Monthly Archives2017 April

[ad_1]

When it comes to portable storage units there are perhaps two names that are more commonly used than any others; Portable On Demand Storage, or PODS and PACK-RAT. Both companies offer portable storage units that make a wonderful alternative to the hiring of a moving company or the hassle of renting a moving truck and all the mess that goes with it. Both have been around for quite some time and offer great services and value, so what are the main differences between the two?

Both PODS and PACK-RAT are tops in the portable storage industry but they do differ to come degree in some ways:

o Sizes: Both PODS and PACK-RAT offer different sizes for you to choose from but the number of sizes each company offers differs. PODS has three sizes to choose from that include 8X8X7, 8X8X12, and 8X8X16 all measured in feet. PACK-RAT offers two sizes that include a 12 foot and a 16 foot container. Each company offers you a guide online to help you determine how much can fit into each container or you can call a customer service representative and they will be happy to assist you.

o Storage unit construction: Both PODS and PACK-RAT feature steel frames and aluminum skins, but the PODS containers have a polymer top that allows light to shine in and the height is a bit taller than that of PACK-RAT’s. PACK-RAT containers feature a built in rack for hanging cloths that need to be moved. The doors on the units also differ as PACK-RAT uses a door that swings open and is lockable and PODS has a lightweight roll up style door that is also lockable. Again, the two are virtually identical but there are small differences.

o Number of locations: Though PACK-RAT is quickly closing the gap, there are currently more PODS locations throughout the United States. Still either company can offer you a cross-country move at an affordable price.

o The lift: The way that the two companies lift and unload their portable storage units also differs. While there is not one that seems to be better that the other, it is none the less a difference.

o Price: This is of course the number one concern on peoples mind no doubt. Price is indeed important but there is no set fee as each person’s moving and storing needs is different. That being said, there may be a situation in which PACK-RAT is more affordable and there may be a situation where PODS comes out with the price advantage. The only way to know for sure is to take advantage of the free quote system that both portable storage unit companies offer online. If you find yourself getting all discombobulated, then you can also call either company’s toll free 800 number and ask a representative for assistance.

For every fan of PODS, you will find a fan of PACK-RAT. Both companies offer award winning service and support but there are differences between the two. While the differences may seem insignificant to some, to others it may be the difference on which company they ultimately trust to move or store their stuff.

[ad_2]

Source by Jason Kay

[ad_1]

I started practicing Lean Management in the 1980’s when I was responsible for the smooth operation of 16 adhesives manufacturing plants, and believe me I have heard nearly all of the reasons why Lean will not work in a given business. Excuses such as “We are low volume, high mix,” “We are high volume, low mix,” “We are a custom shop,” “We are not manufacturing,” “We don’t make automobiles” and the ultimate excuse, “We are unique.”

It is true that each business is different or “unique” and the Lean approach needs to be customized for each individual company. In all of my years of experience, I have never run into a situation where Lean did not have the opportunity to considerably improve a company’s safety, quality, delivery, lead-time, cost, customer satisfaction, employee morale and stockholder value.

The origins of Lean rest with the Toyota Production System implemented decades ago. Toyota was inspired by some of our industrial and quality leaders like Henry Ford, Fredrick Taylor, W. Edwards Deming and Joseph Juran to name a few. The key thought is that because each company is different, you cannot blindly adopt what works for Toyota or any other company for that matter, you must adapt Lean principles to fit your business.

Lean is a mindset, a way of thinking with a commitment to achieve a totally waste -free organization that is driven by the customer. It is about leading with respect and full employee involvement. Lean is achieved by simplifying and continuously improving all your processes (administrative and manufacturing). I challenge any business, no matter how “unique”, where this concept doesn’t apply.

