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How do you write a good review to compare two or more products? Prior to that, allow me explain about the fault in most reviews nowadays and why is there a need for the masses to write comparison reviews.

No one can deny that reviews play a crucial role to assist consumers in making purchasing decisions. Consumers either ask their friends for feedback, look out for reviews in magazines or even read reviews online. Most of the time, a typical consumer would have read many reviews before narrowing down the list of things they will consider buying into 2 or 3 products. But as most reviews are meant for only one product, studying individual reviews of products wouldn’t help much in choosing the best of the two or three shortlisted products. This scenario often put consumers in a dilemma to choose between two equally well products based on the reviews they read, that in the end they make a decision based on the pricing factor. But what if the cheaper product is in fact inferior to the more expensive one? The consumer may have gotten a good product, but definitely not the best.

This is where writing a review to compare two or more products is important. The review will be able to compare both products side by side on a set of attributes. When the comparison is done, the review can then provide a conclusion which of the product is superior over the other. So what are the essence of a comparison review?

If you would like to write a comparison review, follow the tips below:

• Include a descriptive title – Do include a useful and descriptive title in the review. You wouldn’t want to use a title “Review of Two Hybrid Japanese Cars” when you can actually use the title “Comparison Review of the Toyota Prius vs Honda Fit Hybrid”. Using a descriptive title will also allow others to search for your review through the search engines.
• Compare the common attributes – While writing a review for two products, ask yourself what are the attributes commonly displayed in both products. In the example of Japanese hybrid cars, the common attributes to be compared will be fuel consumption, comfort, noise insulation, you get the deal. While discussing these common attributes in your review, ensure that they are also compared on the same metrics. E.g. to compare fuel consumption, use the metric kilometers/hour for both vehicles.
• Highlight the unique attributes – As both products are different in their own right, highlight their unique attributes. Mention in your review how the unique attribute helps the potential customer in other ways.
• Provide a conclusion – After completing the comparison of both products, always remember to give a verdict, or at least provide a recommendation. The reason people read reviews is to get feedback and a review verdict or recommendation does exactly that. One important reminder to all reviewers is never be biased in your recommendation.
• State your sources – This tip is more of an optional tip but if you do provide the sources of your review (either by experience of owning both products, or by having tried them at the shop), it helps to establish yourself as a more credible reviewer.

Hopefully this guide will be useful in getting more people to write better comparison reviews.

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Source by Toh J

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Since the very conception of the automobile, engineers and designers have been searching for was to make them more efficient and save on fuel consumption. Petrol fuels the majority of vehicles and diesel fuel is used in heavier automotive equipment. The internal combustion engine is considered to be a major if not the biggest source of environmental pollution and the cost of fuel is increasing every day.

With a constant rise in fuel costs and the environmental concerns regarding automobiles, vehicle engineers have had to develop more economical and environmentally safer alternatives to the internal combustion engine that powers most cars. This has led to the birth of the hybrid automobile. These hybrid automobiles offer a number of benefits. The hybrid automobile is a car that is powered by both an electric motor and a gasoline engine. Compared to non hybrid vehicles, the hybrid car saves on the cost of fuel by being more fuel efficient and has a lower rate of fuel consumption.

Hybrid cars operate on a dual mode where the electric motor, powered by batteries, takes over once the gasoline engine has gotten the vehicle up to speed. Braking and deceleration generates energy that is used to charge the electric motor’s batteries. This system allows the hybrid car to provide better fuel efficiency. This also means that the engine of a hybrid vehicle is shut the moment the car is stopped. Considered the biggest advantage to the hybrid car is the reduction of environmental pollution due to fewer emissions of carbon dioxide and other harmful gases in to our atmosphere. Automobile manufactures such as Honda, Toyota, and Ford have already introduced hybrid car models to the commercial market and several others are in development.

Currently there are two types of hybrid vehicles on the market. The first is the “Series” hybrid. A battery powered electric motor powers the Series hybrid car. It also has a gasoline powered engine but it does not singularly power the vehicle. The gasoline engine powers a generator which is used in turn to charge the batteries of the electric motor. The electric motor is left on during the vehicles entire operation however the gasoline engine can be switched on or off depending on the needs of the vehicle. This type of hybrid automobile provides better mileage in city traffic.

The second type of hybrid vehicle on the market is called the “Parallel” hybrid. The Parallel hybrid car, like the Series type, has a gasoline engine and an electric motor. The electric motor and the electric motor can both be used to turn the transmission and power the vehicle. The major difference between the two types of hybrid cars is that the Parallel hybrid uses its electric motor to boost the vehicles power when required to increase the car’s speed. The Parallel hybrid car is considered better suited for the open highway.

