NOVEMBER 20219MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY INSIGHTS1. Talent ManagementIn my opinion, this area is comprised of five key aspects: identification of high potentials, career and succession planning, training, networking, and retention. Surely, pushing the mindset of talents at the highest-level to stretched goals and developing their capabilities are keys to success. However, understanding the value proposition of these employees and consequently defining the system to increase loyal behaviors and their retention is often overlooked. This creates constant drainage of talented resources and consequent losses of opportunity to pursue excellence in operations.2. Target and Performance ControlThe right choice of targets and their connection to strategy are the first crucial basic steps to build an effective operational model. Then, targets must be tracked through the proper panel of indicators. Results must be discussed, and any deviations from the expectations must lead to consequences and reactions to recover from the missing targets. Nevertheless, management must not be obsessed with the number: this obsession can sink the best strategy when metrics become surrogated and do not tie to the priority dictated by the business.3. Operation ManagementIn my experience, this area requires the application of Lean Techniques, supported by the management awareness of the importance of that. In FCA, we have been adopting a production system named World Class Manufacturing (WCM) since 2005, which targets the elimination of all types of waste. Through the adoption of the best lean methodologies and tools, it drives the continuous improvement in safety, quality, and cost with the full engagement of all the employees. WCM's distinctive feature is its focus on quantifying the sources of waste within the production process and leveraging the data-driven prioritization of projects by a methodology called Cost Deployment. Moreover, WCM differs from traditional production systems as it is not only focused on compliance to production standards, but also involves Knowledge, People Development, Leadership, World Class Targets, Best Practices, Competency Network, Innovation, and Organizational Structure backed up by a robust audit system that spawns a healthy competition and sharing toward the ideal state of manufacturing.To conclude this brief overview of the Operational Excellence, my final recommendation is reminding readers of the key importance of teamworking. Nowadays, competition sets a fierce playground for firms, which must face very complex business problems to be successful. Complex problems require very skilled individuals with complementary specialties that must work in the same team. Thus, working together in a collaborative environment is the most important aptitude within a winning organization. And to achieve this condition, the leaders must be aware that their role of the social architects to build this aptitude within a company is one of the keys to flawlessly executing a brilliant strategy. Without building the awareness, competences, and most importantly, the consensus among the leaders, success won't be achieved on a sustainable form.
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