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User Groups
Do you find implementing new industry standards, customer mandates, and cost reduction programs too expensive or too time consuming?

Why not consider participating in a Northern Initiatives’ User Group?

Northern Initiatives’ User Group program offers you a cost-effective alternative to traditional consulting.  Our User Group delivery format combines group implementation with direct individual company assistance. User Groups bring together several companies to work together to offer the following educational sessions.

1. ISO 9000
2. QS-9000
3. TE Supplement to QS-9000
4. ISO 14001

Whether its ISO 14001, ISO 9000, or Activity-Based Quoting, MMTC User Group implementations provide the necessary framework for your company to improve profits and sustain growth.

Need more reasons to participate in NI’s User Groups?  Here are a few.

1. It is cost effective – has been said to reduce consulting costs by fifty to seventy-five percent.
2. It provides a structured time line and managed process to help you keep your business on track.
3. It trains your staff to handle more in-house, i.e., business fundamentals, management, planning, developing policies and procedures, solving problems, auditing, and measuring results.
4. It is applied incrementally therefore; results/improvements are visible and measurable immediately.
5. It provides networking opportunities facilitating the building of relationships and the sharing of experiences.

Process Industry User Group
A unique application of the User Group concept is the bringing together of process manufacturers from totally differently industries. This opportunity allows members to discuss problems common to process manufacturers generally. 

FFor more information concerning business consulting services contact Ruth Solinski, VP Consulting, at (906)226-1673 or rsolinski@niupnoth.org.

Northern Initiatives serves as a regional office for the Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center (MMTC) which is a partner in the Manufacturing Extension Partnership program of the National Institute of Standards and Technology of the Department of Commerce and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation.