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Fill out the form below to begin your Strategic Outlook Assessment. Gain the insights you need to understand, manage, and leverage your company's current and future risks and opportunities, as well as strategies for moving forward.
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Strategic Outlook

Strategic planning provides clarity, direction, and focus for your organization. Given the proper attention, Strategic Planning can set your business on the right track. It requires time, effort, and continuous improvements. Does your organization have a current strategic plan implemented?

Please rank your company from 1 - 5 with 5 being the best.

  • 1. We have never implemented a strategic plan.
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  • 3
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  • 5. Our business reviews and implements a strategic plan annually.
1

WORKPLACE FLEXIBILITY

The manufacturing industry is always faced with significant workforce, safety, and productivity challenges. In some cases, manufacturers are seeing a decline in productivity due to new work processes to ensure social distancing and other practices to ensure worker safety. With this in mind, how would you rate your company?

Please rank your company from 1 - 5 with 5 being the best.

 

  • 1. Our company is just starting to think about safety practices since we were was closed during the Red Phase
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  • 3
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  • 5. Detailed Back-to-Work Safety protocols are in place and working effectively across all departments and operations
2

PEOPLE

As companies ramp back up to an all on-site team, team building and employee engagement may need a reboot. How would you rate your company’s organizational development?

Please rank your company from 1 - 5 with 5 being the best.

  • 1. We have a high turnover rate, activities like performance reviews are ineffective, and we have no employee development programs
  • 2
  • 3
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  • 5. We are an Employer of Choice with meaningful systems that help us value our employees as demonstrated by our reputation as a great place to work
3

SUPPLY CHAIN

Global supply chains are constantly being interrupted. A supply chain risk assessment and mitigation plan could be critical to maintain operations and ensure that critical components are available when needed.  How would you rate your company’s supply chain? 

Please rank your company from 1 - 5 with 5 being the best.

  • 1. We have little or no insight into our supplier risk profile
  • 2
  • 3
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  • 5. We have a resilient/redundant supply chain that is regularly evaluated for risk
4

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

As companies move to increase their domestic and local suppliers, there may be new business opportunities for interested, ready, and willing companies to expand their customer base and diversify into new markets. How would you rate your company’s business development program?

Please rank your company from 1 - 5 with 5 being the best.

  • 1. We have no sales and marketing strategy; we hope customers find us
  • 2
  • 3
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  • 5. Our business development program is very structured and effective; it is our strategic roadmap that details the initiatives and activities to successfully achieve our growth goals and acquire high value strategic accounts
5

QUALITY MANAGEMENT

New supply chain opportunities may require an organization to maintain a Quality Management Systems (QMS) that meet industry standards such as ISO, Aerospace, Automotive, Medical device, or others.  How would you rate your QMS?

Please rank your company from 1 - 5 with 5 being the best.

  • 1. We have no formal QMS processes in place
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  • 3
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  • 5. We maintain registration to an advanced QMS standard (ex: AS9100, IATF 16949, ISO 13485)
6

CYBERSECURITY

COVID-19 rapidly changed the work environment as millions of Americans moved their workspaces to their homes. This was in response to state regulations to try and contain the outbreak. Unfortunately, this change has compounded cybersecurity risks. Which statement best describes your company related to its ability to protect itself against cyber threats and/or possible data leakage?

Please rank your company from 1 - 5 with 5 being the best.

  • 1. We have not addressed cybersecurity
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5. We have implemented a comprehensive Cybersecurity Program including continuous threat monitoring, routine staff training, and are working toward CMMC certification.
7

ADVANCED MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY

The case for technology implementation will only strengthen as manufacturers adapt to new requirements post-COVID-19. Advanced manufacturing technologies such as robotics and IoT can improve productivity, facilitate social distancing, monitor employee health, or address other critical challenges.  How would you rate your company’s use of technology?

Please rank your company from 1 - 5 with 5 being the best.

  • 1. We are aware of these various technologies but don’t know where to start
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  • 3
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  • 5. Our company has already implemented several advanced technologies and continues to do so as part of our strategic plan and capital investments
8

SMART FACTORY

COVID-19 has given us a sudden glimpse into the Smart Factory future where digital channels are the primary customer engagement model, and automated processes drive productivity and your ability to meet frequent changes by customers. Now is the time to position your company for a post-crisis world. As such, how would you rate your company today?

Please rank your company from 1 - 5 with 5 being the best.

  • 1. We have not considered digital transformation or any digital technologies
  • 2
  • 3
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  • 5. Our goal is to become a Smart Factory that is adaptable, efficient, provides real-time visibility, and seamlessly integrates with our customers’ and suppliers’ value chains; We have adopted significant technology toward this goal
9

BUSINESS CONTINUITY

A business continuity plan (BCP) outlines procedures and processes to help manufacturers survive a crisis, whether fire, flood, cyberattack, or global pandemic. It provides the plan that gives your company its best shot at surviving a disaster. How would you rate your company’s BCP?

Please rank your company from 1 - 5 with 5 being the best.

  • 1. We don’t have anything in place, not even a back-up plan for restoring IT
  • 2
  • 3
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  • 5. We have a current BCP and all personnel responsible for carrying out any part of the plan have been trained
10