:root {
–wt-primary-color: #030712;
–wt-text-on-primary-color: #F9FAFB;

–wt-secondary-color: #F9FAFB;
–wt-text-on-secondary-color: #030712;

–wt-tertiary-color: #FFFFFF;
–wt-text-on-tertiary-color: #222222;

–wt-background-color: #FFFFFF;
–wt-text-on-background-color: #030712;

–wt-subscribe-background-color: #FFFFFF;
–wt-text-on-subscribe-background-color: #030712;

–wt-header-font: “Inter”, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, “Segoe UI”, Roboto,”Helvetica Neue”, Arial, “Noto Sans”, sans-serif, “Apple Color Emoji”, “Segoe UI Emoji”, “Segoe UI Symbol”, “Noto Color Emoji”;
–wt-body-font: “Inter”, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, “Segoe UI”, Roboto, “Helvetica Neue”, Arial, “Noto Sans”, sans-serif, “Apple Color Emoji”, “Segoe UI Emoji”, “Segoe UI Symbol”, “Noto Color Emoji”;
–wt-button-font: “Inter”, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, “Segoe UI”, Roboto, “Helvetica Neue”, Arial, “Noto Sans”, sans-serif, “Apple Color Emoji”, “Segoe UI Emoji”, “Segoe UI Symbol”, “Noto Color Emoji”;

–wt-border-radius: 8px
}

.bg-wt-primary { background-color: var(–wt-primary-color); }
.text-wt-primary { color: var(–wt-primary-color); }
.border-wt-primary { border-color: var(–wt-primary-color); }

.bg-wt-text-on-primary { background-color: var(–wt-text-on-primary-color); }
.text-wt-text-on-primary { color: var(–wt-text-on-primary-color); }
.border-wt-text-on-primary { border-color: var(–wt-text-on-primary-color); }

.bg-wt-secondary { background-color: var(–wt-secondary-color); }
.text-wt-secondary { color: var(–wt-secondary-color); }
.border-wt-secondary { border-color: var(–wt-secondary-color); }

.bg-wt-text-on-secondary { background-color: var(–wt-text-on-secondary-color); }
.text-wt-text-on-secondary { color: var(–wt-text-on-secondary-color); }
.border-wt-text-on-secondary { border-color: var(–wt-text-on-secondary-color); }

.bg-wt-tertiary { background-color: var(–wt-tertiary-color); }
.text-wt-tertiary { color: var(–wt-tertiary-color); }
.border-wt-tertiary { border-color: var(–wt-tertiary-color); }

.bg-wt-text-on-tertiary { background-color: var(–wt-text-on-tertiary-color); }
.text-wt-text-on-tertiary { color: var(–wt-text-on-tertiary-color); }
.border-wt-text-on-tertiary { border-color: var(–wt-text-on-tertiary-color); }

.bg-wt-background { background-color: var(–wt-background-color); }
.text-wt-background { color: var(–wt-background-color); }
.border-wt-background { border-color: var(–wt-background-color); }

.bg-wt-text-on-background { background-color: var(–wt-text-on-background-color); }
.text-wt-text-on-background { color: var(–wt-text-on-background-color); }
.border-wt-text-on-background { border-color: var(–wt-text-on-background-color); }

.bg-wt-subscribe-background { background-color: var(–wt-subscribe-background-color); }
.text-wt-subscribe-background { color: var(–wt-subscribe-background-color); }
.border-wt-subscribe-background { border-color: var(–wt-subscribe-background-color); }

.bg-wt-text-on-subscribe-background { background-color: var(–wt-text-on-subscribe-background-color); }
.text-wt-text-on-subscribe-background { color: var(–wt-text-on-subscribe-background-color); }
.border-wt-text-on-subscribe-background { border-color: var(–wt-text-on-subscribe-background-color); }

.rounded-wt { border-radius: var(–wt-border-radius); }

.wt-header-font { font-family: var(–wt-header-font); }
.wt-body-font { font-family: var(–wt-body-font); }
.wt-button-font { font-family: var(–wt-button-font); }

input:focus { –tw-ring-color: transparent !important; }

li a { word-break: break-word; }

@media only screen and (max-width:667px) {
.mob-stack {
display: block !important;
width: 100% !important;
}

