Meet Jennifer:

Jennifer genuinely enjoys helping b2b clients solve their lingering problems with analytical yet creative and innovative solutions. She is passionate about helping teams transform their organizations with quality service and delivery standards to achieve higher profits by creating efficient processes. while increasing visibility and performance optimization through data. Jennifer has found a unique ability to connect people while also linking data and technology to achieve results over the last decade-plus, she has supported and led various projects in the manufacturing operations and supply chain functions. Jennifer is the CEO of the M. J. W group headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina. 

Lori: Can you share with our listeners how you've seen manufacturing shift over the years?

Jennifer: Oh, boy. Let's see I got into the manufacturing world when I was in college. So I remember I went to school for industrial engineering at the University of Central Florida UCF. I remember my first manufacturing class when we were on CNC machines, we have to make this little pin holder, and my parents still have it at home, and we measured on us the measurements of our barrels if we were within tolerance, the lathe machine, the mill machine, so that was like my first hand on experience with manufacturing. And I went on to do a couple of internships, one with a defense contractor in the Orlando area, and the second with one of the largest amusement parks in the Orlando area. Oh, yes. And so that amusement park had a whole industrial engineering department. And so it was cool to be in the park operations to look at the flow of people and where to place certain things. So people are attracted to it. But in regards to manufacturing, that was my first go-round with looking at how things are produced how goods are produced, how they're transported from, you know, the manufacturing facility, and to the Enhance of the customer. And I would say, I think we've gone through a couple of periods here where we've tried to lean out as much as we could. And I think with the pandemic, we now know that just in time is not working for us, we cannot allow our goods to become that lean to inventory to be that to where it cripples the whole supply chain ripples, getting products into the hands of those and customers. And so I think now, manufacturing is starting to move back onshore, less offshore, or finding other ways we can be collaborative if we are going to remain offshore to where it's not crippling our overall infrastructure here in the US.

Erin: What can manufacturers do to be better prepared for those major disruptions?

Jennifer: Yeah, I think with the wake-up call now, organizations need to put in some plans around contingency. So they need to create, and call out these gaps that you are immediately seen, and start to put some things in place to address those gaps. Now, are you going to hit it 100% out of the park? No, no one's ever, you know, bulletproof, in anything that's going on in the world. But I think having some contingency around the risk, measuring the risk that organizations are now taking as I mentioned, we're bringing production back on shore. So what does that mean? I mean, it's gonna cause the cost of goods in the US to increase wages have increased, we've already been seeing the ramifications of that. So just being as much as prepared as you can around contingency, and not just like, the technology that we use in manufacturing, or our machines, but also your resources, like, what are we going to do, I'm hearing from other business owners, in our space that the trades have just diminished. Like, we don't have anyone, as I mentioned, the CNC machines, we don't have that many people that know those machines anymore or have those skills. So we need to figure out what we're gonna do with the generations, you know, to come and making sure if manufacturing is gonna be, you know, one of the major heartbeats in the US, how do we keep attracting people to that? keep them engaged, or find different ways to produce our goods?

And so much more… 

Connect with Jennifer

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Connect with Erin on LinkedIn and visit http://www.earthlinginteractive.com for web-based solutions to your complex business problems!

Connect with Lori on LinkedIn and visit www.keystoneclick.com for your strategic digital marketing needs!  

Connect with Kris on LinkedIn and visit www.genalpha.com for OEM and aftermarket digital solutions!

Lori Highby Chris Harrington and Aaron Courtney, three broads, bringing you stories and strategies exploring manufacturing topics that

I don't know about you guys, but my team does this thing where we do a question of the day and that's how we start every single day. And

like that. What are you gonna do with it?

Yeah. Plane tickets. Plane tickets. somewhere. Somewhere. Plane tickets. Yeah. Nowadays,

it's only going to be for you then you can't bring anyone else. Yeah, no kidding.

Prices. Yeah.

