Paul Smerda, the Senior Manager at WEDC’s European Trade Representative Firm in Berlin, will be visiting with MadREP to talk with companies from the region that are interested in learning more about exports and imports between Germany and the upcoming WEDC trade venture to Germany in June 2020. Paul is based in Berlin and covers Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, Central Europe, and Scandinavia and can address questions for these countries as well.

 

Germany is consistently among Wisconsin’s top export destinations, and was #4 in 2018. This healthy volume of trade reflects a history of German immigration in Wisconsin; mutual strength in manufacturing; and shared emphasis on quality, productivity and a strong work ethic. In all, Wisconsin exported $814 million worth of goods and services to Germany in 2018. The potential exists to increase Wisconsin companies’ sales to German customers even further, and in June 2020, the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) will be leading a global trade venture to Germany to help Wisconsin exporters find customers in the market. Learn more about the trip here!

This is a round table discussion where companies can ask questions to learn more about the trip, the advantages, the pre-vetting of potential customer meetings, the inexpensive nature of the trip, and other trade related questions.

Learn how your business could meet with 10 pre-vetted customers in Germany for just $2900 (plus airfare). If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out by phone.

Your business plan is a critical tool for communication with potential funders and a guide to manage your business growth. You will learn what goes into a business plan and how to get started.

Unlock the Power of Cells

When it comes to continuous improvement initiatives, most manufacturing companies primarily target opportunities on the shop floor. However, office operations such as quoting, design and order processing could present a huge opportunity for your business to reduce lead times and grow market share.

Companies offering high-mix, low-volume or custom-engineered products spend significant time and resources in processing quotes, finalizing engineering designs, establishing bill of materials and purchasing critical components. The result: long lead times, missed opportunities in quoting, delays in order processing, engineering changes, expediting and high costs. Restructuring your operations into office cells could lead to significant improvements in these areas. Over the past two decades, the Quick Response Manufacturing (QRM) Center, in collaboration with its member companies, has developed several tools, methodologies and principles to design office cells specifically for high-mix or custom-engineered products.

Join us for this one day workshop to learn how to redesign quoting processes to improve order capture rate, streamline order processing to reduce hand-offs and release orders to the shop floor faster. Learn about results from cell implementations that have led to over 80% reduction in lead times, 50% improvements in order capture rate, manifold improvements in quality and on-time delivery and 15-20% reduction in costs.

What you will learn:

• Sizing the opportunity: Tracking lead times and identifying waste in office operations
• The starting point: Focused Target Market Segment – the nucleus of a production cell
• Designing the cell: Streamline office operations to reduce hand-offs and reduce lead times
• Addressing challenges: Engineering changes, inaccurate information, waiting for approvals
• Planning for the cell: Staffing, capacity and lead times
• Identifying improvement opportunities: Impact of setup reduction and cross-training
• Financial justification: Costs and benefits of the cell implementation

Workshop Fee: $495

Learn more about the
2020 Wisconsin Governor’s
Business Plan Contest
6 p.m. Jan. 22 info session in Madison at Novel Coworking

Join us at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 22, at Novel Coworking in Madison to learn more about the 2020 Business Plan Contest.

WALK-INS ARE WELCOME!

Tom Still, Tech Council president, Earl Humphrey, SCORE Wisconsin and Mark Ehrmann, Quarles & Brady, will offer an overview of the contest and the benefits of participating, as well as answer attendees’ questions.

6 p.m. – Networking
6:30 p.m. – Informational presentation
7 p.m. – Q & A

There is no charge to attend. Appetizers will be provided.

For more information on the contest, visit govsbizplancontest.com.

Registration is now open for the 2020 Wisconsin Agricultural Outlook Forum, The Business of Hemp in Wisconsin!

The Forum will continue to include the traditional Situation and Outlook for Wisconsin agricultural commodities (dairy, corn, soybeans, beef) during the morning section.  The afternoon section this year will focus on the business and marketing of Wisconsin hemp and will include a panel discussion with experts from other states bringing new perspectives to this growing industry in Wisconsin.

Parking for the 2020 Wisconsin Agricultural Outlook Forum will be facilitated with a FREE Shuttle Bus service between the State Street Capitol Parking Ramp and Union South.

Agenda

9:30-10:00    Registration

10:00-10:15   Introduction and Overview

10:00-10:10      Abigail Martin, 72^nd Alice in Dairyland

10:10-10:15       UW-Madison CALS Update (Dean Kate VandenBosch)

10:15-12:00    Agricultural Situation and Outlook

10:15-10:25       Farm Income (Paul Mitchell, UW-Madison)

10:25-10:35       Contribution of Agriculture to the WI Economy (Steve Deller, UW-Madison)

10:35-10:45       Wisconsin Economy Situation and Outlook (Tessa Conroy, UW-Madison)

10:45-11:00       Questions and Panel Discussion

11:00-11:15     Break

11:15-11:30        Dairy Situation and Outlook (Mark Stephenson, UW-Madison)

11:30-11:45        Grain and Livestock Situation and Outlook (Brenda Boetel, UW-River Falls)

11:45-12:00       Questions and Panel Discussion

12:00-1:00     Lunch

Shelby Ellison, Division of Extension, afternoon moderator         

1:00-2:45       Hemp Situation and Outlook

1:00-1:15           Kentucky Perspective (Tyler Mark, University of Kentucky)

1:15-1:35            Colorado Perspective (Dawn Thilmany, Colorado State University)

1:35-1:55            Canadian Perspective (Ted Haney, Canadian Hemp Trade Alliance)

1:55-2:15            Wisconsin Perspective (Paul Mitchell, UW-Madison)

2:15-2:45            Questions and Panel Discussion

3:00-4:00       Reception: Varsity Hall 3