Pro Tip: Instead of being busy, be smart. Assessing a problem before attempting to fix it saves time and money.

The 2025 Masters Tournament in Augusta, Ga., was an example of how persistence and regathering thoughts led to one of the most heart-wrenching but joyous victories in all of golf.

Rory McIlroy came into the week as not only the tournament favorite, but the fan favorite as well. Every day of the four-day tournament he did something wrong that made you think, “what the heck was that?” to “holy cow, what the heck was that?!” when he recovered. He ran into problems and persevered throughout the tournament. He kept his composure and figured his way out of many jams. He showed the world what it means to stick with it and never give up to reach a goal.

In bakery operations, much of this same lesson of persistence can be applied to what we do. Bakery operational issues can seem as elusive as the career Grand Slam was for McIlroy. The difference is that we cannot wait 11 or so years to solve the problem. We must work in the moment.

When the production line stops, we must make it go. When the product quality is not right, we must correct it as soon as possible.

Sometimes the issue is difficult to track down. Sometimes even the smartest, most experienced technicians are left scratching their heads. You cannot walk away in this business of operations and engineering. You cannot withdraw when it is not going well.

When you are facing an issue on the production floor and you are at risk with process, product and schedule, persistence and regathering your thoughts are what you have in your back pocket to bring to the forefront.

When an issue has you stuck, you can end up going down gopher holes that will usually mislead you. The tendency in the moment is to look like you are doing something, which can get in the way of actually doing something. When you are the person or team in the spotlight, you are also the ones who must perform, so that everyone else can get back to work. 

So instead of being busy, be smart. Instead of looking busy, look smart. There is no problem that we will face in the bakery that cannot be solved, so it is all about how you get at it. 

When you are stuck, step back and assess. I like to say that you have to “stare at a problem” for a minute to find your way to a solution.

Think about the basics of the situation. Whether you are chasing a mechanical or a formulation problem, everything is truly fundamental, so think fundamentally.

In some cases, you might need to go back to basics to find your way out of the situation. Do not forget about the past, recall what made things work before and how the product mixed out before. Most importantly, do not let others get in your head while you are troubleshooting.

While you might have others standing beside you while you are sizing up the issue, you are the one standing over the “putt” in the moment. Take charge, think slowly, read where things are going and pull the trigger with precision.

If you miss on the first attempt, gather your thoughts and try again. You will get it. It will feel like a win for the ages when you are back on track.

Jeff Dearduff is owner of JED Manufacturing Services who provides “Bakery Guy Tips” to those everyday people working in production, maintenance and engineering. Connect with him on LinkedIn.