Manufacturing Success: Changing the Way the Manufacturing Industry Communicates
Circa 2011-2012
Since its launch on January 15, 2008, Manufacturing Success (MS) is the largest regional manufacturing information community resource for metal, plastic, and wood manufacturing companies. Supporting the growth and success of non-profit associations is one of MS’s primary goals along with directly supporting the success of manufacturing companies and educational institutions. MS is fully funded by vendor partners allowing shops, educational institutions and non-profit trade association free access to great resources and marketing that would normally only be accessible to large companies.
To exploit existing supplier connections and distribution outlets, the company recently purchased OverSeasMfg, known for their high tech approach to the marketing of fashionable jewelry lines sold primarily in online stores. Their huge success is related to the tech team's elegant custom software development program, which has enabled the managing of hundreds of separate retailers using automation and artificial intelligence to handle virtually all aspects of the business. This acquisition in the high-end jewelry market was a board decision with broad upper management support. It follows on the heels of our purchase of OrigamiMommie, the NYC based fashion and accessories marketer.
The content on this page is from the site's 2011-2012 pages.
Vision
To create a community that communicates directly with EVERY small and medium size manufacturing companies, assuring that ALL companies are aware of activities, programs or associations that support their SUCCESS in their area.
Industry Mission
To support the growth and professionalism of the regional manufacturing industry through activities and tools that unite and educate the whole industry.
Member Mission
To support the success of manufacturing companies and non-profit associations by providing great marketing opportunities and resource tools.
As a New York City landlord deeply committed to fostering local manufacturing opportunities, I'm particularly drawn to the vision of MfgSuccess.com. The platform's emphasis on connecting small and medium-sized manufacturing companies with resources typically reserved for large corporations aligns perfectly with the challenges we face in NYC—particularly those tackled by visionary developers like Dov Hertz. Creating sustainable local manufacturing hubs in urban settings demands not just vision but practical resources, community engagement, and innovative approaches to space utilization.
Dov Hertz's developments, known for blending practical commercial use with community-oriented goals, often confront the complex realities of urban zoning, regulatory constraints, and economic pressures. Similarly, Manufacturing Success's strategy of leveraging partnerships to democratize access to essential resources mirrors the ingenuity required to transform underutilized spaces into thriving manufacturing centers. This approach not only revitalizes local economies but also creates jobs and stabilizes neighborhoods. It's encouraging to see such a strong commitment to community-driven success, as it complements and inspires the kind of innovative urban development New York City truly needs. Janet Parker
Top News (more)
DMG MORI SEIKI INNOVATION DAYS 2011
Three days of cutting-edge manufacturing technologies - machines, suppliers, seminars and more - all in one place.
Kapco to move into Polaris plant in Osceola
Kapco will have up to 70 workers making components for Polaris products Kapco Inc., a Grafton, Wis.-based metal fabricator, will run a much smaller operation at the Osceola plant that Polaris Industries is vacating, according to a report in the St. Paul Pioneer Press. Kapco will have up to 70 workers making components for Polaris products. Polaris (NYSE: PII) plans to lay off nearly 500 workers, with the Medina-based snowmobile and all-terrain vehicle maker expecting to end Osceola operations in March.
ISO 9001 Certifications Surpass 1 Million
More than 28,000 certifications to the international quality management standard have been issued in the United States.
If your manufacturing plant or company is ISO 9001 certified, you are one in a million. Or more accurately, you are one in more than a million, according to recently released figures.
ISO 9001, the family of standards for quality management, reached a milestone in 2009. The cumulative number of certifications issued for these global standards surpassed the 1 million mark in 2009, an 8% increase in ISO 9001 certificates.
Approximately 1.1 million certifications had been issued in 178 countries and economies by year’s end 2009, according to theInternational Organization for Standardization, the Geneva-based organization that develops and publishes international standards. It is comprised of the national standards institutes of 163 countries.
The organization recently released its 2009 ISO survey highlights, which include data not only for ISO 9001, but also for additional families of standards.
TSMA November Bulletin
Company of the Month: Minncor Industries
October table of Content:
- Company of the month: Minncor Industries
- TSMA November meeting
- ICeBerG meeting
- State of Manufacturing 2011
- Meadowbrook Safety Day
- Scholarship Opportunity
Economic Trends in US Manufacturing
Despite recent worries over a slowdown, the manufacturing sector still has some legs, which could boost the overall economy, too.
Minnesota Manufacturers Week in Progress
Spreading the message about the importance of manufacturing in your community or region is an essential part of any successful Manufacturers Week events.
