Solving DAM Problems

December 22, 2014

Solving DAM Problems: Solving a True DAM Problem

It's one thing to be a consultant where you don't have to really do anything, but quite another to be accountable to solve a truly difficult problem. Anybody who has been on the firing line of a tough problem knows the feeling of vulnerability that results. Will I fail? And if I do fail, will I survive or be crushed?

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August 20, 2014

Solving Dam Problems: Why Removing Your Bottleneck is a Bad Idea

Columnist Gray McQuarrie writes, "Some years ago I got into a discussion with a CEO about process bottlenecks. He asked what happens if you don't have any bottlenecks, because his operation didn't have one. I was speechless."

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April 24, 2014

Change Your DAM Thinking: Do We Need to be More Innovative?

There is a Latin saying, "castigat ridendo mores," which means, "one corrects customs by laughing at them." Should we laugh at those who practice the custom of not innovating while at the same time demanding higher sales?

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January 16, 2014

Solving DAM Problems: Can Scrap be Beaten? A Strategy for 2014 and Beyond

Columnist Gray McQuarrie writes, "Is the key to beating scrap simply following process instructions and procedures? No! Scrap can't be beaten. Well, maybe, if we had really easy boards to build or very similar part numbers run at very high volumes or better equipment that was more up to date; maybe then we would have a lower scrap rate."

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December 18, 2013

Solving Dam Problems: How to Compute Your Plant's DAM Capacity

Columnist Gray McQuarrie writes, "We have all been obsessed with global labor costs in this industry, but what is hidden in terms of the cost of not understanding our plant's true capacity could make our plants so DAM profitable that we would not have to worry about global labor costs ever again."

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September 30, 2013

Solving DAM Problems: Standards are DAM Important!

"Letting your customers set your standards is a dangerous game, because the race to the bottom is pretty easy to win. Setting your own standards, and living up to them, is a better way to profit. Not to mention a better way to make your day worth all the effort you put into it." - Seth Godin

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August 15, 2013

Solving DAM Problems: What's the DAM Problem with Scheduling?

Just as with the fog of war, in the fog of production, trying to figure out what's happening with the customer orders can be, at best, frustrating. We often find our master schedule is hardly that! It can cause any one of us to say, "What is the DAM problem with scheduling?"

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June 07, 2013

Solving Your DAM Problems: Examine Your DAM WIP

Do you think you have the best Lean program in the world? If you aren't taking vital information and comparing it to the correct benchmarks, you might be killing your business. Yes, you can be too Lean! Gray McQuarrie challenges you to think differently by understanding and examining your WIP.

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May 29, 2013

The Rules of SCRUM Break All DAM Problems!

The Scrum process, first developed nearly 30 years ago, has come a long way. Gray McQuarrie explains a few common misconceptions and how companies can maximize its benefits.

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May 16, 2013

Change Your DAM Thinking: DAM Registration

According to Gray McQuarrie, by precisely understanding the three different registration error modes encountered, you have a huge opportunity to reduce plant costs and improve your competitive position.

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February 14, 2013

Solving Your DAM Problems: How Can You Predict Your Company's DAM Future?

If you really want to steer your company in the right direction, you'd better take a look inside your soul and examine your own DAM behaviors. The solution to all of your DAM problems is much closer than you think.

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January 23, 2013

Solving Your DAM Problems: Bringing U.S. Manufacturing Back Home

Looking back over the past year, we don't see jobs in the U.S. PCB industry coming back. Why is this? More importantly, is it important enough for us to act now, and if so, how? Columnist Gray McQuarrie finds it strange that nobody seems to be standing up for manufacturing jobs.

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December 20, 2012

Bringing U.S. Manufacturing Back Home

Looking back over the past year, we don't see jobs in the U.S. PCB industry coming back. Why is this? More importantly, is it important enough for us to act now, and if so, how?

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November 12, 2012

Solve Your DAM Problems: No DAM Extras…Like, Ever!

Columnist Gray McQuarrie explains that you have two choices regarding how you manage scrap events in your shop. Be advised: Your choice could be the difference between your company thriving or dying.

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October 17, 2012

Solving Your DAM Problems: Little Things Have the Power to Break Big DAMs

Does it really make sense to roll the dice with an important customer order, just because of the inherent unreliability of your metal finishing operation? If so, it may be time for you to change the game—today.

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October 09, 2012

Solving Your DAM Problems: Remove Variation & Your Company Wins

If you can set your watch to your factory you have no DAM problems. Stop reading my column! If you can’t set your watch to your factory, then read on, because opportunities to improve your business operation are so great that you may end up with a pot of gold.

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July 19, 2012

Solving Your DAM Problems: Those DAM Laminate Suppliers

Escaping the commodity mindset and becoming more competitive and valuable begins with how we choose to treat our suppliers. We must stop treating them like a commodity and start treating them like true collaborative partners, paying them fairly, based on performance. This is how we all win.

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January 16, 2014

Can Scrap be Beaten? A Strategy for 2014 and Beyond

Columnist Gray McQuarrie writes, "Is the key to beating scrap simply following process instructions and procedures? No! Scrap can't be beaten. Well, maybe, if we had really easy boards to build or very similar part numbers run at very high volumes or better equipment that was more up to date; maybe then we would have a lower scrap rate."

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February 26, 2014

Are Boringly Predictable Operations Possible?

We've excelled at developing new technologies, new materials, and new processes, and appreciate the statement, "variety is the spice of life." But, what we have grown to accept in our operations are the unpleasant surprises that too many of us describe as "burning platforms." Is there anything we can do with our operations to make them significantly more predictable?

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April 24, 2014

Do We Need to be More Innovative?

There is a Latin saying, "castigat ridendo mores," which means, "one corrects customs by laughing at them." Should we laugh at those who practice the custom of not innovating while at the same time demanding higher sales?

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June 05, 2014

Is Your DAM Job Killing You?

"The first step in getting better is to admit to the root reality of the true problem. The reality is our jobs have become so demanding and complex that even if we had superhuman powers we would not be able to satisfy everyone all of the time. We likely fail in some way every single week (a multitude of times) or maybe even every single day (at least once)," writes columnist Gray McQuarrie.

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August 20, 2014

Why Removing Your Bottleneck is a Bad Idea

Columnist Gray McQuarrie writes, "Some years ago I got into a discussion with a CEO about process bottlenecks. He asked what happens if you don't have any bottlenecks, because his operation didn't have one. I was speechless."

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December 22, 2014

Solving a True DAM Problem

It's one thing to be a consultant where you don't have to really do anything, but quite another to be accountable to solve a truly difficult problem. Anybody who has been on the firing line of a tough problem knows the feeling of vulnerability that results. Will I fail? And if I do fail, will I survive or be crushed?

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