Got what it takes to hit the right note and stay in tune with your customers? Can you dance the light fantastic or do you have two left feet? Is your latest overture music to their ears, or strictly resigned to the ‘where are they now’ file? Does your company have the X factor?
This month, I’ve witnessed the latest crop of pop star wannabes and their crow-scaring, caterwauling during the X Factor talent show. Equally, this season’s Strictly Come Dancing doesn’t exactly jive too well with me either. I’m doubting the contestants’ sanity - and mine for being daft enough to watch them!
Is it time for them to face the music and admit that they’re pretty mediocre, or are the judges to blame? Last Saturday, I found myself wondering what really defines the ‘X factor’ and whether it strikes a chord with the aerospace industry.
Used as an expression that refers to an indefinable quality, the X factor contains elements of something that may not always be measurable or definable. Does it have a place in an industry where everything must include these two vital ingredients?
Like talent show judges, we’re all searching for that something extra not normally found in the company manual. Whilst companies fall over themselves trying to find that elusive competitive edge, having the innate ability to stay in harmony with your customer is the true differentiator. Get this wrong and like the old Cole Porter song lyric, you’ll soon discover just how strange the change from major to minor really is!
What I would say is worth making a song and dance about is the upcoming Advanced Engineering 2018 show. Aerospace Manufacturing magazine will be there – as it has been since the show first stepped into the spotlight – so please come and meet us on stand K122.
Mike Richardson, editor
