8 Time Stretching Tips to Maximize Your Day

May 13, 2013 by Leave a comment

By Mark Combs, Cre8iveDept.com

What is the number one excuse you give when someone adds to your to do list? “I don’t have time for that!” When I say you should market you business, what goes through your head? “I don’t have time for that!” Everyone seems to need more time. I know I need more time to get done everything on my list. Time is a resource we all have the same quantity of, but it seems more valuable than ever. We can’t buy more time but we can waste time. We can’t save time for later, we can only trade our time for something else. You can’t slow time down but time can fly by. So how do we stretch the time we have to get the most out of it? I have a few suggestions.

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1) Everyone gets 1440 minutes every day. No more, no less. Know the worth of every one of those minutes.  If you work 40 hours per week (yea right, an entrepreneur that works 40 hours a week. Ha!)  for 50 weeks every year (as if you get 2 weeks of vacation. Bahaha!). You have 2000 work hours per year. For the sake of math, let’s say you make $100k per year. That means your time is worth $50 per hour. You are paying $50 for that hour meeting. $25 for that half hour phone call. Knowing that you minutes are worth 83 cents, lets you prioritize your tasks to make the most of that minute.

2) Your “yes” is a “no” to something else. When you commit to doing something you are telling something else no. Since we only have 1440 minutes by approving one activity you are neglecting another. It is impossible to say yes to every job, customer, vendor, etc. You must say no to someone or something. Choose wisely.

3) Beware of distant elephants. Far away, even large things appear small. When you are asked to help in some way for a benefit next month, or a project next Fall, make sure you truly have the time for it. From this distance the biggest of projects look smaller than they actually are. When you get to that project, you will find bigger headaches than you anticipated and I am sure they will make a mess. So beware of distant elephants.

4) Start times and end times are a matching set. When you book a meeting, set the start time as usual, but make sure to book the end time as well. Open ended meetings and events tend to run long and wander through multiple topics. By setting end times for your meetings, you have to get to the point of the meeting and come to a solution quickly.

5) Give yourself limited “got-a-minutes”. You know what those are. Coworkers popping in and ask “Got a minute?” Your answer should be, “only three left.” Or how many you gave yourself each day. When they run out, stop accepting those interruptions. It will be hard at first, but soon your coworkers will be at your desk early or they will wait until tomorrow with little complaint.

6) Block out time to return important calls and emails. You can create several small sections throughout the day or one block of time at the end of the day. When you set time slots for answering calls and emails, you minimize interruptions to your work flow and become more productive. I spend 15 minutes when I first get to my desk, 15 minutes before lunch, then 20 minutes before I leave, saving the rest of my day for productive work with fewer interruptions.

7) “How can this get done?” is the right question. Never ask “How can I get this done?” By taking yourself out of the equation, you open up opportunity for delegation. Who can get this done for you? Is it worth your money to keep your time? Can they get it done quicker and more efficiently? Some of us have trouble letting go of jobs and projects,  but if you are after more time, you can’t do it all.

8) Relaxation is a skill. Sleep is a weapon. Learn to take some time to unwind and get plenty of rest. I used to burn the candle at both ends. I figured out I wasn’t as bright as I thought I was. Our bodies were made to have a time to rest and relax. Without a certain amount of down time, we tend to make poor decisions and our productivity suffers. Learn to relax with the ones you love and enjoy and use sleep to make you better.

Time is a commodity of limited supply. We get to choose everyday how we spend it. When we work we must do our best to keep from wasting time because we never get it back. If I can take something off your plate and give you more time please let me know, I am glad to help. –  MarkCombs@Cre8iveDept.com

Filed under Business, Energy, Entrepreneur, Health and Safety, Human Interest, Human Resources Tagged with , , , , , , , , , ,

Safety In Industrial Jobs

May 10, 2013 by Leave a comment

Health & safety in any industry is of the utmost importance. Ensuring that your employees working environment is risk free may not only improve productivity but could also save you thousands over the years. Industrial disease and injury covers a wide variety of ailments and accidents, countries around world have implemented a variety of different regulations which if adhered to will significantly reduce the likelihood of employees developing industrial illnesses.

