When we address inefficiencies in our processes, these five perks happen:

1. We shorten our lead times to deliver parts to our customers more quickly.
2. We provide learning opportunities for our employees.
3. We free up time that increases our capacity.
4. We catch and address quality issues sooner so they don't make it to our customers.
5. We reduce our costs, which we pass onto our customers to stay competitive.

We spent a good part of the week addressing inefficiencies using Total Preventive Maintenance (or Total Productive Maintenance - TPM) with help from our consultant at the Massachusetts Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MassMEP). Our team observed our thin wheel insert production to find microstops and tackle repeat problems in real-time. The result: improvements to our Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to avoid repeat problems and run a tighter ship so our customers have excellent experiences buying their metal stampings from Donahue Industries.

With guidance from the Massachusetts Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MassMEP), we've successfully implemented pull manufacturing. Pull manufacturing is a production system based on actual customer demand instead of forecasting or producing to stock.

Pull manufacturing helps us control our inventory. Controlling our inventory frees up cash to purchase new equipment so we can provide our customers with new and better services.

We thank our shipper and material handler for configuring our brand new Work in Process (WIP) area.

A weaker US dollar makes a stronger US economy. In "Weaker dollar boosts US manufacturing," the Associated Press reported growth in the manufacturing sector from April to May after a slump from October through February. The culprit for the slump? "A strong dollar that made U.S. products more expensive in foreign markets. The dollar has fallen against other major currencies since the end of January, giving factories some relief."

Looking to a better job market and consumers' ability to spend more as an indicator, economists "expect the growth rate to rise to perhaps 2.5 percent in the second quarter."