Journey's Bend

You’ve probably seen it framed on an office wall or posted on a billboard.

“Life is a journey, not a destination.”

At Enterprise Minnesota, we believe that the path to business growth is a journey, too. And we are dedicated to helping Minnesota manufacturers continuously improve along the trail. Whether it’s developing a marketing strategy, going global, introducing lean principles, leading Kaizen events, or achieving ISO Certification, when Minnesota manufacturers succeed, we all do.

It is in this spirit that the September issue of Enterprise Minnesota® magazine highlights our Year in Review, starting on page 16. This year summary is, in part, about the work of Enterprise Minnesota, yet it is more of a celebration of the manufacturing industry’s accomplishments. Like an average $30-to-1 return on investment for the Growth Acceleration Program (GAP) grant participants. A collective $15.1 million in increased sales and $4.63 million in reduced spending among 30 participating Workforce 2020 companies. Or 1,765 created or retained jobs and a $210 million economic impact among the 200-plus companies that enlisted Enterprise Minnesota’s consulting services in 2011-2012. These are significant statistics that bolster our confidence in the future of manufacturing.

Indeed, the future is something that weighs heavily on the minds of many manufacturers. Retaining the vast knowledge base of retiring Boomers while finding ways to attract and train a new generation of workers is a monumental task. But it is also a tremendous opportunity for growth, innovation and partnership among schools, companies and communities. This month in our ongoing workforce series, we will profile North Anoka Plumbing, Pequot Tool and Clow Stamping, three companies that are doing it right when it comes to educating students about manufacturing’s breadth of high-tech, high-paying career opportunities. Like the growth journey, they see their efforts as part of an ongoing pursuit, and rightly so. Building a talent pool is not done quickly. But they are already beginning to see the benefits. Turn to page 12 and you’ll see what I mean.

I hope you draw upon the stories shared in this issue to move forward in your own journey with vigor and conviction. We’ll be there to help at every bend in the trail.