Welding Operator - Bob Watt

Welding Operator – Bob Watt

Industrial disease is a broad term for illnesses that have developed within the workforce owed to an employee being negligent.  An employer that has been deemed to have been negligent may be liable for a variety of workers claims and may in serious cases result in investigation from a governing body to determine whether your workplace is a safe environment. These conditions are broken down into categories which include:

  •  Industrial hearing loss- A term used for hearing loss suffered due to working in an excessively noisy environment for prolonged periods of time.
  •  Asbestos related illnesses- Any illness that has been caused by exposure to asbestos such as mesothelioma and asbestosis.
  •  Repetitive strain injuries- Generally found within office environments amongst typists who perform repetitive jobs hundreds of times per day.
  •   Dermatitis- A skin complaint similar to eczema caused by contact with an irritating or allergic substance.
  •   Breathing Issues- Includes conditions such as silicosis, emphysema and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease usually found in workers who have inhaled excess dust.

Health & safety regulations differ depending on the industry but always have the same goal of creating the safest possible environment for employees. Sectors that are dusty and noisy will have to comply with both sets of regulations if they wish to be deemed risk free.

Noisy environments.

If a workplace is deemed to be excessively loud it is the employers responsibility ensure that the noise will not be affecting staff and lead to industrial hearing loss. Hearing protection such as ear plugs and ear defenders should not only be provided but also enforced. This will limit the amount of exposure to noise that individuals are facing. Many businesses are now testing the noise levels within the workplace which in turn should dictate the necessary action. In certain scenarios companies regularly carry out hearing tests to monitor each staff member.

Office environments.

The health & safety regulations within these industries have been updated regularly to keep up with technologies rapid expansion. Employers must now ensure that staff are provided with equipment that reduces strain on the body by encouraging yourself to maintain a suitable posture. Items such as ergonomic wrist and mouse rests are now being introduced in offices especially to employees who begin to suffer with a discomfort in their arms.

Industries that contain hazardous materials.

Any industry that exposes workers to hazardous materials is subject to strict health & safety regulations. A company must ensure that there is absolutely no unnecessary exposure to a hazardous material and that employees are suitably protected. Protective items such as respiratory masks, gloves and barrier creams may all be used to reduce the risk involved.

Any incidents or complaints from employees must be recorded and action should be taken to remedy the situations to prevent further occurrences within the workplace.

Filed under Business, Engineering, Health and Safety, Human Resources, Manufacturing Tagged with , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Keep Your Workplace Sparkling Clean

May 3, 2013 by Leave a comment

Office After 2b

If you are lucky enough to run your own business have you ever wondered about using a commercial cleaning company? Perhaps the cost seems a bit steep and you manage to get by with a few cash in hand workers, when they can be bothered to turn up. Well you should think again because there are some very valid reasons why you should think about using a professional service. Please read this article for some impartial advice regarding a clean and healthy workplace.

Staff Illness

معلمو التربية والتعليم يرفضون تصحيح أوراق المدارس الأهلية

If your workplace is not cleaned to a high standard, you will be harbouring germs and bacteria. This is especially true of your staff eat food onsite. There are so many types of germs that can gather at a workplace that you need to ensure they are wiped out on a regular basis. If any of your staff contract a serious condition and it is connected to your workplace, you could face a very serious charge from the government health department.

Do It Yourself?

Many small business simply ask their own staff to help out with the cleaning, it saves a few dollars here and there after all. But what they don’t seem to understand is the fact that they are not insured for these duties. If one of them became injured whilst on cleaning duties, you will be liable for a workers compensation claim. Lots of small businesses have had to close as a result of an injured employee’s claim action.

A Dirty Workplace – Oh Dear!

When you run a small company that often has customers visiting your office or showroom, you really need to project the right image at all times. If you think a little vacuuming here and some dusting on a Friday evening will be enough, then you are sorely mistaken. You can easily lose that important contract by having a dirty office and even dirtier restrooms. For the sake of hiring some professional cleaners, you could be losing your biggest business deal of the year.

