Overcoming information overload: People & Companies

I’m not normally one to write about subjects that have been overanalyzed, debated and analyzed some more. But because processing excessive quantities of submitted information has become more distracting than ever—particularly for a manufacturer—it seems timely.

This situation really hit the fan on a recent Sunday afternoon when, for once, I didn’t have any family or other activities requiring my time, so I decided to go to the shop and get caught up on paperwork, e-mails and various other projects. Of course, the easiest time to do this is when alone with no normal business activity taking place. Besides, it was a hot summer day in Texas, and spending time outdoors in 105° weather isn’t exactly enjoyable.

While I was sorting files, e-mails, voice messages and reports, the reality of this scenario came into focus. Why does it take a weekend to do things that should already have been done during the workweek? A valid question because my work duties take precedence over cleaning my messy garage.

An occasional weekend work day isn’t uncommon, but when I realized that most of what I was doing that particular day wasn’t really important or applicable to the day-to-day management of a manufacturing business, I became more annoyed. Part of my time-consuming tasks involved shredding a large stack of unsolicited material, and reading and sorting government forms and reports, new medical insurance quotes and workers’ compensation reports. I started thinking about how disruptive this type of activity is not only for me, but for company managers and owners everywhere.

That’s because much of the information is generated by people and organizations with a spotty track record at best. This isn’t to demean qualified companies trying to grow their businesses by contacting our shops, but so much of what’s being thrown at managers and owners is a confusing and distracting mess.