Supply Chain Consciousness

An Abundance of Resources

MRP - Material Requirements Planning

My career began over 40 years ago in the manufacturing sector, where the control of inventory was essential to the on-time success of producing product. I was fortunate to be on the ground floor of computer-assisted applications, which utilized Material Requirements Planning (MRP). As I progressed from inventory positions to production management, the applications of theory and practice changed, but the concept remained the same under the umbrella of Supply Chain and Logistics. As a production manager, I needed the steady and controlled flow of raw materials to be brought into the factory, hopefully using "Just In Time" techniques (JIT) that insured that the necessary components found on the Bill Of Materials (BOM) are ready when the product needs to be assembled and shipped to the customer. This was during a period of time when manufacturing was still active in the US Northeast.

A successful production manager can look at MRP two ways: through the lens of scarcity or one of abundance. The purchasing aspect of a company is very important due to the complexity of the materials needed in manufacturing product. Some bills of materials have numerous parts or raw materials. These "ingredients" are required at various times during the production cycle and the timely delivery of materials is necessary to assure a high level of customer service. So, if a part (or parts) are not available, the whole cycle can be upset. Part of the stress of my job was deciding what to do if a part didn't arrive on time. This could be a "scarcity" issue that might jeopardize a complete order. The flip side was when there was "abundance" of material, which would increase inventory burden and put stress on the company's return on investment (ROI). The job of the materials manager was to strike a happy medium. This perfect balance was mostly a Utopian concept, which rarely existed in reality.

I worked for a few manufacturing companies, each making different product groups from Industrial to Consumer. The most creative job I had was with the manufacture of wall clocks. There was certain latitude available to "substitute" parts, such as dials and hands. If the hands for a certain style clock weren't received on time, we could get approval to substitute the hands from another style. This creative approach can be used in certain types of manufacturing, but it is not the norm. Most of the time, the production manager is faced with either "scarcity" or "abundance".

In today's Supply Chain, there is the added necessity to source each and every raw material that goes into every part used in the manufacturing cycle. Back 40 years ago, most materials were produced in the United States. Manufacturing is now on a Global scale. Other countries, such as China, have lower standards on what materials can be used in their products. There is also the danger that toxic or flammable ingredients are used. This "risk" is a major concern for the entire manufacturing industry. I currently work for a corporation that deals in this risk and has intellectual products that assist in the sourcing of raw materials by providing an accurate and detailed BOM for everything that is used within the United States. It is essential to know what you are dealing with at all times.

                                                   Spiritual MRP

It has been a while since I worked in manufacturing, but the fundamentals of MRP continue to be a major part of my life. And, just as in today's Supply Chain mentality, the "requirements" component has been replaced by the "resources" necessary for a well-balanced environment. This includes the lifestyle and culture we choose to follow, and the diligence we observe in choosing the "materials" that surround us. Do we follow a "scarcity" mentality, where we only look at the things we lack in our life? Or, are we grateful for the "abundance" we find in certain aspects of our life? Do we surround ourselves with "toxic" individuals that exude negativity and make our life "flammable"? Or, do we choose to limit our companions to those who uplift us and shine with positive energy? It's always nice to have friends, but are we unbalanced on the negative side? MRP has enabled me to consider the raw materials that make up everything that affects me on a daily basis. This includes both things...and people.

Another realization is that "Just In Time" synchronicity comes naturally to a well-balance person. By opening the channels of inspiration, through meditation and prayer, I can draw upon the unlimited resources of the Universe. I trust that the right things will occur at the proper time in my life. With the Universe as my supplier, I am never disappointed, be it success or failure. My experience has shown that what I desire at a given moment often isn't the best thing for me at that time. By opening the channels of divine communication, we can all benefit with receiving the right inspiration to act, at the right time!

