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Component Manufacturing dverti$er
July 2017 #10216 Page #99
Don’t Forget! You Saw it in the
Adverti$er
The Last Word... Prospection…
Joe Kannapell - Senior VP MiTek Industries, Inc. www.mii.com
What is driving the quest for automation besides the obvious? Surely it is not our preoccupation with the past, because that would recall the recent near-depression, and painful past calamities. Rather it is prospection, looking ahead, that explains much of our behavior, according to psychologists Martin Seligman and John Tierney. Their thesis agrees with the constant urgings we hear: “The best defense is a good offense,” “Be proactive not reactive,” “Think ahead,” and my favorite, “He who hesitates is lost.” This innate desire to anticipate the future explains the risks taken by lone inventors with little or no prior experience—like the Wright Brothers conceiving the airplane in their bike shop, or Jerry Koskovich conceiving the computerized saw while inspecting truss plants. These prospectors were able to maintain a laser-like focus on the future value of their inventions, disregarding all naysayers, even so-called professionals. Should we buy into the work of these optimistic “prospectors” or be restrained by fear of being “first adopters?” The practical answer is to go and evaluate the innovation and judge how it fits into your plant. If it requires radical adjustment, then consider what Joe Hikel learned from other industries while building his $10 Million Shelter Systems plant. Joe observed that successful operators tend not to disrupt legacy systems. Instead they are prone to construct entirely new “greenfield” operations where they can perfect new technology over months or years before large scale implementation. In other words, it takes lots of time, energy, and money to implement radical innovation, such as robotic truss or wall panel assembly. Do be prospective, however, when judging incremental improvements, like autojigging, linear saws, or single tool panel bridges. Don’t be weighed down by your current process; prove their value on a single line in your plant, and if successful extend them to multiple lines. “He who hesitates is lost behind the competition.” Or, “To the prospector goes the spoils!”
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