Product
first vs. People first |
|
Recently
some companies in the MCAD industry (or PLM industry if you’re in
marketing) have espoused the mantra of “product first.” When I saw
this new branding campaign initially it seemed like a good idea, but
there was something missing I couldn’t quite put my finger on. As
I mulled it through a bit more it hit me: It’s not about product
first. Although offering an excellent product and having the right
technology to design it is key to a company’s success, they are
secondary to something far more important: The right people! Ok, so I
would imagine this is not a revelation to most manufacturing companies
out there. The one common element that we see in our truly successful
clients, and we have been fortunate to work with literally thousands of
companies in recent years, is that they have the right people and
company culture in place. With
reduced workforces and greater demands prevalent today, the one thing
that companies can do that will have dramatic impact on both the short
and long term is make sure the right people are on the bus and that
everything, within available resources, is done to take care of that
team. For example, making training opportunities available for new
skills and/or disciplines, allowing for flexible schedules or creating
more involvement/ownership of company-wide strategic issues are all
viable options for personal growth. Once
the right people are in place, review your technology and see if
additional leaps can be made by changing to reduce your design cycle and
costs, stay ahead of competition and attract the best industry talent.
As always, we look forward to being your partner in these
ventures! |