Manufacturing

Have tariffs, changing trade policies, freight costs, or supply-chain risks affected your business? If so, it may be worth asking a broader question: Does every product you manufacture need to be produced in the same country? For many small and mid-sized manufacturers, the answer may be worth re-evaluating. As global trade conditions continue to evolve, adding Canada to your manufacturing strategy can create another option for supporting customers across multiple markets. Tha

Risk Management is not only about finding and minimizing potential problems, but accepting the reality of risk in pursuit of opportunities. When is it advantageous to take a risk? Example: If an early prototype is redesigned to add a new feature, the extra complexity might overheat the electronics in the existing shell, or the plastic around the new buttons could warp in the updated tool. Result: Either it works, or the prototype design is modified. The cost is time and new t

Market Sizing is a form of research and analysis that identifies who will buy your product, who might buy your product, and who could be persuaded to buy your product under the right conditions. Understanding this distinction is crucial to a successful product launch. It shows you the sales potential of your offering. Let’s break it down: TAM – Total Addressable Market is how much opportunity is out there for your product, assuming that you could capture 100% market share. S

Quality costs money. Poor quality costs more! Most people look at quality activities as a cost: inspections, audits, training, documentation, supplier evaluations, FAI, control plans, etc. But the real cost comes from situations when those activities are skipped: rework, scrap, line stops, delayed shipments, customer complaints, expedited freight, warranty claims, lost trust, and loss of future business. That is why it’s important to evaluate your Cost of Quality early in the