Archive for March, 2009
March 31st, 2009
Visiting the Ontario province of Canada is a real experience. The Toronto office of the State of Illinois organized a 2 1/2 day of visits and tele-conference calls to 8 potential distributors for my company’s products.
Ontario is a manufacturers dream! Approximately 30-35% of the workforce is employed in manufacturing. The southern Ontario area is highly dependent on the auto industry, so most of the news is about the impact of what happens to GM and Chrysler. Opinion is that Ford is doing OK. But the concern is that GM and Chrysler have real problems and the situation is being watched carefully.
As in the U.S. Ottawa (like our Washington D.C.) is insisting on more cost reduction before they put more money into these businesses. The newspaper’s mornings headlines read: “Collision Course; In return for billions in loans, Ottawa is demanding big changes from GM and Chrysler, including union concessions. Trouble is, the union’s in no mood to bargain”
Headline in the Business Section: “Rick Wagoner’s exit: Despite the hurdles he faced when he took over, he simply did too little too late”
But there is more industry beside the autos here…more later.
Driving around the area, I saw a great amount of construction of high rise condo complexes.
March 30th, 2009
Cross Cultural Connections: Today’s global competitive environment is vastly different from an earlier period when U.S. companies dominated world markets. Today, your competitors are likely to be from a multitude of places including the developing world. This globally connected world economy is still characterized by vastly different cultures that must be understood if companies wish to compete effectively. This seminar helps you understand the cultural dimensions of the global competitive conditions.
As we increasingly embrace a global marketplace, communication–whether local or global, involves more than just language. It is a study of a broad range of subjects ranging from non-verbal and verbal language to cultural adiaphoras. This seminar offers you a glimpse of the role of effective communication in a cross-cultural and multi-cultural setting and offers strategies that would facilitate your next cross-cultural negotiation. It offers useful guidelines and basic frameworks that would help you understand how to avoid culture shock when dealing with business partners from other countries. The competencies you develop will help you enjoy cultural rather than dread cultural nuances.
Banking Basics for Global Trade: Gain insight on the Banking world with a global economic market update and strategies to mitigate Foreign Exchange exposure and volatility. Jane Mezera will review the Global Financial Crisis and what we saw in 2008. She will address her comments to the status of the Crisis in 2009 and will discuss general currency themes for 2008 and 2009. Ms. Mezera will provide up-to-date snapshots of Countries and Currencies including the U.S., Euroland, Japan, Canada, China and other countries. She will also share a number of strategies for companies to navigate treacherous foreign currency markets.
Register today because SPACE IS LIMITED! www.GoGlobalRockford.com
Or contact:
Carrie Zethmayr, Rockford Area Economic Development Council at Czethmayr@rockfordil.com
Marge Bevers, Greater Rockford Airport Authority at mbevers@flyrfd.com
Megan McKinney, SupplyCore at Megan.McKinney@SupplyCore.co
March 29th, 2009
So what do you think about this government intervention into the private sector? Well, I guess you could say that “he who owns the gold sets the rules” (aka: Golden Rule).
An interesting parallel and one that I experienced earlier in my career, is when a Venture Capital firm puts money into a growing firm, they will often make it a condition that the founding entrepreneur/President take a non-management position in exchange for the needed investment. Or they could force the founder out and bring in a professional manager. This helps the investor better safeguard their investment with presumable objective actions.
In this case, I believe the US is correct in forcing out Wagoner. Why? I don’t know the details, but sometimes, a long term executive hangs on to the “way it was”, or has some other “baggage” that limits his ability to effect change.
Look at Ford and Chrysler…both have short term CEO’s that are making changes without the history behind them. These two seem to be on the road to recover, it’s time for change at GM.
Here’s the rest of the story…. ForceOut
March 29th, 2009
Internal Audits (including FTZ environment): For importers of foreign materials and components and Exporters of materials and assemblies learn:
What you need to know about compliance;
What is your compliance responsibility;
How can you protect your company; and Making your best effort
Foreign Trade Sub-Zone Find Out:
What are the compliance hurdles to start a Sub-Zone;
How you comply with the Federal requirements to operate a Sub-Zone;
What happens if you fail to comply
Doing Business in Turkey: This breakout session will give you an overview of the Turkish economy and foreign trade. Mr. Sozeri will discuss main import and export sectors in Turkey as well as how to do business in Turkey.
Register today because SPACE IS LIMITED! www.GoGlobalRockford.com
Or contact:
Carrie Zethmayr, Rockford Area Economic Development Council at Czethmayr@rockfordil.com
Marge Bevers, Greater Rockford Airport Authority at mbevers@flyrfd.com
Megan McKinney, SupplyCore at Megan.McKinney@SupplyCore.com
March 28th, 2009
It’s not often that I can say that government has helped me in my business. But I must acknowledge the State of Illinois Office of Trade and Investment’s Toronto Canada office.
resulting from my attendance at the last Go Global program, I engaged with this office to see if they could help me find distributors for my company’s products. They were quick to say they could and they set out to do research. They explored, sent letters, made telephone calls and set up interviews.
Next week, I will be traveling to Toronto where I and my partner will interview 7 potential distributors. The State’s Toronto team set them all up. Yesterday, I received a briefing book that had all the key information on each distributor, economic information about Canada and all hotel reservations made by them. All spelled out, all organized, all set to go!
My marketing materials in hand and contracts ready to sign with the appropriate company, I eagerly await next weeks venture!
By the way, I’m starting a similar process in the Middle East, working the Illinois’s DTI’s office there.
Anybody speak Middle Eastern?
