Tech That Works

The 1-3-1 Rule by Doc McIntyre

My friend Josh shared a video called the 1-3-1 Rule, which teaches Managers how to respond to employees when they bring you problems.

-Step 1, ask the employee, “What’s the one specific problem we’re talking about?” There’s a great line in the video that says, “A well-defined problem is a problem half solved.” In other words, if you can get clear on what the real problem is, you have a much better chance of solving it.

-Step 2, ask, “What are three viable options you’ve considered?” This requires the employee to analyze the situation.

-Step 3, ask, “What’s your one specific recommendation?” This requires the employee to make a decision.

It turns out that 90% of the time, when you follow the 1-3-1 Rule, the employee’s recommendation is the path forward.

This line of questioning builds skill and confidence. And skilled, confident employees kick butt.

Tech That Works: Power Up Your People and Processes

In manufacturing, technology isn’t a luxury—it’s a necessity. But here's the thing: not all tech is created equal, and not every solution out there is going to move the needle for your business. Too often, companies chase the latest gadgets or systems, thinking that throwing money at technology will solve their operational problems. The truth is, technology alone won't fix a broken process or get you where you need to go. It’s about setting an IT strategy that truly works for you—one that aligns with your goals, supports your people, and fuels operational excellence.

First things first: your IT strategy needs to be grounded in the needs of your operation. This means getting down to the real issues—where are your bottlenecks? What’s holding your team back? Are outdated systems slowing down production or are you flying blind because you don’t have access to real-time data? You can’t just throw a new system in and hope it works. You’ve got to dig into the problems, understand the pain points, and set up technology to remove waste and add value. That’s what Lean is all about, and it should drive your IT decisions too.

And here’s another key point—technology isn’t just about the tools, it’s about your people. You can have the most advanced system in the world, but if it makes your team’s job harder or creates more complexity, it’s not going to work. Your IT strategy needs to empower your workforce. The best tech solutions streamline communication, give your team access to real-time data, and eliminate repetitive, time-wasting tasks. When technology works for your people, productivity and efficiency naturally follow.

But don’t stop there. Your IT strategy needs to be flexible. Manufacturing is an ever-evolving industry, and what works today may not work tomorrow. That means you’ve got to think ahead. Invest in technology that can grow with your business, adapt to new challenges, and scale as you scale. This isn’t about putting a Band-Aid on the problem, it’s about setting yourself up for long-term success.

One more thing: don’t overcomplicate it. I’ve seen companies get bogged down trying to implement overly complex systems that just create more confusion and chaos. Keep it simple, keep it practical, and keep it focused on what really matters—eliminating waste, improving processes, and driving value for your business.

At the end of the day, the right IT strategy is one that fits your operation, serves your team, and positions you for the future. So, when you’re making those tech decisions, keep your eyes on the bigger picture—align it with operational excellence, just like we do in Lean.

Now, go get sh!t done.

Interested to see how your organization stacks up against world-class manufacturing?

Take the quick survey below.

TAKE OUR SURVEY NOW