Cook County Manufacturing Reinvented

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Insights You'll Gain

With this resource you will learn to:

  • How manufacturers identified their most urgent needs, including growth opportunities, operational efficiency, leadership, and workforce development.

  • Where targeted investments made a measurable difference, from automation and Lean practices to employee engagement, talent development, cybersecurity, and strategic planning.

  • Real-world examples from Cook County manufacturers demonstrating how these investments translated into stronger operations, workforce stability, new sales, cost savings, and growth.

  • The broader economic impact of the program, including $322.8 million in new sales, $2.43 billion in retained sales, $37.8 million in cost savings, and $737.8 million in aggregate impact.

  • Lessons for future manufacturing support programs and why strategic investment, capability-building, and public-private partnerships remain important beyond pandemic recovery.

Cook County Manufacturing Reinvented: Investing in Manufacturing’s Future highlights the impact of a three-year partnership between Cook County and IMEC to help small and mid-sized manufacturers strengthen operations, develop their workforce, pursue growth, and build long-term resilience. The report showcases the needs identified by more than 1,000 manufacturers and the results of targeted investments in automation, Lean/continuous improvement, leadership, talent, growth, cybersecurity, and strategic planning.

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