Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock (
) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.
Competitiveness Review Assessment Uncovers Need for Sustainable Continuous Improvement Journey
With the help of: Manufacturing Extension Partnership of Louisiana (MEP of LA)
About
The Challenge
Gainey’s Concrete Products originally reached out to the MEP of LA, part of the MEP National Network™, in 2018, looking for strategies to remove waste from their business. MEP of LA Project Manager Dan Stumper delivered a Competitiveness Review Assessment with Gainey’s Concrete Products. The formal assessment discovered many different avenues that could help the company grow and prosper, including a proper business plan.
Dan Stumper is a valued business mentor to Gainey’s. We often look to him for guidance. This year we invited him to sit in on our strategic planning session. By making Dan aware of the areas that we are struggling with, he can better help us discover the resources to address our needs.
MEP's Role
To kick off their continuous improvement journey, Gainey’s Concrete Products started the process of tracking key metrics in their business. Gainey’s also started training their employees in lean concepts, enrolling 6 of their employees in a multi-company Lean 101 class held at their facility in Holden, LA.
In 2021, Gainey’s Concrete participated in the MEP of LA COVID-19 Business Assessment revealing their need for funding, training and leadership solutions. At the beginning of 2022, Gainey’s Concrete Products acted on these needs and contacted the MEP of LA regarding sourcing leadership training.
Gainey’s Concrete Products was utilizing out of state resources for various training needs. MEP of LA Project Manager Dan Stumper developed sourcing options by identifying leadership training needs and providing in-state resources to bid on the project. Ultimately, an in-state, vetted MEP of LA third party provider was selected.
As a result of the lean training, assessments, and sourcing leadership training received by Gainey’s Concrete Products, the company was selected as the 2023 recipient of the LCTCS MEP of LA Small Business Award and honored at the Small and Emerging Business Development event in May 2023.