ISO Certification Drives   Success for Manufacturers    

Manufacturers with International Organization for Standardization (ISO) certification gain access to new markets, streamline their processes and grow more profitably. In fact, ISO-certified manufacturers are ahead of their competition, says Enterprise Minnesota Senior Consultant Operations Kent Myhrman who is among the nation's top quality management experts.

"ISO certification is a milepost on the continuous improvement journey," he says.

Just ask Brandon Anderson, president of Buffalo-based Von Ruden Manufacturing, which makes hydraulic motors, gear boxes, and driven tooling. "Using quality management systems (QMS) like ISO helped us achieve a 20 percent margin improvement on a $3.5 million product line," says Anderson. "ISO removed all the barriers to the new line and we have new business opportunities each and every week."

The company became ISO certified in 2010, and in 2011, a new line of tool products became its second largest product line. Anderson expects the line to become the company's largest revenue stream in 2013.

Most companies acquire ISO certification to increase growth potential but it can improve internal operations. Anderson says ISO ingrained quality throughout Von Ruden. "Quality is a part of everyday business activity here. We have found that this every day activity is the bonus from ISO and results in a mentality and culture which allows quality to cultivate and flourish."

Myhrman says companies have two choices in shaping their quality management system.  They can focus on compliance or on effectiveness.  By focusing on effectiveness, they are able to play to their strengths and build a QMS that will go a long way towards helping them grow.

Two upcoming Enterprise Minnesota events detail the variety of benefits that manufacturers can gain with ISO certification. At "Leveraging ISO Certification to Grow Your Business," three companies will share how they use ISO as part of their overall business strategy. On Oct. 31, Myhrman will explain how manufacturers can use ISO to maximize profits in "How to Use Your ISO Certification to Maximize Profits," the first of Enterprise Minnesota's new executive consulting seminars. Register online now.

Leveraging ISO Certification to Grow Your Business    

Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2012
8-11 am
RJF
7225 Northland Drive North #300
Brooklyn Park

Cost: Early Bird $79 before Sept. 25; Regular $119

Register Online

What to Expect: 

Organizations that adopt internationally recognized standards for quality inside their business systems are far out in front of their competition. The Harvard Business Review Research reports sales are nearly nine percent higher with ISO certification and those companies are more likely to stay in business by a factor of 93 percent over the next four years. Come learn from business leaders who have made ISO certification part of their overall business strategy. These certifications can open up new markets and ensure internationally desirable characteristics of products and services such as quality, environmental friendliness, safety, reliability, efficiency and interchangeability - all at an economical cost.

Moderator: John Connelly, Director of Consulting Services, Enterprise Minnesota

Speakers:

•    Luanne Eisenschenk, Continuous Improvement
     Coordinator
     Red Eye on Demand, Eden Prairie
              
•    Mark Held, General Manager
     Ickler Bearing and Machine, St. Cloud
        
•    Kristi Olson, CEO
     Rare Earth Coatings, Litchfield

Register Online Today!

Have news or events for e-trends?  Contact Sue Roe at sue.roe@enterpriseminnesota.org