Some of the benefits achieved through the proper implementation of Lean are as follows:

• A minimum of 50 percent improvement in quality defects per year

• 99 percent On-Time Delivery to Customer Request Date

• Reduction in customer lead-time of 50 percent per year

• 15-20 percent improvement in productivity per year

• Double digit inventory turns within the first two years

• Significant improvement in market share as a result of better service and quality

The organization’s shareholders benefit as well, such as a sweeping improvement in employee morale as they become more involved in designing and improving the work processes they operate on a day-to-day basis. Customer satisfaction significantly increases as your quality and lead-times improve. Finally, your stockholders experience the benefit through higher quality earnings and a solid balance sheet.

In the final analysis, any business (service or manufacturing) has the potential to flourish from Lean. I have never witnessed a situation where Lean, when properly implemented, did not have a significant impact. In order to realize the full benefits of Lean, leadership needs to be fully committed and resist the tendency to revert to the old way of doing things.

[ad_2]

Source by Willie Carter

[ad_1]

Art is reflection of our society and life and movies are often regarded as modern expressions of art. They make us laugh and cry and we often love to quote them, they edify us enlighten us.

Every year numerous movies are made in the entertainment industries but all are not liked: some top the charts while others are kicked out of the box office. Some become the hot topic of discussion for the critics while others just escapes their notice, in short some get a thumps up while others a thumps down.

But how many of these, which get a positive feedback, are actually good movies? Well it is not that simple to answer, as it seems. The topic is very much subjective. What seems good to some may not be the same for the others. What appears enjoyable to a few others might be enjoyable for others. Then what exactly is a good movie? To generalize it, we can say that those movies, which are liked by the mass and not by some class category of people, could be considered as a good movie. But what are the traits that are needed for a movie to qualify as a good one. First of all a movie should provide good entertainment. They are of course others:

Touch our feelings: A movie should touch our heart and make us talk or think about it instead of just becoming a time pass. It should have the capacity to teach and inspire us and provoke us emotionally.

Educative: It should be able to let us know about something new. Nowadays movies are considered to be one of the most effective educational tools used to teach or educate people regarding certain issues. In short a good movie should have some educative value for the masses.

Mirror of the society: A good movie must also provide some elements of encouragement and inspire people towards successfully overcoming barriers. Movies are regarded as the mirror of life. Every story of a movie is more or less inspired by our life, by what happens around us.

But this is not all; there are some other factors also which contribute in making a movie, to be considered as good. Following are the points:

The Plot: This is the most important part of the movie. Without a good plot a movie fails to attract and retain the viewers in the theaters. Even if they were drawn to it initially for some reasons, people would loose interest sooner than later.

The Characters: The second most significant factor of any good movie is the characters of the story. Without them there would be no story and no plot. Characters should be such, that the audience likes them. Be it a positive character or negative one. They should have some qualities to which the people can relate.

Actors: We need good actors to make a good movie. Actors, who can justify the characters and make them, come alive in front of the audience. They must be able to portray the characters well so that people say that the characters are made keeping them in mind. They should blend themselves into the characters.

Script: Without dialogues movies look dead. Script is the life of movies so they should be very strong and appealing. They can even make people come and see the movie repeatedly.

Last but not the least, visual display of a movie with beautiful scenes and sceneries can also influence and draw people to the theaters.

[ad_2]

Source by Victor Epand

[ad_1]

Rain can be refreshing on a hot and humid day, but car owners usually don’t like it much, especially when their cars are newly-washed and sparkling. Somehow, rain has the uncanny quality of making the shiniest of cars dirty and grimy.

Here are few reasons why rain can actually be bad for your car.

Rain makes the car dirtier than it should be. The funny thing is, rain makes a clean car dirty, but makes a dirty car even harder to clean! When you take out your dusty car and drive it through the rain, some of the dust and grime are washed off, but when the rain stops and you’re still driving, expect the remaining mud to. Your tyres accumulate hard to remove mud, and even the underside of your car is caked with mud. Failure to do this will hasten the deterioration of your car. A car’s metal parts, when left underneath layers of dirt will quickly rust, therefore causing depreciation and eventual breakdown of the car body.