Hybrid automobiles provide several benefits due to some very unique features. The construction of the hybrid vehicle uses more lightweight materials than traditional automobile. This saves energy by using less to propel the hybrid car. Hybrid cars also increase energy efficiency because of their more aerodynamic shapes. Tires used by hybrid vehicles run on a higher pressure and are made of a more rigid material than general car tires. The higher pressure helps to increase the vehicles gas mileage per gallon of gasoline used. The overall efficiency of the vehicle is increased by these tires because they reduce friction on road surfaces and provided a grip. The braking system provided an energy transfer from the electric motor to the vehicles batteries when ever the brakes are applied. The overall gas mileage of a hybrid varies from model to model. The EPA test numbers report that the Lexus RX400h receives 31 MPG in the city and 27 MPG the highway while the Honda Insight receives 61 MPG in the city and 68 MPG on the highway.

In conclusion, the future of automobiles is currently the hybrid car and purchasing a hybrid vehicle will not only save you money but will also allow you to take responsibility and do you part in creating a safer, cleaner and greener environment.

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Source by Christine Bettridge

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Before discussing company-wide Quality Management systems, it is necessary to define the definition of Quality Management (QM). Many organizations and other groups of individual people have attempted to define QM. There are several different operational definitions of quality that are commonly used in many industries. The most common definition of QM is that, it is an integrated approach to achieve and sustain high quality output, focusing on the maintenance and continuous improvement of processes and defect prevention at all levels of the organization, in order to meet or exceed customer expectations. Quality management can be classified into two broad categories, industry-specific QM and non-industry specific QM. For example, some QM programs such as ISO 14000,AS9100, QS 9000, and TL 9000 are industry specific and others, including Lean management, Six Sigma, TQM, and ISO 9000:2000, are company-wide quality management programs. Our objective in this article is to compare the company-wide quality management systems, before comparing the systems, let me illustrate the high level view of the company-wide QM systems.

The Lean QM program mainly focuses on removing non-value-added activities from processes and services in an organization. Japanese engineers, primarily Taiichi Ohno and Shigeo Shingo, developed an approach called the Toyota production system, which the Western world calls Lean management. The main components of the Lean quality management system are called the 5S system: sort, set in order, shine, standardize, and sustain. Similar to the principles of Lean management, Six Sigma has drawn intense interest from the business communities. It was developed by Motorola in the 1980s and was popularized by General Electric’s chief executive officer (CEO) Jack Welch and others in the 1990s. It is a data-driven approach for process improvement. Using statistical tools and mathematical modeling in Six Sigma, one can reduce the defect rate between 3.4 per million and 2 per billion. The framework, called DMAIC (define: define the scope of the problem, measure: collect the data to analyze the problem, analyze: determine the root cause, implement: implement the solution to the problem, and control: monitor and make it defect free), is the heart of Six Sigma.

Similar to Lean management and Six Sigma, a considerable number of companies have applied TQM, which is another quality management system and is the subject of many books and research papers. It is not a new concept, but it is an extension of a company-wide quality concept from Japan. Researchers have identified several definitions for TQM. The commonly known definition of TQM is that, it is an ongoing process whereby top management takes whatever steps necessary to enable everyone in the organization in the course of performing all duties to establish and achieve standards which meet or exceed the needs and expectations of their customers, both external and internal. TQM is a never-ending process to satisfy both the internal and the external customers and the customer focus in all activities in an organization. It uses statistical tools to make defect-free processes. The core ideas presented by Deming, Juran, Crosby, and Ishikawa are the key elements of TQM. ISO 9000 is another powerful QM system similar to Lean management, Six Sigma, and TQM which is designed for all industries worldwide to support continuous improvement. It is a set of international standards and guidelines developed by a technical committee composed of experts from business and other organizations around the world to promote QM in organizations. There are five ISO standards: ISO 9000, ISO 9001, ISO 9002, ISO 9003, and ISO 9004. ISO 9000:2000 is the most comprehensive and it provides a model for quality assurance in design, development, production, installation, and services.

I’m sure that, you can understand the high-level overview of company wide QM systems. Let us compare the systems now.

Lean Management focuses on process flow. It assumes that eliminating waste can improve performance. Commonly noted benefits of Lean are improving productivity; quality and flexibility. But the importance of using statistical analysis was not valued in Lean.

