Economic Management

Building an Even Stronger 3M

Every day, 3M people find new ways to make amazing things happen. Wherever they are, whatever they do, the company's customers know they can rely on 3M to help make their lives better.

The Company’s Key Strengths

Strong Technology Base: Virtually anywhere you go, 3M technologies are at work – making life easier and better for people around the world. You’ll find 3M technologies and products in homes, offices, hospitals, dental offices, manufacturing facilities, cars, aircraft, traffic signs, LCD displays and countless other places. Drawing on more than 40 technology platforms, 3M employees use their imagination to develop products that transform existing industries and create entirely new ones. More information on 3M Technologies.

Leading Market Positions: 3M is a world leader in most of its businesses. We’ve created many markets, frequently by developing products that fulfill unarticulated customer needs. More information on 3M Products.

Healthy Mix of Businesses: 3M serves a broad array of markets, providing many avenues for growth and cushioning the company from disruptions in any single market. 3M has a worldwide presence in the following markets: consumer and office; display and graphics; electro and communications; health care; industrial and transportation; and safety, security and protection services. More information on 3M Businesses.

Well-Known Brands: Representing quality, innovation and reliability, 3M brands earn customer loyalty, encourage repeat purchases and motivate users to try new 3M products. More information on 3M Brands.

Worldwide Presence: We have companies in more than 60 countries around the world, and we sell our products in nearly 200 countries. More than half of our sales are outside the United States.

3M’s Four Elements of Strategic Focus

George W. Buckley became 3M Chairman, President and Chief Executive Office effective December 7, 2005. In May of 2006, Buckley outlined four elements of strategic focus that comprise the company’s emerging strategy for growth. These strategies are as follows:

Grow the current core business

"We'll build first where 3M is strong, defend and expand market presence, and build size and scale. We will also grow through continuous invention and reinvention in our core businesses - the marketplace manifestations of 3M imagination and 3M innovation", Buckley said.

Complementary acquisitions to support both the core and expansion into adjacent markets

3M will also become more active in identifying and completing acquisitions to complement core businesses, usually in the form of smaller 'bolt-ons' to product lines or geographies. "In addition, acquisitions will help us enter adjacent markets and build business in new spaces more quickly," Buckley said.

Build new business via Emerging Business Opportunities

3M announced the formation of several Emerging Business Opportunities (EBOs) - growth-oriented units to address commercial opportunities presented by the mega trends of society. "3M has enormous opportunity to flourish in high-growth spaces like track and trace, filtration, energy and minerals extraction, and food safety," Buckley said.

Significantly increase investments in international opportunities

International growth plans include doubling investments in the developing economies of Brazil, Russia, India, China and Poland in the years ahead. "International remains our single largest growth platform and we intend to invest to fully capitalize on opportunities around the world," Buckley said.