Rain puts added pressure on the tyres, wipers, fan belt, power steering and brakes. Rain or moisture causes a lot of car parts to slightly malfunction. Although cars are meant to be driven even through the roughest of rains, the moisture it produces makes some normal car functions to trip and cause some alarm to the driver.

The most obvious will be your windshield wipers, which take the brunt and force of heavy rain. And what will you do without them? Driving through rain with broken or malfunctioning wipers is extremely dangerous. Especially when visibility is near zero, you’d be better off parking somewhere safe, and allowing the rain to pass – this is the best thing to do when you know you have trippy wipers that could cause you major accidents. Keep you wipers in tip top shape.

Another victim of moisture is your fan belt. Moisture can cause your fan belt to squeal, especially if the moisture gets between your belt and the pulleys or belt tension.that all hold it in place. If you notice your belt squealing minutes after you drive through a large puddle or in the rain, chances are your belt is getting wet somehow. Have it checked out by a good mechanic.

If you drive a car with power steering, you know that the rain messes up with it, too. The power steering will fail temporarily (it locks up). Having your mechanic replace the pump regularly is a good idea, but rain and its moisture will somehow affect its normal function. Once it locks up, force it to move back and forth and little, the belt will finally give a little squeal and then everything is back to normal.

Another victim of rain is the braking system. A lot of cars have a tendency to make brake-grinding noises for the first few stops after they’ve been parked in the rain or mist. It’s because brake discs rapidly get a very light coating of rust from the moisture. Using the brakes scrapes the rotors clean again, and the noise goes away pretty fast. Your brake rotors can rust very quickly. They can make a grinding noise when you first drive your car after the rotors get wet, but it will go away after the rust gets scraped off by the brake pads.

Acid rain. Defined by automakers as environmental fallout, it is a term used to describe the deposit of damaging pollutants, whether wet or dry. These pollutants are released by burning fuels and react with other elements in the atmosphere and become acids. Rain itself is not the culprit, but when the rain dries, it leaves the concentrated acid part. Paint acts like a sponge and it keeps collecting all that acidic material.

How to avoid damage on your car – Repeated exposure is bad. If you consistently park your car in a covered area, garage or carport, you can avoid some of the worst effects of acid rain. Some manufacturers used acid-resistant paints, which costs a lot less than it might cost you to fix a problem afterward. To avoid permanent scarring, have your car washed and hand-dried frequently. Light-coloured vehicles seem to suffer less obvious damage; darker-colored vehicles will show wear sooner.

And when some paint damage has already happened, there is still hope. Hire a professional to have your contaminated paint cleaned up. A high-quality polymer paint sealant also has co-polymers and amino functional resins that will fight future acid rain while resisting the effects of soap and sun.

Rain is a natural phenomenon which brings life and helps maintain the environmental equilibrium. It may not be kind to man-made machines, but there are ways to make your metal babies survive even the harshest rain weather. The prime factors are care & responsibility but maintenance is the key.

[ad_2]

Source by Tim Matthews

[ad_1]

How many times have you watched a limousine being driven down the road and thought to yourself, “man that sure would be nice to own one”. The cost of purchasing one though is the prohibitive factor for most people. There is an affordable option though and that is to turn the car you now own into a stretch limousine by following these simple easy to follow instructions.

Start Taking Your Car Apart

Your going to start by removing all of the interior paneling and seats, down to the point where the car is pretty much bare inside. Next, you will need to climb under your car and remove the drive line and any brake fluid lines that are running up the under carriage.

Cut Your Car in half

Also, you will want to remove any wiring that is running the length of your car both inside and out. Next, remove all of the side windows as well as the doors. Your next step will be to get a saws-all and a pack of new metal cutting blades and saw the car in half.

Head to the Wrecking Yard

Make sure that your cut line avoids any doors for simplicity. Have a friend help you to pull the two halves of your car apart and set them up on blocks. Now head to the wrecking yard and find a car just like yours that you can cut a midsection chunk from.

