That Competitive Edge
The exhibition is torn down, the displays packed away, and tired exhibitors and guests are looking forward to a relaxing weekend before planning starts for […]
Gear Talk With Chuck
That Blank Sheet of Paper
Does nature hate a vacuum more than a designer hates a blank sheet of paper? We will never know for sure because nature is too […]
So, Where Do I Start?
The last blog posting cautioned against over reliance on reference books for design guidance. A perfectly logical follow-up to that caution is “Where do I […]
Toying with Old Recipes
A consultant’s code is similar to a medical doctor’s; e.g. — Rule #1 is to “do no harm.” Sometimes I feel like a real buzz […]
The Things You Learn Along the Way
Long time readers of this blog know that my “gear career” has included plenty of non-gear-related assignments. Of course, if you are a deeply entrenched […]
Thoughts on Team Building
The last post suggested constructing a fighting robot machine as a team building exercise. As a sole proprietor for the last eleven years, I am […]
Robot Fighting Time?
We watch lots of reality shows on cable television. Home remodeling shows, veterinary medicine shows, game warden shows, and car rebuilding shows are popular here; […]
Group A or Group B?
An Internet meme that is making the rounds concerns a college pottery class. On the first day of the semester, the instructor divides the group […]
Pursuing Perfection
I missed an important point in a product specification this week. Fortunately, my client caught it and I was able to submit another design in […]
Where Did All the Dealmakers Go?
An old business associate called the other day with a training request. To the best of my knowledge, he’s among the last “manufacturer’s representatives” that […]