing the resource shortage they face as high to extreme. Transportation and warehousing roles ...
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The MTI Educational Foundation is excited to announce that the 2024 application process for scholarships is officially open for applications. The Foundation Board has approved a record 17 scholarships for a total of $80,000 for 2024. The MTI Educational Foundation Scholarship Program is open to students who are interested in a career in metallurgy, materials science, engineering, industrial, and/or mechanical sciences. Applicants must be currently enrolled, or recently accepted, as a full- or part-time student in a nationally accredited college or technical school. Applicant’s area of study must be one of the following: materials science, metallurgy, ...
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MTI is excited to announce registration is now open for the Spring Meeting in Orlando, Florida on May 2-4. MTI national meetings are an exciting opportunity to: · Celebrate the heat treat industry · Connect with heat treaters and suppliers on best practices · Discuss the latest issues and challenges impacting the industry · Re-energize your perspective on the future CLICK HERE to view what Members say about “why attend the Spring Meeting”. The Spring Meeting will offer everyone a great transition from the chill of winter and snow, to warm days, highlighted with memories from many adult and ...
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Rethink recruiting, create great culture and offer professional growth opportunities. Manufacturers’ labor demand continues to outpace supply. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported nearly 600,000 job openings across the industry in June 2023, and with many skilled employees at or nearing retirement age, the gap is only widening. As hiring challenges persist, manufacturers will need to get creative to fulfill their talent needs and build a workforce that sets them up for future success. Manufacturing Obstacles in a Tight Labor Market Amid historically low unemployment rates, 20% of middle-market CFOs said that talent shortages ...
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As many Members are battling cold temperatures, one exciting event to look forward to is the MTI Spring Meeting in sunny Orlando, Florida, May 2-4. Orlando brings 80+ degree temperatures and provides exciting education and networking opportunities for Members to learn the latest trends and best practices. MTI is excited to announce registration opens next week for this high quality event…on February 19th. During the Spring Meeting, you will experience: - Highly-informative educational content - Connection to the most creative minds in heat treating - Phenomenal location that will create an exciting learning experience ...
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Improve leadership skills by personalizing the traditional SWOT analysis to focus on self, the world, others and time, says Denise Lee Yohn. You know how a SWOT analysis can help you understand your business. By identifying the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats to your company, you can assess the viability and sustainability of your business. Well, what if you had a similar tool that would help you understand yourself? What if there was a framework that could give you the perspectives you need to thrive as a person? Well, I’ve come up with a different kind of SWOT just for that purpose. This SWOT uses an unusual approach to help you uncover ...
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According to Mental Health America, around 1/3 of adults with mental illness are not receiving necessary treatment. While the focus on mental health was at its height during the pandemic, the issue has not gone away. Companies in logistics and supply chain management are feeling the effect on workforce performance of employees struggling with mental health issues. To understand the scope the issue, Mental Health America annually assesses the state of mental health in the U.S. This year's report found the following: In 2019-2020, 20.78% of adults were experiencing a mental illness. This is equivalent to over 50 million Americans. ...
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How to leverage unique strengths. Some years ago, my manager, who was the Chief Technology Officer at a global professional business services company challenged an “exceptional rating” that I gave to one of my project managers who happened to be an introvert. An exceptional rating was rare in the firm, awarded to less than 10% of employees. This particular employee did not fit the profile of a typical project manager, at least in my manager’s mind. My manager believed project managers should be assertive , outwardly sociable, confident, and outspoken, and Charles (name changed) did not fit that image. Conversely, he was reserved, introspective, ...
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United States bought more goods from Mexico than China in 2023. The U.S. trade deficit narrowed in 2023 to the smallest in three years, government data showed Wednesday, while the country imported more goods from Mexico than China for the first time in about two decades. The latest figures add to a series of positive economic news for President Joe Biden, who has been working to boost sentiment on his handling of the economy as his November reelection campaign picks up pace. For all of 2023, the overall trade gap was $773.4 billion, down 18.7% from the $951.2 billion figure in the prior year, U.S. Commerce Department figures showed. In 2022, ...
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