3M In The New Millennium

Founded in 1902, the Minnesota Mining & Manufacturing Corporation (3M) when five businessmen agreed to mine a mineral deposit for grinding-wheel abrasives. Early technical and marketing innovations began to produce successes and, in 1916, the company paid its first dividend of 6 cents a share. Early innovations include:* The world's first waterproof sandpaper, which reduced airborne dusts during automotive manufacturing, was developed in the early 1920s.

* Richard G. Drew, a young lab assistant, invented masking tape in 1925 - the first step toward diversification and the first of many Scotch tapes.* In the 1950s, 3M introduced the Thermo-Fax™ copying process, Scotchguard™ Fabric Protector, videotape, and Scotch-Brite® Cleaning Pads (3M India).3M has identified 21 established and new strategic brands. Some of its best-known brands are Scotch tapes, Scotch-Brite cleaning products, and Post-it notes.

Newer brands include Thinsulate products, Filtrete air cleaning filters and Nexcare first-aid products.3M has institutionalized a corporate culture that promotes intrapreneurship. Early in 3M's history, chair and CEO William L. McKnight, long considered to be the company's "spiritual founder," introduced policies and philosophies that were considered to be responsible for 3M's ability to innovate consistently - seed capital, 15 percent option, dual-ladder career path, etc.

Current management has continued to embrace and expand these policies and philosophies, believing innovation to be the cornerstone of 3M's future success.SWOT ANALYSISStrengths - Progressive/forward thinking is one of 3M's largest strengths. Mr. McKnight's forethought into hiring a scientist to develop their original Wetordry sandpaper was years ahead of its time. Allowing employees to use fifteen percent of their "on clock" time to develop/experiment with their own innovations not only shows trust in employees but values their ideas and fosters a healthy working environment.

From Richard Drew, so determined to develop masking tape that he used his own time and subsequently found his own market, to the twelve years it took to bring Post-It notes to market, perseverance has always been important to 3M. Diversity can be seen at every turn in 3M's history. They currently produce more than 5 hundred products in over 7 different market categories (i.e. - Health Care, Electronics, Home and Leisure, etc.).

Weaknesses - 3M appears to be overly diversified. When you look at the safety products they participate in, 3M sells products in every subcategory from file protection to window safety. When you have too many irons in the fire at once it is difficult to be the best at any one thing. Take a look at the vast wasted opportunity with Xerox.

Management seems focused on the development of new, blockbuster products that improving and protecting the old innovations is sacrificed.New weaknesses would include succession planning. It was surprising that 3M choose to go outside the company in 2001 when McNerney was hired. It is concerning that 3M didn't have a qualified, outstanding candidate within the company ready to move into the role of CEO.

Cash flow (seed money) is another weakness of 3M's. Innovation, research and development all take time and money. However, when scientists on every continent are vying for start-up capital, projects that are potential best-sellers are bound to be overlooked.Opportunities - 3M has over 15,000 products in the pipeline at any given time and advancement of those products will require a research staff that is dedicated, responsive and not over taxed. Centralizing 3M's Research and Development capabilities was a start, but the dramatic reduction in scientist--and with 24 percent of them located outside the United States--the stage is set for possible failure as they push to continue diversity and product originality. Increasing inventory turns would be a great opportunity for 3M to increase capital and decrease cost of goods sold.

In 1995, 3M's inventory was only turning 3.5 times each year. With their buying power, suppliers should be offering just in time deliveries of supplies and reduced costs of materials due to reduced warehousing, holding and handling fees.Threats - Loss of key staff is always a concern. When management changes and new policies are rolled out (i.

e. - Six Sigma, 2X/3X, etc.) and subsequently staffers are reduced, fear sets in and companies will experience some knowledge loss that is crucial to the organization. New technology is always a threat.

What occurred with Xerox is a prime example.Xerox approached 3M some 20 years prior to the plain paper copier revolution, and 3M passed on acquiring the technology. This decision put 3M out of the copier business. Negative publicity, like that sustained by 3M during DeSimone's tenure, is difficult to recover from.

Stock prices fell, employees turned on the company and the board was left with the tough decision to support the CEO or let him go. 3M made a strong political and financial statement by support DeSimone but there was damage done to their company's reputation.FIVE FORCES MODELRivalry - 3M's main competitors consist of other conglomerates ranging from General Electric to Honeywell. The companies offer competition according to size, product offering and services.

Each of these companies has the size and capital necessary to more into the same areas of production as 3M. They exist internationally and are heavily engaged in beneficial global sourcing. Due to 3M's size and established brand, these competitors are not currently a major threat.Supplier Power - Due to 3M's size, most suppliers are willing to with 3M on their terms and conditions.

3M is a major producer and it is well worth it for suppliers to work for 3M at low costs because of the high volumes in which 3M will consume. Supplier that are difficult for 3M to work need to be concerned about becoming an acquisition.Threat of Substitutes - The treat of substitute products will always exist, but in 3M's case, the substitute products are usually going to be sold to consumers smaller than 3M's normal commercial/industrial base. Furthermore, 3M can produce superior products at substantially lower costs due to the economies of scale they realize.Buyer Power - 3M carries major power as a buyer. It is such a massive organization that it can employ smaller suppliers with such huge contracts that the suppliers basically work for 3M.

Barriers to entry - A benefit of a company as diversified and large as 3M is that the threat of new entrance is significantly high. If and when the barriers are overcome, the competing companies have to prevail over 3M's prestigious and established name. 3M often runs business better than competing companies, due to the fact that 3M can afford to pay the large amounts of capital needed to offer superior products.