Impact Dakota Blog is a blog dedicated to supporting North Dakota’s manufacturing community improve People, Purpose, Processes and Performance. Entries provide information on opportunities, new ideas, quick tips, celebrations of success, and well, frankly, anything to help you become a better manufacturer.
With a career of more than 40 years in the manufacturing industry, Brenda Martin can look back now and see that she was greatly influenced by her father, who worked for an engineering firm. She has worked with the Center for Industrial Research and Service (CIRAS, the Iowa MEP Center) for more than 20 years. As the Workforce Programs Director, she applies her industry experience to helping CIRAS and its manufacturing clients. Her advice for women interested in pursuing a career in manufacturing is to answer the question “What is it I want?” Then make it happen! Don’t be intimidated by what you don’t know.
Baseball’s Opening Day brings with it both nostalgia and excitement. Everyone is brimming with hope for what the season might hold. I’m amazed to now realize how much manufacturing contributes to the game I love. The more I learn about the manufacturing industry, the more I realize that it’s intricately woven into all aspects of our lives. The baseball analogy made me want to learn more about how manufacturing is intertwined with baseball.
This blog is part of a series highlighting women who are making an impact on the manufacturing industry.
When Rachel Camarillo was a little girl growing up in Hawaii, she helped her mother and two aunts with what they called a hobby. They’d draw flowers, screen print the art onto fabric, and cut and sew the fabric meticulously into kitchen sets they’d sell at craft fairs.
Your company needs not just to acquire talent but actively keep it. In an era where skilled labor is harder and harder to find, manufacturers must transform into “employers of choice” to retain their valuable human assets.
The fact that about 85% of the global market is outside the U.S. should alone be a compelling enough reason for manufacturers to pursue international sales. Exporting allows manufacturers to diversify their customer base, tap into new markets, and mitigate the impact of economic fluctuations in any one region.
In the heartland of America, where dairy farms dot the landscape, the spirit of conservation runs deep. The Wisconsin Manufacturing Extension Partnership (part of the MEP National Network™) works with strategic partners, such as the Wisconsin Sustainable Business Council (WSBC), to provide additional services and information to Wisconsin manufacturers. Together with the WSBC, the MEP Center’s suite of sustainability services supports manufacturers to advance sustainability programs, increase efficiency, and get the credentials needed to integrate and operate sustainably.
As Director of the North Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership (NCMEP), Phil Mintz drives outreach to North Carolina manufacturers, builds relationships with federal and state leaders, and coordinates efforts to stimulate profitable manufacturing growth in the state. Working at NCMEP was a homecoming for him — he did his undergraduate degree at NC State. His career took a winding path for a while, away from his home state and away from manufacturing. But 25 years ago, an ad in the paper for an MEP position brought him back home. Read how it happened.
Manufacturing internships are one of the most effective methods for building your company’s talent pipeline. Small and medium-sized manufacturers may find it challenging to compete with bigger companies for students. This makes it especially important to widen the net when recruiting for internship programs. In addition to considering candidates from technical fields, also look for well-rounded students. Consider students’ social skills and look for a variety of academic majors to find potential interns who can bring fresh ideas to your company. Learn more from Mayra Ramirez of CIRAS, the Iowa MEP Center.
As a manufacturer you understand that supply chain disruptions happen all the time. What you don’t know is when or how they will impact your operation and business. But assessing your supply chain risks and implementing good supply chain management practices can be daunting.
Fortunately, there is a great way to gain visibility into your supply chain with a reasonable investment of resources: Map the supply chain for one of your key products. In this blog we’ll look at a process for mapping your supply chain that was developed by Iowa State University’s Center for Industrial Research and Service (CIRAS), which is part of the MEP National Network.
Without a basic grasp of financial concepts at the C-suite (executive) level, small and medium-sized manufacturers may be limited in their ability to compete in an increasingly crowded marketplace.
Building your financial literacy, beginning with your C-suite financial vocabulary, is a great way to increase your competitive edge. In this blog, Gene Russell of Manex, part of California Manufacturing Technology Consulting and the MEP National Network, illustrates the importance of financial literacy in manufacturing, including some of the most important concepts that impact your business operations.