In the fast-paced world of technology, businesses are constantly seeking innovative solutions to enhance their operational efficiency and gain a competitive edge. Cloud computing, the revolutionary paradigm that it is, has emerged as a game-changer, propelling companies into the digital age. At Amberhill Associates, we believe in harnessing the power of technology to transform businesses, and cloud computing is at the forefront of this transformation. In this article, we delve into the myriad benefits of cloud computing and why it’s the key to success in the modern business landscape.

1. Scalability and Flexibility:
One of the key benefits of cloud computing is its unparalleled scalability. In traditional IT infrastructure, businesses often faced limitations when they needed to expand or shrink their operations. Cloud computing offers the flexibility to adjust resources on-demand, ensuring that you only pay for what you need. This agility empowers organizations to respond to changing market conditions swiftly.

2. Cost-Efficiency:
Cloud computing is a cost-effective solution for businesses of all sizes. It eliminates the need for substantial upfront investments in hardware and software. Instead, you pay for services on a subscription basis, which can be easily adjusted to align with your budget. Additionally, cloud providers handle maintenance, updates, and security, saving you the costs associated with managing on-premises infrastructure.

3. Accessibility and Collaboration:
With the cloud, geographical boundaries are no longer a hindrance to collaboration. Cloud-based tools and applications enable seamless teamwork, allowing employees to work from anywhere with an internet connection. This accessibility enhances productivity and fosters collaboration, enabling businesses to thrive in a digital world.

4. Enhanced Security:
Security is a paramount concern in the digital age, and cloud computing doesn’t fall short in this regard. Reputable cloud providers invest heavily in cutting-edge security measures, including encryption, access controls, and data redundancy. These safeguards often surpass the capabilities of traditional in-house IT solutions, making your data safer in the cloud.

5. Disaster Recovery:
Disaster recovery is a critical component of business continuity. The cloud provides an automatic backup and recovery system, ensuring that your data is protected even in the face of unexpected events. This resilience minimizes downtime and protects your business from significant losses.

6. Eco-Friendly Solutions:
In today’s world, sustainability is a pressing concern. Cloud computing plays a vital role in reducing a company’s carbon footprint. By consolidating data centers and optimizing resource utilization, cloud providers can deliver services with greater energy efficiency, contributing to a greener future.

7. Competitive Edge:
Adopting cloud technology provides businesses with a competitive edge. It empowers them to deploy new services and features rapidly, meet customer demands, and stay ahead of the competition. Moreover, it enables the integration of advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, and Internet of Things (IoT), making innovation accessible to all.

In conclusion, cloud computing is a transformative force that aligns perfectly with Amberhill Associates’ commitment to leveraging technology for business excellence. Its scalability, cost-efficiency, accessibility, security, disaster recovery, sustainability, and ability to provide a competitive edge make it an invaluable asset to any forward-thinking organization. By embracing the cloud, companies can embark on a journey towards greater efficiency, agility, and success in the digital era. As technology continues to evolve, cloud computing remains at the forefront, ready to empower businesses on their path to prosperity.

Chris@amberhill.biz
www.amberhillassociates.com

All companies need to be mindful of costs & for those producing products this is best done at the Design stage. Here are some suggestions:-

• Before beginning the design a Product Specification is essential, this needs to have been agreed at Senior Management level.
• The product design needs to meet the spec and no more.
• The material choice is critical, why make it out of gold if steel will do.
• Use minimum thickness, as long as the design meets the spec.
• Reduce the number of components as much as possible.
• Re-use existing design components wherever possible – this gives Purchasing negotiating strength over suppliers and reduces inventory.
• Consider Manufacturing by minimizing the number of process steps in manufacture.
• Hold regular Design reviews & involve other parts of the Organization.
• Build a prototype to test the design.
• If possible test the Design using Computer Aided Modelling.

If you need help minimizing cost at the Design stage feel free to get in touch.
chris@amberhill-associates.com

www.amberhill-associates.com

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In their iconic book “Lean Thinking” Womack & Jones identified 5 Lean principles of fundamental importance.

1) Specify Value from the End Customers perspective. What does the End Customer actually want from the product or service. The only way to ascertain this is through the Voice Of Customer. We will expand on this in later posts.

2) Identify the Value Stream. This is the sequence of processes from raw material to the end customer which comprises Value Adding and Non Value Adding steps.

3) Make value Flow. The process should be continuous, avoiding batch production and queues, or at least minimizing them. Aim never to delay a value adding step with a non value adding step. If NVA steps are unavoidable they should be done in parallel with VA steps.

4) Operate via Pull not Push. The system should be driven by the customers demand avoiding unnecessary over production.

5) Strive for Perfection. Minimize defects and aim for Total Customer Satisfaction.

Adopting these 5 Lean principles leads to a Kaizen journey of Continuous Improvement.

chris@amberhill.biz

www.amberhill.biz

Students at the Georgia Institute of Technology recently learned that the ‘Teacher’s Assistant’ they had been reacting with all Semester was actually a robot !