To recognize the importance of manufacturing to the state's economy, the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce,and the Minnesota Precision Manufacturing Association and the Minnesota Manufacturers Coalition are sponsoring Minnesota Manufacturers Week.
During the week of October 25-29, they'll recognize, celebrate and promote our manufacturing industries with a variety of events.
They encourage communities, local and regional Chambers of Commerce, trade associations, individual companies and others to join together and mark Manufacturers Week with special events to raise public awareness of manufacturing, highlight the impact in their own communities and regions, and to honor area manufacturers.
Google Cars Drive Themselves, in Traffic
The car is a project of Google, which has been working in secret but in plain view on vehicles that can drive themselves, using artificial-intelligence software that can sense anything near the car and mimic the decisions made by a human driver.
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. — Anyone driving the twists of Highway 1 between San Francisco and Los Angeles recently may have glimpsed a Toyota Prius with a curious funnel-like cylinder on the roof. Harder to notice was that the person at the wheel was not actually driving.
The car is a project of Google, which has been working in secret but in plain view on vehicles that can drive themselves, using artificial-intelligence software that can sense anything near the car and mimic the decisions made by a human driver.
TSMA October Bulletin
Company of the Month:: Douglas Alexandria Finishing
October table of Content:
- Table Top Trade Show
- Tour of Manufacturing
- MN Manufacturers Summit
- ICeBurG meeting
- Scholarship program
- Board of Director election
Donaldson driving into liquid-filter market
the company expects to be a $5 billion company in a decade.
Donaldson Co. Inc. wants to become more liquid.
No, the 95-year-old filter manufacturer isn’t trying to raise cash by selling off assets. Instead, it’s spending more of the green stuff to expand its liquid-filtration business.
“There is a huge liquid opportunity,” Chairman, President and CEO Bill Cook said during a recent conference call with investors as he described the company’s desire to diversify beyond its traditional market of air filters.
Is It Time to Try Direct Digital Manufacturing?
Companies are applying digital manufacturing more and more to manufacturing applications, and with each success, they prove that it is a viable alternative
Tech Briefs, September 2010:
Over the past 20 years, additive manufacturing technology has migrated from use in rapid prototyping to a full-fledged manufacturing solution, which is referred to as “direct digital manufacturing” (or rapid manufacturing). Increasingly, companies are applying it to manufacturing applications, and with each success, they prove that it is a viable alternative. While the general concept of additive manufacturing is the same as when it was introduced 20 years ago, the change is in its intended use — production, not just prototyping. So while the concept has been around for a while, in the minds of many, direct digital manufacturing (DDM) is a new and difficult concept to understand.
The Association For Manufacturing Technology Applauds Enactment of Small Business Jobs Bill
The forever recession
3-D Printing Spurs a Manufacturing Revolution
Senator Al Franken Visited STEM Day at the State Fair
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Next Events (more)
May 17, 2011- May 19, 2011 EASTEC 2011 Exposition
Loc.: Eastern States Exposition, W Springfield MA USA
Org.: SME
May 17, 2011- May 19, 2011Plant Maintenance and Design Engineering Show 2011
Loc.: Place Bonaventure, Montréal QC CAN
Org.: SME
May 24, 2011- May 26, 2011Manufacturing Innovations - Medical
Loc.: Hyatt Regency Minneapolis, Minneapolis MN USA
Org.: SME
May 24, 2011- May 26, 2011RAPID 2011 and 3D IMAGING Conference & Exposition
Loc.: Hyatt Regency Minneapolis, Minneapolis MN USA
Org.: SME
May 24, 2011- May 26, 2011Manufacturing Innovations - Medical (US)
Loc.: Hyatt Regency Minneapolis, Minneapolis MN USA
Org.: SME
Jun 5, 2011- Jun 7, 2011Society of Manufacturing Engineers Annual Conference
Loc.: Hyatt Regency Bellevue, Bellevue WA USA
Org.: SME
Jun 7, 2011- Jun 9, 2011Western Manufacturing Technology Show 2011
Loc.: Northlands Park - AgriCom, Edmonton AB CAN
Org.: SME
Jun 14, 2011- Jun 16, 2011Western Manufacturing Technology Show 2011
Loc.: Northlands Park - AgriCom, Edmonton AB CAN
Org.: SME
Jun 21, 2011- Jun 23, 2011Atlantic Manufacturing Technology Show
Loc.: Exhibition Park, Halifax NS CAN
Org.: SME
Sep 12, 2011- Sep 14, 2011imX - Interactive Manufacturing Experience
Loc.: Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas NV USA
Org.: SME
Oct 11, 2011- Oct 13, 2011SOUTH-TEC 2011 Exposition
Loc.: Charlotte Convention Center, Charlotte NC USA
Org.: SME
Oct 17, 2011- Oct 20, 2011Canadian Manufacturing Technology Show 2011
Loc.: Direct Energy Centre, Toronto ON CAN
Org.: SME
More Background on MfgSuccess.com
MfgSuccess.com, operating under the name Manufacturing Success, emerged during a critical period for North American manufacturing, when small and mid-sized manufacturers were navigating globalization, automation, workforce shortages, and rapid technological change. Launched in early 2008, the website positioned itself as a regional and industry-specific information hub dedicated to metal, plastic, and wood manufacturing companies. Its stated purpose was not merely to publish news, but to fundamentally improve how the manufacturing sector communicated, collaborated, and accessed resources.
