"We've always done it this way."
Of all the things people say in business, this is the one that gets
under my skin the most. Other variations include "this is how the
client wants it" and "that's just the way we do things." Each of these
is literally someone telling you they are either too dumb to think of
ways to make things better, or too lazy to try.
Think about the times you've heard these phrases, or worse yet, said
them yourself. Their only result is to immediately shut down any
possibility of innovation and creativity; improvements of product and
process are instantly dead--along with any culture of creativity.
What's the impact of "status quo management"? When I took
over a client several years ago, I was told they absolutely loved the
agency. However, only a week into the job, my first meeting with the CMO
began with the ominous statement that she would be putting the business
out to review. Fortunately, I was able to buy the time to fix things,
but for a few moments, I wondered what I had just stepped into, and how
everything I had been told could be so completely wrong.
At the working level, the agency's relationship was extremely close;
so close that it eventually became part of the problem. Rather than
pushing the client, the agency had simply become an extension of the
client's team. Missing was any healthy tension, innovation and
reinvention. While the day-to-day clients were happy that we made things
easy, at the senior-level, there was a clear recognition that a serious
problem existed.
Diagnosing this was actually remarkably simple. At every
turn, I kept hearing from my own team, "we've always done it this way."
I'd push them again and again to make certain that everything they were
doing made sense. Often, people would agree with me that it didn't, but
they'd finish their sentence with "this is how the client wants it."
Everyone was working so hard trying to give the clients exactly what
they asked for, that they stopped thinking about what actually was being
done, and what purpose it might be serving.
Fixing this culture was also remarkably easy, though, I'm sure, very
uncomfortable for most of the team. Every time I heard people utter
"status quo management" terms, I would dig deeper and push harder.
Symbolically, I started fining people a dollar "every time they used one
of the above statements. After only a few times of going back/returning
to the client with a better solution, and finding them not only
receptive, but grateful, people began to get the message.
Constant reinvention is absolutely essential to the long-term success
of any business, and the time to push convention is when things are
going well. Reward those who are looking to constantly improve, and
always be on the lookout for the nefarious catchphrases of "status quo
management."
Sealed Air introduces their full line of leak proof self sealing shipping bags perfect for those clients shipping liquids on their E-Commerce websites!!
Three ways to increase productivity with pre-stretch!
Shipping
damages are a big source of loss and waste for manufacturers and
retailers. 1/2% of all shipped products are damaged in transit because
they weren't stretch wrapped properly. That's a $7 billion hit to the
economy, as well as a waste of time and energy to fix. For example:
When pallets fall apart in a truck, you use up labor and resources to carefully unload and clean the mess.
If
products are refused by the receiver and sent back because of damage,
it takes additional manufacturing time — with all cost and no profit —
to refill the order, which puts other (paid) production on hold.
Proper
stretch wrapping prevents tipping, breakage, and pallet loads from
splitting apart. Loads arrive undamaged, nothing is rejected, no one
needs to clean up a mess, and the production staff isn't working to
refill orders for free.
2. Lower Material Costs
A stretch wrapper can lower your film costs by one-half to two-thirds compared to hand wrapping.
Most
wrappers have powered film delivery systems that pre-stretch the
film. Pre-stretch increases the yield of each film roll. Modern film
delivery systems provide levels of pre-stretch up to 300%. A film
delivery system with 200% pre-stretch turns 6,000 ft. of film into
18,000 ft. Powered pre-stretch film delivery systems start to have a
significant economic effect at 15 to 20 loads a day.
3. Optimal Labor Utilization
Semi-automatic
stretch wrappers can also reduce the amount of labor required per load.
Generally, if you're wrapping five loads or more per day by hand,
you're in the market for a semi-automatic stretch wrapper. The amount of
time and energy saved (not to mention the reduced risk of injury) will
contribute to the return on investment.
If
you're wrapping 400 loads per week, you've got workers spending 30
hours of labor hand wrapping. Using a semi-automatic wrapper can reduce
that to 20 hours of labor per week, while a fully automatic wrapper can
reduce it to 10 hours of labor per week. If you're paying someone $15 an
hour to stretch wrap, you'll save over $7500 per year just by switching
to a semi-automatic machine.
This
saved labor can also be transferred to other tasks, or even retraining
employees and assigning them to departments that might have labor
shortages.
Looking
for other ways to improve? Check out our 10-Step Process for Damage
Reduction Through More Effective Stretch Wrapping. Our process will show
you:
How to reduce your shipping damage by 50%!
The key elements of a stretch wrapping standard!
How to manage containment force - stretch wrapping's most critical component!