Ultimately, change is necessary in life. There are times when this can be stressful. But, if change doesn't occur, there can be no progress. Looking back at my life, I can see that times when I fought change, and lost many important opportunities. I now choose to embrace change in my life, and I keep the channels of inspiration open. When opportunity knocks, I want to be ready to make a positive change. The Universe (God, if you choose) intimately knows our spiritual DNA. The Bill of Materials we choose to plan our future is very important. We have to make sure that our Supply Chain remains pure and uncorrupted.

Blessings!

Alfred Voto, M.Msc.

 

Are You Ready For Total Engagement?

In Corporate America, business analysts have discussed "work/life balance". It was assumed that there was a neat separation between work life and private life. An employee would punch in to work for eight hours, then punch out to enjoy their personal pursuits or leisure. The common mentality was "working for the weekend", as if work life had to be endured, or, personal enjoyment had to be delayed, until the five o'clock whistle blew on Friday afternoon. This mentality survived decades, from the industrial revolution in the 19th Century, right through the American cultural and post-modern data revolutions.

This mentality was instilled into the psyche of Traditionalists, Baby Boomers and Generation "X"ers. The separation between work and play became the ritual and the beat of life for most of us. We all drew comfort from punching out from work and breathing the sweet air of freedom outside our place of employment. We can, in part, thank Generation "Y" and the Millennials for a gradual shift in corporate culture; one that has presently come to dominate upper management in many progressive companies.

The senior generations were content to unplug at five and leave their burdens at the office. However, the Millennials are constantly plugged in, 24/7. To the horror of their elders, the Millennials want, no, they demand, to be engaged according to their 24/7 schedule. Sitting in a cubicle for long stretches of time might be tolerated for a while, but the Millennials look at life differently. They demand meaning to life, a holistic integrity of living in the Now!

Life should be a tapestry, where each stitch, be it work or leisure, intertwines to create the sacred whole. The technology of the 21st Century enables 24/7 engagement. Cell phones, tablets, Skype and Twitter keep us plugged in continuously. Thoughts flow both inside and outside of normal working hours. The Millennials want the value of their ideas to be respected and their contributions acknowledged by the management team. No longer do they accept time served in a cubicle to be the benchmark for their promotion and advancement.

A new paradigm is emerging. Concepts that once seemed cutting edge, such as working from home or flex-time have morphed into total engagement. Seasoned employees have long kept a desire of doing what they love and loving what they do secretly hidden in their hearts. As time went by, they began to lose hope that this could ever be a reality. Competition between the generations has grown to where senior workers feel neglected and alien within their company. Company loyalty has long been a strong suit of the senior generations. Shouldn't they be allowed to coexist, while contributing according to their own time-honored mentality of work/life balance?  

The seniors are not to be blamed for feeling betrayed, as long as upper management makes the ideal of youth the manifesto and requirement for corporate citizenship and caters to the Millennials while neglecting competencies of the elders, who, as a group, helped build the company into the success it is today. To truly succeed, a company must combine the best of both worlds, so to speak. Most senior workers would relish being mentors and would gladly support the younger workers, while continuing to contribute their wisdom and talents.

Total engagement is a worthy concept easily adopted by the Millennial generation. But, total engagement hardly works within the structure of the nine-to-five office routine. Concessions should be made for both those willing to work 24/7 and those who are comfortable working the standard office hours and then clocking out. Both groups should be included as honored and valued employees.  

I hope corporate managers have ears to hear and the will to collaborate with all generations to improve communication and bring all employees together. It's taking the seniors longer to grasp the concept of total engagement. To many, it's alien and an intrusion into their life after the five o'clock swipe at the turnstile. But, corporate management must include everyone in the culture and vision for the future. If they don't, sooner or later, most seniors will see who's driving the corporate bus and either disengage or hop off the bus at the next convenient stop.

Alfred Voto, M.Msc.

The Power of KNOW

There is a difference between just believing something and actually living it. It's often said that "Those that can, do; those that can't, teach". Well this about sums up what it's like to understand a spiritual or metaphysical principle, but not apply it to your personal life. You can be a walking encyclopedia of knowledge about Yoga or Meditation, but fail to manifest prosperity in your life. This is sad, but it does happen quite often. I, for one, prefer to observe how a person behaves and then draw my conclusions as to their teaching. I hope that all of my friends and associates will also support me in putting my money where my mouth is, so to speak.

