Brick by Brick: Strengthening companies, creating jobs, building a region one step at a time

The Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP), including the Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center, is collaborating with MPI to assess the competitiveness of the nation’s small to mid-size manufacturers.

The survey results will provide a wealth of data for manufacturers, business leaders and state and national policymakers. Manufacturers will be able to see how they rank against world-class performance benchmarks and target improvements where needed. Similarly, policymakers will have a guide to strengthen and improve programs and services supporting manufacturers by knowing their most critical needs.

Any CEO or senior executive of a small to mid-size manufacturing enterprise is eligible to participate, and may complete the survey online at www.NGMStudy.com. All survey responses will remain confidential. Participants will receive a copy of the aggregated study results if they choose not to include contact information along with the survey submission. Those who do, will receive a free customized Performance Report that not only compares their responses to all survey responses, but also those from similarly sized, industry peers.

The NGM report will show how companies compare in six key strategic areas including customer-focused innovation, superior processes/improvement focus, human-capital management, supply-chain management and collaboration, sustainability, and global engagement.

“A focus on the six Next Generation Manufacturing strategies strongly correlated with success in the first version of this study,” said John Brandt, CEO of the Manufacturing Performance Institute (MPI). “Two years later, we’re interested in finding out what’s changed for U.S. manufacturers in the post-recession economy.”

The Right Place, Inc. is pleased to welcome Karen Benson as the organization’s new Director of Innovation Services. She will begin her new role with the organization on May 2.

Benson, an experienced economic and business development professional in West Michigan, will lead The Right Place’s Innovation West Michigan initiative, a service that identifies and connects intellectual property and technologies with area companies, creating new products, services, jobs and investment in the region. In her new role, she will be responsible for furthering the initiative, building partner collaborations with industry, education and R&D organizations.

“Karen is extremely well connected within the West Michigan community and brings a wealth of experience to The Right Place team,” said Birgit Klohs, President and CEO, The Right Place, Inc. “We look forward to leveraging her strengths to further develop the Innovation West Michigan initiative as the central hub for business innovation in the region.”

First launched in 2007, Innovation West Michigan has already assisted over 500 West Michigan companies and entrepreneurs in the collaboration and commercialization of new products and services. Benson plans to build on this foundation and work directly with area resources to develop and commercial new products and services.

“I am delighted to join The Right Place team and have the opportunity to lead such an exciting initiative,” said Benson. “I look forward to working with West Michigan’s colleges, universities, and area companies to collaboratively drive business innovation. This initiative is about creating the products, services, and jobs West Michigan will need in the future, and I’m proud to be a part of this initiative.”

For the past several years, Benson has provided economic and business development services in the Muskegon area. Prior to her work in Muskegon, she was the Vice President of Business Development for Grand Haven Bank (now Michigan Commerce Bank) and the Economic Development Director and Small Business Development Director for the Grand Haven, Spring Lake, Ferrysburg, Chamber of Commerce.

The Right Place, in collaboration with The Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) and the City of Grand Rapids, announced Tuesday the planned expansions of two West Michigan companies that are expected to create 152 new jobs and invest $2.2 million within Grand Rapids.

Atomic Object – 30 jobs, $983,000 in capital investment
Atomic Object LLC, one of West Michigan’s largest software development firms, is expanding its operations in Grand Rapids, investing $983,000 and creating 30 jobs.

Founded in 2001, Atomic Object has designed software solutions for companies in the aerospace, automotive testing, color management, distribution, material handling, manufacturing and financial services industries.  Its products have included programming and design for web-based, mobile, desktop and embedded applications.

Company founders Carl Erickson and Bill Bereza moved into the company’s current facility at 941 Wealthy St. SE in 2003, redeveloping the former Helmus Brothers building into offices, meeting rooms and shared space for its employees.  Averaging 25 percent annual growth since, Atomic has become a principal software development firm in West Michigan.  Earlier this year, it launched Atomic Object Embedded, a new service specializing in designing and creating customized embedded technology systems for client companies, often working on-site in collaboration with the client’s in-house team.  With these and other projects driving company growth, Atomic Object turned to The Right Place for assistance in expanding its team and facilities.  

Working with the City of Grand Rapids and the (MEDC), The Right Place developed an incentive package to support Atomic Object’s growth within its current location.  A Michigan Economic Growth Authority (MEGA) state tax incentive, as well as an abatement of city property taxes from the City of Grand Rapids, will support Atomic Object’s purchase of new equipment and ground floor remodeling.  The company will hire five new employees during the project’s first year, with 25 additional jobs to follow.

