Doug Hall is quite a guy. Part inventor, part evangelist, and part entrepreneur, he's quite a character and has had quite a career. A brief synopsis:
Stellar career at Proctor & Gamble as a Master Marketing Inventor. Owns many patents. Founded and runs Eureka! Ranch, a think tank for developing ideas for businesses. Former panelist and co-creator of American Inventor television show in the U.S.
I've met Doug a couple of times. The Eureka! Ranch is located in Ohio, near a company I used to work for. Doug visited our offices a couple of times, and our company attended Eureka! Ranch one day for an idea creation event.
I can tell you in no uncertain terms: Doug Hall is passionate, capable, and a force of nature. And, folks - he knows manufacturing.
So when Mr. Hall spoke at the Rockford (Illinois) Chamber of Commerce Manufacturing Appreciation Dinner a few nights ago, his message for job shops and small manufacturers in the U.S. wasn't just poignant.
It was simple, direct and powerful.
"I bring you good news," Hall said (at the dinner). "Business growth is not random."
Manufacturers control more of their destiny than they think. But competing in the new global manufacturing environment isn't for the feint of heart.
It requires "... the same principles that once made U.S. manufacturing the best in the world: ingenuity, creativity, risk-taking."
His advice for competing and winning in this new landscape is growth via fresh ideas, new products and systems - but NOT CUTTING COSTS.
"You think you've got problems with cost?" Hall said. "Cost is for losers. Cost is what you do when you can't figure out how to add value."
He's developed a system that can help small and medium sized manufacturers develop new ideas and products, and it's available through the Manufacturing Extension Partnership. Your state has a local MEP office that can help (use the state locator here).
If you need help competing, or want to look for ways to expand and compete, you may wanna give this a shot.
