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Educating employees on how to bring their current and future skills to the table is a key ingredient in many companies' success. IW will examine companies who excel at training, leadership and mentoring programs.

Product Development Assistance from Manufacturing Networks
Small to midsize manufacturers face similar product development challenges as their larger kin, but lack similar resources. The Manufacturing Extension Partnership can offer assistance.

Big needs and limited resources. Both descriptions frequently characterize the small to midsize manufacturer when it comes to product development efforts. However, while smaller enterprises face the same innovation and product development challenges as their larger brethren, the difference is they frequently lack the same breadth of internal resources to tackle the challenges. Luckily, a number of external resources exist to help fill the gap.

For example, such a situation faced manufacturer S.R. Smith in recent years as it sought to redesign and redevelop two rotational-molded pool slides for which it did not have the internal expertise, although it did maintain a small internal engineering team. The situation also faced entrepreneur Walter Berry, who not only had an idea for a toilet flapper replacement that would not leak, but who also had obtained new product development funding to pursue his idea. However, what he needed next was engineering expertise.

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Education Articles & News

Teens Show Little Interest in Manufacturing

Most would prefer white-collar careers, according to survey

11/19/2009

Labor Department Provides $55 Million in Green Jobs Grants

Funds target training initiatives for minorities and other underserved groups

11/18/2009

NTMA, Haas Team Up to Address Workforce Gap

Training centers introduce a new generation of machinists to an undermanned industry

11/5/2009

Certified Green

Beginning in early 2010, SME and Purdue plan to offer a green manufacturing specialist certificate.

10/21/2009

Product Development Assistance from Manufacturing Networks

Small to midsize manufacturers face similar product development challenges as their larger kin, but lack similar resources. The Manufacturing Extension Partnership can offer assistance.

10/21/2009

Profitable Manufacturers Focus on Talent Management

New study says U.S. manufacturers must differentiate themselves through innovation and a highly skilled workforce

10/5/2009

Small Manufacturer Hopeful G-20 Agenda Includes Free-Trade Talks

Marlin Steel Wire chief executive and others in the manufacturing community seek voice on key issues in two-day summit

9/24/2009

Smarter Information, Not More

With the rapid advance of gaming technology, simulation can train workers to make better decisions.

9/16/2009

Industry Groups Back Creation of 'Manufacturing Czar'

Most say it's about time the federal government focused on manufacturing as a whole

9/15/2009

University of San Francisco Offers Courses on Green and Lean Supply Chain Management

Early adopters of green supply chain management programs are already reaping the benefits says school.

9/14/2009