The Business Problem:

Inefficient Processes Stifling Growth

Jeff Ohlemacher, CEO of EMC Precision, a family-owned manufacturing company in Ohio with nearly 100 years of history, faced significant challenges with his team’s planning and execution process. Despite their best efforts, their methods for tracking priorities and action items were inefficient and cumbersome.

Each week, the team relied on an Excel spreadsheet and assigned one person to take meeting notes. This process led to time-consuming meetings where key items were often overlooked or forgotten until the next week. The system lacked structure, and without the discipline to stay on top of it, the team struggled to keep track of essential updates and tasks.

Jeff realized that their existing approach was limiting growth and efficiency. He needed a solution that would centralize their goals and tasks, streamline their meetings, and eliminate the need for excessive manual data upkeep.

How Rhythm Helped:

Structured Planning & Streamlined Meetings 

Rhythm provided EMC with a framework that set them on a regular cadence of quarterly and annual planning sessions. Each year, they hold a structured three-day annual planning meeting—facilitated by a Rhythm expert—during which they set priorities for the company and cascade the plan to departments. 

Prioritizing Winning Moves

With their Rhythm coach’s guidance, they intentionally focus on 3-5 priorities each quarter, which directly supports their annual goals - Winning Moves that they will continue to execute over the next 3-5 years. 

Let the Software Drive Ownership & Accountability

All goals are connected in the software, then updated with quick color statuses and comments.  Since every goal and task in the Rhythm software has an owner, the EMC team knows what their individual responsibilities are when supporting higher-level objectives. This makes for more efficient meetings as the team uses their Rhythm tools and weekly agenda to discuss essential topics and assign next steps.

Coaching for Excellence 

EMC’s Rhythm coaches have helped the team identify gaps and weaknesses and make critical adjustments to set them on the path to success. “Almost every meeting [with our Rhythm coach] is something I look forward to,” said Jeff. “What sets Rhythm Systems apart is their relentless effort to continuously improve how they interact with their clients.”

The Results:

Operational Efficiency and Step-by-Step Execution 

“If we didn’t have Rhythm Systems, it would take perhaps one full-time, extra person—maybe two—to keep track of all the things that we need to do to run our business,” said Jeff. Instead of requiring additional personnel to manage planning and execution, EMC now runs efficiently with all critical metrics, goals, and updates living within Rhythm. 

When considering potential acquisitions and mergers, the EMC team has simplified their processes into digestible quarterly milestones. This has allowed them to thoroughly evaluate potential candidates and prepare to make the big move. 

It Just Keeps Getting Better

Jeff even recommends Rhythm to his competitors. “The way we look at it is if everybody in our industry is continually getting better, then we’re all getting better together,” Jeff shared.

These are a small handful of the critical improvements EMC has made since partnering with Rhythm:

• Less time spent in weekly meetings and more time producing results.
• Centralized data and action items in a user-friendly system.
• Long-term strategic execution through structured planning.