Impressive Iowa Businesses
Each time I write newsletter articles for Iowa State University’s Center for Industrial Research and Service (CIRAS), I am constantly impressed by the work being done at Iowa companies and by CIRAS.
In the latest issue, I had the opportunity to talk with a door and lock company that continues to grow after more than 100 years in business, a deicing product company that’s working on a revolutionary product, three companies that are improving their online presence after attending an internet marketing boot camp, and Lean business leaders who have created an organization to support each other in developing and implementing Lean processes and practices.
Check out the amazing work by CIRAS and Iowa companies in the recently published winter edition of CIRAS News. (See my articles on the cover and on pages 4, 7, 12 and 13).
Developing a Lean Business Culture
Throughout the past few months, I have had the opportunity to write about Lean processes and Lean culture development for Iowa State University’s Center for Industrial Research and Service (CIRAS) newsletter. In an article that appears in the Fall 2013 CIRAS News, I spoke with Lean coordinators at three Iowa companies: ALMACO, Pella Corporation and Stellar Industries.
These companies have been on their Lean journeys for various lengths of time, but the commitment to the Lean process and culture remains important to each company’s operations. I think Gina Singer, one of Pella’s continuous improvement managers, summed up the Lean experience well: “In a sustained Lean journey, continuous improvement is driven by everyone, every day.”
For the full article on how CIRAS is helping these three Iowa companies develop and sustain Lean cultures, see the Fall 2013 CIRAS News (PDF, page 8).
Iowa Business Insights
I enjoy writing quarterly newsletter articles for Iowa State University’s Center for Industrial and Research Service (CIRAS) because of the excellent business people I get to interview and small businesses I get to learn about.
One of my latest articles is the cover story for the CIRAS News Summer 2013 newsletter. The story is about two Iowa-based companies—one that manufactures trailers and another that manufactures sports equipment—and the product testing they do at Iowa State’s Structural Engineering Laboratory.
Read the cover story, plus check out my other articles in this edition including ones titled “CIRAS Presents Products Made in Iowa at Engineering Career Fair,” “CEO Peer Council Service Now Being Offered,” and “Iowa Business Council and CIRAS Partnership Helps Iowa Companies Succeed.”
Dana's Creative Services, Dana McCullough, Freelance Writer and Editor 