July 3rd, 2009 01:00pm
Bob Trojan
If you are working in manufacturing, I’m sure you are familiar with Lean Manufacturing, Continuous Improvement, Quality Management Systems or some other path toward continuing to improve your competitiveness and maintain a healthy business. The NGM study reflects the importance this area has to most manufacturers. Most respondents to the survey rated this area highly important. Even though this area is so very important to business success, some companies still report less than satisfactory on-time performance and needs for improvement in the area of customer satisfaction. Times are difficult for most manufacturers and many are in survival mode. However, this is also the time for renewed focus on improvements, so that when things do turn around you are positioned to act aggressively and efficiently in order to serve the business turnaround and delight your customers.
Source: IMECFor Further Information, Contact:
Mary Hallock
Manufacturing Specialist
815-721-4474 Office
815-753-8729 Fax
mhallock@imec.org
July 2nd, 2009 03:00pm
Bob Trojan
Human resource develolpment and retention of employees is important to successful businesses. We continue to increase our productivity and our technology due to improving knowledge. This area is very important to a large majority of the Illinois companies that responded to the NGM survey. Rockford respondents also find it very important and indicate they dedicate more time to work teams. Turnover is a challenge for most respondents - even though they dedicate training time and look for employee involvement it can be challenging to keep workers from leaving. An article from HR Magazine supports the view that this area is of continuing importance.
“In today’s challenging economy, organizations that optimize knowledge management…are leaders in their field…From sustainabillity and education to workforce planning and global knowledge transfer, knowledge management is essential for competitive advantage.”
http://www.shrm.org/Research/Articles/Pages/default.aspx
Source: IMEC
For Further Information, Contact:
Mary Hallock
Manufacturing Specialist
815-721-4474 Office
815-753-8729 Fax
mhallock@imec.org
July 2nd, 2009 06:48am
Bob Trojan
Looks like maybe, just maybe, we’ll start to see growth again in manufacturing. Â Â Here
July 2nd, 2009 06:45am
Bob Trojan
GE says it’s labor force in the U.S. has to be able to compete on a global basis. Hear Jeffrey Immelt talk about this need for business investment and exporting as the engine to get the recovery going… Export
July 1st, 2009 11:52am
Bob Trojan
Finally, some welcome news about manufacturing. The UK reports it’s 1st increase in a year. Exporters to the UK will welcome this news and maybe this is a good signal for the US.  UK
June 30th, 2009 09:29am
Bob Trojan
 OK, so maybe it was opposing the House Clean Energy Act, but can the comments about California hold some truth? Mistake
June 30th, 2009 09:00am
Bob Trojan
No wonder Congress and Obama are rushing legislation for the Clean Energy Act…now over 700 dissenting scientists from around the globe challenged man-made global warming claims made by the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and former Vice President Al Gore.
The number has been rising in just the past several years and I think this groundswell is causing the rush in Congress and the President. Read it…. Here
As mentioned in previous posts, the impact on manufacturing will be devastating.
June 29th, 2009 11:46am
Bob Trojan
Wisconsin took over the top spot in state manufacturing rankings last month. Looks like we have competition for manufacturing jobs right up the road, let alone in China!  Growth
June 29th, 2009 09:25am
Bob Trojan
the current discussion about all the new jobs being created? Well, let’s look at the facts as published by the Dept. of Labor…  Employed
Employment numbers (thous.):
4th Qtr. 08: 144,046
1st Qtr. 09: 141,578
May 09 (latest data): 140,570
Now, how do you expect me to believe the statemenys about how many jobs are being created?
And how many new jobs will created by the Clean Energy Act?
June 28th, 2009 08:16am
Bob Trojan
Check out this story by Chuck Sweeny. It’s not too late to contact our Senators for a “NO” vote!  TaxBill
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