For executives at 3M, St. Paul, MN, coming out of the current recession as a healthy company requires more than the usual cost cutting measures; it also means changing the mentality with which one views the recession. That was the message presented by George W. Buckley, president and CEO, and Patrick Campbell, senior vice president and CFO, during a recent conference call to present earnings guidance for 2009.
 
When there's a 2 percent turndown, there's 98 percent of the market left,"Buckley said.
 
In keeping with this idea, Buckley and Campbell emphasized that 3M intends to maintain its research and development budget even while cuts are being made in other parts of the company. 3M recently announced layoffs of 1,800 people and plans to cut an additional 500 ...