 

The ego is a powerful force in our life; often overriding our Higher Power in our decisions on how to live our life. Focusing on our past, the ego engages the assistance of our subconscious to convince us that we are making mistakes by not paying attention to the past. This is perhaps the greatest obstacle to our spiritual progression and success. By dragging us back to the past, our ego batters us with memories of failures and pain that actually did occur, often decades ago. By replaying the tapes of these events, our ego is insistent in reminding us just how vulnerable we are to both our own decision-making and the wiles of the world.

 

The truth of the matter is that there is absolutely nothing we can do to rectify the mistakes we made in the past, or ease the pain we felt back then. By dwelling in memory (both bad and good) we wallow in thoughts that should have no power on us now. The good memories revolve around pleasure, which we certainly wish to feel but has no value in our present life. The present, the NOW, is the only place where we have control. By dwelling on the "could have" or "should have" aspects, we are wasting precious moments in our present life. So, for instance, if we want to rectify a past event, we have to do it in the present moment. Calling into remembrance a past mistake, we might be able to deal with it in the present if the person or situation still exists today. If the person we wish to reconcile with is dead, then we are just wasting time in damning ourselves, or them, for a past transgression.

 

Instead, there is a much better way to deal with life. By living in the NOW, in the present moment, we have full power to deal with any situation that comes our way! Our Higher Self, our spirit guides and evolved masters exist only in the NOW! They cannot go back to fix what happened in the past. We have to understand this basic fact of universal reality: We are one with the Universe and the Universe is constantly evolving! Karma is a law that moves forward, not backward. The ego is a part of us that means well, but is so connected to our subconscious that it often confuses past with present. The past is over; the present is the place where we have control and where miracles happen! Our spiritual guides and evolved masters only exist in the present. The oneness of the Universe is also in the present moment, in the NOW.

 

So, now that we understand that the past is gone and the future is ahead, we can realistically understand that we should remain in the present moment 100-percent of the time. We can intellectually teach others that there is a oneness in the Universe, but, unless we practice it ourselves, the lesson is shallow. It's up to all of us, as teachers and practitioners of metaphysics and yoga, to live what we KNOW and practice what we believe, thereby putting it into action. As Thomas Jefferson said, "Actions define who we are". By putting what we KNOW into action, we are being honest to our calling as "Heirs of God's Kingdom".

 

Blessings!

 

Alfred P. Voto, M.Msc.

 

 

Time Passages - New Beginnings!

Follow your bliss!

 

Enjoyment:

"Now he lives in the islands, fishes the pilings,

And drinks his Green Label each day;

Writing his memoirs, losing his hearing,

But he doesn't care what most people say."

- Jimmy Buffett - 'He Went to Paris'

Tranquility reigns supreme on this winter's day,

as I visualize the soft breezes of a mystical island in the blue/turquois waters of the Caribbean Sea. 

As I prepare to leave corporate life, I look forward to entering a world of creativity. Regardless of whether it be a life of blogging or creating fusion cuisine, the horizon is aglow with possibilities. 

Antigua, Monserrat, Curacao, St. Lucia, Cozumel?

There are so many faces and so many places that come to mind. I bless them and count myself fortunate to have experienced them all.  :-)

Peace and Light!

Alfred Voto, M.Msc.

Create your own Reality!

 

When the World starts running down... 

There has been a paradigm shift in the way we view the world, ourselves and each other. In Matthew 24: 6-7, it is stated: "You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places." This warning has been quoted for such a long time that many dismiss its importance. However, the prophesy remains valid and is meant to be taken to heart by each succeeding generation. We now find ourselves in a global community where each happening (either political or economic) affects us all. At no other time in history have the world economies depended so much on each other.  

