IES Blog
The Cold, Hard Facts About Fracking In North Carolina Part 1
Since my comments a few weeks ago about “fracking” in North Carolina, I have read a lot of articles and heard a lot of discussions regarding this subject. I’ve heard words used like “ensure” and “protect”.
Another New MMIR Network Member: P&S Machining and Fabrication
We're proud to welcome P&S Machining and Fabrication as a new member of the "Manufacturing Makes It Real" Network!
Finding Made in NC in Florida
I spent most of this week in Orlando attending the Institue of Industrial Engineers' (IIE) annual conference. I know what you are thinking: what's a nice girl with a liberal arts degree like me doing attending a conference for industrial engineers? I was primarily there to present on social media and manufacturers, but after working at IES for almost 12 years, I've learned a lot about lean, Six Sigma and continuous improvement. I attended a lot of interesting sessions about which I hope to blog soon
NC Manufacturing Network Welcomes Electronics Manufacturer ACW Technology
We are pleased to welcome one of the newest members of the "Manufacturing Makes It Real" Network, Durham's ACW Technology.
Lights, Camera, OSHA!
Go behind the scenes of the OSHA 10-hour course video shoot with Holli and Wendy!
MMIR Network Member, Brushy Mountain Bee Farm, Named a ‘Company to Watch’
Congratulations to Brushy Mountain Bee Farm, makers of high-quality beehives and beekeeping equipment, for being named to the Council for Entrepreneurial Development's "Companies to Watch" list for 2012.
Where is the Customer Focus?
I am currently developing some programs around customer service, strategic customer care, customer focus, and the overall customer experience. These are topics that have been of interest to me since I first learned about total quality management in the late 80’s as a disciple of Tom Peters.
Establishing a Wildlife Management Habitat at Your Company
In a slightly different role as a technical assistance provider, your IES is helping companies establish “Wildlife Management Habitats”. A Clayton, NC company set aside 74 acres to be managed as wildlife habitat which has been certified by the Wildlife Habitat Council (WHC). IES provided a NC State University student intern from the Fisheries & Wildlife Sciences department to assist in meeting certification requirements...
Continuous Improvement and Sushi?
.... the man who may very well be the best sushi chef in the world, and who at 85 years of age could be long retired, or at least satisfied with what he has attained professionally, acknowledges that one of the key tenets of lean thinking, the pursuit of perfection, must go on.
May the Fourth Be With You
I don't know if it's hot where you are, but in North Carolina, we have seen 90 degree days this week. If you're looking for a reason not to go outside, you can beat the heat by pulling up a chair and reading a few interesting articles I came across this week.
What North Carolina Needs to Know About Pennsylvania’s Energy Experience
At the 9th Annual Sustainable Energy Conference in Raleigh, the Friday Luncheon Keynote Speaker, John Hanger, discussed Pennsylvania’s Energy Exploration Experience. Mr. Hanger, a nationally recognized expert on energy and the environment, has an impressive background, having served as commissioner of the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission and as secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. Much of his discussion was aimed at Pennsylvania’s experience with hydraulic fracturing, generally referred to as “fracking”. All of it was designed to inform North Carolina of what he believes we need to know regarding Pennsylvania’s experience with energy exploration, in general, and with fracking in particular.
Why Tuesdays S**k
The other day at lunchtime, a discussion between one of our customer service reps and an EH&S specialist devolved into argument. The donnybrook, happening four offices down, became so loud that I could not focus my standard duties, like holding the weight of the world on my shoulders, so I rose to see about negotiating a cease-fire. Then I quickly sat back down. The squabble was about which was better – Star Wars or Star Trek. Darn. It was a Tuesday.
‘Manufacturing Makes It Real’ Tour Sponsor Featured for Their ‘Cool Tools’
ShopBot, the Durham, NC, manufacturer of CNC routers, was recently featured on Kevin Kelly's "Cool Tools" site and on the very popular blog, Boing Boing.
Where do you find your inspiration?
Sometimes inspiration falls into my lap. The beauty of nature, a short glimpse of wildlife or even the smile of the “greeter”, our 85 pound Weimaraner, who trots down the driveway to greet my arrival each evening, gives me pause to reflect.
Machine Design Company Mertek Joins ‘Manufacturing Makes It Real’ Network
We're pleased to introduce the newest member of the 'Manufacturing Makes It Real' Network: Mertek, Solutions, Inc., of Sanford.
Fun Reading for Friday the 13th
Do you suffer from friggatriskaidekaphobia? Or perhaps paraskevidekatriaphobia?
Do You Choo Choo?
When did you first fall in love with choo choos? For me it started in a dusty basement library at the local Methodist Church. I was 7 and had discovered a book called “The Box Car Children.” The Wild Wild West TV show fueled my imagination as James West and Artemus Gordon saved the world while they rode the rails on their private train, “The Wanderer.” Then came the cult classic “Harold and Maude” where a rich, young, death obsessed Harold falls in love with a quirky, carefree and elderly, Maude who lives in a caboose. So it wasn’t a total shock when in college; I made a civil engineering project out of converting a retired caboose – then lived in it.
Build a New Company Over the Weekend
54 hours to build a new company, a new life or at least some new friends? This may sound ridiculous to some but not to Startup Weekend enthusiast. Triangle Startup Weekend is an event designed to bring together developers, designers, marketers, product managers and entrepreneurs to share ideas, form teams, build products and launch startups all in 54 hours.
Manufactured in North Carolina
It’s definitely an election year – lots of partisan demagoguery (that might be every year now), 24/7 nonstop election coverage by no less than 4 or 5 TV networks with little else to discuss, and the reappearance of little red and blue political signs in your neighbors’ yards.
Welcome the Newest ‘Manufacturing Makes It Real’ Network Member: Mid-Atlantic Crane
Mid-Atlantic Crane of Raleigh joined the 'Manufacturing Makes It Real' Network at last week's event at KCST in Tarboro.
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