Blog | Accessa

Adhesives answer the call

Stronger, thinner, lighter and quieter sub-assemblies The value and importance of adhesives in manufactured goods has been steadily trending for over a decade. That’s because the number of advantages are mounting given the demands of the marketplace. This seems to be of particular importance to the automotive and aerospace industries where I think you will see this trend sharpen in the next five t...
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Customers dictate the kitchen trends that stick

It’s a good day when an order comes in that you can fill with your eyes closed. You’ve stocked the color; and you’ve perfected that special finish—you know exactly what they want. On top of the trend, you’ve enabled your team to respond quickly and satisfy another client. Being prepared and in-the-know limits frustration on both sides while it keeps the business profitable. Trends repeat gr...
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EPA. More or less?

Protecting lives but challenging business In 1970 the Beatles disbanded; the price of a gallon of gas in the U.S. was $0.36; and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was established in response to public concerns about the deteriorating conditions of our water, air and lands—it was also the year that the first Earth Day was celebrated. The EPA’s broad mandate fit the mood of the times. The in...
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4 Ways to gain control of your finishing business

What do customers think of when they hear the name of your finishing business? Do they get a fuzzy image or a clear picture? Is it an accurate snapshot of what you do best or not so much? Are their thoughts good ones or bad ones? Do they also think of other finishing suppliers but in a better light? Or do they have a special place in their heart for yours? Try as you might, positioning your pl...
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Four new takeaways from the Bastard

Snapshots of recent posts designed to save you time Knowledge and knowhow help us navigate a complex world. But information is useless if we don’t have time to consume it. Here’s the solution. Each quarter the Bastard will publish a summary of the last three or four blog posts designed for quick consumption. Short. To the point, and each with a new takeaway. Now you’re feeling industrious. 1. “Sti...
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Wisdom in brief, Spring 2012

If you’ve missed the last few posts, here’s a “Cliff’s Notes” style summary that will get you caught up faster than acetone evaporates in the sun. It’s concise business and leadership insight condensed to spoon-sized portions. New Rule #1: Forget the customer and achieve your goals If you want to achieve personal goals and/or working ON the business kind of goals you have to abandon t...
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21 News bites offer insight and direction

Once again, action precedes clarity What can one glean from a collection of seemingly unrelated news bites? Perhaps the better questions are: What’s important enough and what is motivating enough to influence our thoughts and future actions anyway? You can’t make sense of someone, or some thing, without effort and some engagement. You have to take action. Get it from Karl E. Weick, organizational...
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Define your finishing business by the “keyword” you keep

When a customer looks for finishing services you can bet most business people turn to Google, Bing or Yahoo’s search engine. If they know what they want but don’t know where to get it they start pecking a description into a search box—the process has become second nature. For the effort however, they expect instant, relevant search results that match what they’re thinking or they’re not happy....
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Get more out of your people to succeed

3 qualities to look for in your next hire Some believe that small business owners should constantly be looking for great employees—even when they’re not necessarily hiring. It’s a good point. We rely on our people, and we often sell our businesses on the very quality of our people. So when you think about building up your team or improving your bench you definitely want to hire the best candidate...
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Several trends point to a colorful near-future

Manufacturing is on the uptick and it bodes well for the coatings industry. But what comes next, consumer confidence or a measurable rebound in the economy? I see the manufacturing landscape like a rumbling volcano—an undeniable presence but no one knows exactly what to expect or when to expect it. Look to the news and you see a straining industry expected to fill the air, the pages and the...
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