The Business Problem:

Limiting Methods Lead to Stunted Success 

Jeff Ohlemacher is the CEO of EMC Precision, an Ohio-based manufacturing company which has been operating (and led by Jeff’s family) for almost 100 years. Prior to partnering with Rhythm, Jeff and his team worked hard to document priorities and action items week to week, but their methods were limiting. 

Using an Excel spreadsheet and assigning a team member as a scribe, they repeatedly held time-consuming meetings in which key items would be missed or forgotten until the following week. Using this structure effectively would have required a remarkable amount of discipline, and faced with competing demands on their time, the EMC team struggled to stay current on important updates and tasks. 

Jeff scoured the market for a system that would centralize everything his team needed to accomplish, and keep them operating efficiently without overly long meetings and cumbersome data upkeep.

How Rhythm Helped:

Structured Planning and 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 then cascade the plan down to departments. 

With their Rhythm coaches’ guidance, they intentionally focus on 3-5 priorities each quarter, which directly support the 3-5 priorities they have chosen for that year. Their annual priorities are helping move the needle of the 3-5 strategic Winning Moves that they will execute over the next few years. All of these goals are connected in the software and 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. 

Furthermore, when considering potential acquisitions and mergers, the EMC team has broken these complex processes down 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:

• Reduced time spent in weekly meetings
• Centralized data and action items in a user-friendly system
• Increased focus and supported long-term strategic execution through structured planning