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eTrends Newsletter
<br />level information and sophisticated training that goes well beyond
<br />technology, Kill said. Their needs extend from adapting lean operations, to
<br />improving supply chain relationships and methods, workforce planning,
<br />and other strategic guidance.
<br />Minnesofia Business Leaders Qiscuss Supplier/0EM
<br />Relationships
<br />Improving complicated supply chain relationships is
<br />not as simple as improving price and delivery said a
<br />group of business leaders on July 16th. More than
<br />70 people from nearly 30 manufacturing firms
<br />turned out for a morning event at the University of
<br />Minnesota as the panel of experts discussed supply
<br />chain relationships.
<br />Using their perspectives as OEM's, suppliers, and business consultants,
<br />experts discussed improving supply chain relationships. It is an often-
<br />challenging relationship, with OEMs making demands and suppliers
<br />feeling pressured. The relationships are dependant on quality, cost,
<br />innovation and financial management.
<br />Each organization needs to evaluate their supply- chain relationships
<br />constantly to ensure that it is still mutually beneficial. Remmele
<br />Engineering CEO Rich Pogue said that, in choosing relationships, it
<br />requires a focused approach that, "is more like a rifle than a shotgun."
<br />While there is not a silver bullet to improving OEM/supplier relationships,
<br />speakers agreed that it is a process of continuous improvement. However,
<br />gains there are great gains made by relying on innovation,
<br />communication, strategic partnerships, and cooperation.
<br />The event presentation materials and photos are available online at
<br />vtr.w...v~::ente.. rpriseminne._sotaorg.
<br />-f1Nl Helps Superior industries Improve Efficiencies &
<br />Culture
<br />Success Stories: Enterprise Minnesota highlights one of our client's
<br />successes in improving their business
<br />Located 165 miles northwest of the Twin Cities metro area in the town of
<br />Morris, Minnesota, Superior Industries is a 300 person company that
<br />produces conveyor, idler and pulley equipment for the transportation of
<br />heavy materials and products.
<br />Superior Industries does not always have a large pile of outside applicants
<br />for supervisory positions within the company. The people already
<br />employed with the company are oftentimes put into supervisory positions
<br />and they don't have any training or experience with managing people. The
<br />problems, says Stan Wulf, director of continuous improvement for
<br />Superior Industries, ranged from an inability to analyze all of the
<br />information in a situation to approaching workers in the wrong way, both
<br />of which led to disagreements- and more stress-in the workplace.
<br />To alleviate these challenges, Superior Industries engaged Enterprise
<br />Minnesota to train their employees in TWI. Wulf estimated that Superior
<br />Industries first began training its supervisors in the Job Relations segment
<br />of the Training Within Industry (TWI) method nearly a decade ago. The
<br />program has been kept as a Superior Industries training staple ever since,
<br />and was most recently used in March of 2007.
<br />i While Superior Industries incorporates many different kinds of training into
<br />its efforts to cultivate effective and supportive leadership, the practical Job
<br />Page 2 of 4
<br />accommodate the growing needs of its
<br />business. The expansion includes the addition.
<br />of a new building, additional offices in the
<br />adjacent building, and renovation of the
<br />current facility. Productivity expects the new
<br />space will allow more machines on the
<br />showroom floor for display and
<br />demonstrations, a house a rotary table repair
<br />bay, and room for future growth.
<br />• Notable News: Fortune Small Business
<br />Magazine announced five Minnesota
<br />companies made the 2008 list of America's
<br />100 Fastest-Growing Small Public
<br />Companies. Rochester_M..edical_Corp of
<br />Stewartville, a manufacturer of latex-free
<br />urological care products ranked 16th. Arden
<br />Hills based .IntriCon_Corp., adesigner of parts
<br />for hearing aids, ranked 22nd. WSI Industries
<br />Inc. of Monticello, a precision machining
<br />manufacturer, ranked 43rd, and Norkech.
<br />Systems., a Wayzata based electronics
<br />manufacturer, ranked 100.
<br />• New State Program: The Minnesota.
<br />Department__of_Employ ment._and._Economic
<br />Development...(DEED) has launched a new
<br />Office of Science and Technology (OST) to
<br />guide newer Minnesota companies to funding
<br />sources, collaborations and potential business
<br />partners. Gov. Tim Pawlenty proposed the
<br />OST as part of his Strategic Entrepreneurial
<br />Economic Development (SEED) initiative, a
<br />comprehensive program to stimulate rural
<br />economic development. Officials hope the
<br />office will lead to the emergence of other high-
<br />tech and science clusters similar to the state's
<br />highly successful medical device sector.
<br />• Acquisition: Andersen Cor orp atian recently
<br />announced an agreement to purchase Silver
<br />Line.BuildingProducts._Corporatign_, the
<br />leading manufacturer of vinyl windows and
<br />patio doors in North America. Founded in
<br />1947, Silver Line is a privately-owned
<br />company based in New Jersey, with additional
<br />facilities in Massachusetts, North Carolina,
<br />Georgia, Ohio, Texas, and Illinois.
<br />Upcoming Events:
<br />Generating New Ideas, Business, and
<br />Revenue
<br />Wednesday, August 13, 8:00 - 10:30 a.m.
<br />Location: Unisys Roseville, MN
<br />Cost: $59.00
<br />Learn to generate ideas that will grow your
<br />business. Come hear John Connelly, director
<br />of product management at Enterprise
<br />Minnesota, discuss how to grow ideas and
<br />revenue in your business through Eureka!
<br />Winning Ways. This is the only program of its
<br />kind that has been customized and refined
<br />specifically for U.S. smaller manufacturers,
<br />and is making a dramatic difference in how
<br />companies are growing.
<br />Register online at www.enterprtseminne
<br />sc?ta..org or call 612.455.4239.
<br />Strengthening Your Supply-Chain
<br />Relationships: An event presented jointly
<br />by Enterprise Minnesota and LifeScience
<br />8/4/2008
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