Parkman, Ohio manufacturer Montville Plastics and Rubber has been a custom plastic extruder and injection molder for 40 years – since it was established in 1977. What started in a small garage in...
Mario Gross graduated from ACCESS to Manufacturing Careers in March of 2022. Since then, not only has he found a career as a CNC Machinist, but he’s also been promoted, has established a 401k,...
The vision set forward by The Blueprint for Manufacturing in Northeast Ohio inspires all of MAGNET's work. The Blueprint identifies four pillars - Talent, Innovation, Transformation and Leadership -...
OmegaOne, a manufacturer of stainless-steel hose fittings in Willoughby, Ohio, was looking to grow its business by creating a foundational marketing strategy and program. Its president turned to...
Manufacturers, foundations and individuals donated $13 million to gut and renovate the former school that is now MAGNET’s Manufacturing Innovation, Technology and Job Center. This project, which will...
Innovation Food Services (IFS), originally founded in 2002 as Red’s Catering, started as a food service provider to daycare centers. In 2008, IFS transitioned to its current name and expanded its...
Two years ago, the Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD) voted unanimously to allow MAGNET to buy the closed Margaret A. Ireland School at the corner of Chester and East 63rd Street in...
The individuals on MAGNET’s mural represent just a handful of the heroes of manufacturing, engineering and entrepreneurship – the people who design, engineer and create the pieces and parts that run...
Promise Partners, a Northeast Ohio non-profit focused on helping entrepreneurial people go from employee to business owner, will be hosting the Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition (ETA) Symposium on...
MAGNET is excited to launch a new program to support Northeast Ohio women in manufacturing! The program, Technical Training in Operations, is designed specifically for women in manufacturing and...
Technological transformation is critical to Northeast Ohio's industrial livelihood, directly impacting the region's residents, communities and economy. Manufacturers who take on the necessary...
The Manufacturing Innovation, Technology and Job Center is on a t-minus countdown, as our grand opening celebrations are in less than two months! On October 28, the doors of our new headquarters at...
Remember the feeling of being assigned an essay in school, when you knew what you needed to write about, but didn’t know where to start or couldn’t find the right words to string together? Blog...
Our annual Mspire pitch competition is an inspiration in innovation and creativity every year. This week's iteration of the 7th annual event was no different. Innovative products, powerful...
Through a partnership with GDI, the Ohio MEP is providing scholarships for a limited number of Ohio companies to participate in the TRIAD Program. The TRIAD Program is a 12-month education and...
The Manufacturing Sector Partnership (MSP) welcomes its new leadership team this month as its founding directors have moved on. Managing Director Adam Snyder and Executive Director of Workforce...
For the past two years, the Manufacturing Leadership Team has been working together with MAGNET’s and Greater Cleveland Partnership’s (GCP) intermediary teams to grow and invest in diversity, equity...
You may not always think of food as a manufactured product. But when you need to make enough of anything to fill thousands of stores across an entire country, you need equipment that can help you...
When the Ohio To Work initiative launched in the fall of 2020, JobsOhio was looking for ways to enhance the existing workforce development ecosystem and better connect workforce development coaches,...
Maybe you already have and execute a marketing plan for your brand and products. Maybe you want to improve it. Maybe you have no marketing at all. However mature your company’s marketing plan is,...
Background Formed in 2021 as a privately held subsidiary of Pittsburgh Mineral & Environmental Technology (PMET), Brixx Technology uses a patented technology that repurposes power plant fly ash and...
Old and new, originally established and deliberately relocated here. Ohio, the northeast region specifically, is home to a variety of businesses that make products critical to and/or make convenient...
Innovation is key to growth, specifically for Northeast Ohio manufacturers. Without thinking creatively and implementing new ideas and approaches, the industry will falter. We’ve seen the efficacy of...
Interested in learning how to implement Industry 4.0 while mitigating the risks involved with the investment? Industry 4.0-experienced manufacturers around Northeast Ohio are serving as Lighthouses,...