March 27th, 2009
Two days have flown by! Those of us who have attended in the past agree it was the best so far. We moved away from “talking heads” to good roundtables, camaraderie, networking, and peer to peer sharing. Energy, passion and talking from the heart about the state of the industry, Lean leadership, the economy, knowing your costs, shop software, strategic sharing to grow your business, yes even technical stuff and plant layouts that help the bottom line.
Rockford has done Continuous Improvement but maybe it is time to focus a bit on Lean Leadership. Take CI to the next level.
I was exposed to shop automation that is going to increase out put but not the need for employees. The training for the robots took minutes instead of hours. No need for inspectors as it takes the measurement before it picks up the part and moves it.
A shop owner was tired of buying computers “It wasn’t on my balance sheet five years ago” Now he never buys computers they just build their own from parts bought off the internet. That’s a way to help your bottom line!
One laser shop owner buys the newest and fastest computers and programs all his machines with automated functions and cameras. Another laser welder doesn’t use a microscope to see the parts he has fashioned two digital cameras that display on a big screen so he can see to weld. Are these types of innovations going on in the RRValley?
These people encouraged us to encourage the “thumbies” or “computer kids” to come into manufacturing, there is a place for them in our future….there was talk about exciting students to go into Manufacturing…our Region has a head start on many! We have to keep up the good work. I hear that the ACE High School is looking for students. If you know of an 8th grader that loves video games more than school….maybe ACE is for them! Sign ‘em up!
March 27th, 2009
Way to go Don! Congressman Manzullo discusses radical treasury plan on the Glenn Beck Plan on the Glenn Beck Show…see it here…Beck
March 27th, 2009
Is China’s rapid growth in manufacturing over? Find out here… Slowdown
March 27th, 2009
Compliance Issues: Understand of the basic areas of focus for compliance with international trade programs and the US requirements for importing and exporting. Find out how little corporate management understands on Importer compliance. Walk away with greater understanding of the Compliance Game.
5 Steps to Improve the Bottom Line: Meeting the challenges of this economic down-cycle will require businesses and communities make timely, informed and superior decisions. This presentation is for community and business leaders interested in leveraging these difficult economic conditions as a catalyst for fast and significant returns on investments. Companies that are sourcing or selling on the world stage have a unique opportunity to invest in targeted projects and create strong returns on investments. Learn how strategic investment in sophisticated in¬ternational trade knowledge and re-en¬gineering global trade processes using modern technology will increase supply chain speed and increase profits. Business and community leaders must become alert to the financial opportunities available from strategically investing in the optimization of global trade processes and taking full economic advantage of trade policies and programs.
UPS & Global Business Development: Dennis Jones - Director of International Sales, NC Region for UPS will show you how UPS is helping companies compete in the global marketplace including great opportunities for small and medium enterprises to go global. He will discuss how to think local, act global; and how UPS and you can overcome obstacles to acting global.
Global Trade Perspective: Find out from a Global Trade Perspective:
-How does the World view the US…?
-What are issues about protectionism we should prevent?
-What are process “trade barriers?”
-Why should we care?
Register today because SPACE IS LIMITED! www.GoGlobalRockford.com
Or contact:
Carrie Zethmayr, Rockford Area Economic Development Council at Czethmayr@rockfordil.com
Marge Bevers, Greater Rockford Airport Authority at mbevers@flyrfd.com
Megan McKinney, SupplyCore at Megan.McKinney@SupplyCore.com
March 26th, 2009
ITAR, Commercial & Defense: This presentation will provide participants an understanding of the structure of the U.S. export control system, including the Commerce Department’s Export Administration Regulations and the Department of State’s ITAR. The distinction between the Commerce Control List and Munitions will be explained. Critical information for any exporter of defense articles will be covered.
IPR Infringement: With the increasing expansion of the global economy, international intellectual property rights have become a focal point for many large, mid-size and even small companies. Because of the cost associated with and the varying rules that govern intellectual property rights in different countries, companies should make decisions about the best means for protecting intellectual property assets as early as possible. The key to making prudent decisions is to identify the potential intellectual property rights, assess the value and scope of protection available for those assets, and then to weigh these considerations against the costs for protecting and enforcing those rights in individual countries or under available international treaties.
Transportation & Logistics in Global Trade: Exporters need some of external service providers to be successful at global trade. This includes government, banking, law, and logistics. Ric Frantz will tell you what to look for and how each provider will help you as he sites examples and stories from his own experience. Mr. Frantz will focus on logistics as has over 35 years experience in logistics or global shipping and has set up representative offices, warehouses and distribution centers in 61 countries. This presentation will be helpful to those new to global trade as well as very experienced multi-national companies and everyone between.
Xtreme Trade Intelligence Reports (Mining Your Own Customs Data): Challenging economic times require superior decision making and more effective operations to create jobs, make profits, improve returns on capital and cultivate opportunities for individuals, companies and communities. This presentation is designed as an executive wake-up call to alert business leaders to the financial opportunities available by investing in the optimization of global trade processes and by taking full economic advantage of trade policies and programs. You will learn how to build a strong and compelling business case for your company to pay serious attention to and invest significantly in building sustainable and effective supply chains.
Export Compliance & Working With International Trading Partners: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation (HSC) has more than 50 major facilities worldwide and is among the world’s largest suppliers of technologically advanced aerospace and industrial products. Come and learn about the fundamentals, strategies and challenges involved with building and maintaining a strong export compliance program from a company with a variety of products, worldwide locations and a large number of international customers and suppliers.
Register today because SPACE IS LIMITED! www.GoGlobalRockford.com
Or contact:
Carrie Zethmayr, Rockford Area Economic Development Council at Czethmayr@rockfordil.com
Marge Bevers, Greater Rockford Airport Authority at mbevers@flyrfd.com
Megan McKinney, SupplyCore at Megan.McKinney@SupplyCore.com
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