A Total of Six Doors!

Bring the chunk back and weld it in place. Now you have two extra doors in back, for a total of six doors in your car! Grind and sand down your welding seams, finish them off with bondo and then hit them with a good coat of primer paint.

Easy As Pie!!

Take your drive line to a machine shop, have it extended and start to put your limo back together. Some of your interior panels will fit and some won’t, so you are going g to have to do some creative upholstery work. Your also going to need some extra long brake lines and an extended wiring harness. Hit the car with a paint job and you are good to go!

[ad_2]

Source by Zena Andersten

[ad_1]

Hoverboards are fun to ride on and they help you cut traffic. For you to buy the right ones you need to consider a number of factors. These factors include:

Size

This is very important. The right size of hoverboard that you should go for should depend on your preferences. While you can tell the size of the unit by simply looking at, it’s also important to check the diameter of the wheels. As rule of thumb ensure that your unit can easily move you from one place to the other without straining it. If you are a big guy, go for a big hoverboard and vice versa.

Wheel sizes range from 5 inches to 10 inches. Small wheels are easier to control but unfortunately, you can’t use them off-road. If interested in riding your hoverboard on rough terrains, you should go for one with large wheels.

Quality of the battery

As you know, the hoverboard is powered by a battery and the last thing you want is riding your unit for a few minutes and being required to charge it. To enjoy riding in your unit you should go for a unit with a high-quality battery. For a great experience, go for a unit with a battery that is capable of lasting up to 8 hours. I’m sure you have come across explosive batteries. To avoid being injured by an explosive battery you should go for UL approved batteries. Before parting with your money you should check the UL certifications.

Quality of the unit

For your travel vehicle to last for a long time it should be of good quality. Some of the things you should look out for when making the purchase are the material used in making it. As rule of thumb ensure that the unit is made from high-quality materials. To protect the unit from water damage, you should ensure that it has a top-notch waterproof feature. If buying offline, always try on the hoverboard and ensure that it’s comfortable to rid on.

Store where you are buying from

Many people pay a lot of attention to the features of the hoverboard and forget where they are buying it from. To buy a high-quality unit, ensure that you buy from a reputable store. This calls for you to do a lot of research before you make the purchase. If buying online, you should read the reviews of the website and ensure that it’s reputable. To avoid getting scammed you should avoid a new website without an established reputation.

If buying offline, you should ask around about the reputation of the store. You should also visit the store and take a look at the quality of the products that they have in stock. You should avoid a store with poor quality products.

Conclusion

These are the factors that you should consider when buying a hoverboard. As mentioned, you should buy from a reputable store in order to increase your chances of buying a high-quality unit.

[ad_2]

Source by Satvik Mittal

[ad_1]

There are certain behavioral norms that we are used to following in regular interactions with other people. All that seems to go out the window when you are on the road. Road rage is far more commonly discussed these days than driver etiquette, but it’s our manners while driving that are most important.

What exactly should we be doing and how should we be acting while on the road? Here are a few guidelines.

DO

o Leave on time. If you’re rushed and racing to get to an appointment or meeting, you’ll be more stressed out and far more likely to ignore proper driver etiquette which could cause some serious problems.

o Let people pull in front of you. It really won’t delay your journey if you let one or two cars get into the line and you’ll save yourself and someone else a lot of frustration.

o Slow down. Going too fast means you could miss a sign or signal and end up in an accident. This isn’t just about etiquette, it’s also about safety.

o Give advance notice. If you’re going to turn, be sure to turn on your signal ahead of time, not just as you are about to make the turn. This lets the vehicles around you react appropriately.

o Dim your headlights. When coming up on another car, keep in mind that your brights can blind the other driver, whether reflecting in his rearview mirror or shining directly into the oncoming car.

o Move to one side when emergency vehicles come through. It might be tempting to race ahead, particularly if your turnoff is coming up, but keep in mind why they are in hurry and pull over.

o Let buses cut in. They are on a schedule and you’ll be able to overtake them at the next stop, which won’t take much time off your commute, but could make a big difference to those who travel public transport.

