If you watched “60 Minutes” on Easter Sunday, you know that the U.S. government has issued an urgent warning about a dangerous new malware that could cripple industrial systems worldwide. This warning follows a recent cyberattack by Russian hackers who attempted to knock out power to two million people in Ukraine.

The Biden administration is warning that the Kremlin is now preparing to launch a new generation of cyberattacks against the United States. American cyber defenders say they’re seeing Russian hackers scanning and probing some of our most critical infrastructure systems. They’re bracing themselves, especially at the department of homeland security, with an initiative called “Shields Up.”

Cyber Security and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) Director Jen Easterly said, “We are seeing evolving intelligence about Russia planning for potential attacks, and we have to assume that there’s going to be a breech, there’s going to be an incident, there’s going to be an attack.” Easterly predicts our energy and finance sectors will be key targets.

When it comes to Vladmir Putin, Easterly said, “We are dealing with a very dangerous, very sophisticated, very well-resourced cyber actor, and that’s why we’ve been telling everybody very consistently, ‘Shields up!”

So, what does that mean? Easterly, a West Point graduate and decorated army officer, says it means we should, “assume there will be disruptive cyber activity and make sure you are prepared for it.” To help mitigate the threat, she’s calling on Americans to be hyper diligent with their cybersecurity.

Steps we can take include:

• Updating software. This is important because software updates typically include enhanced security features.
• Using multi-factor authentication (MFA) on computers, tablets, and phones as much as possible. It may be inconvenient to wait for a text message and enter a code before you can browse your favorite websites, but implementing MFA makes you 99% less likely to get hacked.
• Not sharing information we find on the internet unless we are 100% certain it is true and it originated from a credible source in the United States. Spreading false information is one of Russia’s favorite tactics.

You can learn more by visiting CISA’s National Cyber Awareness webpage, which also offers the option to subscribe to security alerts and tips. To watch the 60 Minute segment, click here.

Web Savvy Marketers and its subsidiary, Connecticut Manufacturer’s Resource Group (CTmrg.com) are dedicated to helping manufacturers succeed in every capacity, so we’ll be sharing more about cybersecurity throughout the year. To subscribe to our news updates, click here and scroll to the bottom of the page.

In this year’s first quarter Manufacturer’s Outlook Survey, the National Association for Manufacturers (NAM) reported that manufacturing companies are still struggling with workforce shortages.

“Companies cite difficulties in finding sufficient workers to meet their capacity needs, despite wage growth for production and nonsupervisory workers in manufacturing that has been at a 40-year high. At the same time, manufacturers have had around 800,000 job openings or more—a very elevated rate—for 10 straight months,” according to the report’s summary.

To entice candidates, 93% of the companies surveyed said they’ve increased wages and benefits. More than 66% have also incorporated flexible work schedules, yet they’re still unable to fill vacant roles.

If you’re having trouble finding qualified candidates it might seem logical to turn to your Human Resources department for help. However, workforce challenges aren’t just an HR issue. It’s beneficial to look around your company and consider the following:

1. Does your work environment represent the quality of your products and services? For example, when candidates come in for an interview do they see chaos and a stack of dirty dishes in the breakroom?
2. Have you considered how your marketing impacts your ability to recruit new employees? Does your company’s brand/image reflect a workplace that is friendly, diverse, and accepting?
3. Does your benefits package attract the right candidates? What worked 30 years ago doesn’t necessarily work today.
4. Are you optimizing strategic tax credit and deduction programs? Doing so can provide your company with more resources to invest in new employees.

If you answered “no” to any of these questions, Connecticut Manufacturers Resource Group (a subsidiary of Web Savvy Merketers) is here to help. We can help you resolve one issue, or several. If you’re not sure where you need help, we’ll conduct a Needs Assessment to provide the answers. Contact us to learn more.