Yeah, exactly. It's going bonkers. What about you, Chris? I think I'd

put it towards a new treadmill. You know, we're going into the winter season, I've had my eye on something that would make me feel like I could

thinking like food somehow, like a fancy restaurant that Wow. Something that I would never ever normally go to. But then I was like, but

I like the meal idea,

though. Like

stupid, like gold dust. Like, that's dumb. I want some that tastes like it costs $1,000. But because you're delicious. Yeah,

exactly. Yeah. All right. I'm sure we could talk about that for a long time. We want to get Jennifer White in the conversation. She is

performance optimization through data. Jennifer has found a unique ability to connect people while also linking data and technology to achieve results

Yeah,

I find it to be here. Finally. Finally. Yeah,

excited to have you. Alright, have you? Yeah, Jennifer and I have gone. I just shared your pre show before we hit the record button.

it was before the shutdown or Yeah,

after shutdown. Okay. I was I was going super hard on connecting digitally and yeah, yeah, people. We were in some other circles

Yay. Well, glad you're here. I mean, you're not in Wisconsin, but that's because now that we have this I'm always so grateful. You know, the

We definitely like to have people outside of Wisconsin invited to the party.

Oh, really? Sorry. So Jennifer, you want to just give us like the elevator pitch on the M J W group and just kind of And what is it that

Sure. Well, as Lori mentioned, I'm the CEO of the M. J. W group. And we are a performance improvement and leadership development, minority

on people processes data in technology.

That's awesome. Pardon? Yeah, yeah. It's kind of like merging the people part with the tech part, which is always one of my favorite things.

Can you share? Can you share with our listeners how you've seen manufacturing shift over the years?

Oh, boy. Let's see I got into the manufacturing world when I was in college. So I remember I went to school for industrial engineering at

with manufacturing. And I went on to do a couple of internships, one with a defense contractor in the Orlando area, and the second with one of the

at how things are produced how how goods are produced, how they're transported from, you know, the manufacturing facility, and to the Enhance

the hands of those and customers. And so I think now, manufacturing is starting to move back onshore, less offshore or finding other ways we can

That's a that's a really good observation. So wake up call. And it's so funny, isn't it, because it's a wake up call for the industry. And for

And so I think we're still seeing the effects. I was in the grocery store this morning. And the egg shells were very low. And I'm going

Yeah, where where

it is fascinating when you go to the store and you realize the impact is, you know, we're just so used to like, I can go get it whenever I

Yeah, yes, some real paradigm shift. So Jennifer, like, you have all this awesome experience down from being on the floor and learning from the

major disruptions?

Yeah, I think with the wake up call now, organizations need to put in some plans around contingency. So they really need to create, I like to

immediately seen, and start to put some things in place to address those gaps. Now, are you going to hit it 100% out of the park? No, no one's ever,

seeing the ramifications of that. So just being as much as prepared as you can around contingency, and not just not not just like, the technology that

out what we're gonna do with the generations, you know, to come and making sure if manufacturing is gonna be, you know, one of the major heartbeats in

So is that something that your team does like this scenario planning? Can you kind of walk us through how you would help somebody like, thinking

Yeah, so this is what we like to call the organizational change management because this, if you're not practicing this and your

how to transfer that knowledge digitally, or onto paper or make it visible, three, five different ways because we're all learning at different speeds.

planning succession planning at times, just so we're addressing that first variable of people like what are you doing with your people? And how does

Yeah. Yeah. The people question.

I really liked what you shared, Jennifer, if then then what I think that's an real good nugget to leave our audience with because sometimes

technology solution. Do you get involved in helping them identify some of the critical requirements for Have that can you talk a little bit about

Yes, business analysis is one of our strong points here at the firm. We do deep dive with our clients if they're going through vendor

get involved with a lot of business analysis and translating requirements between the manual process and the technology itself? Nice.

Yeah. And I think, you know, we meet a lot of companies. And I know that's true for Aaron and Laurie as well. But in oftentimes, the companies

Now, when you're halfway to the solution, that's when the requirements start to show up. Yeah, that's

my contact Jennifer White to help you. requirements gathering because it's so critical before you're identifying the solution.

Yeah, that's why a lot of projects are often delayed, right. And they're way old for because of that step, no one wants to do. I shouldn't

That's right. Good stuff that. We're gonna switch over to a fun question here. Can you share with our listeners something interesting

Hmm. I am an avid Baker. That's me using my my right brain, right, because I'm so logical and analytical all day. So but when I do bake,

No, yeah. Very left brain activity. Yeah. Sorry.

