WASHINGTON -- The American Small Manufacturers Coalition (ASMC) today launched a study to assess America’s progress in adopting manufacturing strategies necessary to win in the global economy.
The Next Generation Manufacturing Study is the first step in a long-term effort by the coalition’s members, Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) Centers, to help American manufacturers weather today’s recession and maintain manufacturing leadership in the next decade. MEP is a national program that helps small and midsize manufacturers implement competitiveness strategies.
Next Generation Manufacturing refers to a framework of six forward-looking strategies that are driving manufacturing growth and profitability in the 21st century, said Mike Klonsinski, ASMC board chair and executive director of the Wisconsin MEP. The strategies are customer-focused innovation, systemic continuous improvement, advanced talent management, global engagement, extended enterprise management and sustainable products and processes. The survey asks manufacturers to rank their progress on these key strategies.
Noting the global recession and auto industry crisis, Klonsinski said, “If there were ever a time to be talking about transforming our manufacturing base, it is now.”
The Next Generation Manufacturing Study questionnaire can be accessed at www.NGMStudy.com and is available until March 15. Any manufacturing owner, CEO or senior level executive is eligible to participate. The study takes approximately 30 minutes to complete; participation in the study is confidential. Study participants will receive a customized benchmarking report comparing their progress to the overall results.
According to the ASMC, the study results will provide a wealth of valuable data for manufacturers, business leaders and state and national policymakers. Manufacturers can see how they rank against performance benchmarks and target improvements where needed. Policymakers can strengthen and improve programs and services supporting manufacturers knowing where the critical needs are.
“The study results will provide a scorecard, and the scorecard will tell us what we need to do to improve,” Klonsinski said. For example, a low score on global engagement may indicate to policymakers actions are needed to help manufacturers sell into overseas markets, he said.
For more information on the study contact Carrie Hines of ASMC at [email protected].