AME Blog

In his 1953 novel, Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury made several predictions about the future that have come to fruition. Among those predictions, he predicted interacting with others through video, large flat TV screens that take up an entire wall, and more. Beyond Bradbury, there are other cases of people... More

  Around the AME ecosphere yesterday, a committee of volunteers discussed how to help our members take better advantage of our considerable member benefits and how we might engage non-members so they can benefit from the AME network, knowledge and training. In another meeting, our regional presidents... More

  You might expect a joke letter today — it being April Fool’s Day after all — but I’ve decided to play it straight in my weekly message. That’s because I didn’t want to waste your time with a joke message when I know how valuable your time is. Instead, I wanted to use your precious time... More

    What do you call a manufacturing plant that is just ok? Satisfactory. At AME and among the lean, continuous improvement community, we are in a constant search for how to make things better, how to increase efficiency and efficacy, how to empower employees, how to lead better, and how to improve... More

    All eyes have been on Ukraine in the past week. While the situation is still unfolding and remains dire, there are so many inspirational things that have caught the world’s attention. We have seen heroic actions of everyday citizens, national pride of Ukrainians, and a global community that has... More

  In last week’s message, I mentioned the unseen but important role that Jamaica’s 1988 men’s bobsled team played by inspiring future bobsledders to try the sport. Older generations can lead the way, show what’s possible, and offer a hand to help others step up to the next level. To help future... More

  To create a lean culture where employees are empowered and the organization buys into a system that consistently looks for improvements, you need leadership support, a common language, and a commitment to thinking differently. While I’m sure some companies come into existence with lean thinking... More

  Yesterday I received a news alert: prepare for a winter storm. The governor declared a state of emergency. The state’s department of transportation advised residents to stay off the roads. The snow prediction was for 1-2 inches. If you live in a northern state, Canada, or somewhere that big snow... More

  Like many people, I looked up to Betty White and was saddened to hear about her passing. She was a vibrant woman and it seemed like she might live forever. Beyond my love of her work on television, Betty and I shared a love for animal welfare. If you’ve been on a Zoom with me, you may have noticed... More

    In last week’s message, I wrote about reflecting on the year and recognizing the opportunities to level-up our skills and the skills of those around us. When we reflect on things, it’s natural to also look ahead and think about how the future might bring about things that are new…different…better. This... More

    When we come together to collaborate, it’s important to have different voices at the table. We often think of these different voices as coming from people of diverse ethnicities, genders, orientations, and religions. Of course, having those voices is incredibly important. Representation matters... More

  As we recognize Veterans Day in the U.S. and Remembrance Day in Canada, I want to highlight the important role that veterans play in the AME community. In every industry represented by AME members, you will find veterans working in continuous improvement capacities to make their organizations better.... More

  Do you have your costume picked out for Halloween? If not, you might consider dressing as a witch, rabbit or dinosaur – the top three costumes according to Google Trends. When we dress up for Halloween now or as a child, we’re trying on a new look, but we still bring our own personality to the... More

  When you’re a kid, there are things that you look forward to each year like your birthday or Christmas, or the first day of summer break. As those days approach, you might remember feeling anxious and excited. It might have been hard to focus on other things or to fall asleep at night. Even as we... More

  Life is a series of choices that we make every day. Some of these are small choices like what to eat for breakfast, what movie to stream on Netflix, or what shirt to wear. Others are big choices like where to live, what sort of career to pursue, or how to treat an illness. We often overlook some of... More