Firms Can Vent About Cost of Doing Business

Whenever he goes to a trade conference, John Baker gets a reality check on the task facing New Jersey manufacturers.

Baker, president of Hackensack-based metal-parts maker General A&E, is used to the state’s high cost of doing business, red tape and daunting environmental rules. He is struck by the sympathy he gets from his counterparts around the country, especially states where the business climate is warmer.

“There is almost a survivalist mentality among New Jersey manufacturers,” Baker said. “There is a more enthusiastic, growth-oriented attitude in other states.”

That’s one reason Baker — whose company makes metal parts for the aerospace, military and electronics industries — filled in a national survey designed to evaluate the health and modernity of the nation’s manufacturing sector.

The survey was promoted by the New Jersey Manufacturers Extension Program (NJMEP) and sent to the state’s 12,000 manufacturers.

It’s backed by Governor Corzine, who sent a letter urging the companies to fill in the questionnaire. The letter also went out to trade groups such as Commerce and Industry Association of New Jersey, the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce and New Jersey Business and Industry Association.

Topics covered in the survey include innovation and efficiency in all areas of a manufacturer’s business, from customer service strategy to manufacturing operations, supply chain and sustainable energy use.

The survey’s goal is to gauge the ability of the nation’s manufacturers to compete in the global economy and at home, said Bob Loderstedt, president of NJMEP. It will enable each state to see how its manufacturers stack up against those elsewhere in the nation, he said.

“For the first time, we will have a statistical sampling of manufacturers who will have identified needs, issues and areas of opportunity,” Loderstedt said.

Whenever he goes to a trade conference, John Baker gets a reality check on the task facing New Jersey manufacturers.

Baker, president of Hackensack-based metal-parts maker General A&E, is used to the state’s high cost of doing business, red tape and daunting environmental rules. He is struck by the sympathy he gets from his counterparts around the country, especially states where the business climate is warmer.

“There is almost a survivalist mentality among New Jersey manufacturers,” Baker said. “There is a more enthusiastic, growth-oriented attitude in other states.”

That’s one reason Baker — whose company makes metal parts for the aerospace, military and electronics industries — filled in a national survey designed to evaluate the health and modernity of the nation’s manufacturing sector.

The survey was promoted by the New Jersey Manufacturers Extension Program (NJMEP) and sent to the state’s 12,000 manufacturers.

It’s backed by Governor Corzine, who sent a letter urging the companies to fill in the questionnaire. The letter also went out to trade groups such as Commerce and Industry Association of New Jersey, the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce and New Jersey Business and Industry Association.

Topics covered in the survey include innovation and efficiency in all areas of a manufacturer’s business, from customer service strategy to manufacturing operations, supply chain and sustainable energy use.

The survey’s goal is to gauge the ability of the nation’s manufacturers to compete in the global economy and at home, said Bob Loderstedt, president of NJMEP. It will enable each state to see how its manufacturers stack up against those elsewhere in the nation, he said.

“For the first time, we will have a statistical sampling of manufacturers who will have identified needs, issues and areas of opportunity,” Loderstedt said.

SURVEY SAYS…

A sampling of what the manufacturers were asked: Rate the importance of customer-focused innovation to your organization’s success over the next five years.

• What percentage of annual sales is derived from products introduced in the last three years?
• How many formal training hours are devoted annually to each employee?
• What is your organization’s annual investment in capital equipment as a percentage of sales?
• What percentage of your workforce is dedicated to reducing energy, material, or emissions in your operations?

Source: Next Generation Manufacturing Survey