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4 Cutting-Edge Tools for Manufacturing Success

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StrategyDriven Tactical Execution Article | 4 Cutting-Edge Tools for Manufacturing Success

The manufacturing industry can be a competitive one, which is why it’s so important for business owners to be as efficient and productive as possible – the better you (and your team) work, the happier your clients will be. Happy clients means return clients and good word of mouth, which can boost your profits and make you much more successful.

One of the best ways to ensure you’re efficient and productive in your manufacturing business is to have the most cutting-edge tools to help you. With that in mind, here are some ideas to consider. Read on to find out more.

Automated Conveyor Systems

Conveyors and conveyor belt equipment have been part of the manufacturing process for a long time – since the start, perhaps. Of course, everything was done by hand back then, which meant a slow, inefficient, and potentially even dangerous process. Thankfully, things are very different today, and conveyors like those at Machinery Partner, are much safer and do the job much better.

In fact, the most cutting-edge conveyors are the best yet because they’re usually equipped with sensors, actuators, and other sophisticated controls that can be much more adaptable. They can even change their speed, or how they’re working depending on the amount they need to carry – and rather than an operator having to do it, it’s an automated process. That makes removing waste, for example, much more efficient, ensuring your business runs as smoothly as possible.

Cobots

If you’ve never heard of cobots, don’t worry – it’s just a term that means ‘collaborative robots’, and these can be a fantastic addition to your manufacturing business, ensuring you’re absolutely on the cutting-edge of new technology at all times.

These machines are designed to work with their human counterparts, so you don’t need to worry that your team won’t like them (they’re not taking human jobs), and because they’re new and improved, they don’t have to be kept in cages for safety like traditional manufacturing robots tend to be. They’re massively versatile and can do all kinds of different jobs, including potentially fixing machines more quickly and safely than a person could.

3D Printing

What is additive manufacturing? Well, you probably already know, because it’s another term for 3D printing, which is a fantastic cutting-edge tool that can be ideal for the manufacturing industry.

If you’re not sure what it can do, 3D printing can make patterns and information and use them to make components quickly and precisely. You need to work out the digital design to be used, and then feed it to the printer, which will then ‘print’ what you need. There are a number of benefits to using a 3D printer, but some of the biggest are reduced costs and faster production.

Predictive Maintenance Software

Finally, predictive maintenance software is another piece of excellent cutting-edge technology that you can use to great advantage in your manufacturing business. Just think of all the tools and pieces of equipment that come together to do what needs to be done for you – and just think of how much downtime you lose when something goes wrong or something just needs to be routinely checked.

With predictive maintenance software you can reduce downtime by knowing in advance when something needs to be serviced or a component has to be changed – you can plan things out so that downtime is minimized or even done away with altogether!

How To Support an Employee Through a Traumatic Time

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StrategyDriven Managing Your People Article | How To Support an Employee Through a Traumatic Time

There are many different events that can count as traumatic, and it is important to realize that they don’t have to end in a fatality. Anyone who experiences a life-changing event may experience trauma in some way, and expecting one or more of your employees to ride the wave of emotions and continue their job role like nothing has happened is not a good or helpful move.

It is obvious that these individuals will need support while they are healing. This, in itself, is not a predefined time that is the same for everyone and they will require your patience and empathy while this process is taking place. However, there are some other things that you can do while this is taking place.

1. Listen to Your Employee

Although the hardest thing to do is to start a conversation with the traumatized person about the incident that has taken place, you may still need to do this. Rather than trying to ‘fix’ the trauma, you need to practice your listening skills, empathize not sympathize, and try to understand what your employee needs by ways of support and how your business can go about providing this.

As already discussed, the healing process time cannot be assumed, so thinking that your employee will be back to running at 100% within a couple weeks or so just because you feel they should be, may not be the case at all. Understanding all the different signs and side effects of trauma and stress could help you comprehend how your employee is feeling. It is important to realize that it is not just about the physical or emotional effects but there are also cognitive and social behaviours to look out for as well.

2. Ensure They Have the Legal Support

It is important that they have the right legal help and support as this can provide financial compensation that could help with medical costs and loss of earnings. Some individuals may feel that they can’t afford legal representation or that they just want the event to not have happened.

In the event of a road traffic accident, for instance, injuries are likely to be ongoing and could result in loss of earnings. These all add up especially when you take into account the mental damage and trust issues that your employee may have when either getting into another vehicle or sitting behind the wheel. However, having an experienced and qualified car accident lawyer acting on their behalf could elevate some of the weight from their shoulders and allow them to focus on themselves rather than on the rising costs that they are likely to be encountering.

3. Help Them Manage Their Work Routine

Although they may certainly not be top of their game, they will benefit from keeping to some form of routine. You may need to change their working hours to more suitable timings for them and their new regimes or even offer them the opportunity to work from home either temporarily or for the foreseeable future. This will help them keep money coming in and provide them with some sort of normality at a time when their lives feel upside down and chaotic.

