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w w w.in s i g h t o n m f g . c o m March 2014 • /insight on manufacturing | 25 who are becoming more strategic in nature than tactical, but it's healthy for the organization. manufacturers must continue to move in this direction, particularly with a younger generation that has grown up with technology and expects to use it in their work and personal lives. in addition to operational improvements, more manufacturers are also recognizing that technology is a competitive advantage. for example, in medical device manufacturing, companies are using their internal electronic workflows to document the product development process. ey're leveraging technology to track decisions and documentation. is ensures that a high degree of consistency is followed for all processes and provides an important audit trail. manufacturers must continue to harness the technology solutions that are available and push for new discoveries. ultimately, the future of innovation in the united states is in our hands. and, as manufacturers invest more in technology, they'll foster increased collaboration, decision making and productivity all the way from the c suite to the line workers as technology opens up new communication lines within organizations. e manufacturing and distribution industry is Wipfli's largest practice area. Today we help nearly 2,000 manufacturers and distributors of all sizes and types across the midwest, and educating manufacturers has been an integral part of our more than 80 years of serving the industry. We help clients thrive by giving them meaningful information to support quality decisions across every aspect of their business. manufacturing Tomorrow is a natural extension of that commitment, and fills a need for industry-specific technology and innovation information. We encourage manufacturers to embrace the advancements that result from the continued expansion of technology in the manufacturing environment. Being on the forefront of change will ensure your competitive position in an ever- changing global marketplace. F Mark Stevens is a partner at Wipfli LLP, CPAs & Consultants and has more than 28 years of experience in the manufacturing industry. He leads the firm's manufacturing consulting services and technology integration practice. He can be reached at mstevens@wipfli.com or (920) 662-2966. To read Manufacturing Tomorrow blog posts or subscribe to the Manufacturing Tomorrow newsletter, eBooks and more, visit www.wipfli.com/ manufacturingtomorrow. On the web