A 2009 research study, presented by the New Hampshire Manufacturing Extension Partnership (NH MEP), has recently been refreshed and is being launched today to reassess state manufacturers on strategies that win in the global economy. The 2011 Next Generation Manufacturing Study provides a framework for understanding Next Generation Manufacturing (NGM) by identifying competitive performances and corporate best practices for achieving world-class status in the 21st century.
The web-based NGM Study questionnaire can be accessed at www.NGMStudy.com. Any manufacturing owner, CEO or senior-level executive is eligible to participate. Participation in the Study is confidential or anonymous and takes 20-25 minutes to complete. Deadline for participation is June 21, 2011.
“Study participants who participate confidentially will receive a comprehensive Next Generation Performance Report showing how their organization compares to other manufacturers (all participants as well as groups of manufacturers similar to their organization) in the key strategic areas. This Report will be invaluable in helping companies manage their operations for Next Generation Manufacturing success,” stated NH MEP’s Center Director Zenagui Brahim.
The strategies explored by the Next Generation Manufacturing Study are customer-focused innovation, superior processes/improvement focus, human-capital management, supply-chain management and collaboration, sustainability, and global engagement.
“A focus on the six Next Generation Manufacturing strategies strongly correlated with success in the first version of this Study,” said John Brandt, CEO of the Manufacturing Performance Institute (MPI), a global research firm that is conducting the Study. “Two years later, we’re interested in finding out what’s changed for U.S. manufacturers in a post-recession economy.”
The national sponsor of the Study is the American Small Manufacturers Coalition (ASMC), an organization composed of all of the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) Centers in America. MPI Group, an internationally recognized research firm that specializes in manufacturing issues, is conducting the Study and compiling the Reports.
The Study results will provide a wealth of valuable data for manufacturers, business leaders and state and national policymakers. “Manufacturers can see how they rank against world-class performance benchmarks and target improvements where needed,” said Sandy Johnson, ASMC Board Chair. “In addition, policymakers can strengthen and improve programs and services supporting manufacturers knowing the critical needs.”
For more information on the Next Generation Manufacturing Study, call NH MEP Center Director, Zenagui Brahim at 603-226-3200 or email zenaguib@nhmep.org.