Companies fail for many reasons. We recently stumbled across an article in Entrepreneur Magazine titled “10 Reasons Why 7 Out of 10 Businesses Fail Within 10 Years.” The piece offers some valuable insight that’s applicable to all companies, even if they’ve been around longer than 10 years. Since many of the reasons listed aren’t relevant, we’re only sharing those that are common to manufacturing :

1. Lack of Current Data
   Failure to fully understand your target audience is one reason companies fail. What are their pain points? How are you – and your competitors – failing to address them? Are there product or service gaps your company can fill? You can conduct market surveys, focus groups, etc. to gather this vital information. If you’ve already done this, how long has it been? The manufacturing industry is always evolving and you might need more current data. When you fully understand your customers, you’re much better equipped to provide them with exactly what they need.
2. Not Enough Focus on Business Development
   Lack of an effective sales funnel is a common reason companies fail. Think of the sales funnel as the relationship builder between your company and your customers. Email campaigns, phone calls, webinars, etc. are good tools for this. Remember that people don’t buy from companies, they buy from people. Nurturing relationships is key. Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems, like Sharpspring, ensure companies stay connected to their customers. They also streamline processes and improve profitability. Although some CRM software can seem expensive to implement, it will more than pay for itself over time.
3. Lack of Clear Leadership
   Lack of strategic and effective leadership can cause a company to collapse. Consistent, transparent communication is essential. Everyone in the company should be aware of the company’s goals, and all employees should feel that they are on the same team as their leaders. Business owners who continually and transparently communicate with all employees, not just their executive tier, are much more successful at achieving the culture of teamwork necessary for success. This is especially critical due to the workforce shortage.

As a business owner, you’re probably already aware of these common pitfalls. The risk is in getting so busy you don’t address them. If you don’t have the time or resources, Web Savvy Marketers can help. Contact us to learn more.

We’ve all been watching in shock and horror as Russian forces continue to launch endless military strikes against the people of Ukraine, turning their once vibrant cities into smoldering piles of rubble. We’ve seen hospitals and schools ruthlessly bombed without mercy for the innocent civilians within their walls, some of them newborn babies. Since the first attack on February 24, the situation in Ukraine has become increasingly dire. People who’ve managed to survive the bombings are now left without food, water, shelter, and medicine.

Americans are eager to help the people of Ukraine, and our manufacturers are stepping up and making an impact. Many companies have ceased operations in Russia and others have stopped exporting goods and conducting any business there.

Countless U.S. manufacturers are donating significant funds and other types of aid to Ukraine, too. We’re highlighting a few of them here, along with the industry organizations who also are pitching in to help:

• Caterpillar Inc. has donated more than $1M through its Caterpillar Foundation
• Stanley Black & Decker shut down its Russian business and is donating $1M to the United Nations’ refugee agency, UNICEF and the Red Cross, and doubling matches for employee donations to approved charities.
• Ammo Inc. donated $700,000 worth of AK-47 ammunition
• Cummins has fast-tracked $250,000 in grants
• Ford Motor Company pledged $100,000 to the Global Giving Ukraine Relief Fund
• The International Society of Transport Aircraft Trading (ISTAT) Foundation contributed $300,000 and has pledged up to $300,000 more through a matching campaign. Initial donors included Pratt & Whitney ($25,000) and Air Lease Corporation ($100,000)

In addition, The National Association of Manufacturers’ (NAM) Emergency Response Committee has partnered with Project HOPE and is engaging with other members who are donating.

“Manufacturers are truly at the forefront of aid efforts to Ukraine,” NAM Senior Director of International Trade and Regulatory Affairs Ryan Ong said. “Collectively, they’ve raised tens of millions of dollars for food, shelter, medicine, health care and more for the people of Ukraine. They’ve stepped up to help those in need, just as they do as a group in any time of crisis or hardship.”

While we can’t list all of the manufacturing organizations who are helping Ukraine, we can share a good resource for others who want to help. In their newsletter, EB Landing, Electric Boat of Groton, CT, published a list of organizations accepting either financial or in-kind donations. All are highly rated by Charity Navigator, ensuring your donation will be used as intended.

We at Web Savvy Marketers stand with the people of Ukraine and hope for a quick end to the war.