Professionals

By hiring a contract cleaning company you will ticking many ‘best practice’ boxes regarding business procedures. They will guarantee that the correct cleaning products are used on the appropriate surfaces, and that they are stored safely. You really want your restroom to sparkle after a cleaning session, and it will be a far better result than you could manage alone. They will adhere to all health and safety regulations, allowing you the peace of mind that you deserve. They can be as discreet as you wish and will happily come as late in the evening as you wish. Did you ever think about the amount of bacteria that gathers on a door knob? These are culpable for many work related illnesses, but the office cleaning company would ensure that these are all treated with an anti-bacterial solution every time they visit.

How To Choose?

If you have decided to go ahead with using a contract cleaning service company, you should speak to some friendly businesses in your area and see which ones come recommended. You will soon be reaping the benefits of a sparkling clean workplace!

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Ricky Benson provides services for office cleaning in Perth. Being a businessman himself, he fully understands the importance of office cleanliness and what effect it has on the output of the employees. A passionate blogger, he writes on a variety of issues related to business.

Filed under Business, Health and Safety, Human Interest, Human Resources Tagged with , , , , , , , , ,

Lean Manufacturing 101

April 9, 2013 by Leave a comment

DSCF1059The core philosophy of lean manufacturing is to maximize the value of output while minimizing the work put into creation. This goal is achieved by working towards eliminating all processes that aren’t directly responsible for delivering value to end customers.

While the lean philosophy has recently been embraced in areas such as startups, lean manufacturing is not just a fad. With over two decades of the term being actively used and over a century of influence on the lean philosophy itself, this practice can provide a huge competitive advantage to companies that embrace it.

The History of Lean Manufacturing

The first widespread use of this term was in 1988. Although the principles come from the way Japan has long approached manufacturing an MIT graduate student named John Krafcik initially coined the now-ubiquitous term.

Although most lean manufacturing principles and practices are focused on Japanese management techniques from the last few decades, the recorded desire to eliminate waste can actually be traced back for over a century. After Benjamin Franklin wrote about eliminating waste in several publications, Ford laid the initial roots of lean manufacturing in the early 20th century.

Despite making incredible progress, management experts note that Ford’s approach lacked sustainability. But not long after Ford got his start, Toyota made the decision to produce their first car in 1934. From the very beginning, the concept of Kaizen played a key role in Toyota’s process.

Kaizen, which is one of the most popular terms associated with the lean process, refers to a focus on continuous improvement. The main steps in this process are to standardize, measure, assess requirements, innovate and standardize the new improvement. After the fifth step, the process should start over. In this way, businesses encourage a culture of innovation.

What Does Lean Manufacturing Define as Waste?

In order for a company to successfully follow lean practices, they need to be able to identify their main sources of waste. While not every company is the same, there are seven general types of waste that affect most businesses. They are defects, over-processing, over-production, waiting, motion, inventory and transport.

Over time, unused talent and output that doesn’t fit the current market are two other types of waste that are commonly added to the list of the original seven. Nevertheless, lean manufacturing requires constantly assessing, identifying and eliminating sources of waste.

Other Key Components of the Lean Approach and Philosophy

Regardless of whether a company is producing heavy equipment for industrial operations or tiny computer components for the general population, there are several other aspects of lean manufacturing principles that apply to any type of business.

One is that there’s always room to improve, even in the most efficiently operated businesses. Another is design; manufacturing systems should be designed to be as simply as possible, because simplicity helps increase productivity while cutting down the amount of time between cycles. It also reduces the strain caused by having excess amounts of inventory that isn’t ready to move.

The key takeaways? Employing American-made and Japanese-honed lean management principles successfully means never letting your business rest on its laurels. Never miss an opportunity to eliminate waste, seek innovation whenever possible and keep things simple. Only then will you keep your business vibrant.

From Guest Author: Katie Elizabeth

Filed under Business, Economics, Continuous Improvements, Innovation, Health and Safety, Manufacturing, Engineering, Kaizen, Lean Manufacturing Tagged with , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

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