Six Sigma assumes that focusing on process performance can improve operational efficiency which can improve customer satisfaction. The assumption of this approach is that, variation exists in all processes and analyzing this variance can improve performance. There are two kinds of variation in any process. One is normal variation and other is abnormal variation. Six Sigma talk about normal variation but not abnormal variation. This is a common criticism of using Six Sigma.

Unlike Lean and Six Sigma, TQM focuses on all activities. This approach would assume quality is everyone’s responsibility. All employees in an organization should put their best efforts to improve the quality of their products. It focuses on long term results which require lot of co-ordination.

Finally ISO. It is a detailed document oriented approach for quality. It is a kind of inward looking approach. The factors affecting business such as environment analysis, market demands, and business demands are not considered.

Numerous surveys of the above mentioned QM programs have been conducted around the world since 1990. Each QM system begins its quality journey from a different perspective and drives toward the common goal of customer satisfaction. Some organizations integrate one quality system into other to get maximum benefits from the quality management programs. The important lesson for any organization to learn is that, by just picking up a company-wide QM system and starting to implement them will not bring fruitful results. Organizations should use Deming’s Plan-Do-Check-Act approach to implement any QM system. Considering organizational needs; customizing QM program to meet the needs; conducting some sort of pilot testing to fine tune the approach before full-scale implementation would bring maximum benefits. But do not forget to fine tune the approach further by evaluating the results before standardizing your company specific company wide QM program.

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Source by Dr. Joseline Edward, Ph.D.

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If you are a car aficionado, there is likely at least one Ford vehicle that makes your heart go pitter-patter. Even if you prefer Pontiac or Chevrolet vehicles, no car lover would pass up an opportunity to own a Shelby Mustang GT500 or other classics that Ford has produced. For those that are big fans of Ford Motor Company, there are plenty of cars, trucks and even tractors for you to select from when looking for a new automobile or piece of farm equipment. Still, what do you really know about Ford Motor Company? You may be surprised by what you have to learn about this American automobile manufacturer.

The Rise of the Ford Motor Company

The Ford Motor Company has a long and interesting history that dates back to 1903. Since a 40-year-old Henry Ford first launched the company with only $28,000 that he received from twelve different investors, the company has grown into a juggernaut within the automotive industry. In fact, with a net income of $2.723 billion in 2007 and reported total assets of $279.264 billion that same year, the company is ranked third among U.S. automakers. While General Motors and Toyota have taken the first and second place spots, Ford had five vehicles rank at the top of the list on J.D. Power and Associates’ quality survey listings. Another fourteen of Ford’s vehicles ranked in the top three of the listings, making it the automaker with the most awards on the coveted list.

What many people don’t realize, however, is that two of the twelve people that invested in Ford’s new company were John and Horace Dodge, who later went on to form what is now known as the Dodge motor company.

During is early years, the Ford Motor Company only produced a few cars each day. In a factory located in Detroit, Michigan, groups of two or three men put together the vehicles after receiving the necessary components from other companies. Ford later introduced assembly lines to his factories and utilized mass production strategies in order to speed up production of his automobiles. He also paid his workers high wages and was one of only a few companies that managed to survive through the Great Depression.

The Ford Motor Company Today

Although it has been over 100 years since Henry Ford first opened the doors to the Ford Motor Company, the company is still family owned and continues to produce vehicles under the Ford name. It does, however, manufacture vehicles under other names as well. In the United States, for example, Ford products are also manufactured under the Lincoln and Mercury names. The company does not operate in only the United States, however, as it has major manufacturing operations in a number of other countries. These include:

– Argentina

– Australia

– Brazil

– Canada

– Germany

– Mexico

– People’s Republic of China

– South Africa

– Turkey

– United Kingdom

Ford has also owned a number of other brands of vehicles in the past. For example, it purchased Aston Martin in 1989, but later sold it in 2007 while retaining a $77 million stake in the brand. The company also purchased Volvo Cars in 1989 as well as 33.4% controlling shares in Mazda. Ford also previously owned Land Rover and Jaguar, but sold both of them to Tata Motors in 2008.

In addition to manufacturing vehicles and tractors, the Ford Motor Company also sells aftermarket parts under the name of Motorcraft and has a parts division called Visteon. The company also provides automotive financing to car buyers through its Ford Motor Credit Company.

The Future of the Ford Motor Company

On January 23, 2006, the Ford Motor Company unveiled its The Way Forward plan. The plan provided details regarding precisely what the company planned to do in order to become profitable once more, which was a concern that had plagued the company for over a year as gas prices soared and consumers started losing interest in purchasing their large, gas guzzling vehicles. As part of the plan, fourteen factories were closed and 30,000 people lost their jobs.

