The Competitive Edge
A monthly newsletter from
The Wisconsin Manufacturing Extension Partnership

October 2010
In This Issue
Alpha Source's Talent for Growth
Stop Competing, Start Innovating
Alpha Source's Talent for Growth

Strong customer focus and empowered employees spark growth and success

Norine Carlson-Weber has always had a passion for excellence. After being laid off in 1986, she decided to take matters into her own hands and started her own company, Alpha Source, Inc.

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Manufacturing Matters! Call for Presenters

The Manufacturing Matters! Conference is Wisconsin's premier manufacturing conference, held next year on Tuesday, May 17, 2011 at the Frontier Airlines Center in Milwaukee.

We are seeking highly interactive workshops that teach valuable skills, stimulate innovative thinking, model best practices, and encourage the exchange of ideas and solutions. (Non-lecture style presentations only)

Click here to learn more and  to submit your application.
 

WI Manufacturers
in the News


Manufacturers named in BizTimes Future 50 for 2010

Badger Mining Named as Great Place to Work®

Working Mother Magazine Names SC Johnson as "Best Place to Work"

Quick Links



Greetings!
Introducing the new wmep.org web site.  This new site is focused on Wisconsin manufacturers and features:
We invite you to visit this site to contribute your comments, news stories and events, and learn about what's new in Wisconsin manufacturing.
www.wmep.org
Stop Competing - Start Innovating
By Daniel Burrus, CEO of Burrus Research

Contrary to popular belief, competing with other companies is counter-productive. No matter what your angle for competing - whether you're competing on price, service, quality, time, design, or anything else - the unfortunate outcome is you're making yourself too much like everyone else. So even when you're in the lead, someone else eventually matches you, making you compete even more. Unfortunately, the majority of companies are so focused on competing that they're locked in a losing battle - a vicious cycle of one-upmanship.

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Profit Mastery Seminar
November 3 and 4 at the Holiday Inn, Manitowoc

A two-day seminar in to provide the tools you need for control, survival and success


Designed to present practical action steps you can apply immediately to make better financial decisions.
  • Financial Statements: Learn to interpret financial information at it relates to the health of your business
  • Forecasting: Develop methods to ease cash flow problems, make accurate cash projections and determine real needs in critical growth and recession situations.
  • Financing your Future: Learn practical lessons in determining your borrowing needs, dealing with bankers, and finding alternate sources of funding.
Click here for more information.

Sponsored by Heartland Bank and WMEP

Wind Energy Symposium
October 13, 2010 at the Frontier Airlines Center in Milwaukee

Featuring panel speakers from the 1st tier wind production and aftermarket operations and maintenance sectors.
  • Download the Program Overview.
  • Learn about Wisconsin's 1st tier market from Wausaukee Composites and Milwaukee Machine Works.
  • Develop connections with the newest Wisconsin wind energy supply chain entrant, Ingeteam (INDAR) and global leader Vestas during the featured lunch presentation.
  • Gain insight into aftermarket wind opportunities from L&S Electric, Energy Maintenance Service (EMS), a subsidiary of Broadwind Energy, and ZF Gearbox repair/rebuild.
Register Now!
Kristin K. Reid Joins WMEP
as Director of Consulting Services

In this role, Reid will be responsible for leading WMEP's team of manufacturing specialists in achieving performance and financial goals.

Reid brings more than 20 years of experience in consulting services, process improvement and project management to WMEP. Throughout her professional career, she has been instrumental in the development and delivery of industry-leading services that have helped hundreds of companies improve performance, reduce costs, leverage technology and streamline business processes.

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