June 8, 2009

Purdue to help businesses boost bottom lines

Purdue's Manufacturing Extension Partnership is working with the innovation research and development company Eureka! Ranch International to offer three business growth initiatives:

* Profit 101 —This half-day workshop explores how to create new growth ideas and protect profit margins. Basic principles of the Eureka! Winning Ways program also will be shared.

* Eureka! Winning Ways — This three-step process guides the implementation of growth ideas. Participants learn how to stimulate a positive attitude toward growth, innovate ideas for growth and accelerate those ideas into profitable business opportunities.

* Business Translation — This half-day workshop is designed for inventors or companies with inventions that want to refine their ideas and estimate their worth.

The workshops will take place throughout Indiana in Evansville, South Bend, Indianapolis, Jasper, Columbus, and Fort Wayne. Companies can register online at https://www.indianamep.org/events

Timothy D. Cooney, president of Advantage One Imaging Center in Columbus, Ind., said the Profit 101 workshop will help managers think more strategically and creatively about profitable growth.

"This course works for any size business," Cooney said. "It teaches proven techniques to develop more profitable customers, markets, products and services."

Rich Meyer, MEP business growth services leader, said manufacturers should be proactive in maintaining their profit margins.

"Innovation is key, especially in today's economy," Meyer said. "These courses show business leaders how to generate 'big impact' ideas and even come up with some 'no-brainers' that are easy to implement. We also can customize the design and delivery of ideas for individual businesses."

Locations and fees vary for each course. For more information, contact MEP at 800-877-5182 ext. 620, MEPworkshops@purdue.edu

Purdue’s Technical Assistance Program is Indiana’s Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) Center. It provides technical skills development and implementation services to manufacturers that want to increase productivity and profitability, enhance customer satisfaction, and advance their workforces’ skills.  Areas of expertise include advance manufacturing processes, Lean implementation, quality management systems, Six Sigma, green enterprise development, and energy efficiency. 

Clients reported more than $102 million in financial impacts related to MEP services  in 2008, including sales creation or retention, cost savings, new investment,  and 569 new or retained jobs.  The center is one of 58 across the U.S., and is affiliated with the National Institute of Standards and Technology MEP.

Writer: Marydell Forbes, 765-496-7704, mforbes@purdue.edu

Sources: Timothy D. Cooney, tim@advantageone.biz

Rich Meyer, 765-404-2128, rgmeyer@purdue.edu

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu

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