Do you have a hummer in your shop? Not the civilian version of the M998 Humvee that’s made a comeback in 2020 with an extreme off-road package, a bed slide carrier, lifestyle adventure package (yes, please), and an off-road readiness package all in an electric truck with dual motors and a 300+ mile range. You can build one here for about $100,000.
I’m talking about the tiny bird with a streamlined body, saber-like wings and a long bill with an even longer tongue. Hummingbirds have differentiated themselves from all other vertebrates (apart from the kestrel, hawk and tern) with their ability to hover in place for a sustained period. They can also fly backwards and upside down—an unmatched acrobatic feat, although peregrines use an upside-down maneuver to right themselves mid-flight. The BBC would tell us that hummer bodies are just built differently, as most birds have feathers that “only lock together to form a solid aerofoil against airflow from below,” (BBC Science Focus, Luis Villazon).
So, who is your differentiator?
The one person that does something that no one else can (or should)? The person who defies the odds and can get out of the trickiest situations for you, solving any problem imaginable.
We all have that key employee. The hummer. Plenty of people are hard-working, intuitive, dependable and driven. But your hummer takes it a step further. Key personnel could not do their job without that skill. BioSpace tells us that key personnel are also confident, have excellent communication skills, and a growth mindset. They are innovative, reliable and respectful. Naturally, they are problem solvers. They are also creative, generous and curious.
I’m looking at that list knowing that I should be looking at my entire team for these traits. But let’s get back to your shop—who is that one person?
The one who handles “all the things”. They work hard and get results. They think fast and make decisions – not just timely, but accurately. They might be wrong – once. They need to work in a place that is high-performing, and they will always show up that way.
They are, for lack of one, your MES.
An MES is a manufacturing execution system. It is a mission-critical system for manufacturers, monitoring, tracking, documenting and controlling their manufacturing process(es). It should handle everything from inventory to scheduling. From resource allocation to performance. It should give you immediate tools to solve problems, get rid of upcoming situations before they even happen and ensure that you have everything you need to get your work done, on-time, on-budget and right.
On paper, this person looks amazing. They solve “all the things”. Without paper, they could be the rock star that jets you to the next level. You see, they don’t suffer for lack of trying. They work hard. They’re focused. They’re doing all the right things. They’re just exhausted.
Every day is a series of things going both right and wrong. They’re there to help you with the wrong ones. But solving problems doesn't mean that you are getting better. They just make it better, and they must—every time. They are solving problems without the ability to make sure the problems don’t happen again.
Take the pressure off. Remove paper from your shop. Give your team the tools it needs to really fly.
Ask us how we can help.
Oh, and if you’re building parts for that 100k hummer up above? We can help with that, too.