2021's success catalyzed Mspire team to take the competition to the next level. Last year’s Mspire, MAGNET's annual pitch challenge for Ohio-based manufacturing-focused entrepreneurs, garnered...
In August 2021, MAGNET began demolition and renovations on our new Manufacturing Innovation, Technology and Job Center located at Chester Avenue and 63rd Street in Cleveland’s Hough neighborhood....
Intel, which is investing more than $20B in the construction of two new chip factories in Licking County, Ohio to boost production of advanced semiconductors, has already begun to create...
The Urban League of Greater Cleveland and Smart Business both honored MAGNET recently for different efforts. The Urban League of Greater Cleveland, dedicated to developing the potential of...
Our talent development team has worked hard to become a source of thought leadership, action and connection for the Greater Cleveland area. Since January, our Workforce Connect Manufacturing...
Formerly with Target and American Greetings, Cornuke offers entrepreneurs and innovators a simple guide to create and launch successful products MAGNET VP of Strategy & Innovation Brandon...
Manufacturers have consistently faced the same issues over the past few years: Not enough applicants Not enough qualified candidates Open/unfilled positions Lack of talent constraining growth ...
MAGNET recently interviewed 33 Northeast Ohio OEM and contract manufacturers to identify their pain points and unmet needs and created this Market Insights Report. We used the New Product...
Cuyahoga County experienced some exciting manufacturing workforce development efforts this past year. Perhaps the most exciting was the launch of the Planning and Career Exploration Program (PACE) in...
The hiring difficulties of the last few years have caused many manufacturers to reevaluate their operations and hiring processes, looking for any way to improve retention or gain an edge in this...
“The Great Resignation” is the term that has been given to the tumultuous workforce landscape that has emerged from the pandemic. When there is a company in today’s marketplace who is not facing a...
Building an ACCESS to Manufacturing Careers program class requires organization, engagement and collaboration from all partner organizations, each one needing to connect with their participants and...
The Workforce Connect Manufacturing Sector Partnership formed in 2019. A group of regional manufacturing leaders convened and took on the tasks of helping set priorities for the intermediary team,...
Adam Snyder, MAGNET’s Sector Partnership Managing Director, wrote a compelling piece on manufacturers needing to boost starting wages to stay competitive in the labor market. Today, we look at this...
MAGNET’s Business Development team, in conjunction with the Greater Akron Chamber and Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce, is hosting a webinar on Wednesday, April 13, 2022, titled Building...
“I wanna know what my path looks like, and I’m in a hurry to get going…” A number of years ago, a story became a popular anecdote, with a hypothetical leader saying, “What if I invest in developing...
Successful industry sector partnership work hinges on a strong relationship with the local workforce development. Together, you can execute successful initiatives, and maybe, if the chemistry is...
Commitment from employers to employees comes in many shapes and forms. In the current job market, in the midst of the “Great Resignation," many employers struggle with how to provide employees a path...
MAGNET’s Business Development team, in conjunction with the Greater Akron Chamber and Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce, is hosting a webinar on Wednesday, February 23, 2022, titled Securing the...
Small and medium-sized manufacturers know that to attract talent they need to boost their entry level wage; but they simultaneously fear that additional labor costs will overwhelm productivity gains,...
As manufacturers have faced labor shortages in recent years, many have looked to attract populations that had been historically underrepresented in manufacturing: women, minorities and people with...
Two years ago, manufacturers’ primary hiring challenge was an awareness gap, job seekers unaware of entry-level manufacturing jobs. The solution, though simple in theory, was difficult in...
On October 20, 2021, 12 entrepreneurs presented their business pitches to a virtual panel of more than 15 experts and judges in an effort to secure an award from MAGNET’s Mspire competition. This...
CLEVELAND, OH – The U.S. Economic Development Agency selected a MAGNET-led effort as one of 60 national finalists, and the only in Ohio, for the Build Back Better Regional Challenge (BBBRC) grant....
We’ve all seen the empty store shelves that used to be filled with hand sanitizer. It went from a commodity we rarely thought about to the hottest of commodities in the blink of an eye. After...
