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3
3M COMPANY
ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K
For the Year Ended December 31, 2014
PART I
Item 1. Business.
3M Company was incorporated in 1929 under the laws of the State of Delaware to continue operations begun in 1902.
The Company’s ticker symbol is MMM. As used herein, the term “3M” or “Company” includes 3M Company and its
subsidiaries unless the context indicates otherwise. In this document, for any references to Note 1 through Note 17, refer
to the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8.
Available Information
The SEC maintains a website that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding
issuers, including the Company, that file electronically with the SEC. The public can obtain any documents that the
Company files with the SEC at http://www.sec.gov. The Company files annual reports, quarterly reports, proxy statements
and other documents with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(Exchange Act). The public may read and copy any materials that the Company files with the SEC at the SEC’s Public
Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. The public may obtain information on the operation of
the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330.
3M also makes available free of charge through its website (http://investor.3M.com) the Company’s Annual Report on
Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K, and, if applicable, amendments to those
reports filed or furnished pursuant to the Exchange Act as soon as reasonably practicable after the Company
electronically files such material with, or furnishes it to, the SEC.
General
3M is a diversified technology company with a global presence in the following businesses: Industrial; Safety and
Graphics; Electronics and Energy; Health Care; and Consumer. 3M is among the leading manufacturers of products for
many of the markets it serves. Most 3M products involve expertise in product development, manufacturing and marketing,
and are subject to competition from products manufactured and sold by other technologically oriented companies.
At December 31, 2014, the Company employed 89,800 people (full-time equivalents), with 35,581 employed in the United
States and 54,219 employed internationally.
Business Segments
As described in Note 15 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, effective in the first quarter of 2014, 3M transferred a
product line between divisions within different business segments and made other changes within business segments in
its continuing effort to improve the alignment of its businesses around markets and customers. In addition, effective in the
second quarter of 2014, within the Electronics and Energy business segment, 3M combined three existing divisions into
two new divisions. A large portion of both the Electronics Markets Materials Division and the Electronic Solutions Division
were combined to form the Electronics Materials Solutions Division, which focuses on semiconductor and electronics
materials and assembly solutions. The Optical Systems Division, the remaining portion of the Electronic Solutions Division
and a portion of the Electronics Markets Materials Division were combined to form the Display Materials and Systems
Division, which focuses on delivering light, color and user interface solutions. Also, effective in the fourth quarter of 2014,
within the Industrial business segment, the Personal Care Division, which focuses on tapes and attachment systems for
infant and adult hygiene, was combined with the Industrial Adhesives and Tapes Division.
3M manages its operations in five operating business segments: Industrial; Safety and Graphics; Electronics and Energy;
Health Care; and Consumer. 3M’s five business segments bring together common or related 3M technologies, enhancing
the development of innovative products and services and providing for efficient sharing of business resources. These
segments have worldwide responsibility for virtually all 3M product lines. Certain small businesses and lab-sponsored
products, as well as various corporate assets and expenses, are not attributed to the business segments. Financial
information and other disclosures relating to 3M’s business segments and operations in major geographic areas are
provided in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.