.mob-w-full {
width: 100% !important;
}
}

.table-base, .table-c, .table-h { border: 1px solid #C0C0C0; }
.table-c { padding:5px; background-color:#FFFFFF; }
.table-c p { color: #2D2D2D; font-family:’Helvetica’,Arial,sans-serif !important; overflow-wrap: break-word; }
.table-h { padding:5px; background-color:#F1F1F1; }
.table-h p { color: #2A2A2A; font-family:’Trebuchet MS’,’Lucida Grande’,Tahoma,sans-serif !important; overflow-wrap: break-word; }

.bh__byline_wrapper {
font-size: .875rem;
line-height: 1.25rem;
vertical-align: middle;
justify-content: space-between;
display: block;
}

.bh__byline_social_wrapper {
display: flex;
margin-top: 0.5rem;
align-items: center;
}

.bh__byline_social_wrapper > * + * {
margin-left: 1rem;
}

@media (min-width: 768px) {
.bh__byline_wrapper {
display: flex;
}

.bh__byline_social_wrapper {
margin-top: 0rem;
}
}

From the Factory Floor

What are you trying to say?

From the Factory Floor

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Their Goals by Doc McIntyre

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Here’s a tip to keep you out of the conversational doghouse:

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When you’re in a conversation that’s rubbing you wrong, ask yourself…

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What is the other person trying to accomplish?

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Our self-centered lizard brains jump straight to, “This person’s a jerk” or “This person’s useless” or “This person’s trying to flex on me.” But none of those are likely true.

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And if you’ll ask yourself that one question, “What are they trying to accomplish?”, your whole demeanor will improve.

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Bonus Tip: If you can’t imagine what they’re trying to accomplish, it’s perfectly legit to say, “Tell me what you need from me in this conversation, so I don’t guess and screw it up.”

The word that comes to mind is CLARITY

Insights from the Factory Floor

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One of the things I love most about working in Manufacturing is seeing the innovative ways people and companies measure processes and performance. There's an old saying that "Everything that can be measured doesn’t count, and everything that counts can’t be measured," which emphasizes the human side of a company. On the business side, there's another saying: "If you aren’t measuring it, you’re just practicing," which highlights the operational perspective. One of my favorite metrics in manufacturing is OEE (Overall Equipment Effectiveness), which provides a comprehensive view of equipment performance across various aspects. OEE measures everything over time and compares it against an ideal state—zero downtime, zero speed loss, zero quality issues—to show how efficiently the machine produces quality products. Achieving a perfect OEE of 100% is challenging but drives continuous improvement efforts.

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Reflecting on this recently with a team, I realized humans are much harder to measure than machines. For production or piecework, measurement is more straightforward, but for other roles, it's subjective and challenging. It got me thinking about the essential qualities needed from our team members to create a high-performing operation. As a fun analogy, consider this: Human OEE = Ownership, Empowerment, and Execution. These attributes aren’t a perfect list, but I believe if teams embody them more, they would enhance effectiveness and productivity. Let’s quickly dive into what each means:

• Ownership: Those who demonstrate ownership take responsibility—they identify and tackle tasks, seek improvements, and proactively prevent problems. When issues arise, they own up to them, fix them, and communicate effectively. They truly operate with a mindset of "running it like they own it."

• Empowerment: Empowerment means employees are encouraged to take initiative and make things better. It's crucial for leadership to foster an environment where empowerment is valued and supported. Employees, in turn, must embrace this responsibility and work accordingly.

• Execution: Ultimately, it’s about getting the job done. While fostering a positive work environment is important, execution is key. Some individuals consistently excel at this, taking on additional tasks and driving productivity. For others, the challenge is to step up and contribute more effectively.

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I hope this conversation sparks some thought. Try rating yourself and your team against this Human OEE metric over a week. It might offer surprising insights and areas for improvement. I’d love to hear your thoughts and experiences as you explore these ideas further.

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If you haven't read my book, Building a Kick-Ass Culture, click here and check it out. It is full of "how to" steps for building a healthy and dynamic culture.

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As we celebrate Independence Day, I'm reminded of the strength and resilience that defines our nation. Happy 4th of July to all! Let's honor the spirit of innovation and freedom that drives us forward in leadership and Lean Manufacturing. Together, we continue to build a brighter future, guided by principles of efficiency, excellence, and progress. Wishing you a safe and joyful holiday with your loved ones!