Export Recognition for 3M New Zealand

A decision to concentrate solely on manufacturing metal foil tape has proved very successful for 3M New Zealand.

The company has now been a finalist for the second successive year in the DHL Award for Excellence in Exporting, a part of the annual Tradenz Export Awards.

While 3M in New Zealand is primarily focussed on importing and distributing a wide variety of products to industrial, commercial, consumer and healthcare markets, it has also built a thriving foil tape export business over the past 13 years.

The Foil Tape Centre of Excellence team's achievement has been the culmination of a long-term plan to become a world-class export operation. At the outset, it was a case of one small step at a time. However, expertise in tape production increased and, with the growth in worldwide demand, our export division will this year account for approximately 20% of 3M New Zealand's total sales.

Currently we supply foil tapes to two of 3M's operating divisions in the U.S.A, thirty-six 3M subsidiaries worldwide, and in total produce 80% of all 3M metal foil sales.

These aluminium and copper tapes are used in many diverse industries including aerospace, electronics, automotive and refrigeration. To reach the standards achieved the tape manufacturing operation has invested heavily in developing its employee skills as well as adding enhanced technology when required.

This combination has led to significant improvement in all facets of the business including product development, marketing, business process speed, customer service and manufacturing cost management.

The original approval to concentrate on exporting included a challenge from senior management to make the foil tape operation in New Zealand a world-class one. The achievement of this has been an on-going goal for the team and the recognition as a 3M Centre of Excellence in 1991 was a source of delight and pride to them.

However, the improvement process has never slowed and investment in employee training to improve customer focus and the further reduction of service lead times and product development time has remained at the forefront of the team's objective.

For example, new equipment has recently been installed and a process is being developed to supply finished product orders to U.S.A customers within a five day lead time. Also research is being undertaken on new product opportunities to increase our business in the USA, U.K. Japan and Singapore markets for 1998.