CRW • Corporate Report • Wisconsin's Business Magazine

Leading edge strategies to compete and win in a fiercely competitive and volatile global economy are the focus of this year’s Manufacturing Matters! Conference in Milwaukee.
 
The 13th annual conference, hosted by the Wisconsin Manufacturing Extension Partnership (WMEP), will be held April 20 at the Midwest Airlines Center in Milwaukee.  Manufacturing Matters! is WMEP’s signature event to promote performance excellence for the state’s 10,000 small and midsize manufacturers.  For more information or to register visit www.manufacturingmatters.org or call 877-856-8588.
 
This year’s conference features best practices and valuable insights shared by leaders of the state’s most successful and innovative manufacturing firms.  Panel discussions will allow participants to hear directly from award winning manufacturers on common challenges and high impact solutions to improve business performance. 
 
In his morning keynote presentation, Play Offence Not Defense, Don Peppers, a leading authority on customer-focused relationship management, will offer a fresh perspective on how manufacturers can access new markets and customers as the economy recovers.  Peppers is co-author of Rules to Break and Laws to Follow: How Your Business Can Beat the Crisis of Short-Termism.  Business 2.0 has named him one of the “foremost business gurus of our times.”
 
Nearly 20 interactive workshops offer peer-to-peer learning and practical tools on a range of topics including continuous improvement, exports, rapid product development, sustainability, culture, marketing and supply chain management.   The conference and workshops are built around the six success attributes of Next Generation Manufacturing.
 
Conference sponsors are BT Squared, Inc.; Wisconsin Technical College System, Insight on Manufacturing, The Business Journal, Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce and Clifton Gunderson, LLP.
 
ABOUT WMEP
WMEP is a private, nonprofit consulting organization committed to the growth and success of Wisconsin manufacturers.  A leader in Next Generation Manufacturing, WMEP brings best practices to Wisconsin firms to help them achieve world-class performance through innovation and transformation.  During the past five years, WMEP-assisted manufacturers reported economic impact of $977 million with 7,965 jobs created/retained.  WMEP receives financial support from the Wisconsin Department of Commerce, and partners with many public and private organizations to serve Wisconsin manufacturers. For more information, visit www.wmep.org or call 1-877-856-8588.