Who could forget the great recession of 2008 and 2009? On the heels of the worst economic crisis in recent history, I had the opportunity to give the keynote address to the membership of GAWDA (Gases and Welding Distributors Association)...
Lean Thinking is a philosophy of “No Waste.” It calls for a hundred small improvements every day rather than a major overhaul once a year. It is a concept based on making systemwide improvements to bring your customer greater product...
Over the last 12 months the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has been stepping up their audit activity, including at medical gas facilities. B&R Compliance (br compliance.com) offers clients an analysis of the kinds of questions FDA inspectors are asking,...
In this, the seventh article in a series on Continuous Improvement as a key business strategy, the authors look at how eliminating waste in the workplace positions a successful company for greater achievements, efficiencies, and productivity. Gas and Supply (gasandsupply.com), headquartered...
On June 28th, 2012, the United States Supreme Court decided in a 5 to 4 decision that The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) was constitutional. At the heart of that decision was the individual mandate— the requirement that...
Stories about high unemployment permeate news reports, so you’d think companies looking for help would have no trouble at all finding people to fill their open positions. Unfortunately, as many companies know, that isn’t necessarily the case....
In business, you have to be more competitive than ever to survive. For distributors, the question often arises: “How do I differentiate my business, especially in distribution costs, when my competitors and I have similar vehicles, fuel costs, and drivers,...
In this issue of CryoGas International, we asked five gases and welding distributors, each representing a distinct geographic region of the US, to give our readers a first-hand look at the challenges and successes they are currently experiencing in the...
Drinking naturally carbonated mineral water was popular in Europe early in the 18th century. If bathing in natural mineral springs was therapeutic, it was surmised that drinking the bubbly mineral waters must be therapeutic as well. Carbonated mineral water was...
As seasonal temperatures climb, employers must consider their potential liabilities for not protecting employees against the hazard of heat. This hazard can involve employer legal duties under many laws, including: OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Act), State...
