The Power of Dialogue
Recently, I attended a handful of focus groups held in cities across the state for Enterprise Minnesota's State of Manufacturingâ„¢ poll. One of the great side-benefits of attending these focus groups is the chance to hear manufacturing leaders talk candidly to each other
about issues that matter to them.
Generally speaking, a focus group is a roundtable discussion group consisting of people in a similar position or situation--in our case, manufacturing executives. Its purpose is to bring these people together to discuss their opinions regarding topics that are relevant to
them. A moderator poses the questions and keeps discussion flowing, and participants are guaranteed anonymity to encourage open and honest dialogue.
In the State of Manufacturingâ„¢, 150 executives in 17 focus group discussions shed anecdotal light on, and occasionally offered interesting spin on the results of our phone survey of 400 manufacturing executives. For example, in banking, our poll found that the percentage of
manufacturers experiencing a constriction of credit (36 percent) has held steady since the previous year's poll. Moreover, among those experiencing a credit crunch, more executives than last year said that its impact on their business is significant. The numbers would indicate
widespread strain in manufacturers' banking relationships.
But in fact, focus group participants explained that they understood banks were dealing with tighter regulations, and many expressed appreciation for their bankers' willingness to work with them to secure loans in the new environment. Some even said their bankers have called
periodically to offer loans to them when they become available.
There is also more to the story when it comes to attracting skilled workers. Forty-two percent of manufacturers anticipate difficulty in attracting skilled workers to their businesses in the next two years. But manufacturers are not simply waiting for the worker shortage to
hit. Instead, some are taking proactive measures to stay ahead of the game, and they're succeeding. Turn to page 20 and you'll see what I mean.
Similarly, health care remained a concern for manufacturers this year. But focus group discussions revealed that health care worries are not limited to cost. Instead, they are spread across a wide spectrum of difficulties, from the challenges of implementing a wellness program
and defining the right health care plan, to the strain plans put on many HR departments, and for smaller companies, gaining access to health care plans at all.
Focus group discussions even define a gradual evolution in manufacturers' attitudes toward health care. Where executives once expressed frustration and a sense of helplessness related to rising annual premiums, they have now discovered that there are ways to gain some
traction, whether shopping around for the best plan or starting a wellness program. They have put on their thinking caps, and have mobilized their work forces. Now, they are looking for even more methods to combat the challenges of health care, and they stand ready to spring into
action to realize them.
I look forward to our fourth annual State of Manufacturingâ„¢ survey and focus groups in 2012. It's never too early to save the date, so mark your calendar for February 21, 2012.
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