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 Lean Innovation Program Comes To Illinois: CHICAGO (November 3, 2006) - Businesses engaged in a new program called Lean Innovation learn how to pull ahead in the competitive product innovation race. The Lean Innovation Program is designed to help manufacturing companies identify new opportunities to increase their sales through product expansion and product development. It is now being offered to Illinois manufacturers by one of its creators, MC2 Solutions, a new strategic partner of the Alliance for Illinois Manufacturing. "The Lean Innovation Program will be a real asset to our efforts to improve the success of Illinois manufacturers," said Chris Multhauf, President and CEO of the Alliance for Illinois Manufacturing. "In the global marketplace, it’s tough to win on cost. Companies need to be lean and innovative to win today," added Multhauf. "Manufacturers participating in the Lean Innovation Program and who then implement these processes in their organization immediately gain benefits," notes Gene Kania, Principal of MC2 Solutions. "The goal of the Lean Innovation Program is to reduce new product time to market by 50 percent, increase product success rates by 50 percent and increase first to market by 100 percent," he says. MC2 Solutions and the Alliance for Illinois Manufacturing will conduct a two-day Lean Innovation workshop for Illinois manufacturers on Jan. 31 - Feb. 1, 2007. The program is based on a model that was developed by the Partnership for Lean Innovation through a program administered by TechSolve, Inc., a Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) located in Cincinnati, Ohio. MC2 Solutions played an integral role in piloting the program in 23 Ohio manufacturing concerns. The cost of the workshop is $4,500 per company attending. Matching grant funds to offset this cost may be available for eligible Illinois manufacturers through the Alliance for Illinois Manufacturing. The workshop is limited to four non-competing manufacturers; typically four to five individuals from each company -- the president, and the VPs of manufacturing, engineering and marketing, plus finance -- are encouraged to attend. "When we compare best in class product development companies to the rest, they are, in fact, twice as fast to market, 50 percent more successful and first to market twice as often as are their competitors. Our program teaches the same practices and processes that enabled these companies to achieve such successes," Kania noted. Companies that participate in the Lean Innovation workshop often engage MC2 Solutions for ongoing coaching assignments. This additional fee-based service helps companies implement process improvements and ensure their continued reinforcement for long-term impact. "Process improvements are like weight loss programs -- if you work hard at your goals after the workshop, you make progress," Kania said. Media Contacts: The Alliance for Illinois Manufacturing, Chris Multhauf, 773-594-9292; or MC2 Solutions, Gene Kania, 630-781-1104. (Click here to learn more about the Lean Innovation Program)
mc2solutions helps TechSolve, Inc. win $1.8M State Grant to help Ohio companies improve product development operations! Grants Help Provide New Product Development Services to Ohio Manufacturers in Third Frontier Targeted Industries COLUMBUS (March 30, 2005) - Governor Bob Taft today announced $4 million in Third Frontier grants to help three Ohio organizations provide product development support services to small- and medium-sized Ohio manufacturers categorized as Third Frontier targeted industries. "This funding will allow these organizations to provide the resources so that small- and medium-sized Ohio manufacturers in Third Frontier targeted industries can launch new, innovative products," said Taft. "It’s important we continue to assist companies so they can transform their ideas into new products that will have positive economic outcomes and create new jobs for Ohioans." The grants, administered by the Ohio Department of Development, were awarded through the Product Development Pilot Program (PDPP), which is part of the Third Frontier Project. The PDPP allows organizations to deliver specialized and cost-effective product development services to small- and medium-sized Ohio manufacturers categorized as Third Frontier targeted industries. The services can help companies throughout the product development process, from generating ideas for new products to market testing and validation to launching a new product. The Third Frontier Commission awards the grants through a competitive process. To qualify, the organizations receiving the awards must be a non-profit or public body with a significant presence in Ohio, or an Ohio state-supported institution of higher learning. Third Frontier targeted industries consist of advanced materials; bioscience; instruments, controls and electronics; information technology and power and propulsion. The organizations receiving grants for 2005 are: TechSolve, Inc., located in Cincinnati (Hamilton County), in collaboration with the University of Cincinnati, will receive a $1,886,563 grant to create a partnership, whose purpose will be to provide workshops and services to companies focusing on lean product development and innovation. The economic impact due to new product development from this project over five years is expected to be up to $48 million in revenue growth, with 120 jobs being created or retained. The Edison Materials Technology Center (EMTEC) , located in Dayton (Montgomery County), will receive a $1.2 million grant to develop a new product development center, to be located at Sinclair Community College and run by EMTEC, that will be utilized by manufacturers in the region. Companies using the new development center will be able to utilize FlexiTracTM, a tool that provides innovative product development services to small- and medium-sized Ohio-based manufacturers dealing with advanced materials. The economic impact due to new product development from this project is expected to be $25 million annually, with 142 jobs being created or retained over five years. CAMP, Inc., located in Cleveland (Cuyahoga County), will receive an $866,606 grant so it can continue delivering product development services to manufacturers in northern Ohio. Services offered range from production ideas to product launch, through the collaboration with private and public sector experts. This project will provide the organization with adequate funds to extend delivery services to a larger number of companies. The economic impact due to new product development from this project is expected to be $40-$50 million annually, with 300 jobs being created or retained over five years. A 10-year, $1.1 billion initiative, the Ohio Third Frontier Project is the state’s largest-ever commitment to expand Ohio’s high-tech research capabilities and promote start-up companies to create high-paying jobs for generations to come. Media Contacts: Bill Teets 614-466-2382, ODOD; or Mark Rickel, Governor’s Office, at 614-644-0957. (Click here to learn more about the Partnership for Lean Innovation) |
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