The Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center (IMEC), in partnership with the Chicagoland Workforce Funder Alliance, has launched The Genesis Movement, a new approach designed to strengthen the Illinois manufacturing sector and its workforce. "The Genesis Movement provides tools and strategies that promote manufacturing excellence," said an IMEC spokesperson. "The initiative aims to increase the competitiveness of Chicago-area manufacturers and create a more skilled and adaptable workforce."
"The manufacturing sector has changed drastically in recent years due to technology innovations that impact worker demands," said IMEC President David Boulay. "The Genesis Movement is designed to meet these new challenges by focusing on the people, process and products needed for local manufacturers to move forward and better compete globally."
"We see The Genesis Movement as a win-win for manufacturers and workers," said Matt Bruce, Executive Director of the Chicagoland Workforce Funder Alliance. "It is built on the simple premise that companies can offer more and better jobs when human capital is an integral part of their business plan."
The Genesis Movement is designed to give company leaders a chance to think in new ways about how they will achieve measurable and sustained results. "Through an interactive 24-month program, IMEC will help manufacturers create and refine a structured approach to the people, process and product aspects of their business; look at the performance and underlying practices of the organization; take a long-term view of the company strategy and craft 90 day action steps; and focus on business fundamentals," said the spokesperson. During the next two years, The Genesis Movement plans to engage more than 80 manufacturing firms in the seven-county region around Chicago. IMEC partnered with the Chicagoland Workforce Funder Alliance, World Business Chicago, The W.K. Kellogg Foundation, The Hitachi Foundation and The Joyce Foundation to help guide the planning and implementation.
A component of The Genesis Movement program launch includes the "Manufacturing Tour of Industry," which offers program partners a closer look at the diversity of manufacturing in the region. NOVATION Industries in McHenry will host the first stop. "Our passion is to help our customers, business and employees be successful," said Scott Baxter, President of NOVATION. "We look forward to showing our guests how The Genesis Movement is helping us fulfill that promise." Additional stops on the industry tour include MedGyn Products in Addison and Ace Metal Crafts Company in Bensenville.
According to the spokesperson, The Genesis Movement aligns with Chicago's Plan for Economic Growth and Jobs as a means to provide benchmarking and strategies for regional growth.
For more information contact:
IMEC
1501 W. Bradley Ave.
Peoria, IL 61625
888-806-4632
info@imec.org
www.imec.org
www.thegenesismovement.org