Here is CIRAS’s quick look at major economic indicators for Iowa. For an introduction and a description of the indicators used, see our first post. Indicator Status Underlying Data Notes ISM Manufacturing PMI® Manufacturing contracted for the third consecutive month. Most measures continue to indicate moderate general slowing in manufacturing, except employment and inventories, which … Continue reading Watching Iowa’s Economy: February 2023
You must understand the needs, expectations, and desires of your current and future workforce before deciding what changes to make. Your company can identify areas of potential strength you can build on and weaknesses you may want to address by using a new assessment offered by CIRAS In collaboration with the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP), … Continue reading New Tool Available to Help Companies with Workforce Strategy
Using Career Fairs to Engage Future Workers Iowa State career fairs are an excellent way for employers to meet, interview, and interact with students to grow an educated and well-rounded workforce. In-person fairs occur each semester and offer employers the opportunity to fill interview schedules, network with students and increase name recognition. The College of … Continue reading Employers Find Workforce Success through Student Opportunities
The CIRAS Digital Manufacturing Lab powered by Alliant Energy recently added two new partners, Pratum, an information security company, and ProPlanner, specialists in tools for complex assembly manufacturing. “Partnerships are key to our efforts to de–risk technology adoption for Iowa companies,” said Chris Hill, CIRAS program director. “Our technology partners play a key part in … Continue reading Digital Lab Expands Partnerships
Iowa State sophomore engineering student and CIRAS intern Cassie Larsen was ready to take on a new challenge when she learned about an opportunity with Dubuque Screw Products (DSP). The northeast Iowa business needed a new shop layout for its expanding facility. “The company had a few ideas, but they were open to anything that … Continue reading Dubuque Screw Products Gains Space with New Process Flow
Lisle Corporation began business in 1903 and still uses a portion of its original building today. While rightfully proud of its history, this Clarinda–based manufacturer is forward thinking, especially when it comes to the future of its workforce. Lisle is collaborating with CIRAS to make smart decisions to help ensure they have the staff and … Continue reading Investing in Automation for Future Growth
For companies new to continuous improvement (CI) or in the early stages of building a CI team, Tony Hogan has five pieces of advice: choose momentum over perfection; get comfortable in the gray; know what problems you’re solving; bring everything back to business metrics; and make progress visible. “Leave lots of space for learning,” said … Continue reading Continuous Improvement Vital to Company’s Success
“We are a great place to work” This is one of the most common things we hear when visiting companies throughout Iowa. Most of the time, they are right. Great culture, supportive leadership, strong pay and benefits—yet they still have trouble attracting employees. Why? Every employer that is looking for people says, “We are a … Continue reading Tell Your Story
Starting a business from scratch isn’t easy, but with hard work and determination, Lily Okech made it happen. Okech is a refugee from Uganda who arrived in the United States in 2005 as a ninth-grader without the ability to read or speak English. She soon learned to do both. In 2018 Okech started Cleaning for … Continue reading Cleaning for Hope Finds Success While Helping Others
It’s been a wild and wooly economy the past three years, but CIRAS is looking forward to the upcoming year with new ways to help Iowa businesses manage oncoming challenges. “2023 is going to be a year where we learn a lot about where the economy and industry is going in the next three to … Continue reading CIRAS Looks Forward to 2023