‘Jill’ powered by IBM’s Watson analytics system helped undergraduate students with an online artificial intelligence course.

‘I thought I was talking to a real person’ confessed one student whilst another was ‘gobsmacked’

This raises a number of ethical issues around the use of A.I – should we be informed whether we are talking to a ‘robot or a human being.

This also begs the question whether A.I systems could be said to have passed the ‘Turing Test’ and essentially be indestinguishable from a Human Being.

A.I Technology is progressing at breakneck speed & has profound implications for all kinds of services such as banking, insurance, customer service etc etc – indeed any industry which relies on person to person communication will be revolutionised by the pace of Artificial Intelligence.

This will inevitably lead to massive job losses in these industries but will also create many alternative careers in Engineering & Technology Development.

There is little doubt, though, that those highly skilled & highly paid roles will not be populated by the same staff who used to work in the call centre leaving another dilemma for Society.

chris@amberhill.biz

www.amberhill-associates.com

There has been much wringing of hands & gnashing of teeth over the impending closure of the Port Talbot steel works by Tata Steel. Politicians of left and right have dug out their Road Atlases & rushed over to be photographed consoling the poor sods who work there demanding they ‘Save our Steel’. The Government will promise a lot & deliver nothing. Labour will urge the re-nationalisation of the failing plant which is reportedly losing £1 million per day. So who would pay for that £365 million per year to save 13,500 jobs – The British taxpayer – the same taxpayer who would be moaning about the loss of their local library or maternity ward.

What the workers desperately need is some brutal honesty:-

• British Steel is no longer economically viable in the global market place.
• The total volume of world steel production produced in the U.K is less than 0.1%
• There are lots of British companies benefiting form cheap Chinese steel.
• No one is going to buy Port Talbot & run it in its current format.
• The Government will do NOTHING to save the plant.

So what should be done:-

• The Unions should focus on obtaining maximum redundancy pay.
• If any of the ‘higher value’ operations can be salvaged this is where the emphasis should be.
• The Government needs to do more to encourage alternate employers to the area by the extension & creation of enterprise zones.
• Employees need re-training & re-skilling.

chris@amberhill.biz

www.amberhill.biz

Football Fans are beginning to wonder whether Manchester United Manager Lois Van Gaal has ‘lost the dressing room’ in much the same as Jose Mourinho did a few short weeks ago at Chelsea.

This Management phenomenon is not confined to the World of Sport – it is surprisingly common in the fields of Business & industry, so what are the symptoms:-

• Directions which once went unchallenged are now contested, sometimes vigorously.
• Staff turnover, once steady & low, increases, sometimes dramatically.
• There is a definite lack of motivation.
• Deadlines are missed & increasingly challenged.
• Tasks become ‘bogged down’ & remain uncompleted.
• Tempers are increasingly frayed.

So what are the causes of this sad state of affairs.

• Poor communication & direction from Senior Management.
• Unrealistic demands to meet unrealistic timescales.
• Workers overloaded with bureaucracy.
• Too many new systems.
• Middle Managers pointing the finger of blame at subordinates.

If you find yourself in this unenviable position of ‘losing your dressing room’ getting the Team back onside is never easy but try this:-

• Be open & honest, not only to the Team but to your Senior Management. This may be painful in the short term but is key to success.
• Stop pointing that finger.
• LISTEN as well as you talk.
• Eat a small portion of ‘humble pie’ even if it sticks in your throat.

chris@amberhill.biz

www.amberhill-associates.com

David Bowie was undoubtedly one of the greatest & most influential musicians & artists of the 20th Century –  so what did he teach us about Innovation.

• He never rested on his laurels. Despite  phenomenal success with any one of his characters he ripped it up & started again. If he had owned Apple he would never be developing the iPhone 7.
• He never followed the trend – he led from the front regardless of popular opinion, when he went off to Berlin to experiment with electronic music it was a form which was right on the edge.
• He made the rules – in all aspects of his life – regardless of societies norms.
• He was a perfectionist – not a control freak.
• He selected the best to work with & gave them free reign.
• He wasn’t perfect – like all of us he made mistakes, but learned from them.
• He may have grown old physically but his soul was forever young.

Farewell to a great Artist & a magnificent Innovator.

chris@amberhill.biz

www.amberhill.biz

The News last week that the Government is to invest £235 million in a new Henry Royce Institute in Manchester to support research in to new Applied Materials is great in a number of ways:-

• It demonstrates a real and welcome major Investment in our great Northern Cities with satellite hubs in Leeds, Sheffield & elsewhere it is hugely welcome & better late than never.
• It is a major investment in Science & Technology which will help create higher value added jobs & help to re-balance the economy by creating more advanced manufacturing industries & small businesses and to help them develop & thrive.
• It demonstrates that there is more to UK PLC than London & the financial services industry.

Manchester has a proud tradition of Scientific & Industrial development & this type of Investment will ensure that continues beyond the 21st Century.

Lets have more.

chris@amberhill.biz

www.amberhill.biz