The company now plans to invest in new products that will allow it to better compete in the marketplace, which includes developing more crossover SUVs, hybrid vehicles, and compact cars. Therefore, those that love Ford vehicles can expect to see a lot of new and exciting developments on the horizon.

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Source by Angela Fay

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Current Scenario: The auto industry, especially in the United States, is in a downward spiral alright, and no one has a clue what’s in store for this industry. The same trend is noticeable in other parts of the world, including Japan. With the biggest names in the auto world like General Motors, yes GM, and Toyota bleeding non-stop, it is anyone’s guess how long these venerables of the auto industry can hold out against the market elements.

Time for Bargains: For the consumers though, especially those on the lookout for a good deal, many bargains are to be had for the asking! This may be the best time to strike the iron i.e. buy a Car! And there is any number of financing options available to bring that dream car of yours into the garage!

The Islamic Option: In this article, we shall take a look at the Islamic financing option for purchasing a car. Financing for purchase of cars under Islamic Banking is done under the contract of ‘Murabaha’. Simply speaking, this is a cost plus profit mark up contract.

Typically, the Islamic Bank or financial institution would have certain criteria to evaluate your creditworthiness and eligibility for a car loan, having regard to your income either from salary, or business i.e. your occupation, and other sources; your monthly expenditures, statutory payments etc, and finally your net income.

Now, suppose after going through the above process, the Bank gives you the good news-that you are indeed eligible for a car loan of USD 25,000.00 that you had asked for, to buy your dream machine. The next step would be to work out the profit mark up of the Bank on the loan amount. Suppose this works out to USD 5,000.00. That means the total cost of this deal, for you, is USD 30,000.00. Of course, the Bank would have factored its profit mark up while calculating your eligibility amount for the car loan. The other variation in the above case would be that the cost of the car is USD 20,000.00 and the profit mark up USD 5,000.00 or less as the case may be.

Apart from the above, other details to be worked out include:

• Down Payment: Some Banks would require you to make a down payment for the car-that would increase your stake in your dream car, as well as bring down the amount/number of installments payable by you.
• Repayment: The loan amount, plus the profit mark up, put together, would be divided into equal number of installments, agreed upon, say, 60 or 72 as the case may be, and you would be required to repay the same within the stipulated time. Some Banks offer a moratorium on repayment, that is, they allow you to start repayments after, say, two or three months after disbursing the loan. Some other Banks also offer to rework the installments after a part of the loan is repaid. Say you have repaid 12 installments. The Bank then works out a new EMI on the balance of the loan amount remaining after payment of the 12 installments. Upon full repayment of the loan, your car becomes really yours!
• Add-Ons: In the increasingly competitive environment that the Banking industry is functioning, it is not unusual to get a few add-ons with your car loan – zero balance account, free/concessional insurance for the car, free advisory services in respect of the car loan, as well as other services on offer by the Bank, etc. Do avail of the freebies!
• The Delivery!: Assuming that you have already identified your baby, that is your dream car, and the place that you wish to buy at, it is now the turn of the Bank to buy the car from the dealer on your behalf, and have it delivered to you!

Go on and Enjoy your Drive! Of course, there are no free lunches. Please do your due diligence before deciding to take a loan. And don’t forget that seat belt! HAPPY DRIVING!

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Source by Muhammed Yasser

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The 5S’s are a continuous improvement methodology started in Japan after World War 2 and mastered by Toyota. When transliterated from the original Japanese, the 5S’s stand for sorting, setting in order, shining, standardizing and sustaining the discipline.

The Red Tag Strategy is implemented in the first phase, or sorting phase, of any 5S implementation. Its effects are seen immediately throughout any facility with little or no cost, helping to improve reduce inventory, clerical efficiency and increase productivity throughout.

One reason this strategy is so important is that workers tend to “personalize” or get attached to tools and equipment. They often have a hard time determining what is necessary for the production cycle of the product and what is not. There is a natural tendency to want to keep tools and other equipment around “just in case”.

Another reason is that some manufacturing facilities or plants have been around for a long time; some may be 100 years old or older. If there are several shifts working for many years, and many workers throughout that time, different people may hang on to different items. Accumulation can happen quickly, or slowly over a long time period of time, but it happens.