Okay, yeah, yeah.

Okay. So once it's out of the oven, and it's ready to go. But yeah, cheese cakes. Oh my gosh. I love cheese. I love cheese, bacon, cheese

Yeah, it's that time of year. But yeah,

I've done Oreos. Snickers all of the fruit. mint, mint Oreo mint chocolate.

The weirdest one you ever made? Did you ever make one that you're like, Nope. Never gonna do that again.

I think it was something I call it a Hawaiian cheesecake. pecans and pineapples and like coconut and

that, but it didn't really you were like in no.

So that's another thing we have in common, actually. Oh, I love cheese cakes. And when I when I got married, one of our wedding gifts

There's a name for it, I guess springform that's the word.

But I also got a book of the 50 like Blue Ribbon Award cheesecake recipes and I'm working my way through making all of that oh,

there's a your taste test and Irish

like Irish cream one that is amazing. I made an Oreo one oh my god. Yeah, so we should should do some recipe sharing them on taste test.

Ya Yes. Yeah, I love to cheese cake to say

I would never have been able to supply the word springform I'm definitely the either the creator or the baker

in this group. Different shape pans Laurie because I did have a heart spray.

Oh, no, I've

just got three different sizes. And actually what I've been doing is instead of using the springform pans, I use cupcake pans. Oh cuz I

I think that sounds

cheesy though. Like, Share with your friends, your family and your co workers, and you know, and then you can freeze them to switches. So

forever. I actually think it's a good, it's a good, it kind of wraps things up, right, because like, when you're a baker, you need to be

all of it. And to think of all of it and to anticipate everything. And if you can find somebody that you trust, who has experienced like, Hey, folks,

No, no, I want one.

All right. So now we're gonna switch to the I just learned that segments. Let's start with Chris, what did you just learn?

Alright, I'm gonna do a fun one, because I was. I was reading this and some of my reading this morning, but I think we all know Liz. Oh, yeah.

opportunity to play the flute in her concert. So this past Tuesday night, she had a concert and she claimed for stuff for flute from 1803. And she

a video that I would love to see because I got to share like, gosh, your link.

I didn't see a video. I only learned that Oh, that's cool. But I think apparently when she went through the Library of Congress, she picked

flutist Batista, nine.

But that was pretty. That's something interesting that I learned that I thought would be fun and light to share with everybody.

That's awesome. Wow, she's great. Cool. All right.

Oh, me? Sure I'll go. This is some might find it boring. Others find it fascinating. And that's cryptocurrency. And I could go on and on. So

exploit people. So the government stepping in, and that in some circles, that's not a good thing, but I think it's a great thing because it means

Yes, all right.

Good. What about you Lori? What do you know?

You know, I should bring a fun one one day I always go to like marketing because that's that's like what I read nonstop is marketing

That's fun for you. It is fun for

me, but I don't know if it's fun for all of us, so there was a study that and I always find studies because you guys know I just like

of money. But so the study He audited, like the actual financial impact that these influencers have from their activities. And only about 4% of

that's why I'm on this podcast. Right, Jennifer? This is how we're gonna make our millions or at least 1000. What about you, Jennifer?

Yeah, so I've learned recently that love is blind is casting here in Charlotte, North Carolina. You haven't seen that show? It's a good

It's fun when it comes to your city. Oh, yeah. To look around and say, Hey, I know where that is. I know where that is. Yeah. And then here

set points of separation. Right? You might know because like cousins on it or something like that. That's hilarious. Okay. I'll keep I'll tune

Mastering? It's on Netflix. It's hosted by Nick. Go. Che and Vanessa was thinking, okay. No, yeah,

really good. It is. Oh, so now I have a new recommendation.

All right. So this was super fun conversation. Jennifer, if anyone was interested in getting in contact with you, what's the best way

Find me on LinkedIn. I will always do at linkedin.com/jennifer M W. Yep.

All right. Cool. Well, thank you so much for taking the time to be on the show. We love the conversation. And definitely listeners,

This wraps up today's broadcast. If you're looking to shake up the status quo at your organization, or just want to connect with the broads.