by Gary Mintchell | Dec 31, 2018 | Productivity
Go ahead, admit it. You’ve already started your list of New Year’s Resolutions.
You know you will forget them by January 15.
I’m preparing for a jump in attendance in my Yoga class next week.
Of course, by the end of January attendance will be pretty much where it has been.
Resolving that “I will be healthier this year” or “I will weigh a health 1XX pounds” won’t do it.
Deciding on one or two new habits will make the change permanent.
Tomorrow morning I will make a breakfast of oatmeal with fruit. And the next morning. Maybe even laying out the bowl the night before. Do that for 30 days, and you will be moving on your way to a healthier and slimmer you.
Tomorrow morning I will get up and either go to the gym or the park and run/walk for 30 minutes. Do that for 30 days along with one change in eating, and you will have new habits and be on your way to health and fitness.
After a couple of months, you could say, for example, “since I am already at the gym to run or walk daily (maybe skipping weekends or something), I will add using the weight machines to firm up my muscles.”
Apply this to business. We never say, “I resolve to fail.” But perhaps you could change one habit. Maybe in how you compliment people. Maybe, if you are in sales, make it a habit that every day at 9 am I will make 10 sales calls. I don’t schedule meetings, I make calls. I add it to my calendar. Make it a habit.
Habits are a nice way of talking about disciplines. Rather than saying “I will grow spiritually,” say, “tomorrow morning I will get up 15 minutes earlier and read from the Bible (or other spiritual book) followed by meditating on the thought for 5 minutes.” Have a chair with the book on the table beside it. Get up, brew your coffee or tea, and sit down to do your spiritual work. After 30 days you will have a habit that everyone will notice.
Warning: Don’t try too many new habits all at once. You’ll be overwhelmed. One habit change can noticeably change your life.
by Gary Mintchell | Dec 21, 2018 | Operations Management, Organizations, Podcast
Another Podcast. Sponsored by Ignition from Inductive Automation and the 23rd Industry Forum from ARC Advisory Group. (See banners.) Stuff happening. Siemens (cyber security, growing digitally). Emerson (growing and acquisitions). GE (divesting Digital). ABB (divesting power grid). Rockwell (new product with PTC). Keep an eye on IT companies with powerful compute packages for OT–Dell Technologies and Hewlett Packard Enterprise.
https://oembed.libsyn.com/embed?item_id=8005328
by Gary Mintchell | Dec 20, 2018 | Commentary, Internet of Things, Operations Management
I highly recommend putting Seth Godin on your radar—both his blog and his podcast. He always makes you rethink your assumptions.
He discusses problems—crisis versus chronic in this blog post.
We all live to the crisis. Pumps go down. Motor bearings freeze. Valves stick.
I’ve lived the situation of the plant manager threatening bodily harm if I don’t get the machine running—now.
Chronic? That’s an entirely different situation.
The problem exists. We just are not aware of it. That is, until it becomes a crisis.
Chronic is a system problem. We got used to it. A small, but nagging, pain that we learn to live with.
These require a change to the system to repair. Think the advice of W. Edwards Deming.
This is where a good IIoT system with solid analytics and visualization can save your bacon.
What little problems are you letting slide until it becomes a crisis?
by Gary Mintchell | Dec 19, 2018 | News, Operations Management
I am always interested in how companies go to market. I’ve had several years experience in product development and marketing trying to figure that all out. Inductive Automation is an interesting case study. It began life with an innovative cost structure and then went to market with quality systems integrators.
Recently, it has designated Primary Systems Inc. (PSI) as an Inductive Automation Premier Integrator—its highest level recognition.
Founded in 1989, Primary Systems Inc. is based in Old Bridge, N.J. PSI designs, implements, and troubleshoots systems for the process and manufacturing industries. Its engineers have systems expertise in batch, machine and motion control applications.
PSI’s data logging solutions for IIot and Industry 4.0 put pertinent information in clients’ hands in real-time.
“For 10 years, Ignition has proven to be the most robust and flexible solution for our customers’ SCADA and data-handling needs,” said Eric Alter, president of Primary Systems Inc. “Whether we use it in packaging, in processing areas, or in Auto ID applications, Ignition provides us with the platform and tools to solve problems on the plant floor and in higher-level applications such as MES.”
Scott Alter, vice president of control and automation solutions, added, “As an independent systems integrator, it’s our job to recommend the best solution for each of our clients’ projects. Inductive Automation’s Ignition is, more and more often, the solution that best gives our customers the flexibility and economic advantages they need to upgrade and expand their production operations.”
“We’re proud to welcome Primary Systems Inc. as a Premier Integrator,” said Don Pearson, chief strategy officer at Inductive Automation. “The team there has proven to be proficient with Ignition software, and has done numerous successful projects for their customers. We’re happy to be working with this vibrant and dependable company.”
Inductive Automation has relationships with more than 1,800 integrators worldwide. The company has deep roots within the integrator community. Inductive Automation President/CEO Steve Hechtman was a control system integrator for 25 years before he founded Inductive Automation.
by Gary Mintchell | Dec 19, 2018 | News
Quick, time is running out for this cool contest.
AVEVA, a global leader in engineering and industrial software, is for the first time inviting senior year chemical engineering students in North America to enter a competition with industrial process simulation software at its center.
The competition will involve using SimCentral, AVEVA’s industrial simulation platform, to solve a problem created by the company in collaboration with Dr. Richard Turton, renowned author and industry expert in the field of chemical process simulation. The competition will take place remotely and students do not need to be proficient in the software to enter – training will be provided.
The competition aims to introduce students to new skills and techniques in preparation for careers that increasingly rely on Industry 4.0 and the use of modern engineering process design, simulation and optimisation applications. Students are encouraged to be as innovative and creative as possible in their approach.
“By participating in this competition, students will be able to gain valuable experience that will stand them in good stead as they look to transition from academia to the workplace,” said Amish Sabharwal, Vice President of Engineering at AVEVA. “The digital transformation of the chemical engineering industry is now underway and I look forward to seeing the work its future stars produce,” he added.
Registration for the competition is now live, deadline 31 December 2018.
The best two submissions, as judged by AVEVA and Dr. Turton, will receive cash prizes:
· First place: $3,000
· Runner-up: $1,500
The full details of the task will be circulated to entrants on 7 January 2019, with 15 March the deadline for submissions and the winners being announced on 30 April 2019.
AVEVA is unable to open this competition to students in Quebec.