“Supporting highly sophisticated information technology companies like Atomic Object is essential to supporting our growth as a center for advanced manufacturing, computing and research,” noted Business Development Manager George Bosnjak. “They are a perfect example of the kind of companies that are growing here, and creating the technology that supports many of our traditional industries.  Atomic Object’s work not only makes other companies more technically adept and efficient, but supports their ability to make the kind of technology-driven products required to compete in an innovation-driven global market.”

Knape & Vogt – 122 new jobs, $1.24 million in capital investment

In a follow-up to its acquisition of Richmond, Ill.-based John Sterling Corp. in January, Knape & Vogt (KV) is investing $1.24 million and creating 122 new jobs.

The John Sterling acquisition is KV’s second this year (the company also acquired GSlide Corp., a designer and manufacturer of sliding system products, in January) and its third in the last five years.  A former competitor, John Sterling is a leading manufacturer and marketer of functional and decorative home storage and organization products.  Major products include residential shelving and organization hardware systems, as well as a collection of sliding door hardware for residential and commercial installations.

The acquisition gives KV an expanded presence in its retail and distribution channels as both companies have long standing customer relationships with key retailers in the US and Canada.

With the acquisition, KV is absorbing and consolidating the John Sterling operations within KV’s facility at 2700 Oak Industrial Drive NE.  The project includes an investment of $1.24 million to re-fit existing unused space and purchase equipment.  The company will also add 122 employees to its current complement of 456.

Collaborating with the MEDC and the City of Grand Rapids, The Right Place designed an incentive package – including a MEGA tax abatement on state taxes as well as abatements on local taxes – to support the project.

“Retaining growing companies like Knape & Vogt is a strategic priority for The Right Place,” said Business Development Manager George Bosnjak. “They are the engine of our economic growth, and the source for the majority of new jobs in West Michigan.  It has been rewarding for us to work with Knape & Vogt on a variety of projects over the past several years, and we look forward to their continued prosperity.”

Senior officials of renowned industry leaders in innovation and sustainability as well as entrepreneurs recognized for innovation and design will keynote The Right Place Inc.’s second Green Growth Conference and Expo in October.

 The conference is designed to provide guidance for improving company performance and profitability through sustainability and innovation.  Breakout sessions in cost containment, advanced practices, customer requirements and early strategies will provide content for the inexperienced as well as advanced practitioners.  Some of the specific topics include:

• Becoming a Design Minded Company – Bill Fluharty, Principal, Design and Innovation Consulting
• Sustainability and Innovation: A Love/Hate Relationship? – Amnon Levav, Managing Director/Co-Founder, Systematic Inventive Thinking
• Additional Keynotes and presentations from such companies as Steelcase, Wolverine World Wide, Herman Miller, Shape Corp., izzy+, Amway, Nichols, SRG, Intertek, and Nucraft.

There was a time when sustainability was worth pursuing because it was required for marketing and regulatory reasons, but for many companies, sustainability strategies have moved far beyond those initial boundaries.  Companies with strong sustainability practices are more efficient, more profitable and better positioned to survive and even take advantage of changes in the marketplace.  They have integrated Green practices with Lean practices, and have used sustainability as one platform from which to launch new innovations and market strategies.  The Green Growth Conference will give practitioners and leaders insight into creating and perfecting similar cultures in their own companies.    Learn More.

In its annual listing of the best places to work among research institutions and academia, The Scientist ranked the Van Andel Research Institute (VARI) third among its top 40 U.S. institutions.  The VARI is  primarily focused on cancer research, but studies branch out into other diseases such as osteoporosis, Parkinson disease, and diabetes. Its researchers work to translate discoveries at the molecular level into effective therapies for patients.

VARI was followed in the rankings by Calvin College, which placed 8^th, Michigan State University in East Lansing (17^th), and Wayne State University in Detroit (37^th).

“While the auto industry may be in dire straights, Michigan is working towards making itself a top location for research, with over $1.1 billion dollars in federal research funding for 2009 according to Research!America. In 2008, the state dedicated $43 million to for-profit companies as part of the Centers of Energy Excellence Program. Last year, the program incorporated academia, requiring companies applying for funding to collaborate with at least one institute of higher learning or national laboratory.”

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