Global Manufacturing Series 2003

About the Global Manufacturing Series

Overview of the Series:

The International Trade Club of Chicago (ITCC) and the Tooling & Manufacturing Association (TMA) have teamed up to help local manufacturers and organized the first annual Global Manufacturing Series, titled “Discover the Keys to Competitive Manufacturing: Global Success in the 21st Century,” which will be held on Tuesdays, January 27, February 10, February 24, March 9, March 23, 2004.

Unlike many “global business seminars” that are held throughout the year, this Series will present case studies and testimony by ten companies that are now successfully competing on the world stage. Attendees will hear their peers talk about their successful strategies and hear multinational companies describe how they perceive the global landscape and how small manufacturers can leverage their global business activities in productive ways.

The program also will present proven, successful collaborative strategies between businesses in the U.S., Europe and Asia, and the considerable and largely untapped competitive resources that are available to U.S. manufacturers at little or no cost.

Goals:
The Series is designed to assist Chicago area manufacturing companies as they compete in the global marketplace. The Series is designed to convey vital, actionable, sector specific strategic and tactical information regarding global competitive options and resources to U.S. manufacturers.

Why Manufacturing and Trade?
While the huge global manufacturing investment in the 90s and continuous productivity improvements have contributed to a rapid run-up in manufacturing capacity worldwide, weak demand for goods coupled with the increased capacity has driven down prices, eliminated margins, reduced sales, and closed factory doors.

The Series will show that manufacturing is alive in the Midwest, but it needs to reclaim its leadership by engaging globally. Series organizers intend to provide concrete and proven strategies for success. The business case studies presented will offer actionable and replicable tactics and tools that attendees can use in their own companies to compete globally.

Topics:
Each seminar will focus on a topic of relevance to small and medium sized manufacturers who are trying to compete globally, and will build attendees’ abilities to construct and implement their own successful strategies. Series topics include:

Format and Schedule:
The Series consists of five half-day seminars, each designed to focus on specific blocks of global business information in detail, while sequentially building a comprehensive and practical view of global trade that attendees can adapt and apply successfully to their specific manufacturing businesses. Each seminar will be followed by an informal networking session.

The Series is titled “Discover the Keys to Competitive Manufacturing: Global Success in the 21st Century” and seminars will take place on January 27, February 10 and 24, March 9 and 23, 2004 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Series will be held at Northwestern University’s Thorne Auditorium.

Each seminar will have the following format:
8:00-9:30 a.m. initial segment
9:30-9:45 a.m. break
9:45-10:45 a.m. second segment
10:45-11:00 a.m. break
11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. final segment
12:00 p.m.-(est.) 1:00 p.m. informal networking

Speakers:
The Series brings together ten Chicago area small and medium sized manufacturers and five strategic consulting and marketing experts to present business strategies for competing successfully in the global landscape. Speakers will focus on actionable, sector-specific, strategic and tactical information regarding global competitive options and resources that attendees may adapt and apply effectively to their respective manufacturing businesses. The Series will also address Chicago’s strengths and obstacles in the global manufacturing economy. Click here to view speakers and company profiles.

Audience:
The audience consists primarily of tooling and manufacturing company executives. Other professionals from the financial, legal, accounting and real estate sectors are expected, as well as media representatives, association executives, and government officials. The largest number of participants will come from the immediate Chicago area and the surrounding region.

Participation in the Series is open to anyone paying the admission fee (media excepted), but with special encouragement to area manufacturing companies.

Organization:
The Series is co-organized by the International Trade Club of Chicago and the Tooling & Manufacturing Association.

The Series volunteer planning committee consists of the primary organizers’ management and directors, as well as key staff and additional external expert contributors.

Other partners that provide financial assistance or assist in promoting awareness of the Series include the Chicago-Cook Business Center, the Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity – Illinois Trade Office, IIT Manufacturing Programs and the Kellogg Alumni Club of Chicago.

Training Credit:
Attendees who graduate from the Series will be ready to apply proven strategies and operational tactics that will enable them to change the direction of their business for success in global markets.

The ITCC is licensed by the Illinois Department of Professional Registration for Continuing Education and will award Training Credits/Certificates of Attendance for the Global Manufacturing Series. Each seminar will provide 4 hours of Continuing Education Units (CEUs). Up to 20 hours of Training Credits or CEUs will be awarded to participants. Additionally, the Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) Manufacturing Programs will award a Certificate of Completion to those who attend the entire Series.

Fee Structure:
The Series will be available to attendees in two options: as a discounted subscription to the entire series ($300.00 / ITCC or TMA members and $400.00 / non-members) or as individual seminars ($75 / ITCC or TMA members and $100 / non-members) selected by attendees based on areas of interest, company’s needs, and own level of experience. Click here for details and online registration.

REDUCED FEE FOR THE BALANCE OF THE SERIES (SEMINARS II-V)
ITCC - TMA Members: $175.00
Non-Members: $250.00

Venue:
All seminars will be held at Northwestern University Thorne Auditorium, 750 N. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, Illinois.

All seminars will be audio or video recorded and transcripts will be prepared for potential use in post-Series publications and marketing activities for 2004 Series.

The Series planning committee will publish a feature article, to be released to various general and trade media, or other type of publication regarding the proceedings after the Series is complete. The publication will also promote the next series in 2004, for which this series will serve as the template.

Funding:
The costs of organizing and presenting the Global Manufacturing Series are being met primarily through the financial and staff resources of the ITCC and the TMA, and also through local governmental sponsors, the Chicago-Cook Business Center and the Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity – Illinois Trade Office, and moderate entrance fees. IIT Manufacturing Programs is providing technical expertise and marketing support.

Brochure:
Please click here to download and print our brochure for the event.