Letters

Beware The Next Big Thing

I have been in the aluminum casting business for over 30 years and your article ["The Next Manufacturing Craze," August 2004, Page 68] brought back many memories of the wonderful programs that would allow us manufacturers to produce better parts with lower prices. I

Personally 1 believe that successful companies are so because of their people. Given the choice I prefer "attitude" over ability. We still follow the old doctrine that if it's not broken, don't fix it, and that common sense still goes a long way.

Peter White, President

Smithford Products Co., Ontario, Calif.

I worked a number of years for a now bankrupt (but emerging!) metals-based company. We did or explored all of the above [organizational improvement schemes]. At first it was kind of fun being stimulated, motivated and even enthusiastic (or was it passionate?) about making things better. But after a while, people involved in the new latest thing became the early cynics. Too many programs designed after someone else's success started to build contempt for the implied undertow of "we're too stupid, too non-innovative [and] too unperceptive to understand and fix the problems we have on our hands."