Missouri Enterprise

1. Missouri Enterprise Helping Missouri Manufacturers Make More, Sell More, Earn More Missouri Manufacturer Survey: The Top Ten Things You Told Us

2. Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) Missouri Enterprise is your state MEP Partner • The MEP is here to support American manufacturing: • Achieve profitable growth, sustainably • Save time and money through increased operational efficiency • Enhance product quality and production techniques • Access critical services, affordably • Create and retain jobs in Missouri • We Were Built to Help Manufacturers Make it in Missouri • Part of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), a U.S. Department of Commerce program • Connected to the Missouri Department of Economic Development • A Public/Private Partnership • Focused entirely on “Made in Missouri”

3. We’re Connected, So You’re Connected Here to Serve You, The Missouri Manufacturer • Missouri Enterprise is your connection to an extensive network of resources and partners that are critical to your success: • State and Federal Programs (NIST, US Department of Commerce, Missouri Department of Economic Development, Local and Regional Leadership) • Community Leaders (Local, Regional and State) • Manufacturing Experts (Engineering, Quality Management Systems, Business Management/Marketing Strategy, Product Design and more) • Vendors / Suppliers • Universities, Community Colleges, Training Programs • Environmental and Energy Organizations • Workforce Organizations • Industry Associations

4. Professional Services & Training Programs Tools and Resources to Help You Attain and Sustain Profitable Growth • Missouri Enterprise can help you assess your company’s needs, plan for effective change and implement successful programs and strategies to help you achieve your goals. • Business Growth • Continuous Improvement • Sustainability • Workforce • Supplier Management

5. How Do We Best Serve Your Needs? We asked hundreds of manufacturers about their profitability and growth • Who is succeeding and growing profitably? • What is driving their profitable growth? • When do manufacturers struggle with the most? • How can we best serve the needs of our peers in the manufacturing community? • Why do manufacturers choose an outside expert as their partner in success?

6. Missouri Manufacturer Survey We asked. We listened. You benefit. Here’s what you told us…

7. Top Ten Things Missouri Manufacturers Told Us “I need good people who will grow with me!” ISSUE: Finding and hiring motivated people committed to staying and growing with your company. MISSOURI ENTERPRISE SOLUTION: It’s more than just hiring. Let us help you and your managers enhance employee satisfaction and key workforce skills to: • Drive productivity • Increase company loyalty • Reduce turnover • Increase your long-term profits

8. Top Ten Things Missouri Manufacturers Told Us “Low-ball pricing by my competitors is making things tough.” ISSUE: Almost half of you say you’re feeling the heat from your competitors. MISSOURI ENTERPRISE SOLUTION: We can help you manage more effectively to: • Maximize operational efficiency • Reduce costs • Increase margins • Fight foreign and domestic competition

9. Top Ten Things Missouri Manufacturers Told Us “I need to find new customers.” ISSUE: Many Missouri manufacturers are having trouble expanding their customer base. MISSOURI ENTERPRISE SOLUTION: We have the tools and expertise to help you: • Research your current markets • Identify potential new markets • Learn where new customers are, what they want and need • How you could meet those needs

10. Top Ten Things Missouri Manufacturers Told Us “I need new product ideas.” ISSUE: About 25% of Missouri manufacturers say they are challenged by the need to develop new products and opportunities. MISSOURI ENTERPRISE SOLUTION: We can help you understand and implement the concepts of Innovation to: • Generate new ideas • Create new revenue streams • Identify and Implement ways to enhance your bottom-line • Grow now and in the future

11. Top Ten Things Missouri Manufacturers Told Us “I regularly assess operational efficiency and my company is doing very well.” ISSUE: Almost all of the Missouri manufacturers who are succeeding regularly assess their operational efficiency and make systematic changes for the better. MISSOURI ENTERPRISE SOLUTION: We can help you understand and implement systematic continuous improvement principles and maximize your operational efficiency to: • Identify, establish and implement best practices • Realize immediate and continuous improvement • Achieve profitable growth • Maximize performance of your existing improvement strategies