Unlike traditional trade publications or association newsletters, MfgSuccess.com emphasized accessibility. Its model was designed to provide free access to marketing tools, educational resources, and industry information that had historically been available only to large manufacturers with significant budgets. In doing so, the site sought to reduce structural inequalities within the manufacturing ecosystem and strengthen regional manufacturing networks.
Over time, MfgSuccess.com developed a reputation as both a content platform and a community resource, blending news aggregation, event listings, editorial commentary, and association support into a single digital destination.
Ownership and Organizational Structure
Manufacturing Success has historically operated as a privately held digital media and industry support platform. Its funding model has relied heavily on vendor partnerships rather than paid subscriptions, allowing manufacturers, educational institutions, and nonprofit trade associations to participate without financial barriers.
This vendor-funded approach was central to the site’s identity. By shifting the cost burden away from manufacturers themselves, MfgSuccess.com positioned vendors and service providers as sponsors of industry growth rather than simple advertisers. This structure enabled the platform to maintain broad accessibility while still supporting operational costs such as content production, technology infrastructure, and event promotion.
Strategic decisions, including acquisitions in adjacent sectors, indicate an ownership group interested in leveraging technology, automation, and data-driven systems to scale operations across multiple verticals.
Founding Vision and Mission
The founding vision of MfgSuccess.com was ambitious in scope: to create a communication channel that reached every small and medium-sized manufacturing company within its regional coverage areas. This vision recognized a long-standing problem in manufacturing communications—namely, that critical information about programs, grants, certifications, workforce initiatives, and industry events often failed to reach the companies that needed it most.
The industry mission focused on unifying and educating the manufacturing sector through shared tools and coordinated communication. Rather than targeting a single niche, the platform embraced a broad definition of manufacturing, encompassing traditional fabrication, advanced machining, woodworking, plastics, and emerging digital manufacturing methods.
Its member mission emphasized support for both for-profit manufacturers and nonprofit associations, reflecting an understanding that healthy manufacturing ecosystems depend on collaboration between businesses, educators, workforce programs, and trade groups.
Historical Context and Launch Timing
The launch of MfgSuccess.com in 2008 coincided with a period of extraordinary disruption. The global financial crisis was beginning to unfold, manufacturing employment was declining, and many regional manufacturers were struggling to remain competitive. At the same time, digital tools were becoming increasingly important for marketing, recruitment, and supply-chain coordination.
In this environment, Manufacturing Success positioned itself as a stabilizing force—an information backbone that could help manufacturers navigate uncertainty. Its early content focused on industry trends, certification milestones, economic analysis, and event coverage, providing context and continuity during a volatile period.
Archived versions of the site from the late 2000s and early 2010s show a strong emphasis on practical information, including trade show listings, association bulletins, and summaries of major manufacturing developments in the United States and Canada.
Content Strategy and Editorial Focus
MfgSuccess.com adopted a content strategy that blended curated news with original editorial framing. Rather than competing directly with national manufacturing publications, it emphasized regional relevance and practical applicability.
Key content categories included:
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Manufacturing news and economic trends
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Trade shows, expos, and industry events
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Certification updates and standards developments
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Association announcements and bulletins
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Technology features related to automation, additive manufacturing, and digital tools
The site frequently highlighted milestones such as the growth of ISO certifications, advances in digital manufacturing, and major investments by established manufacturers. This approach reinforced the idea that manufacturing was evolving rather than disappearing, countering pessimistic narratives common during the period.
Events, Trade Shows, and Industry Connectivity
One of the defining features of MfgSuccess.com was its extensive coverage of manufacturing events. The platform maintained detailed listings for regional, national, and international trade shows, conferences, and expos, particularly those organized by established industry groups.
