(Brian E. Clark, WisBusiness.com) The companies that emerge strongest from the current recession won't be those that simply slash their payrolls to save money.

Rather, says author and former Yahoo executive Tim Sanders, the winners will be those that continue to innovate and take steps to become more sustainable and environmentally benign.

Companies must "rethink the manufacturing process to reduce the impact on our environment and to create a business that can grow indefinitely," said Sanders, who will speak May 19 at the Manufacturing Matters conference in Milwaukee. The conference, hosted by the Wisconsin Manufacturing Extension Partnership, will feature two keynote speakers (including Sanders) plus 20 workshops offering insights and best practices on a wide range of topics, including business transformation leadership, export opportunities, lean manufacturing, marketing, online collaboration and talent management. New this year is a workshop track devoted to sustainability in products and processes.

Sanders said it's wrong to think sustainability is a "cost driver and a profit reducer."

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