Hello Five Minute Gemba community! During a recent discussion, I learned about a trend that was NOT on my radar. Evidently some children are getting in to relationships with AI chatbots. In hindsight, I do vaguely remember hearing something about this (beyond the movie Her, in 2013) recently somewhere on the Internet. I don't think I gave that aspect of the topic much … [Read more...]
FMG No. 18 – Would You Attend a Smart Manufacturing Retreat?
Hello Gemba Community! This week, I’m keeping it short and sweet. I would love your input as I explore the idea of in-person events tied to the world of Smart Manufacturing and personal development. Would you be interested in attending something like a: weekend retreat with practical workshops. focused 1-day mastermind session. multi-day conference with … [Read more...]
Getting Started with AI in Manufacturing
AI has already become indispensable for many of us. I definitely understand reluctance on the subject. What do business people hate most about AI? Let's find out, with some help from Grok3! This article is geared towards reluctant and casual users of AI and those looking to get started. As always, we will emphasize issues that matter most to manufacturers, because we live and … [Read more...]
2025 Relaunch of the Five Minute Gemba
Welcome back! After a hiatus, I am excited to reintroduce the Five Minute Gemba newsletter. As we step in to 2025, I want to share some reflections, news, and set the tone for the new year for the newsletter and beyond. Reflections on 2024, LLM Influence Last year I discovered a powerful ally, what I dubbed my "best $20 a month employee" aka ChatGPT. I then started working … [Read more...]
Five Reasons Why I Enjoy Working for Managed Solutions Inc.
When I first joined Managed Solutions Inc. as Joe Hackman’s executive assistant, I did not realize just how much I would come to enjoy the job and the company as a whole. The people, the culture, the customers, and the values which form its foundation all make Managed Solutions a happy place to work. I love every aspect of it and here’s why: 1. The Company Itself Managed … [Read more...]
Why We Became a Smart Manufacturing Integrator
If you’ve followed our evolution as a company, you likely know we started as an IT Services company in the 1990s. This is how we were introduced to the manufacturing industry and over the years through our manufacturing clients, began to understand the strategic importance as well as the challenges and opportunities which existed. When we opted to shift our focus to Smart … [Read more...]