With the inability to find new hires these days, coworker retention is more important than ever. Companies have been evaluating their pay and benefits structures to figure out how to hold onto the people they have. We think we have found the secret. Prior to the lack of applicants being a real threat, PlastiCert had […]

The news has been abuzz the last two weeks around billionaires flying into space.  The morning of July 20th, all the morning shows were showing the happenings live. I kept changing the channel when they went to talk about it directly. I get the implications of the two efforts, that space is now (or soon […]

Last week we were notified by Plastics Technology Magazine that we are, for the 3rd time, being recognized as one of the Top Injection Molding Shops in the United States. The final report with data as to where we sit compared to the respondents is still pending. We eagerly await the report, not to see […]

The peer group I belong to recently did a comparison of vacation policies between our companies. We all varied between how much time off we provided our people. Some call it vacation accrual, some call it PTO, some have a combination. Some differ accrual amounts between exempt and non-exempt. I was glad to see that […]

Everyone has out “Now Hiring” signs these days. We in manufacturing like to think that we have it tougher than anyone. We are low in visibility. Only about 8% of the population works in manufacturing these days and our facilities are always on the outskirts of town. Our work environment is not glitzy. While we […]

After you have designed your plastic or composite component, you need to engage with someone to make the mold that will be used to injection mold that component. A designer will envision what it will take to make a cavity or cavities (for higher volume parts) in a steel mold frame. Price shopping for molds […]

As a supplier to OEMs, we recognize that we are a piece of the puzzle. We injection mold components that end up being assembled into great products that do wonderful things. As a rule, we have always worked to make that connection for our people here at PlastiCert. Why? PlastiCert, being a service provider means […]

Summer has started and that means benefit/charity golf around here. Recently, when I received a notice about a golf tournament I set it aside, at first. Upon further reflection, I decided I should take a few coworkers and participate. I first set it aside because in the almost 20 years I have been here at […]

As if a worker shortage was not enough of an issue for companies to deal with, now supply chain has risen to the top. Electronics (chips) used in everything from phones to vehicles to computers have seen demand far exceed capacity. Lumber has seen a huge increase in demand for new commercial and residential construction […]

Speaking to a Ninth grade Careers Class, I was asked, “What the best part about being the Company Owner?” I replied, “Being able to provide an opportunity for our coworkers to have a good living and provide for their families.” The student then asked, “What the worst part about being Company Owner”? I replied, “Being […]