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Need More Output? Try Smarter Changeovers, Not More Machines

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Reducing Changeover Time Reveals Hidden Capacity and Drives Productivity with the Equipment You Already Have For many manufacturers, the fastest path to higher throughput isn’t buying another machine or expanding the facility—it’s improving how they run the machines they already have. As WMEP Consultant Jay Jochman explains, “Most Wisconsin manufacturers run a wide variety of […]

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Lessons Learned: Why “Unexpected” Outcomes Still Create Value

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When Projects Don’t Go as Planned—and That’s a Good Thing In manufacturing, not every improvement project delivers the exact result you expect. But as George Nelson, WMEP Consultant, points out, that doesn’t mean it failed. “Sometimes the most valuable outcome is discovering what won’t work,” he says. “That’s what allows you to redirect your time […]

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Preparing Operations for Significant Growth: Why “Just Add People” Won’t Work Anymore

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The Smarter Way to Double Output without Doubling Headcount When a manufacturer sets a goal to double output in five years, it’s tempting to think about adding square footage or headcount. But George Nelson, WMEP Consultant, warns that this approach can backfire. “If you don’t make improvements, you’ll need twice the people to double your […]

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Are You Really Ready? What to Check Before Your Next Certification Audit

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How to Ensure Your Certification and Audit Investments Deliver Returns Many manufacturers feel confident their systems are ready for certification—until audit day arrives. Whether preparing for an annual audit or seeking a new certification, it’s not uncommon for companies to assume they’re in good shape, only to discover critical gaps at the worst moment. As […]

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Avoiding the Pitfalls of One-Off Automation Projects

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Why Manufacturers Need an Automation Strategy and Roadmap, Not Just a Quick Fix For many manufacturers, automation starts with a single pain point—lifting heavy bags, assembling boxes, or fixing an ergonomic challenge. Those are valid reasons to automate, but as Charlie Motley, WMEP Consultant, warns, stopping there can create bigger problems down the line. “When […]

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Pet Food Meets People Food: What “Human-Grade” Expectations Mean for Small and Mid-size Pet Food Manufacturers

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How to Evaluate Feasibility, Update your HACCP, and Meet Human Food Safety Requirements without Guesswork Pet food manufacturers are increasingly being required to meet human food safety standards—a shift that brings new hazards to manage, new controls to implement, and additional documentation to maintain. Peg Dorn, WMEP Consultant and food safety expert, says the key […]

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Fractional Leadership: Big Impact without the Full-Time Price Tag

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Why More Manufacturers are Turning to Part-time and Project-based Executives to Solve Pressing Challenges For many small and mid-sized manufacturers, bringing in a senior leader in operations or finance can feel like a big leap—especially if you’re not sure the role will generate the return you need. Full-time leadership hires are high-cost, high-commitment decisions that […]

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When Growth Stalls, Focus Wins

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How a Vertical Market Strategy Can Help Manufacturers Drive Growth, Profitability, and Simpler Operations When manufacturers hit a plateau in revenue growth, the instinct is often to expand into new markets or product lines. But according to Chris Baichoo, WMEP’s CEO and Executive Director, that kind of unfocused expansion can backfire. “Many companies start with […]

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How Contract Manufacturers Can Use Pricing Granularity and Transparency to Win More Business and Improve Margins

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A Smarter Approach to Quoting and Partnership that Builds Trust and Profitability For contract manufacturers, pricing is one of the most important business tools because it drives profitability, wins new customers, and strengthens existing relationships—but only if it’s approached strategically. Too often, quotes are developed quickly, with limited detail or visibility into how costs break […]

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Too Many Eggs in One Basket?  Customer Concentration May Be Quietly Putting Your Business at Risk

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How Customer Overdependence Can Undermine Your Growth, Margins, and Future For many small and mid-size manufacturers, long-term customer relationships can feel like a safety net. But what happens when that net becomes a trap? Stephen Smiley, WMEP’s Business Transformation Services Leader, explains that manufacturers can face significant business risks—perhaps more than they realize—when one or […]

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