12. Top Ten Things Missouri Manufacturers Told Us “I listen to my customers, and business is good.” ISSUE: Most of you who say your are succeeding do formal, measurable assessments of customer satisfaction. MISSOURI ENTERPRISE SOLUTION: You can’t assume you know what your customers need and want. We’ll show you how to measure and understand customer satisfaction to: • Identify your company’s strengths and weaknesses • Find new ideas for opportunity and growth • Get the real truth by minimizing survey bias

13. Top Ten Things Missouri Manufacturers Told Us “When I buy professional expertise, I need a positive ROI.” ISSUE: You told us you want to work with industry peers to grow your business profitably and it’s all about your bottom-line return on investment. MISSOURI ENTERPRISE SOLUTION: We understand your needs and we know what we’re doing. • As your state MEP partner, We Were Built to Help you Make it in Missouri • Decades of experience and expertise you need…and demand • As a part of NIST, our performance is measured on your bottom-line return on investment • We help you Make More, Sell More, Earn More

14. Top Ten Things Missouri Manufacturers Told Us “I need to make my products better.” ISSUE: More than a third of you said it’s a big challenge to provide better quality products while maintaining and enhancing profitability. MISSOURI ENTERPRISE SOLUTION: A lot of things affect quality. We can help you assess, plan and implement strategies to change and enhance your bottom-line profits, including: • Continuous improvement • Supply chain management • Employee supervision • Management techniques • Much, much more!

15. Top Ten Things Missouri Manufacturers Told Us “I outsource for professional expertise to help my company succeed.” ISSUE: IT’S OFFICIAL. Successful Missouri manufacturers use outside expertise to help them succeed. 85+% of you who say things are going well have recently used outside professional expertise to help you grow profitably. MISSOURI ENTERPRISE SOLUTION: We were Built to Help Manufacturers Make it in Missouri and we can help you. We’re loaded with expertise and resources to help you: • Manage change • Positively impact your growth and profitability…sustainably • Get a positive return on your investment • Make More, Sell More, Earn More

16. Top Ten Things Missouri Manufacturers Told Us “I’m going it alone, and I could do a lot better.” ISSUE: More than 25% of you said you were doing poorly and over half of that struggling group also said they wouldn’t use outside resources to help them do better. MISSOURI ENTERPRISE SOLUTION: 85% of you who are doing well get the connection between success and outside expertise. Maybe it’s time for you to make the connection. • Missouri Enterprise is Your Connection to Success! • We were Built to Help Manufacturers Make it in Missouri. • We help Missouri manufacturers Make More, Sell More, Earn More.

17. Make More, Sell More, Earn More. Assess. Plan. Implement. Missouri Enterprise is with you all the way. • An Industry Peer – We’ve been a part of the Missouri manufacturing community for decades, connecting you with the important public and private resources you need. • Professional Services – To help you achieve and sustain growth and profitability. • You Pay Less – We’re not-for-profit and part a partnership of public, state and federal resources, so we can deliver more for less. • Your Bottom-Line ROI – As a part of NIST, it’s not how much we sell, it’s how much we positively impact your bottom-line success. • Made in Missouri – We Were Built to Help Manufacturers Make It in Missouri.

18. Your Area Business Manager Get to Know Your Area Business Manager An Important Resource for You, the Missouri Manufacturer. • We’re Connected, so You’re Connected – We are here to serve. Use your Area Business Manager to hook up with the network of vendors, suppliers, experts, community leaders and public/ private resources that are critical to your sustainable success. • Professional Services & Training Programs – Your Area Business Manager can help you assess your company’s needs, plan for effective change and implement successful programs and strategies to help you achieve your goals for growth and profitability.

19. Your Area Business Manager Let Us Help You! We Were Built to Help Manufacturers Make It in Missouri. To learn more, Contact your Area Business Manager and set up a time to meet. Or call us any time for assistance. 800-956-2682 www.missourienterprise.org Your Area Business Manager is your representative of the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) in our state and is here exclusively to serve you, the Missouri manufacturer. We’re a part of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), a US Department of Commerce Program, and we’re connected to the Missouri Department of Economic Development. Missouri Enterprise is a public/private, not-for-profit partnership, partially funded through NIST and the State, so you get real cost savings when you come to us for assistance. We are judged on our ability to positively impact your bottom-line growth and profitability…your ROI. That is why we exist. To help you Make More, Sell More, Earn More.