In the first episode of our rebranded In-plant Outlook podcast series, In-plant Impressions Editor Bob Neubauer talks with well-known in-plant consultant Howie Fenton, principal of Howie Fenton Consulting. In a wide-ranging discussion, they explore Fenton’s long career, how he started consulting for the in-plant market, why he enjoys working with in-plants, and past in-plant consulting jobs where he feels he made the biggest impact.
They talk about the importance of incorporating automation and new technology, why in-plants must continuously seek new services and products to stay relevant, how using market-based pricing instead of budgeted hourly rates can help them break even financially, and why measuring and tracking key performance metrics and then taking action to address issues is vital to every in-plant’s survival.