DON’T

o Expect people to guess what you’re thinking. It’s important to always let them know with signals what you are about to do. Expecting someone to get out of your way because you’re in a hurry is only going to cause problems.

o Tailgate. There is nothing more annoying than someone who just won’t back off, so move back and keep an appropriate distance between cars.

o Talk on the phone while driving. Studies have shown that you simply don’t have the same reflexes when having a conversation on the phone and using just one hand to drive. Instead, invest in a headless phone system or wait until you can pull over.

o Lose your temper. Take deep breaths or even pull over if you need to. Getting angry and giving in to road rage will only cause more trouble than it’s worth.

o Block cyclists and motorbikes. They might be annoying, but it’s not worth causing problems if they are trying to pass you on the shoulder.

o Drive too slowly. If you are going lower than the speed limit, make sure you move to one side so people can pass you. It’s rude to cause a hold up by driving too slowly.

Being polite on the road is just as important as having good table manners. How you act will affect the people around you and driving etiquette will also affect how you go through your day. Being nice to people is proven to make you feel better and boost morale, so it`s a good way to start the day off right, by letting someone move into the line ahead of you during rush hour.

[ad_2]

Source by Amy Nutt

[ad_1]

Before we get down to kaizen conclusion it is best if we understand what kaizen is in reality. Kaizen is a Japanese word which means continuous improvement. Like the name suggests, the process of bringing in continuous improvements in the business process is called kaizen. The principles of kaizen are very flexible. Its elements can be easily implemented in several departments such as management, services, marketing, accounts, manufacturing, human resources and engineering. If its elements are implemented with care then it will assist the company in the aim of using its limited resources to the maximum so as to make the most profit with least cost. Wastage elimination is also made possible through kaizen. Kaizen cannot be applied in the organization until and unless employees are properly trained for it. Once the employees are given training on Kaizen and its principles they are able to utilize the best of their capabilities and attain several appealing rewards in return.

Due to flexible nature of kaizen, it can be easily applied in all kinds of organizations regardless of the nature and size. An organization as huge as Toyota can also implement Kaizen and a small home based business such as bakery or parlour can also use kaizen.

Kaizen conclusions are always beneficial; they always make sure the company has started operating on the right track which is giving them the best profit. The kaizen conclusions should not be doubted in any manner because the success rate of kaizen applications has been extremely high. All over the world, there have been companies which have used kaizen principles and profited drastically. The names of some of these companies would be Toyota and Honda the two big names of automotive company and then Fidelty investments, the famous Johnson and Johnson and none other than Canon, the brand with ultimate power. All these companies openly confess that the fame they are enjoying today is only because they applied the principles of kaizen and did not lose faith in it. Having faith in kaizen is highly important because it might sometimes tell you to change the entire structure of your organization but you should realize that it is because of your betterment.

Let’s take example of Canon a Japanese company which utilized kaizen and its principle to transform the entire structure of its organization. They were able to grow their productivity rate by three percent only after six months had passed by since they had implemented kaizen rules and regulations in to their operations. Canon made use of matrix management system to reduce waste and encourage the workforce to work at their best level. With time they started using more and more of kaizen principles and experienced more and more growth. Today they have branches in nearly all corners of the world and they give all the credit to kaizen and its principles.

The companies should realize the importance of kaizen especially if they w ant to reach the international market. They should not hesitate in applying its various rules and regulations. Initially, results might not be so obvious. Also, companies might be troubled with the idea of changing their entire operational structure because of kaizen. However, after some months as companies will start eliminating wastages and reducing expenditures they will appreciate Kaizen and its magical principals.

