As the cliché, but true saying goes: “numbers don’t lie.” We can’t help but agree as we review our 2021 client reported impacts! While it is certainly a time of celebration here at IMEC, it’s also a celebration for the 1600 manufacturers who have invested in their competitive futures.  By partnering with IMEC and reporting the impacts our work has contributed to their business, it allows us to show that we all play an important role in a much bigger story. These numbers speak volumes to the value our clients add to our manufacturing ecosystem. Not only are companies on a path to enterprise excellence, but they are also strengthening Illinois’ economic well-being, their communities, and their organization as whole. 

IMEC is committed to helping companies provide structured training to their employees through registered apprenticeship programs. As of last month, IMEC has been approved to sponsor 13 registered apprenticeship programs validated by the U.S. Department of Labor.  

The Role of Apprenticeships in Manufacturing 
Apprenticeships are an important part of many companies’ training landscapes. Improving recruitment, developing a highly skilled workforce that leads to improved productivity, reducing turnover costs, and improving employee retention are all benefits of a strong training program that includes apprenticeships. 

August offers manufacturers with the opportunity to retool their organizations and thrive globally.  

As the cliché, but true saying goes: “numbers don’t lie.” We can’t help but agree as we review our 2019 client reported impacts! While it is certainly a time of celebration here at IMEC, it’s also a celebration for the 770 manufacturers who have invested in their competitive futures.  By partnering with IMEC and reporting the impacts our work has contributed to their business, it allows us to show that we all play an important role in a much bigger story. These numbers speak volumes to the value our clients add to our manufacturing ecosystem. Not only are companies on a path to enterprise excellence, but they are also strengthening Illinois’ economic well-being, their communities, and their organization as whole. 

Written by Jim Dunbar, IMEC Marketing Coordinator

What methods are you or your marketing team employing to achieve the highest ROI? How are you using your skills and time to be most efficient?

You are more than likely in a position where you, a small team or a single employee, are tasked with multiple with duties including marketing outreach.  If you are like most other small companies, you have a web presence, post on some social media sites and maybe even compose a newsletter.

You can spend a lot of time and money to market your products but do you really know what’s getting you the best results? The ultimate goal is to generate more revenue.

Forster Tool and Manufacturing Company has taken pride in being a women-owned business, and demonstrated its commitment to clients seeking precision custom machining services for more than 50 years.  Forster Tool and Manufacturing is ISO 9001:2015 AND AS9100D certified.  They are a client success for thinking strategically and positioning themselves for future successes with IMEC's help.

Situation

With an ever-growing increase in global competition, Forster Tool and Manufacturing Company was losing high volume, low margin work overseas. Clients were developing warehouses and sourcing parts globally. Forster needed a new strategy for higher margin domestic work, and quickly. Additionally, the company knew their impending upgrade to ISO 9001:2015 would require a deeper analysis of risks and rewards –creating a perfect opportunity to explore their larger strategic vision for the future.

Written by Andrea Olson, MSC and CEO of Prag’madik

We all know change is inevitable. There's also been a lot of talk, especially in the manufacturing sector, about impending disruptions, or creating disruption to transform the industry. No one wants to be disrupted, or caught off guard when something new comes along and upends your business. You can't predict the future, but you can protect your organization from disruption through change.

What do we mean by change? Change doesn't have to be massive. Change can be small. Incremental. Change is the basis for which every successful business operates. Finding new ways to do things simpler, faster, and easier. Identifying and acting upon new customer and market needs. Modernizing the way you do business. Staying open to new ideas.

Jarvis Lighting manufactures LED light fixtures for commercial applications. Their products provide bright, efficient and reliable lighting. Jarvis LED lights save energy and improve visibility and safety while also maintaining a high efficiency that reduces energy costs. An incredibly long lifetime means virtually no maintenance, increasing the savings. Jarvis Lighting’s products have an innovative design with the goal of providing maximum value to the customer. Some of their top products include LED Flood Lights, LED Wall Mounted Security Lights, LED Parking Lot Lights, and LED Gas Station Lights.

Abbey Metal Services can be counted on for all custom fabrication and tank repair needs!  The company has been helping commercial and industrial customers for 57 years with everything from tanks and linings to welding and fabrication.  Abbey Metal Services's specialties are lining, welding, rubber lining and fabrication in steel, stainless steel, aluminum, and copper.

As a member of the American Welding Society, the company offers quality products and services according to customers' precise specifications at competitive pricing.  Abbey Metal Services is committed to meeting customers' needs and even offers on-site repair and installation services.  The south side fabrication and welding shop can do anything from fabricate metals from drawings to helping with a design.  

SOLID Development Corp was founded in 2012 with a vision to help people make their dream products. Originally based in Chicago, SOLID moved to Evanston in 2016 and owns one of only a few industrial properties in the area. SOLID has recently expanded the services it offers to include manufacturing, packaging and order fulfillment. These expanded services have helped SOLID become a one-stop solution to help our customers reach the finish line.

SOLID offers product design and manufacturing as a service.  They help their customers reach the finish line by overcoming obstacles such as technical problems, cost concerns, low manufacturing volumes or delivering finished product to customers. SOLID Development Corp has helped design numerous products from commercial infrastructure, surgical instruments, home and office goods and many others.