3M™ Concrete Repair Self-Leveling Gray, 8.4 fl oz Cartridge/2 mix nozzles, 6 per case
3M ID
62264912338
UPC#
00021200965968
3M Product Number
600
3M™ Scotch-Weld™
Concrete Repair 600 is a quick-curing, two-component polyurethane
adhesive designed to repair cracks, spalls and breaks in concrete,
masonry and stone. Our rapid setting concrete hardens in as little as
five minutes, eliminating down time without lengthy disruptions to
day-to-day services. In fifteen minutes the bond is strong enough that
you can drive a forklift over it.
Quick set formula and bubble-free liquid is low in viscosity and
self-levels for ease of installation - floor is ready to use in minutes
Dispenses with a regular caulk gun or the duo-pack cartridge system to provide maximum working time and precise application
Chemical reaction hardens to any depth without cracking or an increase in curing time
Product can be sanded to remove rough edges and allow for refinement and smooth finishes
Bonds dissimilar substrates including concrete, masonry, ceramic,
wood and metal - eliminating the need for multiple applications with
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Ideal for minor repairs on building construction, walkways, stairways, pools, decks, patios, and general maintenance and repair
How a Stretch Wrapping Machine Can Save You Money!
If you’re shipping out products on pallets and stretch wrapping them by
hand there is a chance you could save money by using a Stretch Wrapper
to automate your operation. Although there is no set number of skids you
would need to wrap per day to have a machine show a return on
investment, typically you will start to see a ROI when you are wrapping
around 50 or more skids by hand per day.
The money a Stretch Wrapper will save you comes from:
Stretching film tighter thus using less stretch film
Having your team members spend less time wrapping skids by hand (time is money)I have found the companies I work with usually set their machines to wrap at about 250% prestretch. This means the machines stretches the film by 250%.
Obviously, this is much tighter than a person could stretch by hand
which is how a machine allows you to use less film. Using less film will
save you money and reduce the amount of waste your facility is
producing. Many machines are Semi or Fully Automatic, so the guys or
girls that would usually be spending their days wrapping skids by hand
can be used in a different area while the machine does the work. Using
the same amount of workers to do more will reduce labor costs.
“Ok, I want one, but how do I show purchasing it’s worth it?”
This is a question I get asked a lot and it’s actually one that’s very
easy to answer. Machines can be set to always wrap the same way so there
are formulas to show how much money a machine would save you. This cost
analysis can be easily done by a packaging specialist and may make
investing in a machine a no brainer. I had a company I was working with
who wanted a machine but didn’t think they could afford it. When we did
the cost analysis they saw leasing to own a machine would save them
hundreds of dollars per month as soon the machine hit their floor. This
eased any concerns they had of investing in a machine.
My Favorite Stretch Wrapping Machines
Arpac Lo Pro Series Wrapper
With the heavy-duty steel construction and the best
warranty in the industry this machine will still be the best investment
you have made a decade from now. It’s also amazingly easy to install and
use. Set up just requires you to plug it in, put the film in the
machine and press a few buttons. From then on out all you have to do to
wrap a pallet is set the pallet on the base, and press the green button.
If you want a fully automatic machine you will have to invest more up
front, but you can have a machine that only requires you to set skids on
a conveyor belt. The machine will move them onto the platform, wrap
them, cut the film, and send them down the next conveyor belt without a
human doing a thing. It’s so easy that a caveman can do it!!!
Evaluating packaging material? Here is a look at the evolution of
protective packaging methods of paper packaging to air cushion packaging
from FP International.Last updated on
FP
International talks about paper and air cushions. Showing you the
differences and why air cushions might be a better fit for your needs.
Video Transcript
For
centuries people have had the need to pack and protect goods. In the
early days tree leaves and cloth were used for protection. Later
paper was introduced to protect goods during storage and transportation.
For a long time paper has served well as
protective packaging material. By the end of the 20th
century, air cushions were intended to protect goods during transport.
Air cushions have a number of advantages
compared to paper. First paper could be abrasive and can slightly
scratch the goods it should protect as air cushions have a smooth and
soft surface they will not damage the package goods. second crumpled
paper usually leaves some dust on the package goods. this does not
contribute to the image of received parcels. as it cushions are cleaned
the goods will remain dust free. The package will arrive neatand clean at the customer. Then
paper can dehydrate and scratch or cut the packers hands. As
air cushions don’t have sharp edges they’re not abrasive to the packers
hands. Finally parcels are not always handled with care, and may
endure heavy stress during transport. After having absorbed shocks and
vibrations for sometime paper will settle down and will no longer
provide proper protection to the product. Air cushions keep their volume and will continue to protect
the cargo even after time goes by. When dropped from the same height of
vase wrapped in paper breaks while the same vase wrapped in air
cushions remains intact. Even when dropped from increased height air
cushions are still able to absorbe shocks and to protect the contents.
Because today’s number one request in packaging is quality, air cushions
can offer the best packaging alternative for your products, your people
,and your customers. FP international inventing the future.