[ad_2]

Source by Sam Miller

[ad_1]

When it comes to windshield wipers, some people like to replace the entire blade every now and then in order to maintain optimum performance. No matter what kind of vehicle you drive, durable windshield wiper blades are a must. If they are cheap, they won’t knock away snow, rain, or ice efficiently. This could put you and your passengers at risk.

Many people find that replacing the entire blades rather than refilling the wiper makes things easier. This is because the refill might not match the current blades. It could just be a waste of money if you don’t know exactly what to order.

AutoCraft and Bosch are two of the biggest names in windshield wiper replacements. Their blades are top-sellers. They offer both winter and beam windshield wipers in every size imaginable. The 22-inch winter blade is designed with a tough rubber boot, which locks out ice and snow. Its metal construction gives it durability and strength – even in the coldest wintry conditions. In addition to the 22-inch model, there are also 17-inch, 19-inch, 20-inch, and 24-inch models.

The Bosch OE blade features a brackletless design that provides an efficient wipe. You can expect results that enhance your visibility and safety. It’s a good replacement for most OE wiper blades. The all-steel frame allows for it to remove even the smallest droplets for a perfectly clear view.

Other popular blades that you might want to consider include the Rain X Weatherbeater and Kleenview. The Rain X Weatherbeater blades are available in many different sizes, with the 22-inch being the top seller.

The reason why these blades stand out is due to their lasting durability. They are made out of an innovative steel frame that prevents corrosion. The design allows for embedded friction reduction to ensure a smooth and streak-free wipe. The rubber (natural squeegee) resists tearing and cracking caused by wiper fluid and salt. Overall, the blades meet all OEMs’ standards.

The blades from the Kleenview brand are engineered for superior wrap on curved windshields. The steel frame with which they are made has an aerodynamic design. It provides a good amount of durability. The installation process is easy thanks to the pre-attached universal adapter. The great thing about these blades is that they are compatible with most vehicles, including small cars, large cars, and trucks.

These are among the best windshield wiper blades money can buy. Do a bit of research on each brand and order the one that will best suit your windshield needs.

[ad_2]

Source by George Botwin

[ad_1]

No one likes to be the sweaty one in a group where everyone else seems to be perfectly dry. It’s embarrassing to be concerned about your sweat spots and body odor. It’s even worse when you have excessive back sweating never knowing if it’s showing up to others or not.

There are techniques to help deal with back sweating. Some of these mask the sweating while others attempt to reduce overall sweating so that you can be more comfortable.

Get breathable clothing. Clothing can sometimes cause or make the situation worse. Find clothing that is breathable and reduces sweat. Lighter clothes will tend to feel cooler but show more sweat while darker clothes are warmer but can mask sweat. It might be advisable to look into synthetic undershirts made for runners as they are designed to wick away sweat and dry faster.

Use antiperspirant on your back. Antiperspirant can be used on other parts of the body. The same concepts there for your back sweating problem. The only issue with this is that it’s harder to apply all by yourself.

Get a beaded seat cover in your car. One of the big sources of back sweat stains happens when you are driving in your vehicle. The beaded seat cover, although not as comfortable, lets your back have a bit more air helping to reduce the sweat stains. It’s a good technique to avoid showing up already sweaty.

Try body powders to dry out the skin. Body powders are made for the hands, armpits, and feet to dry out sweat. These can also be used on the back to help prevent sweating.

Use natural solutions to sweat control like vinegar or limes. One technique for sweat is to apply limes or use vinegar, normally malt or white, to the problem area when it’s completely dry. Then let the limes or vinegar dry out completely. It’s best to do this at night before bed as these can cause staining to clothing.

Reduce the body’s overall sweating. There are a variety of factors that lead the body to sweat. When sweating your problem area like your back will show the most. Reducing the body’s overall sweat will keep your back much more dry. Things like drinking plenty of water, a healthier diet, and exercise do actually assist in making the body more efficient with cooling itself and regulating body temperature. You will also reduce body mass which in excess heats up the body.

[ad_2]

Source by Herb Leibacher