As a thought leader, author, educator, and change leadership practitioner, I write a weekly article that benefits leaders who want to improve their organizations significantly.
I am having fun or getting old as the last year has flown by since my Humanist Manufacturing: A Humanitarian Approach to Excellence in High-Impact Plant Operations book launched. It is both, as I am now 64 years old and enjoying my thought leadership work. I looked back at the experience to see the outcomes of those past 12 months. In doing so, I found some interesting results.
This book is a comprehensive approach to leading with the heart in a world full of hard-nosed decision-making. It ties together the many parts of modern management theory with the oft-overlooked special circumstances of leadership in today's pressure cooker manufacturing environment. It is designed to be a helpmate, not a read through once and forget it book. With questions for reflection and additional readings relevant to each chapter, it is designed to be on your desk as opposed to on your shelf. It is full of actionable ideas that can be applied both every day and during times of strategic thinking and planning. A great book from which any leader can learn! —Fred Keller
Fred Keller, founder and chair of Cascade Engineering, built a company to value the "people, planet, and profit." He had already been living the different mindset of leaders I recommend for our future for the past 40 years. Keller founded the company in 1973 with six employees molding plastic parts. The company now has 15 plants in six US locations and an operation in Budapest, Hungary, with a total employment of 1,600 people. He led the development of a company from an initial start-up to a world-class organization that profoundly and positively impacted those working for the company and those in the communities at the locations of their many plant operations. When I received the above endorsement from Keller, I knew I had achieved my primary goal of writing a book, an A-Z guide others can follow to become manufacturing exemplars similar to Cascade Engineering.
When writing a book to share my humanist manufacturing framework, I had no illusions of it becoming a best seller. My secondary goal was to have something I could hand to potential clients to provide them with what I would work with them to achieve. Whether they implemented one aspect of the book, or the complete framework, they would know what to expect during our engagement. During a review of book sales, the total is fifty-seven copies. About half of the copies were likely purchased by family and friends. What surprised me was the known purchases of ten in France, four in the United Kingdom, four in the Czech Republic, and one in Poland. I would like to know if anyone has implemented what I recommend. If someone has done so, I would love to hear their story.
Achieving an endorsement from my manufacturing hero of "A great book from which any leader can learn!" met my initial goal in writing my book. Furthermore, I met my secondary goal of handing something to potential clients to let them know how I approach my consulting work. A pleasant surprise was to see purchases of my book in Europe and the United Kingdom in addition to my home country, the United States.
Individuals interested in seeing the book's content can access a free copy for a limited time. In return, I would only ask those who do so to let me know their thoughts. What they found helpful, and anything they disagreed with or felt was missing. I hope to get feedback that will help refine the framework further.
In a thank you letter to Fred Keller of Cascade Engineering, I wrote:
I am profoundly grateful for your impact on my growth as someone working to show others how manufacturing can be so much more than solely providing products and services. If one leader embraces moving from the status quo to becoming another manufacturing exemplar like Cascade Engineering, my work will be successful. However, I sincerely hope that many follow your example.
Keller's endorsement of my book meant a lot to me as his company is an excellent example of my humanist approach to excellence in high-impact plant operations.
Next week's blog will introduce the humanist commitments that comprise the humanist manufacturing framework.
To learn more about our work or read more blog posts, visit emmanuelstratgicsustainability.com.
I encourage you to read my book Humanist Manufacturing: A Humanitarian Approach to Excellence in High-Impact Plant Operations. The paperback and eBook versions are now available at Amazon and many other booksellers. You can also view the Humanist Manufacturing Book Launch to gain additional insight into the Humanist Manufacturing framework.
If you like what you have read, I invite you to connect with me on LinkedIn.
Contact me if you need help with the manufacturing support services of consulting, coaching, or training/reskilling in change leadership, strategy, tactical planning, and change management by calling me at 734-664-9076.
See my virtual TEDx videos at Reinventing the Prison Industrial Complex and Humanist Manufacturing.
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