A Northwest commercial equipment manufacturing company developed a reputation for quality and customer loyalty. However, the company faced intense competition from companies in Asia and Europe.
To better compete, the company contacted NorthwestTAAC and entered the U.S. Trade Adjustment Assistance for Firms (TAAF) program.
The company’s management and NorthwestTAAC developed a strategy to create new products focusing on the customers. Among the actions taken, the company replaced and expanded its enterprise resource planning (ERP) system focusing on increasing efficiencies. The company employed a local engineering consulting firm with whom they had built a relationship. NWTAAC contracted with the consultant and paid half of the project’s cost.
“We are happy to partner with NorthwestTAAC,” said a company executive. “Implementing an ERP is difficult and costly. In addition to upgrading our information management, the consulting effort helped us reduce costs in many ways.”
After three years of project implementation using the TAAF program, the firm increased sales by 36 percent and increased employment by 15 percent. The company’s leadership projected continued growth based on the new strategy and IT upgrades.