Flexware Receives Indiana Growth 100 Award
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact Information:
Scott Whitlock
President
317.813.5411
scott.whitlock@flexwareinnovation.com
9128 Technology Lane
Fishers, IN 46038
Flexware Innovation Named a
2003 Indiana Growth 100 Recipient
Fishers, IN – November 20, 2003 – Flexware Innovation, of Fishers, was among the winners of the 2003 Indiana Growth 100 award. The award is sponsored by The Johnson Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, part of Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business, and recognizes Indiana’s leading high potential, high growth companies. Award recipients were honored at the 10th annual Growth 100 Dinner and Awards Banquet Wednesday, November 19 at the Indiana Roof Ballroom in Indianapolis.
Flexware was founded in 1996 by the company’s president, Scott Whitlock, and a partner. The company currently employs 35 business and technology professionals from Central Indiana. Whitlock said he was pleased with the announcement. “We get so focused on our day-to-day tasks with top-tier manufacturers that we don’t take time to celebrate what we’ve accomplished.”
Since inception, the company has provided manufacturing systems to connect the plant floor with enterprise systems. Today, the company has seen steady growth by expanding into business performance improvement and education and coaching services. “Over recent years, we’ve taken notice that technology solutions were only a part of the problem our manufacturing partners were facing,” Whitlock explained. “Technology is only successful when supporting solid processes. We now employ experts in the areas of Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma to address these foundational needs.
Flexware has also entered the education and coaching arena. Whitlock explains, “There are tools and techniques available to strengthen manufacturing, but often executives and their teams are not familiar with what’s available today. We see our education initiatives as turning on the light switch and highlighting areas of opportunity and weakness.”
Flexware’s public and private educational programs include, among others, Manufacturing Intelligence, Manufacturing Execution Systems and Lean Manufacturing.
Whitlock summarized, “Bottom line, when we enlighten manufacturing leaders, show them the tools and techniques available to reduce WIP, decrease cycle time, improve efficiency, decrease scrap, improve quality and monitor and track success, manufacturing can withstand global challenges.”
The Growth 100 award honors Indiana’s rapid growth, high potential entrepreneurial companies with annual sales of at least $1 million or have raised significant funding. This year, 86 highly qualified privately owned companies were selected from across the state. Growth 100 companies are identified through an analysis process that is based upon High Performance Organization research conducted by The Johnson Center. Corporate Partners are: Central Indiana Corporate Partners and the newly organized Indiana Venture Center.
“This year’s 2003 Growth 100 awardees have an average annual sales of $21.1 million, with a growth rate averaging 30.5 percent,” said Elizabeth J. Gatewood, Ph.D., The Johnson Center director. “These entrepreneurial companies have a strong impact on the state, not only economically but also through employment and community development.
“We recognize these companies because they represent the entrepreneurial spirit of Indiana business. This award validates all the hard work they’ve put into their companies. It says to them, their employees and their customers that they are doing things right.” Gatewood added “Indiana continues to be a viable business competitor on the national and global level. We are a major player in the industrial, service, retail areas, and are quickly growing in the technology field.”
Flexware moved its corporate headquarters to Fishers, Indiana in recent weeks. The facility is located at 9128 Technology Lane and includes additional land for future growth. The company’s phone number has also changed to 317-813-5400. Information about the move can be found at www.flexwareinnovation.com.