This photo of New York nurses wearing garbage bags went viral back in March, sparking outrage and concern over the lack of protective equipment on the front lines of the COVID crisis. Isolation...
A metal and plastic box doesn’t sound that innovative. But this one could save lives. It’s a new, protective platform with built in gloves that healthcare workers can use to administer COVID-19...
1,500 in two days. That’s how many Ohio manufacturers stepped up to volunteer to produce urgently needed protective equipment for frontline workers fighting COVID-19. Governor DeWine mobilized the...
No one has a crystal ball, but I am worried about the economic impact of COVID-19 getting worse before it gets better… I am worried…about the economic impact of this crisis, about ensuring my...
On Friday February 14th, over 200 people gathered at The City Club of Cleveland for our 2020 Northeast Ohio Manufacturing Survey Results release. The manufacturers who completed our survey...
Unlike other states, manufacturing makes up the largest sector of the Ohio economy, and accounts for 17% of GDP. With over 12,000 manufacturing firms in the state and over 660,000 jobs depending on...
MAGNET's Manufacturing Technology Experience has officially opened its doors, and resources, to small businesses in Northeast Ohio. Made possible through $1 Million of state, federal, and private...
As an Ohio manufacturer, you face a number of challenges and opportunities every year. To support your company’s growth and success, the Ohio Manufacturing Extension Partnership (Ohio MEP) and...
How many products does your manufacturing organization produce every day? 100? 1,000? If a machine is causing a defect, its output won’t be up to the necessary standards. Left unchecked, this has a...
Manufacturers are no stranger to sales success from word-of-mouth referrals and growing existing customers. While these tactics are timeless, more manufacturers are reaping the benefits of modern...
For more than 30 years, MAGNET: The Manufacturing Growth and Advocacy Network has helped Northeast Ohio’s manufacturing businesses grow. Our team of highly qualified consultants and industry experts...
For some manufacturers, there comes a time when a new machine is needed and off-the-shelf machinery may not meet their needs. Either the machine is no longer reaching optimum output or it's incapable...
On Thursday, September 26, local manufacturing executives gathered at the 8th Annual Northeast Ohio Manufacturing Symposium, Future Factories: A Symposium on Manufacturing Talent, Tech, and Tactics....
Due to the highly connected nature of manufacturing supply chains, vulnerability to cyber breaches is more common than in other industries. That’s why the government is cracking down on...
Today, small- to medium-sized manufacturers feel the pressure to produce more at a lower cost. While this competitive nature leads to innovative products and services, it also weeds out the...
Many manufacturers overlook the lifespan of their machinery. While well-built machines may run for decades, they may not be performing at today’s high machinery or technology standards. Outdated,...
No matter your manufacturing goals, every company should have a set of key performance indicators (KPIs) that are used for measurement, benchmarking, and tracking success. Determining the right...
With the rapid introduction of Industry 4.0 tools and technologies, manufacturers are under pressure to boost the productivity and profitability of their operations. Industry 4.0 isn’t just about...
As the leader of a small- to medium-sized manufacturing business, you likely feel pressured to be in 20 places at once, especially during growth phases. Manufacturing leaders are notorious for this,...
Take a guess: Where does the world’s largest additive machine reside? A large city like Boston? A huge tech hub like Silicon Valley? You may be surprised to learn that the correct answer is right in...
According to our 2019 State of Northeast Ohio Manufacturing Report, cybersecurity is a growing concern for manufacturers—and for good reason. Supply chain attacks increased 78% between 2017 and 2018....
Are you the forthcoming owner of your family’s manufacturing business? If so, you’re not alone. Most small- to medium-sized manufacturing businesses are family owned and operated, known for...
Today, many manufacturing tasks have the ability to be automated, leaving valuable employees to spend their time on something more fulfilling. According to our 2019 State of Northeast Ohio...
For manufacturers, high capacity and timely delivery are the difference between meeting quotas and missing deadlines. If demand outpaces delivery, you will not be able to sufficiently supply...
Many manufacturers don’t consider new machines until existing assets break, slowing production. However, a broken machine is not the only reason to consider upgrading. Outdated machines may require...