The Japanese word for “red” is “dirt”. To remove dirt from a factory helps for several reasons (some obvious) but in this sense, it’s for sorting and removal of unnecessary items. Red tags are easily noticed, like stop signs, and help employees realize just how much clutter can be accumulated and just how much space gets wasted over time.

Target places in the factory for this aspect of sorting include inventory, machinery and equipment and space in general such as floors and shelving. Establish a criterion prior to implementation of the process, and then fill out the tag properly for inventory purposes, or the item is simply thrown away.

Like spring and fall cleaning, a good Red Tag Strategy launches no less than twice a year, and the best implementation will be ongoing. The period lasts one to two months based on how many campaign projects have already been implemented. Red tags should be attached by workers outside of their normal departments, so they have a fresh eye to an area, and no personal ties to those specific tools and equipment.

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Source by Jim Redmile

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Counterbalance forklift trucks are widely used in the materials handling industry and in factories/warehouses around the world. Top forklift manufacturers like Linde, Toyota and Mitsubishi all make counterbalance forklifts, plus you can get one in a fuel choice to suit your needs (diesel, gas or electric). A typical counterbalanced forklift truck contains the following components:

The Truck Frame – is the base of the machine to which all the other parts – mast, axles, wheels, counterweight, and power source are attached. The frame may have fuel and hydraulic fluid tanks constructed as part of the forklift truck frame assembly.

The Counterweight – is a heavy cast iron mass attached to the rear of the forklift truck frame. The purpose of the counterweight is to counterbalance the load being lifted, obviously up to a certain load weight. In an electric forklift the large lead-acid battery itself may serve as part/all of the counterweight.

The Cab – is the area that contains a seat for the operator along with the control pedals, steering wheel, levers, switches and a dashboard containing operator readouts.

The Mast – is the vertical assembly that does the majority of the work of raising and lowering the load.

The Power Source – may consist of an internal combustion engine that can be powered by LP gas, CNG gas, gasoline or diesel fuel. Electric forklifts are powered by either a battery or fuel cells that provide power to electric motors. The motors may be either DC or AC types.

Fork Attachments – a variety of types of material handling forklift attachments are available. These include sideshifters, slipsheet attachments, carton clamps, multipurpose clamps, rotators, fork positioners, carpet poles, pole handlers, container handlers, roll clamps and many others, many companies will specially design bespoke attachments if required

A counterbalanced forklift offers some benefits over fork-over design and straddle-leg styles but with some other drawbacks. A counterbalanced forklift can lift pallets directly off the floor since there are no stabilisation legs to get in the way. The disadvantages of this type of counterbalanced forklift are that the weight capacity and lift height will typically be less than the other styles. The counterbalanced forklift is the easiest electric forklift to use for parking pallets closely together.

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Source by Shaun Graham

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Adding running boards to your ride is an excellent way to increase the style of your vehicle, as well as providing a bit of assistance when getting into and out of the cab. Running boards are available for trucks, as well as SUVs, of all varieties. How do you know if you are making the right choice? You will find quite a few considerations that need to be made prior to purchasing a set of running boards for your ride.

Pick Your Poison!

Your first decision comes early on in the buying process. You will find two basic types of running boards – plastic boards with metal mounting brackets and plastic boards mounted to an aluminum chassis, or frame. Therefore, your first decision is which type you want for your truck. Here are a few pros and cons to each.

Molded Plastic – Molded plastic running boards are the most affordable solution out there. However, you will find that their maximum weight load is quite low; in fact, some of these are little more than decoration. Of course, if your truck is low enough to the ground that you don’t need that extra step, then these can be viable solutions to your need.

Metal Chassis – Molded plastic boards mounted on a metal chassis offer much more strength and durability than do their plastic only counterparts. However, you will find that these are often quite a bit more expensive.



Find Your Fit

Not all boards fit all vehicles. Therefore, if you have a Ford F-250, you will need to find a set of running boards custom made to fit the vehicle. This ensures that the running boards mount correctly and that they conform to the dimensions of the vehicle. You will find a wide range of manufacturers that create custom running boards to fit Dodge, Chevy, Ford, GMC, Toyota and other truck brands.

Mounting Hardware

As with most other types of truck accessories, the type of mounting hardware used is of great concern. You will find some brands out there that utilize galvanized steel mounting hardware. However, you should consider purchasing a brand that uses stainless steel hardware. Galvanized steel hardware is durable, but after a couple of years out in the weather, it will begin to show signs of corrosion. Stainless steel lasts much longer and is therefore a better investment.

Can You Install Them?