Of course, with your employee working away from the office you will need to put in some extra effort to ensure that they do not feel alone and isolated. Investing in good reliable communication software so that they can stay in their social bubble at work even though they are not on site and checking in regularly with them yourself could go a long to bridging the gap. You could also change the way that you hold relevant meetings to include video links so that the employee can still attend the meetings that they need to and can continue to work in a manner that they are used to doing.

A Few Final Thoughts

When an employee suffers a traumatic event, you need to understand that it will also affect your business. Being patient with your employees’ abilities and concentration levels while also being prepared to listen to the employee will show that you are supportive in their healing process.

However, you could go that much further and offer them legal advice – if they haven’t sought it themselves and provide them with an adjusted working day. This could be changing their hours or even offering remote working for those who are unduly struggling to make the journey from home to work. Of course, you will have to put in more effort to ensure that they still feel connected and not ostracized by regularly checking in with them and perhaps investing in quality communication software so that other employees can also stay in contact with them.

Five Strategies to Cut Costs as a New Business

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StrategyDriven Managing Your Business Article | Five Strategies to Cut Costs as a New Business

Did you know that 20% of new businesses fail within the first two years, 45% during the first five years, and 65% before their 10th anniversary? These worrying statistics demonstrate just how hard it is to keep a new business afloat in today’s competitive marketplace and challenging economy.

As a business owner, you need to be looking at ways to make your enterprise more cost-efficient. Here are five strategies to help you cut costs as a new business, which one will you try first?

1. Stick to Your Budget

Every business owner knows the importance of their annual budget, helping them to plan for the year and, hopefully, yield good profits. However, it can be hard to stick to your budget, especially as a small business owner who often has to deal with unexpected expenses.

To help you stick to your budget, you need to make sure you stay on top of your finances throughout the year and track all your profits and losses.

2. Embrace New Technologies

Many small business owners shy away from investing in new technologies, either because they don’t understand how they work or because they’re worried about the cost.

However, there are lots of new technologies that are perfect for small businesses, such as payment processing management software and cloud computing, both of which offer a great return on investment.

3. Outsource Effectively

Outsourcing is a key way to grow a business while keeping an eye on costs. Assess how much it costs your small business to carry out administrative tasks such as payroll, answering the telephone, and replying to customer emails. These are time-consuming jobs that use up a lot of your precious resources, and it can be much more efficient to outsource these tasks rather than carry them out in-house. Using services from a reputable company such as Best Reception means that you don’t need to pay holiday pay, sick pay, or insurance, and, often, their rates are cheaper, which can save your business even more money.

4. Motivate Your Employees

Would you say that your employees are highly motivated? If not, then this could be costing your small business quite a bit of money. As the face of your operation, your staff has a huge impact on not just your sales figures but also the public’s perception of your business.

This means that you need them to be happy, motivated, and eager to work hard for you. There are lots of techniques that you can use to motivate your employees, such as offering remote working, giving lots of praise, and providing training schemes.

5. Modernize Your Marketing

If you’re currently using traditional marketing techniques to promote your business, this is likely to be taking quite a large chunk of your budget. Instead, it’s a much better idea to turn your attention to digital marketing strategies such as social media marketing, content marketing, and email marketing, all of which are much more affordable.

If you’re new to digital marketing, there are lots of free guides and tutorials online to help you get started.

Key Factors to Consider When Choosing Vision and Dental Plans for Small Businesses

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StrategyDriven Talent Management Article | Key Factors to Consider When Choosing Vision and Dental Plans for Small Businesses

Employers often face many choices when selecting vision and dental for small business plans. These benefits go beyond mere compliance – they are crucial for promoting employees’ health, happiness, and productivity. Vision and dental issues, if neglected, can lead to larger health problems that can affect performance and increase healthcare costs. Providing access to benefits can also serve as a drawing card for promising talent and could be pivotal in retaining your best employees.

The Importance of Including Vision and Dental Plans in Employee Benefits

Integrating vision and dental benefits into your employee benefits strategy demonstrates a commitment to the overall well-being of your employees. Vision issues can impede productivity and contribute to job dissatisfaction, while poor dental health can lead to absenteeism and significant health complications if unaddressed. By offering these benefits, you affirm your company’s dedication to employee health, which can significantly enhance morale and loyalty. Moreover, evidence suggests that employees with access to comprehensive health care are less likely to leave their jobs, thus directly impacting talent retention rates positively.

Assessing the Needs of Your Workforce

Understanding your workforce’s demographics and health requirements is a critical first step in crafting an effective benefits plan. Employees in different age groups and life stages may have varying vision and dental needs. For example, younger employees might prioritize orthodontic benefits, while older employees might be more concerned about coverage for advanced dental procedures or age-related vision care. Conducting thorough surveys and analyzing the data will enable you to offer benefits your employees will value and use. This personalized approach to benefits can also set your business apart as an employer that genuinely cares for its employees.

Comparison Shopping for Plans

Comparing different plans is essential to find the right fit for your company and workforce. Evaluating the provider networks’ depth, coverage, and overall benefit limits is critical when reviewing plans. Don’t just settle for the first affordable plan you come across. Instead, look for a plan that aligns with your employees’ health priorities. This might involve comprehensive coverage for eye exams, glasses, and contacts, or preventive dental care and orthodontics, depending on the preferences indicated by your workforce.

