In an era where innovation is key to staying competitive, ManuFuture NEO is taking an exciting approach to modernize the manufacturing sector in Northeast Ohio.
It's an initiative that's rewriting the rulebook for how manufacturers innovate. Powered by a peer-reviewed, scientifically grounded methodology called Strategic Doing, ManuFuture enables leaders to generate solutions to wicked problems.
Picture this: It's spring 2024. Mike Yost, Manufacturing Works' Director of Manufacturing Excellence, pitched the idea of a new initiative to Tiffany Rashada, the Director of Strategic Marketing. Without hesitation, Tiffany jumped on board, recognizing the project's potential. This was all after Mike got the green light from our nonprofit's Manufacturing Excellence committee, as they are manufacturers who agreed to be the owners and the engine of this initiative with us as guides.
The core team, including Mari-Elen Sammon, Director of Brand Marketing and event planning lead, and Matt Duplin, Project Manager at the EMDiS Center at Cleveland State University, assembled and began meeting with the ManuFuture team, consisting of experts like Ed Morrison, founder of the Strategic Doing Institute (SDI), Brad Beach who leads ManuFuture Today at Purdue University, and Joost Visser and Jane Rogan, co-COOs for SDI.
The Power of Collaboration
Soon, a road trip to Purdue University was organized to witness the Strategic Doing methodology in action. The experience confirmed that this approach could be a paradigm shift for Northeast Ohio's manufacturing community.
Back in Cleveland, Manufacturing Works tapped into its large and active community, organizing the first ManuFuture event in June. The response was overwhelming, with many manufacturing members eager to dive into the Strategic Doing process.
All we're doing is helping manufacturers help themselves. We create the environment for learning, and they are working together to solve any challenges they choose.
By September, ManuFuture NEO held its first in-person event, gathering over 30 manufacturers who broke into small groups to identify shared challenges. These participants then self-organized into three groups focused on solving critical issues facing the manufacturing sector.
Reimagining Manufacturing in Northeast Ohio
The groups began brainstorming bold “What if” scenarios, asking questions like:
- What if every manufacturer in Northeast Ohio operates at world-class efficiency levels?
- What if every manufacturer in Northeast Ohio finds, manages, and develops talent better than any other industry segment?
- What if every manufacturer in Northeast Ohio can sell everything they have the capacity to produce?
Since then, the groups have continued to meet monthly, using Strategic Doing as their guiding framework. Now, smaller teams of 6-7 manufacturers and their guides are working on impactful projects:
- Operational Efficiency Group
Project: Knowledge Sharing Through Local Benchmarking Visits
This group facilitates visits between companies to observe successful local implementations and share best practices. By encouraging discussions and hands-on experiences, they create a space for knowledge transfer and operational success.
- Culture & Learning Group
Project: Care & Culture
Focused on supervisor and manager training, this group aims to enhance staff development opportunities while fostering emotional intelligence and empathy within the workforce. By building on company core values, they create durable skills that benefit both staff and management.
- Strategy & Growth Group
Project: Knowlege and Capabilities Pooling
This group works on creating a trusted system to share capabilities including best practices and approaches to sales and marketing, and other, non-production tasks.
The Next Chapter of Manufacturing in Northeast Ohio
Looking ahead, another live event is planned for April, where participants will share the results of their projects and offer insights about their shared learning experiences.
What started as a simple idea has now blossomed into a thriving initiative.
ManuFuture is a guided, peer-to-peer learning community dedicated to transforming and modernizing manufacturing in Northeast Ohio. By leveraging the Strategic Doing methodology, ManuFuture empowers manufacturers to expand their digital capabilities and remain competitive in the digital age. Combining online and in-person interactions, this initiative creates an organic knowledge network where members can share insights, develop new skills, and collaborate on innovative solutions.
ManuFuture NEO is at the forefront of shaping a future where manufacturers can thrive and strengthen their communities. Would you like to learn how you can get involved? Connect with Mike Yost.