Did you know 70% of all new product launches fail? While manufacturers may feel a sense of urgency to introduce a new product or service to market, testing thoroughly before launch can mean the...
You have a company that’s experienced some success, but you need more. You want to excel in innovation, but lack the necessary resources or have trouble determining a starting point. Sound familiar?...
Marketing is hard. Whether you’re an established company or a nimble startup, it’s easy to get bogged down by all the marketing trends, tools, and tactics you could add to your business plan. ...
The manufacturing product development process can be complex, especially without expert guidance. It requires a number of phases, a great deal of research, and hands-on problem solving and iteration.
Does your manufacturing business have an effective quality management system (QMS)? If not, it may be time to consider the benefits of improving your QMS to formalize processes and procedures. For...
Safety is essential to every industry, but it’s especially important in the manufacturing industry, where potentially dangerous machinery is used to perform daily tasks. When facilities experience...
Product design requires many phases. It’s the process of identifying market potential by clearly defining a problem and offering a solution. But, at its core, it revolves around the customer’s...
According to our 2019 State of Northeast Ohio Manufacturing Report, Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) technologies are top of mind for most Northeast Ohio manufacturers. However, of survey...
In manufacturing, it’s common to look up to the enterprise-size leaders of the industry for business inspiration. But as a small- or medium-sized manufacturer, size can be your advantage. It can...
Maybe you’ve heard: new product launches are often unsuccessful. Some studies state failure rates near 95%. Successfully establishing a new product or product innovation takes meticulous planning,...
Did you know that manufacturing is one of the most susceptible industries to cyber attacks? While manufacturers agree this is an area of concern, most have been slow to adopt any sort of...
This post is part of a series on creating a manufacturing business strategic plan, which reflects your goals and guides the strategic direction of your company. This is the second post in the series.
This post is part of a series on creating a manufacturing business plan, which reflects your goals and guides the strategic direction of your company. This is the first post in the series. Your...
We can all agree that for a business to be successful, it needs customers. But to attract, retain, and grow your customer base, you need show them how your product or service provides real value they...
Product innovation is the motor of a thriving manufacturing business. Without it, businesses and products get stuck in the past, unable to compete with competitors. But developing new products and...
The widespread adoption of technology is transforming manufacturing operations. Nearly 49% of manufacturers nationwide are using Industry 4.0 innovations, like automation and IIoT (Industrial...
How engaged are your employees? Take a closer look, since manufacturing workers are the least engaged of all major occupations, according to the Gallup State of the American Workforce report. Only...
Since its inception in 2003, LinkedIn has racked up more than 562 million users worldwide. Among those users, 61 million are senior-level influencers, while another 40 million are their companies’...
Northeast Ohio manufacturers, ranging from startups to well-established companies, are confident—and with good reason. They account for 14% of all employment, more than 275,000 total jobs, and 40% of...
Hiring new talent can be challenging for any business owner, but retaining qualified, engaged, and productive talent can be even more difficult—especially in manufacturing. In fact, U.S....
While manufacturers contributed more than $49 billion to Ohio's economy in recent years, some important players in the industry struggle to maintain that kind of relative success. Namely, small and...
Local manufacturing experts across Northeast Ohio gathered on Friday, September 28 at Lorain County Community College (LCCC) for the 7th Annual Northeast Ohio Manufacturing Symposium, hosted by...
The recent winners of MAGNET’s pitch competition, MSPIRE, will benefit from support to help them grow. Other applications noted that just going through the process was valuable. Here’s how your...
On August 8, 2018, MAGNET opened its doors to a new location at 9 North Main Street in Akron, Ohio. “We help local manufacturers grow and compete globally, and increasing our presence in Summit...
The secret to closing any sale is to reduce uncertainty in the buyer and replace it with confidence in YOU, your PRODUCT/SERVICE, and your COMPANY. Step 1 – Confidence in YOU Someone buying from you...
I often wonder: Why does Continuous Improvement work in some organizations and not in others? I think the difference must be the organization’s culture and acceptance to change. Management is crucial...
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