1/30/2017 - More job shops are looking to formalize their sales efforts, and that often means eschewing contract sales reps and hiring a full-time employee to go out and chase business. Hear what Ron Quinkert, Senior Business Solutions Manager-Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center, has to say about the importance of developing a sales and marketing plan, being flexible, and tracking sales in order to find the right full-time salesperson. Read the full article from TheFabricator.
1/26/2017 - Cybersecurity guidelines required by the Department of Defense (DoD) are likely to have an enormous impact on the 800 Michigan manufacturers that received a DoD contract in 2016. By December 31, 2017, all DoD contractors (including small businesses) must meet minimum cybersecurity requirements or risk losing DoD business. Alarmingly, most manufacturers aren’t even aware of the looming deadline or what they must do to comply.
1/13/2017 - The National Institute of Standards and Technology’s (NIST) Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) program has awarded a total of nearly $12 million in first-year funding to 11 organizations, including the Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center, that will operate MEP centers in Delaware, Hawaii, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Mississippi, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Carolina and Wyoming. MEP centers in all 50 states and Puerto Rico support small and medium-size manufacturers and are dedicated to enhancing the productivity and technological performance of U.S. manufacturing. Read the full article from NIST.
1/11/2017 - As the new year dawns, take a moment to consider your company’s approach to maintaining its most important asset: its customers. Learn the top five tips on providing excellent customer service according to Tricia Onesian, an inside sales representative at The Center. Read the full article from Production Machining.
12/28/2016 - Even with the underlying uncertainty caused by the presidential election, West Michigan manufacturers remain generally optimistic about the year ahead. Although proposed changes to international trade policies, health care regulations and a move toward isolationism have caused some concern, most executives believe the economy will continue to grow in 2017. Read the full article from MiBiz.
12/20/2016 - The Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center (The Center) has announced the addition of Jamie Headley to its Business Solutions team. Headley was named Senior Business Solutions Manager, responsible for the southwest Michigan territory including Cass, Van Buren, Kalamazoo, Calhoun, Berrien, St. Joseph and Branch counties. Read the full article from PRLog.
12/19/2016 - Business professionals are on the move. The Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center welcomes two new Business Solutions Managers. Read the full article from the Detroit Free Press.
11/30/2016 - The Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center (The Center) has announced the addition of Bryan Luxon to its Business Solutions team. Luxon was named Senior Business Solutions Manager for the northern Metro Detroit region. The hiring announcement was made by Michael Coast, President of The Center. Read the full article from PRLog.
11/26/2016 - Business professionals are on the move. The Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center welcomes two new experts in Lean/Six Sigma and Quality Management. Read the full article from the Detroit Free Press.
11/16/2016 - In this year’s FE “State of Food Manufacturing Survey,” 40 percent of food and beverage manufacturing respondents reported implementing lean manufacturing systems to benchmark and improve their operations, while 41 percent reported having a Total Quality Management (TQM) system in place to better their processes. Read the full article from Food Engineering.