The final question that you must ask yourself concerning any set of boards is whether or not you can install them on your own. Some will require that you remove the mudguards in order to install the boards, while other types stop short of the mudguards. Some brands can be successfully installed with the vehicle resting on the ground, while others will require that you put it on a vehicle lift. Professional installation is a great option, but it will certainly increase the cost of your boards and should be taken into consideration.



A Note Concerning UV Resistance

Running boards are made of high quality plastic. However, while the plastic is certainly durable, UV light can cause damage quite easily. You should ensure that the set you purchase is UV resistant, sometimes denoted as UV stable. This will help make sure that your running boards look great and hold up under real use for a longer period.



Slip Resistant Pads

One final concern should be the presence of slip resistant pads mounted to the running boards. These should be located directly below the doors and provide a bit of assurance against slipping on the plastic surface when it is wet.

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Source by G. Evans

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Over the last 20 years I visited numerous manufacturing plants in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Venezuela, Peru, Spain and China to evaluate performance issues and workplace organization. I had the opportunity to look closely at their operations and see both the positive and negative aspect of those operations.

While each plant had its own strengths and weaknesses, one fact was clear: many of the plants had undertaken some form of workplace organization, some had implemented 5S. None were obtaining the results they desired when undertaking the effort. Some only practiced it when Upper Management was scheduled to visit, others only made half hearted attempts to implement 5S and few had any serious and lasting follow up

They were in effect merely going through the motions such as writing it into their mission statements, management loudly proclaim its virtues but taking little interest in the day to day mechanics, and claiming to have created a visual workspace when in reality all they did was little more than create signs. Clutter and unneeded items were for the most part still evident and employee had little apparent understanding of the need to keep it free of unneeded items

The fact of the matter is that we know what needs to be done. 5S is a lean manufacturing approach to manufacturing based on the Toyota Production System. The job of management in lean manufacturing is to identify and eliminate all forms of waste, including:

• Over production – producing over customer requirements
• Inventory – holding or purchasing excessive materials
• Transportation – unnecessary handling
• Waiting – time delays or idle time
• Motion – actions of people that do not add value
• Over-processing – unnecessary processing steps
• Correction – producing scrap or parts that require rework
• Not using human resources – not implementing the ideas / suggestions of employees.
• There are many impediments to the implementation of lean manufacturing and especially to proper use of 5S principles and practices:
• Incorrect plant performance measures
• Wrong focus – too much attention to results, not enough on improving the processes
• Lack of confidence in worker’s abilities to recognize and resolve problems;
• Unwillingness to invest time and resources into correctly implementing 5S
• Failure to recognize their survival obligation to all stake holders and that change is the key survival.

Incorrect plant performance measures

Performance is impacted by many factors, especially when the focus is on the short term. Most of these factors are beyond the immediate control of management. Cash flow (the life blood of any company) is impacted interest rates and can have a dramatic impact on your plant’s profitability. Government policies and over regulation impact profits in many ways. In addition, sales volumes or product pricing impacts the profit level of a plant. When these factors positively impact profit, the operation is viewed as successful, and generously rewarded even if management practices are ineffective and wasteful. When they have a negative impact on profits, even the best managers are often viewed as abysmal failures and removed from their position.

Worst of all, profit measurements are easily manipulated through “cooking the books”. In most of the facilities that I visited, it was very common and obvious that management was manipulating inventory levels in one form or another. One plant manager told me that while he wanted to reduce inventories, to keep his efficiency ratings high, he was had to over-produce during slack times. This led to higher inventory levels which if reduced to proper levels would have a negative impact on his profitability measure. Too great a focus on Profitability as a performance measurement typically results in short-term thinking. What incentive is there for a company that driven by profitability measures to invest in a 5S project which might have higher costs in the short-term has the potential for significant savings in the long term?

Wrong focus

People tend to do what they get rewarded to do. If their focus is on equipment utilization rather than on customer demand, the equipment will be run at full capacity, despite actual demand. The result is overproduction, which is the basis of virtually all manufacturing waste. Focusing on accountability for machine utilization has the undesirable effect of increasing waste.

In order to effectively and continually improve performance and eliminate waste, all processes need to be analyzed understood and then controlled. The measurement of process effectiveness will shift the focus to long-term improvements like 5S and will allow companies to reward managers for real performance. Measuring results on the other hand only promote manipulation and short-term thinking.

Lack of confidence in worker’s abilities

When management is unwilling to develop their employees and allow them the freedom to manage their own processes, they will miss the opportunity to capture the full potential of the organization. I am a firm believer that the solution to every problem that a company or plant faces, is currently located with in the four walls of that facility.