Even though working full time, I have also been affected by the downturn in the economy. In America, we are working longer and harder to make ends meet. The data on unemployment is staggering. Many of us have been out of work for two-to-three years, and the outlook isn't getting that much better. It's very easy to get discouraged and throw your hands up in the air in surrender and frustration! There seem to be so many changes in 2014, but, isn't this what we expected? As with anything, change is in the eye of the beholder. We can choose to view life through the prism of Scarcity or Abundance.

If we choose scarcity, there is overwhelming evidence and popular thought to support this mentality. There are many forces in the world that prey on those of us who are fearful and have given control of their life to "the powers that be". Fear is the absence of love, or a belief in the inability of love to change the world. Jesus said "Love conquers all", which is arguably the most powerful truth in our world today! It is such a powerful concept that there are many dark powers fighting to maintain the world in a fear mentality. If a person is surrounded by negative forces, it is difficult to break the chain of fear.

Personally, 2014 has been a year of closing doors. In many aspects of my life, there have been endings. Many of my friendships have been put to the test and found lacking in the love necessary to continue them. Many organizations that I once trusted and relied upon have either gone out of business, or worse, lost their desire and/or ability to provide satisfactory customer service. It's truly amazing how things have changed in such a short period of time! But, most importantly, there have been changes in the way I look at the world. Yes, the world is running down, but should we hang onto our past fond memories and admit defeat? Or should we let the door to fear close, but keep our eyes scanning the horizon for love? I have chosen to shut the door and follow my conviction that the best is still to come! 

Take the best of what's still around...

We don't have to throw the baby out with the bath water, so to speak. We can still build upon our past successes, while retooling ourselves for the future. This requires a major paradigm shift on a global basis; a fundamental change in the world's way of viewing reality. We have to shut off the noise of the outer media and go inward, improving our connection with the energy and power of the Universe. By understanding the principles of meditation and the laws of attraction, we can connect with the universal source of creation to forge a new reality. This is not wishful thinking. The great religions and spiritual beliefs are founded on the belief in this creative energy!

So, I am calling on all creative people, be they artists or architects, scientists or dreamers, to use this universal energy to forge the way to this new reality. Many inventors and positive thinkers have shown through the centuries, that each one of us is endowed with the ability to take our dreams and visions and create them in the world. This ability was built into each one of us at birth, we already are "wired" for perfection of vision and creativity. Let us all consider what we are called to do...and JUST DO IT! Just like the characters in "The Wizard of Oz", we already have whatever we need to succeed, it's already inside us. We just have to realize the power inside!

So, it's a matter of shutting the door to the past and forging ahead into the future. Close the doors that lead to things that are no longer valid or make sense in our life. You may well find that there are many open doors awaiting you ahead. Use the prism of love and you will choose wisely!

Blessings!

Alfred Voto, M.Msc.

Moving Onward!

Attitude of Gratitude   The month of February was very active overall. My department at work had a major move from the 20th Floor to the 19th. In my personal life, there were many changes in future plans for relocation to a warmer, kinder climate. In my professional life, I'm getting closer to earning my doctorate in holistic counseling. In my business life, a couple of new investments and acquisitions bolstered my portfolio of companies in emerging markets. Often accompanying change comes concern for the future and some regrets for the past. This is natural and most people experience these concerns from time to time. But, dwelling on the past, or negative thoughts and regrets, is counterproductive to moving onward to the future ahead. Instead, I choose to think of my past achievements with an attitude of gratitude for everything I've accomplished.

I've been in my current job for 78 months of continuous employment. In my multi-career lifestyle, this has been a successful run and has enabled me to shore up my investments for the future. I am now glimpsing possibilities for my next step and will be ready when opportunities arise. I give thanks for the wonderful experiences and warm friendships that have been forged during the past six years and bless everyone who helped create a climate of respect. 

