KNOXVILLE –- Small- to mid-size manufacturers seeking to hone business skills to better compete in the global marketplace are invited to attend the Manufacturing Solutions Conference Nov. 7-8 at the Nashville Airport Marriott Convention Center.
The conference is sponsored by the University of Tennessee Center for Industrial Services (CIS).
“The conference will focus on continuous improvement technologies that will give manufacturing executives, team leaders, and plant supervisors the critical business skills they need to transform their businesses into world-class organizations,” said David Hall, executive director of CIS.
During the conference, U.S. Rep. Lincoln Davis will present the Diamond Award to five Tennessee companies that have realized an economic impact of at least $10 million after using CIS services. These companies have either increased revenue, reduced expenses or kept jobs in Tennessee.
Conference attendees can learn about business growth from Doug Hall of ABC’s “American Inventor.” Hall is the author of “Jump Start Your Business Brain” and creator of the manufacturing program “Eureka! Winning Ways.” Fortune 500 companies such as American Express, Disney and Kimberly Clark have implemented his strategies.
The conference also will feature Cordia Harrington, a Nashville entrepreneur who has built an outstanding business supplying bread products to McDonald’s and O’Charley’s. President Bush recently recognized her with a personal visit, and she will share her fascinating story of success with the group.
More than 20 lecturers and trainers will offer workshops and training at the conference. Topics will include: Lean Manufacturing, Lean Office, Supply Chain Logistics, Growth Services, Energy Management, Language and Culture in the Workplace, Business Transformation, Lean Sigma and Doing Business with the Government.
The Tennessee Valley Authority, the Tennessee Department of Labor, the Tennessee Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Small Business Administration and other state agencies are participating in the conference.
The conference cost is $595. For more information and a registration form, see http://www.cis.tennessee.edu/conference/default.shtml.
CIS is an agency of UT’s statewide Institute for Public Service. In fiscal year 2007, CIS helped Tennessee manufacturers create or retain 13,888 jobs and improved the state’s economy by more than $815 million. Throughout Tennessee, nearly 3,000 people took advantage of CIS training last year.
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Contacts:
Bill Nusbaum, (615) 948-4033, bill.nusbaum@tennessee.edu
Queena Jones, (865) 974-1533, queena.jones@tennessee.edu