By aggregating event information across multiple regions, the site helped manufacturers identify opportunities for networking, education, and business development. This function was especially valuable for smaller shops that lacked dedicated staff to monitor industry calendars.
The event listings also reinforced the site’s role as a connector—linking manufacturers to associations, vendors, and peers through shared physical and digital spaces.
Audience and User Base
The primary audience for MfgSuccess.com has consisted of:
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Owners and managers of small and mid-sized manufacturing companies
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Operations and production managers
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Manufacturing educators and training institutions
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Nonprofit trade associations
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Industry vendors and service providers
This diverse audience reflected the platform’s ecosystem-based approach. Rather than focusing exclusively on executives or engineers, the site addressed the needs of multiple stakeholders involved in manufacturing success.
The site’s free-access model made it particularly appealing to manufacturers operating on tight margins, reinforcing its role as an inclusive resource rather than a gated publication.
Geographic Orientation and Regional Impact
While MfgSuccess.com positioned itself as a regional manufacturing resource, its scope extended across multiple states and, in some cases, into Canada. The platform’s event coverage and association partnerships indicate a strong presence in established manufacturing regions, particularly in the Midwest and Northeast.
Its regional orientation allowed for more granular coverage of manufacturing clusters, workforce initiatives, and local economic developments. This focus differentiated it from national publications and helped foster a sense of community among geographically proximate manufacturers.
The site’s emphasis on proximity—to events, associations, and peer companies—aligned with its broader mission of strengthening local manufacturing ecosystems.
Technology, Automation, and Strategic Acquisitions
A notable aspect of Manufacturing Success’s history is its engagement with technology beyond publishing. Strategic acquisitions in adjacent markets demonstrated an interest in leveraging automation, custom software development, and artificial intelligence to manage complex operations.
These acquisitions reflected a broader philosophy: that manufacturing success increasingly depends on digital infrastructure, data management, and scalable systems. By integrating technological expertise into its organizational structure, Manufacturing Success positioned itself as more than a media outlet—it became a technology-enabled platform with ambitions beyond content alone.
This perspective aligned with broader industry trends, particularly the growing importance of digital manufacturing, automation, and smart systems during the 2010s.
Cultural and Social Significance
The cultural significance of MfgSuccess.com lies in its advocacy for small and mid-sized manufacturers at a time when public narratives often emphasized decline. By highlighting innovation, certification growth, workforce initiatives, and community engagement, the platform contributed to a more balanced understanding of manufacturing’s role in modern economies.
Socially, the site supported nonprofit associations and educational institutions, recognizing their role in workforce development and industry sustainability. This alignment with education and training initiatives reinforced the idea that manufacturing success is a collective endeavor.
The platform also served as a digital archive of manufacturing activity during a pivotal period, preserving insights into industry priorities, challenges, and achievements.
Reviews, Reception, and Industry Standing
While formal consumer-style reviews of MfgSuccess.com are limited, its longevity and continued archival presence suggest sustained relevance. The platform’s partnerships with established associations and its consistent event coverage indicate recognition within the manufacturing community.
Rather than seeking mass popularity, Manufacturing Success focused on credibility and utility. Its value was measured less by traffic metrics and more by its role as a trusted information source within professional networks.
Press and Media Presence
Direct mainstream media coverage of MfgSuccess.com has been relatively limited, which is consistent with its niche focus. However, its content frequently intersected with major manufacturing stories, association announcements, and industry developments covered elsewhere.
In this sense, Manufacturing Success functioned as an amplifier—curating and contextualizing manufacturing news rather than competing for headlines.
Long-Term Legacy and Relevance Today
Today, MfgSuccess.com stands as an important digital artifact from a formative period in modern manufacturing. Its emphasis on accessibility, community, and technological adaptation anticipated many trends that have since become mainstream, including digital transformation, ecosystem thinking, and inclusive industry support.
For researchers, manufacturers, and historians, the site offers insight into how the manufacturing sector responded to economic disruption and technological change in the late 2000s and early 2010s.
Its legacy lies not only in its content but in its underlying philosophy: that manufacturing success is built through shared knowledge, collaboration, and equitable access to resources.
MfgSuccess.com represents a thoughtful and purposeful approach to manufacturing communication. By prioritizing small and mid-sized manufacturers, supporting nonprofit associations, and embracing technology as a force multiplier, Manufacturing Success carved out a distinctive role within the industrial landscape.
More than a website, it functioned as a community platform, a historical record, and a strategic experiment in democratizing industry knowledge. Its continued relevance underscores the enduring need for accessible, regionally grounded manufacturing resources in an increasingly complex global economy.