capacity in key growth markets, including investments in the U.S., China, Germany, and Brazil. This included significant investments across 3M’s many businesses, such as abrasives, industrial adhesives and tapes, advanced materials, electronics-related, infection prevention, and other businesses. 3M continued its investments in IT systems and infrastructure, including ongoing phased implementation of an ERP system on a worldwide basis over the next several years. In addition, 3M is sustaining existing facilities through general maintenance, cost reduction, and compliance efforts. In 2012, 3M expanded manufacturing capacity in key growth markets, particularly with respect to international and emerging market countries. This included investments in China, Turkey and Poland, in addition to investments in Singapore and the U.S. 3M also increased investments in IT systems and infrastructure and made strategic investments in research/development infrastructure and manufacturing sites to lay the foundation for future growth. In 2011, a large portion of the capital investment was used to address supply constraints in a number of businesses with significant growth potential, such as renewable energy, traffic signage in developing economies, and optically clear adhesives and glass bubbles. In addition, certain 2010 capital projects carried forward into 2011.

 

3M is striving to increase its manufacturing and sourcing capacity in developing economies in order to more closely align its production capability with its sales in major geographic regions. The initiative is expected to help improve customer service, lower transportation costs, and reduce working capital requirements. 3M will continue to make investments in critical emerging markets, such as China, Brazil, Poland and India, including plans to establish and begin production in a new wholly-owned manufacturing entity in India to serve as a source of supply to 3M’s business in India and in other countries.

 

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES

 

Information regarding significant accounting policies is included in Note 1. As stated in Note 1, the preparation of financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue and expenses, and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. Management bases its estimates on historical experience and on various assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates.

 

The Company believes its most critical accounting estimates relate to legal proceedings, the Company’s pension and postretirement obligations, asset impairments and income taxes. Senior management has discussed the development, selection and disclosure of its critical accounting estimates with the Audit Committee of 3M’s Board of Directors.



Legal Proceedings:

 

The categories of claims for which the Company has a probable and estimable liability, the amount of its liability