Unwillingness to invest time and resources into correctly implementing 5S

Management is driven by two things:

• Budget
• Schedule

Anything that interferes with either one is seen as an enemy of management, as a result many managers only give half hearted support to new ideas and projects they are not familiar with. This is compounded by the fact that most people who propose a lean initiative such s 5S don’t take the time to encode it the language of the business. They speak to generalities and the successes of other organizations. They fail to make a legitimate business case for the change. Managers have legitimate questions like:

• How will this impact the budget? Is it a legitimate investment opportunity or just another flavor of the month?
• How can we minimize the impact on the schedule and still provide the people to plan and implement 5S? Where do the extra people come from? Etc.

Many managers simply do not believe in the effectiveness of lean manufacturing and 5S in particular. Many of the managers I talked with defended poor manufacturing practices they routinely employed in order to keep their productivity numbers high and their bonuses on track.

Failure to recognize their survival obligation to all stake holders

Many managers feel that change is unnecessary. The company made money before the recession, and the good times will return when it is over. The focus is often on job security rather than employment security, the problem is, there is a sea change taking place in the world economy and companies are facing global competition like never before. Many managers fail to see the change that has occurred and the threat it brings to their very survival. They prefer to stick their head in the sand rather than address the need for their very survival – after all, the government will bail them out! The fact is jobs (including those of managers) are changing and managers better shift their focus to securing their employment and let the job change as needed.

One of the key elements of the manager’s job was control, which has been modified to include empowerment. In order to survive and remain employed, managers must give up a portion of their control to employees by letting them control more of their work area and work flow. 5S is an prime example of how to effectively empower employees while retaining necessary control over budget and schedule.

Producing Desired Results

If the plant is operating effectively (and you have properly linked operational measure to financial goals), profitability will follow. The key to making 5S produce the desired results is to link it to the goals and strategic objects of the company. The primary goal for most companies is to make money by producing a product or service that meets the needs of its customers. This fact often gets lost in the vision statements and lofty purpose statements of management. The vision should be what your company is going to do in order to meet that goal of making money. The Mission statement is how you will meet it. Typical purpose statements uttered by various levels of management that do not reflect the vision and mission statement merely confuse and divert the attention of the people who have to carry out the mission. The solution to this problem is the use of strategic thinking in order to define the needs of the business according to the stated vision and mission.

The next element in ensuring success, is to refocus the workforce on a new set of measurements and processes that are focused on increasing throughput, decreasing inventory and reducing operating costs. This means totally abandoning many of the traditional measure like efficiency and looking more to effectiveness instead. This will require analyzing your processes for the value they add to your products or services. In the short-term, this may lead to an increase in non-productive time. Smart managers will take advantage of this slack time to develop better uses of this non-productive time such as training, Total Productive Maintenance, team building, and continuous improvement activities. Proper training and management will alllow workers to spend their downtime improving the processes that they work on as well as their workplace. By eliminating wasteful, non-value added activities like overproduction and empowering and training your workforce, your company can improve their competitiveness and ensure its survival.

Your employees and their supporting staff will need all the tools and techniques of lean manufacturing and 5S practices to sustain, self-audit and continuously improve the workplace and their jobs. They will need a well thought out and planned program that is supported by management at all levels. Keep in mind that the most commonly missing element is often management commitment. If you invest everyone’s time and commitment in 5S, and a few individuals fail to maintain the standard, the program will collapse. Management must support the program with policies and procedures that are enforced.

Regular oversight also is required to ensure that the processes are working as intended or changed in a controlled fashion when needed. Management must not only commit the resources, they must commit their time to get involved. They must lead from the front and have a high visibility in the workplace.

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Source by Brice Alvord

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If you want to get approved at the best possible terms when buying a car, it’s important you know a car lender’s credit guidelines before you apply for credit…especially if you’re bankrupt.

It will save you time and frustration–but more importantly, it will help you avoid credit inquiries that may lower your FICO credit scores up to 12 points per inquiry.

Step 1 in making a lease or buy decision is to determine a lender’s credit guidelines.

You start by asking if they lend to people with a bankruptcy. If so, on what terms?

That’s right. You have to be upfront that you’ve filed bankruptcy. Don’t hide it. We have to face the fact that some dealers just won’t work with people who’ve filed bankruptcy. So our job is to find the ones that do.

Some lenders will only lease to people with a bankruptcy. Others will only offer purchase financing. Yet still others will only lend using a hybrid of the two–this is especially common in Texas.

