Information Technology

Who’s Handling Your Technology in an Increasingly Information-driven Industry?

Getting IT staff more involved in operational goals takes engagement from both sides.

Taking Tech into the Plant

Minimizing wear and tear on your technology hardware is a significant step toward avoiding downtime and recovering quickly when problems occur.

Digital Safety

CMs need to understand the basics of digital security and know how cyberattacks could affect their operations.
 

Tips for Better Tech Support

What’s the secret to great IT support in the component industry? Find a process that’s simple enough that you’ll actually do it, and detailed enough that it’s useful.

Making a Case for Continuous Change

It takes good communication to keep an ongoing upgrade process on track.
Chris Cozart, director of manufacturing systems for Builders FirstSource in Denver, Colorado, believes everyone’s input is needed to build employee buy-in throughout the company and to successfully implement change. 

Who’s Your Audience When You’re in IT?

Chris Cozart of Builders FirstSource, John Holland of Clearspan Components, Greg Dahlstrom of Villaume Industries and Jason Hikel of Shelter Systems—all members of SBCA’s IT committee—used their BCMC presentation to cover several aspects of managing your company’s technology needs: change management, effective documentation, cybersecurity and industrial hardware.  

Virtualization: Is Your Business Ready for It?

One CM explains that, despite a few challenges, virtualization is “potentially huge in its impact on IT efficiency.” 

Continuous Improvement Can Prevent Disaster

Planning ahead for hardware and software upgrades is an essential part of avoiding a worst-case scenario.

Backing Up Your Data Isn’t Enough

The more business you do, the higher the cost of downtime. 

The Future Is Here

Xoom. Galaxy. Slate. Iconia. iPad. Unless you’re a technology enthusiast, it’s likely you wouldn’t recognize the products these names refer to (except for perhaps the last one). They are all the latest and greatest tablet computers produced by the computing industry, and they offer a very simple, yet seductive advantage to the business community: mobility. For you, mobility translates into easier sales, quicker response times, more effective repairs, better marketing, streamlined manufacturing processes and, most importantly, more efficient communication and collaboration.