I have been in the window business for 12 years now. It is tough in this part of the country, as competitors seem to be able to undercut my prices. I have got to believe they are more efficient than I am. What targets should I be setting my production manager?

Yes, the industry is competitive and in consequence it is tough out there. Equally, as in every industry, there are companies who are able to compete very effectively by looking in detail at every aspect of their business and taking decisive decisions. There are a group of manufacturers who fit in this category; we call them The Elite. The good news is that they are not necessarily the biggest producers, they are the smartest. Equally important they have not necessarily spent heavily on new machinery.

Without visiting your company it is hard to provide definitive guidance, however, consider the following:

• Look at our website and access Manufacturing Norms where you can find guidance on how to obtain industry benchmarks.
• Read the articles on our website entitled He Who Benchmarks Wins and Grey Matter Before Greenbacks.
• Consider joining our best practice club, again access the website, phone or e-mail us.

Give me a call so we can have a deeper discussion.