The Wisconsin Manufacturing Extension Partnership (WMEP) recently launched the 2011 Next Generation Manufacturing Study to benchmark the global competitiveness of state manufacturers. The new research effort is an update of a 2008 study of more than 500 state manufacturing firms.
“We strongly encourage state manufacturers to participate in this study,” said Lee Swindall, WMEP’s acting executive director. “The study gives manufacturers the tools to benchmark their performance across several strategic areas crucial to 21st century manufacturing success and target improvements where needed.”
Manufacturers who complete the study’s confidential questionnaire will receive a comprehensive Next Generation Manufacturing Performance Report that will allow them to see how they stack up against other firms surveyed. The web-based Next Generation Manufacturing Study questionnaire can be accessed at www.NGMStudy.com. Any manufacturing owner, CEO or senior-level executive is eligible to participate. Participation in the study is confidential or anonymous and takes 20-25 minutes to complete. The deadline for participation is June 21, 2011.
The study is scheduled to be released this fall.
“Manufacturing is leading the economic recovery here and across the nation,” said Swindall. “The study will provide critical insights and data to accelerate growth, competitiveness and strengthen Wisconsin’s economy.”
The 2011 Wisconsin study is part of a national effort sponsored by the American Small Manufacturers Coalition (ASMC), an organization composed of the nation’s Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) centers.