Ask the finance director at the dealership to direct you as to what structure the manufacturer prefers.

And here’s a quick tip for you: if your bankruptcy doesn’t appear on the credit report your lender pulls–then, in the eyes of the lender, you’re not bankrupt.

The only lenders I would consider using are:

– First choice: Captive lenders (car manufacturers)

– Second choice: Banks (not finance companies)

– Third choice: Credit unions

Ninety-nine percent of the cars I’ve leased over the years have been with captive lenders. Just one was leased by a bank.

That particular deal came from a conversation I had with Amy, the finance manager at the local Land Rover dealership here in Indianapolis. I told her I was open to her financing recommendations, but I preferred financing through the car manufacturer.

I told her my current FICO scores. She immediately said that with my scores she could do better through a local bank. I signed a credit application and told her to go for it.

The next day I signed a lease agreement with that local bank. Being open to her advice literally saved me hundreds of dollars a month on that car.

So be flexible…but be careful. It seems most car dealers call all of their funding sources banks. When in reality some are banks, some are credit unions, and most are sub-prime finance companies.

Here is a list of some of the most commonly used sub-prime auto finance companies:

1. HSBC Automotive

2. Capital One

3. AmeriCredit

4. WFS Financial

You want to pass on the sub-prime finance companies–unless you have exhausted all other options. Sub-prime lenders should be your last resort.

And only use credit unions if they report to all three national credit reporting agencies. How do you find out if a credit union reports to all three credit reporting agencies?

Simple–you ask. Ask the branch manager at the credit union if they report. And after you get the loan, check all three of your credit reports and make sure their trade line appears on each one.

The three worst luxury captive lenders to lease or purchase from after bankruptcy are:

1. BMW

2. Mercedes

3. Porsche

The three worst mainstream captive lenders are:

1. Honda

2. Kia/Subaru

3. Toyota

What makes these the worst?

Once these lenders see that you’ve filed bankruptcy, they are less likely to work with you. However, if they are willing to work with you, they’ll want you to be at least several years from discharge and have perfect credit during that time.

Now that I told you how bad the above six lenders are–there are times where they may offer you good deals. For example, if one of the above happens to be the biggest dealer in your area, they may be able to offer you special deals that a smaller dealer can’t.

Of course, things change all the time with captive auto lenders. They change their credit guidelines on a whim to meet their own financial goals. So, it’s always a good idea to at least research these dealerships–just don’t get your hopes up too high.

OK, so you’ve done your research and narrowed down your choice to one or two car manufacturers.

Step 2 in making a lease or buy decision is to purchase your FICO credit scores.

It’s important you have your most recent scores when you talk to car dealers (just like I did with Amy). It puts you in charge.

When you enter a dealership with your FICO scores, the dealer will know you’re a more informed consumer and cannot be taken advantage of. Just know that the FICO credit scores auto dealers use are a little different than what we see as consumers. The scores the dealers review are called FICO Auto Industry Option Scores. The good news…these FICO scores may be higher than your normal FICO scores if you paid all previous auto loans as agreed.

Some car dealers have told me that if your FICO scores are higher than the scores the dealer reviews–they may even use your scores to get a better deal.

You can buy your scores from myFICO.com.

Step 3 is to interview the remaining car dealers on a deeper level.

Start by asking them these questions:

– Which credit reporting agency do you use to make a lending decision?

– What is your minimum credit score requirement to get approved?

– What credit score is needed to get the best interest rate?

– Do your lenders prefer offering lease or purchase financing to a bankrupt debtor?

– What incentives are there to lease or purchase right now?

At this point it’s important to remain open to either leasing or purchasing. Evaluate your options and incentives. Remember, you’re buying the financing. In other words, the most important factor is the willingness of the lender to loan you money.

I personally view the lease versus buy decision in three ways:

1. If you’re recently recovering from bankruptcy, the only thing that matters is if you can get approved at an interest rate you can afford through a lender that reports to all three national credit reporting agencies. So you should only consider lenders that are bankruptcy friendly.

2. Once your credit scores begin to increase, you can start selecting cars based on which credit reporting agency the lender uses to determine if you qualify. Obviously, you should choose the lender who uses your highest FICO credit score to make a lending decision.

3. When your scores are high enough…or two years have passed after your bankruptcy…or your bankruptcy doesn’t appear on the credit report the lender uses, then you can choose almost any car you like. But make sure you still do your research and use your credit scores to help you compare interest rates, terms and incentives.

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Source by Stephen Snyder