According to the National Safety Council, work injury costs in the U.S. totaled $171B in 2019. The number of lost work days totaled 105 million for that same year. We’re still waiting for 2020 and 2021 data, but it’s possible those numbers will be greater.

Given the enormous financial impact, it’s no surprise that preventing work related injuries is important to business owners. Most large companies have Environmental Health & Safety departments, councils or teams to promote an employee safety culture, but this might be difficult for small companies with limited resources. Often, their efforts are limited to an occasional safety training seminar, some posters, caution stickers, and warning labels.

It takes more than that to create a safety culture. Here are five budget-friendly suggestions from a Fortune 500 manufacturing company in Connecticut:

1. Establish health and safety as core company values. Make it part of your company’s strategic messaging, and ensure your managers lead by example.

2. Add safety as an agenda topic for weekly staff meetings. Discuss health and safety issues and solicit suggestions for improvement.

3. Include a safety tip in the company newsletter. This company conveyed safety messages with cartoons, which amused their employees while educating them. This tactic helped to ensure employees would read and remember the messages.

4. Celebrate safety milestones (ex.: 90 days without an injury). In the 1990s, Fenn Manufacturing in Newington gave away a new car or truck after every 90 days that passed without a work-related injury. All employees’ badges were thrown into a hat and the company president drew the lucky winner. This may seem grandiose, but the president had concluded that a new vehicle was less expensive than the cost of just one serious injury. For smaller companies, something as inexpensive as a celebratory cake or a free lunch will do.

5. Encourage employees to report near hits and potential hazards throughout your facility without fear of retaliation. Have them submit them in a centralized location and review them at staff meetings. Draw a winner from the submittals and present the winning employee with a small gift card (ex.: Starbucks, Dunkin, etc.)

These steps will keep safety on everyone’s mind and contribute to a culture of safety. Visit the OSHA website for more ideas and consider downloading their Small Business Safety and Health Handbook. Reviewing your safety program is just one of the many topics covered with a Needs Assessment. Contact Us today to start the process.

Check out our previous blog: Staying on Top of Safety Protocols

World-renowned Software Engineer Watts Humphrey once said, “If you don’t know where you are, a map won’t help.” Known as the “Father of Software Quality,” Humphrey was referring to the process of software development, of course, and not a geographical location.

His statement highlights the logic of using your company’s current state to determine what needs to be done to achieve its desired state. And determining where your business is now is the first step of a Needs Assessment.

Simply put, a Needs Assessment as a systemic process that measures the differences between where your business is today and where you want it to be tomorrow. It identifies what’s working well, what needs improvement, and what’s missing. Finally, it identifies the specific actions you should take to get to your desired destination. A Needs Assessment can (and should) be used throughout every facet of your business.

For example, a holistic Needs Assessment would include your company’s workforce challenges, like recruitment, training, and employee retention. It would also address your company’s financial, business development, sales, and marketing challenges. Your company’s information technology, operations, and production processes would also be assessed.

Your company’s project managers and process improvement teams play key roles here. They use Needs Assessment results to identify which services and functions are missing, which are unnecessary, and which need development. In smaller companies, Needs Assessments can help business owners determine resource allocation.

There’s a business owner in Central CT (we’ll call him “Fred”) who is a brilliant engineer and inventor. He owns three companies, two that are successful and one that is struggling. He frequently admits, “I’m an inventor, not a businessman.” In fact, Fred’s so focused on his inventions that he often overlooks other important details, like business development and marketing. You’ve probably heard the phrase, “He can’t see the forest for the trees.” That’s Fred. A Needs Assessment, performed by an objective third party, would identify his companies’ shortcomings and, ultimately, make them all much more profitable.

Although Fred has the resources to conduct his own Needs Assessment, using an objective third party is a much better option. Company employees are often biased, and office politics can get in the way of identifying problem areas.

The Connecticut Manufacturers Resource Group (a subsidiary of Web Savvy Marketers) objectively conducts Needs Assessments to help companies reach their desired destinations. We’ll show you where you are and provide you with a map to help you get where you want to be. Contact us for more information.