Moving onward is a mentality that should be constant in personal development. The individual goes through a period of nurturing and learning that leads to a position of self-esteem and the yearning for advancement. Often, there comes the desire to have more control in making decisions that impact the career path. An analogy can be made between being a passenger in an automobile or the driver of the vehicle. In corporate life, the individual must allow the directors to control the company's culture and make the decisions. If this strategy no longer supports personal development, then it's time to become the driver of the career path and prepare to take control of the next step. It's this next step that will define a person.

Voyage of Discovery  The next step involves a personal vision quest and a voyage of discovery. Procrastination in beginning this step not only wastes time, but might hold a person back in their desire for advancement and maintains the status quo. Planning starts the moment a decision is made to become the driver of the career path. Re-education and preparation for the necessary changes will create a proactive mentality in the individual and give them self-assurance for potential success. Just the activity of charting a new course might be enough to inspire and motivate them further. The smallest step made in this direction is never lost, as long as the individual stays the course, no matter how long it takes! 

Blessings for a successful voyage of discovery and taking the next step. The ultimate goal in life is to follow your bliss and become the driver of your own life! 

Alfred Voto, M.Msc. 

A Logotherapist's thoughts on the Existential Vacuum

Every once in a while, I like to wind down and reflect on how things are going in my life. The long July 4th weekend provided adequate time to both relax and think about things without the daily pressures of working a full time job. The daily tasks associated with work fill my weekdays and often make me too tired to reflect on anything more than resting, eating and sleeping. A four-day weekend, however, allows me to not only relax and recreate, but provides time to meditate, contemplate and basically think.

Thinking brings analysis and judgment, which opens up a door for the dreaded Existential Vacuum to slip in and demand some of my thoughts. During normal working hours, these mind games are better restricted to mere flashes and whispers from my inner gremlins. But, with more available time, opportunities for full-scale debates arise.

As a student of Viktor Frankl's work in Logotherapy, the seminal discussions found in his book, "Man's Search For Meaning", remind me that the need to find meaning in life is a prerequisite to attaining happiness. Time spent in the Existential Vacuum is important for each individual, as it opens up the search for the compass we use to chart our journey through life. Frankl introduced the idea of the Existential Vacuum; a void within ourselves created by a lack of awareness of any meaning worth living for. This void is caused by an inability to make proactive choices on our life's path and the loss or fading of traditions that have guided people's lives during past generations. A person then suffers this feeling of loss, often resorting to behavior that further traps the individual in a feeling of helplessness.

Symptoms of the Existential Vacuum often include a will for power, a will for money, a will for pleasure, a will for celebrity, or the opposite, a will for self-effacement - all of these in order to be accepted by others. These are only some examples, but the main cause is the lack of meaning in life. Logotherapy provides a solution for these symptoms. Each person must take responsibility in finding personal meaning to their life. This meaning must include action and not rely on abstract thoughts alone. Proactive involvement in life and the world is requisite to achieve a successful plan for a meaninful life. 

Logotherapy is very clear in creating a tactical plan. There are three possible approaches. The first is creating meaningful work or performing meaningful tasks. The second is by experiencing something or someone intimately. The third, and perhaps the most important, is the attitude we take toward unavoidable suffering. An often-repeated quote by Viktor Frankl is "Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of human freedoms - to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one's own way." This is powerful stuff!

So, at the end of this holiday weekend, I choose to follow all three approaches! Another of Frankl's quotes has also helped me: "The salvation of man is through love and in love. I understood how a man who has nothing left in this world still may know bliss, be it only for a brief moment, in the contemplation of of his beloved." All of the great religious Traditions teach LOVE as the most powerful force. "Love conquers all!" There is also a saying, "Charity begins at home", which also means that we must first love ourself before we can love any other person or thing. By opening my heart to the universe, I am asking and receiving unconditional love. I am now able to take the world in a love embrace and follow my bliss and find meaning in life - which is happiness in a nutshell. As the Buddha said, "There is no path to Happiness: Happiness is the Path", And, as one of my trusted spiritual guides says, "Love is always the answer!"

Blessings, 

Rev. Alfred P. Voto, M.Msc.