Cost Versus Benefits: Finding the Balance

Selecting the right plan balances finding a cost-effective solution and offering a plan that provides true value to your employees. The cheapest isn’t always the best, particularly when future health concerns and the associated costs are considered. Affordable plans that lack comprehensive coverage might lead to higher out-of-pocket expenses for employees, resulting in dissatisfaction and underuse of the benefits. Aim to select a plan that offers substantial coverage at a price point that both employees and the company find reasonable.

Understanding Legal and Regulatory Considerations

Employers must be fully aware of the legalities of offering employee health benefits. Compliance with healthcare laws, such as the Affordable Care Act, is non-negotiable and requires careful attention to detail and adherence to guidelines. Employers should seek to understand the minimum requirements and ensure that the health plans offered meet these standards to avoid penalties. Additionally, staying current on any changes in legislation can help you adapt your benefits strategy accordingly and protect your business from potential legal issues.

Integration with Other Employee Benefits

Vision and dental plans should not exist in a silo but rather be effectively integrated with the overall benefits strategy. Coherent integration enables employees to understand the full scope of what is available to them, making it simpler to make informed decisions about their healthcare. This also makes benefits administration more manageable for the employer, as having a unified system reduces the administrative burden and allows for better tracking and reporting of benefits usage.

Focus on Preventive Care and Wellness

When choosing plans, prioritize those with strong preventive care options. Plans that cover regular eye exams and dental check-ups encourage early detection and treatment of health issues, potentially saving on more costly interventions later. Education about the importance of preventive care should also be a key component of your benefits package. It can change health behavior, reduce absenteeism, and increase productivity, creating a win-win situation for employers and employees.

Educating Employees About Their Benefits

It’s not enough to offer benefits; employees must also understand them. Confusion about what’s covered can prevent employees from taking full advantage of their benefits. Employers should provide clear, accessible information, possibly through user-friendly online portals or regular educational meetings. These resources should explain how to use the benefits, the importance of preventive services, and whom to contact for help with their benefits questions.

Setting Up for Success: Implementation and Ongoing Support

Once you have chosen a vision and dental plan, ensuring a smooth rollout is critical. This means preparing both your HR team and your employees for the transition. An efficient rollout and continuous support can foster a positive experience, encouraging employees to engage with and appreciate their new benefits. Solicit feedback, make necessary adjustments, and view this as an ongoing process that may need regular tweaks to align with your employees’ health needs and industry best practices.

Tired of SEO? Try These 8 Alternative Approaches to Digital Marketing

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StrategyDriven Online Marketing and Website Development Article | Tired of SEO? Try These 8 Alternative Approaches to Digital Marketing

Digital marketing strategies, such as those promoted by Brandlift Digital Marketing SEO, require several alternatives to optimize their effectiveness. If you just depend on SEO, then competitors will capitalize on your telegraphed moves. To shake things up, here are eight alternatives to SEO.

1. Paid Advertising

Paid advertising will get you to the top of the search results in no time. It’s one of the reasons some companies have ranked high in audience engagement in several industries. Even with a pay per click model, you’ll see significant changes in the way customers relate to your content.

2. Social Media Marketing

Any company that isn’t using social media is missing out on a ton of revenue. The lowest ranking platform in this category has millions of current and future customers as an audience. Starting a social media marketing campaign is easy, with a lot less resources required than other methods.

3. Content Marketing

The distribution of relevant and valuable content is a magnet to good business. Your audience will always seek out good content! And if it goes viral, that content will get freely shared among multiple people.

4. Affiliates

When you decide to go the affiliate marketing route, the partner chosen has to align with your company’s vision. A partner is only as good as their compatibility, so don’t rush into any agreement with a promise of leads. Remember, an affiliate becomes the temporary face of your products and services!

5. Social Media Advertising

When marketing directly on social media isn’t an option, running paid ads on a platform can be just as effective. You can use existing data to reach specific targets without going all in on joining the social media space.

6. Influencer Marketing

A collaboration with influencer is a great way to jumpstart interest in your business. Even without considering the monetary value, this type of deal can be beneficial to both sides. The company gets a trusted face to attach to its product, and the influencer gets a sponsor that can lead to more potential business opportunities for their brand.

7. Events

Event marketing requires money upfront with the eventual promise of future success. For some businesses, it can be a big risk to host or sponsor an event to build brand awareness. Since there is no guarantee of the gains, companies have to take all logistics into account. But when it works, an event can propel any product to greatness.

8. Email Marketing

The efficiency of email marketing keeps it as one of the best SEO alternatives in the world. Targeted emails are the traditional way to boost customer numbers. It’s also still considered a top five choice for gathering valuable data on current and potential customers.

The Perfect Alternative

Avoid flaming out with bad marketing by staying ahead of the game. Trends, consumer wants and general hype can change how a service or product needs to be advertised. SEO will always be a powerful digital marketing tool, but it is one of many that can get you to the finish line.