We are pleased to announce that an Osborne team of executives will assist In the Line of Fire Inc. with growth strategies relative to finance, sales, marketing, manufacturing and distribution.
In the Line of Fire develops, licenses and sells hard and soft body armour for first responders, police and military applications.
Monday, June 25, 2012
Friday, June 8, 2012
USE OLD SAWS AS THE TOOLS OF BUSINESS
When we sit in meetings there is a moment when someone uses one of the old saws below. As these are heard so often, they are usually ignored, but today we will consider their truth and try and throw in the odd business tip.
Another Day, Another Dollarlways be on the lookout for another dollar. It can be revenue. It can be cost savings. At the end of each day ask yourself "where did I make my dollar today?".
Low Hanging Fruit
Quick, easy and instantly rewarding defines low hanging fruit. For example, how about get your receivables in on time. Speaking of receivables, a quick phone call will bring better results than e-mails. Hard to do sometimes, but you need the personal touch.
Measure Twice, Cut Once
Obvious right! Then why don’t you do it? How many times do you look at an Excel spreadsheet prepared by someone else and it is wrong and the reason is obvious. Excel is fickle. Check your work, include checks and balances, and please remember Excel does not substitute for common sense and it has no gut feel for the numbers.
Assumption is the Mother of All (you complete the sentence)
Assumption is never worth the time you thought it saved. It is the lazy way out. Empiricism is the foundation of decisive action. You can never avoid the risks but do not build your own extra risks in by way of assumptions.
To read the remainder of the article, click here.
Another Day, Another Dollarlways be on the lookout for another dollar. It can be revenue. It can be cost savings. At the end of each day ask yourself "where did I make my dollar today?".
Low Hanging Fruit
Quick, easy and instantly rewarding defines low hanging fruit. For example, how about get your receivables in on time. Speaking of receivables, a quick phone call will bring better results than e-mails. Hard to do sometimes, but you need the personal touch.
Measure Twice, Cut Once
Obvious right! Then why don’t you do it? How many times do you look at an Excel spreadsheet prepared by someone else and it is wrong and the reason is obvious. Excel is fickle. Check your work, include checks and balances, and please remember Excel does not substitute for common sense and it has no gut feel for the numbers.
Assumption is the Mother of All (you complete the sentence)
Assumption is never worth the time you thought it saved. It is the lazy way out. Empiricism is the foundation of decisive action. You can never avoid the risks but do not build your own extra risks in by way of assumptions.
To read the remainder of the article, click here.
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
COMPANY OFFERS CLIENTS SHORT TERM MANAGEMENT
Article written by Mark MacDonald of Business Fraser Valley. To read the article, click here.
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
MANAGING THE SUSTAINABLE SUPPLY CHAIN
The business community has come a long way since the terms "sustainability" and "sustainable development" became part of the vernacular 25 years ago after the report of the Brundtland Commission to the United Nations. Gradually, consumers began to demand that a concern with the "triple bottom line" – economic, social, environmental – had to be demonstrated by businesses and this began to have a real impact on buying decisions.
I was reminded recently what a constant the "sustainability" theme has become as I scanned a column by Nina Winham in Business in Vancouver (March 6-12, 2012). Not only does this local business weekly now have a sustainability columnist, the focus of this particular piece was "sustainable purchasing". Purchasing, or procurement, if you will, is a key function in the supply chain. If a company is serious about delivering a sustainable, or "green", product or service to the market, the supply chain perspective provides the required comprehensive view of all the inputs and processes.
The emphasis on supply chain management and its vital role in assuring consumers that the purchases they make reflect socially and environmentally responsible decisions, comes as no surprise to those of us with some experience in the food processing industry. About 15 years ago, it became mandatory to implement HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point) as a food safety strategy. The requirement to analyse and account for all inputs and processes – and demonstrate that you had done so - threw a harsh light on supply chain management, or the lack of it, in the food industry. Three key factors affecting supply chain management – traceability, audit processes and certification – quickly became paramount in the food industry. I am sure that businesses that have implemented other quality management programs, ISO 9001 for example, have had the same experience.
Now we see emphasis on traceability, audit and certification in all industries where it is important to establish origins and authenticity and show that your product or service is consistent with social and environmental standards. And it is driven as much, perhaps more, by industry response to consumer demand as by government regulation. One of the longer-established sustainable certifications – Marine Stewardship Council – was not a government initiative; it was industry driven and spear-headed by Unilever.
To read the remainder of the article, click here.
I was reminded recently what a constant the "sustainability" theme has become as I scanned a column by Nina Winham in Business in Vancouver (March 6-12, 2012). Not only does this local business weekly now have a sustainability columnist, the focus of this particular piece was "sustainable purchasing". Purchasing, or procurement, if you will, is a key function in the supply chain. If a company is serious about delivering a sustainable, or "green", product or service to the market, the supply chain perspective provides the required comprehensive view of all the inputs and processes.
The emphasis on supply chain management and its vital role in assuring consumers that the purchases they make reflect socially and environmentally responsible decisions, comes as no surprise to those of us with some experience in the food processing industry. About 15 years ago, it became mandatory to implement HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point) as a food safety strategy. The requirement to analyse and account for all inputs and processes – and demonstrate that you had done so - threw a harsh light on supply chain management, or the lack of it, in the food industry. Three key factors affecting supply chain management – traceability, audit processes and certification – quickly became paramount in the food industry. I am sure that businesses that have implemented other quality management programs, ISO 9001 for example, have had the same experience.
Now we see emphasis on traceability, audit and certification in all industries where it is important to establish origins and authenticity and show that your product or service is consistent with social and environmental standards. And it is driven as much, perhaps more, by industry response to consumer demand as by government regulation. One of the longer-established sustainable certifications – Marine Stewardship Council – was not a government initiative; it was industry driven and spear-headed by Unilever.
To read the remainder of the article, click here.
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
TREVOR AXWORTHY HONOURED WITH FELLOW CHRP AWARD
Osborne Interim Management is proud to congratulate Trevor Axworthy, a long-standing Principal with the firm, for being honoured with the Fellow CHRP Award. The Fellow CHRP is a prestigious title that recognizes the most exceptional CHRP’s (Certified Human Resource Professionals) in Canada who have made outstanding contributions to the profession and their communities. Eligibility criteria includes: strategicpositioning of the Human Resources profession; advocacy on behalf of the HR profession to government policy makers; development, sharing and promotion of innovative HR ideas, policies and practices; service to local, provincial or national HR associations; and service to the broader community/social responsibility.
Trevor was bestowed his Fellow status as a result of his extensive career and leadership roles at NOVA, his work on the Pension Review Tribunal as the member of Alberta for CPP/OAS, his role as one of the Founders of HRIA and the Canadian Council of Human Resource Association and as an early Past President of the Human Resource Institute of Alberta. This is in addition to his community work with leadership roles and service with The Mustard Seed, Rotary, Inn From the Cold and Scarboro United Church.
Trevor was bestowed his Fellow status as a result of his extensive career and leadership roles at NOVA, his work on the Pension Review Tribunal as the member of Alberta for CPP/OAS, his role as one of the Founders of HRIA and the Canadian Council of Human Resource Association and as an early Past President of the Human Resource Institute of Alberta. This is in addition to his community work with leadership roles and service with The Mustard Seed, Rotary, Inn From the Cold and Scarboro United Church.
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