Art Serpa on Professional Development
In the Early 1990s, I held the position of Department Head of the Outfitting area at Electric Boat’s Quonset Point Facility. As I entered my 18th year of employment at Electric Boat, I was also completing my education by earning a master’s degree in industrial technology at Rhode Island College. One of my responsibilities was to […]
Time Management and the Hierarchy of Communication
Executives often wake up to find hundreds of emails in their inbox. Out of these hundreds there might be half that they entertain and read. Divide those in half and you might find the actual number of emails that get responses. Perhaps one more divide would result in messages that directly involve the individual executive. […]
Art Serpa on… The Bottom Line of Business
During the construction of the Lewis and Clark Class of ships for the Navy, a shipbuilding program at General Dynamic’s NASSCO shipyard in San Diego, California, we found ourselves with a problem. The first ship built had cost overruns of almost double the budget and the ship was not going to make the scheduled delivery […]
The Art of Influence: Determining the Impact of Your Words
When consulting, it is easy to feel as though your advice is falling upon those who will not take it seriously. Some may be defensive that an “outsider” is telling them how to manage their duties. Perhaps there may be feelings of bitterness that lead to a power struggle. I absolutely believe values in the […]
Prioritizing Your Tasks: It’s as Easy as ABCD
Every day, management is faced with more tasks than physically feasible. From sorting through massive amounts of emails (see: Time Management and the Hierarchy of Communication ) to preparing for and attending meetings, management can expect a full day of work that can easily roll over into what should be personal downtime in the evening. The “To-Do List” […]
What Makes An Effective Management Consultant?
What Makes An Effective Management Consultant? What Makes an Effective Management Consultant? The consulting industry is known for its high-performance workers who are considered to be the best in the business. But what does it take to succeed in such a competitive field? While some may think having an Ivy League diploma is enough, they […]
Top 10 Things to Improve Your Business
Top 10 Things to Improve Your Business Improvement is constantly needed within every business. Whether there is a desire to increase sales, improve customer satisfaction, or gain revenue, there is always something a company can better. Here is our exclusive list of the top 10 practices that can help improve your business: Set Realistic Goals Although the […]
Trust but Verify: How the Truth can be Eroded at Every Layer of Management
Trust but Verify: How the Truth can be Eroded at Every Layer of Management It’s true that some leaders live in the clouds of management and their view of the ground (aka production floor) is often blurry and distorted. Perhaps they are missing the red flags being waived as a project falls behind schedule, perhaps they can’t […]
The Most Effective Way to Minimize Downtime in Manufacturing is…
The Most Effective Way To Minimize Downtime In Manufacturing Is… #1 Do Not Plan for It: Sounds obvious but it’s NOT.… Too often management fails to assign enough work for their employees. They tend to underestimate how much work someone can actually achieve when completely focused and working against the clock. In some cases, employees […]
How do you prevent 5 Shades of Grey from killing your efficiency and sometimes your profit?
How do you prevent 5 Shades of Grey from killing your efficiency and sometimes your profit? In my 20 years of working with dozens of manufacturers, I have witnessed a frequent battle between Operations and Marketing. Finance often allies with Operations and Sales supports Marketing; all while the CEO usually gives the final word. The […]
