Production
Where I started, managing work orders and building the production schedule. Using ERP systems, pulling and compiling data to assess manpower, time, machine, space and shop load for meeting customer demand and optimizing the throughput.
Accounting
Learnt on the go, I took over the book and financial reporting for a division in 2018. Since then I have continued to learn and and have an aptitude for accounting, financials and bookkeeping.
Inventory
Managing, controlling and optimizing inventory to ensure we are cost efficient, nothing is lost, and effective in the use and care of product.
Management
Manufacturing is not a one person effort. It requires teams of people who are good at what they do, and do it before problems arise. If it’s a small shop, you need a couple of super A players, who can wear many hats. Working with energetic, problem solvers who are optimistic about finding solutions rather than excuses make manufacturing a really fun game.
Do Something
“Life is pretty simple: You do some stuff. Most fails. Some works. You do more of what works. If it works big, others quickly copy it. Then you do something else. The trick is the doing something else.”
Steve Jobs
Manufacturing
I landed in manufacturing because I wanted a 9-5 with weekends off. I have left manufacturing and returned. I have learned have scheduled for different types of product and facilities, purchased (I hate purchasing, too many emails), ran a warehouse, learned financial and audit accounting, part setup and BOM development, inventory practices, sales pricing strategies, HR, payroll and management.
I can truly say I it is a beast. I believe manufacturing is the hardest type of business to operate. There are so many moving pieces: people, parts, freight, coordination of everything at the right time, at the right cost to provide a awesome product which people will pay enough for that you can keep the lights on for another day, month, year.
Manufacturing is not for the feint of heart, but it is very interesting.
AWS Air Bar
I currently have the pleasure (ha) of changing the ERP system one of the division’s uses. This has been a mammoth effort, that I learned a lot from. Things I would do better, things I did right. And now I am working with that team to learn their product and navigate the choppy waters that the US is stirring up.
I am very excited to be learning about things and going deeper into product and sales as I learn more about operating a plant wholly.