My last post referred to preparing for the event through reflection, and getting a clear understanding of your needs and opportunities before venturing into other manufacturing facilities. Now I will talk about some important things to consider once you get there!

Openness- While you may be looking for something specific to benchmark as a result of your reflection, other opportunities to "borrow and steal with pride" (a founding EMC adage) may be staring you in the face. Exchange your business cards with as many people as possible, and take notes during discussions flagging input from the various folks in the room with whom you may follow-up with later regarding a particular practice or topic.

Germination- Sometimes the initial "take-aways" are in your face, other times they may not always be too obvious. Remember that there is always something to learn from every other business, no matter how different they may be from your own. Often the $$$ ideas germinate. You "soak" in what you have heard and seen, and your conscious and subconscious thought process things in a variety of ways as you and your people "connect the dots". I have seen some very bright people not "get it" right away when shown something of value. Your mind has to integrate what you have seen into your own set of circumstances. Be patient with yourself, and your people when networking and benchmarking.

Looking for ideas to take away from one situation and integrate them into another is not an easy process. It takes both concrete and abstract thinking. It also takes much courage to step away from what is familiar into what is not. It is this type of behavior and activity that will help us continue to strive to be better than we are. And this is the one sure way to get to "world class" and stay there.

Yours in networking,

Mike Baker, EMC