Metalforming Matters

There are several names for the impending industrial revolution: Smart Manufacturing, Digital Enterprise, and Industry 4.0. No matter what you call it, it’s all about the rapidly-changing disruptive technologies that are already starting to churn up the waters of manufacturing. The biggest signifier of the changes to come is the convergence of information technology (IT) and operational technology (OT), meaning that the world of the virtual is colliding with the world of the physical. This has been predicted to increase efficiency and streamline the production process, but what does the data show? According to the American Society for Quality’s recent study , the manufacturers surveyed who have begun to implement smart tech reported the following: • 82% found increased efficiency • 49% found lower product defects • 45% found customer satisfaction gains It makes sense: mobile and social tech streamlined training and shop floor tracking, robotics and automation revolutionize...

Guest Blogger Kelly Barner, Editor, Buyers Meeting Point Anyone with procurement or purchasing experience knows that price and cost are not the same thing. Price is what the buyer pays in return for goods and services and costs are the supplier’s direct and overhead costs to produce the good or service. The difference between the two numbers is the primary focus of most negotiations. Some of it is kept by the supplier as profit margin, and some of it is claimed by procurement as savings. The best thing procurement can do in advance of a negotiation is to research and understand all of the relevant costs. This ensures that negotiations will be fact-based rather than instinct-driven – a focus that should create an advantage for procurement. There are multiple ways that procurement should allow a detailed understanding of costs to influence their negotiating strategy. Doing so requires procurement to dig into the details of costs, categorizing them by type and determining how muc...

It is springtime and the local golf clubs are gearing up for another great season.  There is an understanding that great business is done on the golf course, but why is that?  Are game-changing contracts signed on the 17th hole?  Are deals negotiated and futures changed while lining up the perfect drive?  The truth is, not usually.  However, there are many other reasons why golf is an important tool in business.  Here are the top five reasons why golf is critical to business success. 5. Anyone can play – Golf is an equal opportunity sport.  Anyone, regardless of age or athletic ability, can learn to play golf.  For that reason, it is a great form of corporate entertainment.  Thanks to the handicap, people with a variety of abilities can compete and enjoy a friendly round.  So take your client, your boss, your colleague or even your competitor to your local club for a round of golf.  If you need an effective way to entertain in bus...

New data from Goldman Sachs was released this Tuesday showing a significant manufacturing rebound. Regional surveys were conducted to look at the state of factories in the Federal Reserve districts of Dallas, Kansas City, New York, Philadelphia, and Richmond, and all five showed significant improvement in March. Check out the graph below: These results aren’t outliers, either: according to the analysts on this project, the surge shown in these surveys is supported by many other aspects of manufacturing including trucking activity, railcar volumes, and seaborne container traffic. Goldman even predicts that the ISM Manufacturing Purchasing Managers Index will exceed 50 in the coming update to this data on Friday, April 1. (50 is the metric in the ISM scale that divides contraction and expansion.) Our favorite way of describing this data comes courtesy of Luke Kawa in his Bloomberg article : “The U.S. manufacturing sector just batted five-for-five in its version of spring trainin...

On December 18, 2015, President Obama signed into law a measure delaying, extending, or making permanent a number of tax provisions critical to manufacturers. This law was a major victory for PMA members. By making permanent the R&D Tax Credit and Section 179 Equipment Expensing and extending Bonus Depreciation through 2019, this law offers certainty for manufacturers, allowing PMA members to make the investments they need to help their businesses grow.  A January 2016 survey of One Voice members – that is, members of PMA and members of the National Tooling and Machining Association - showed that, in 2015, 92 percent of companies used Section 179 and another 91 percent benefited from Bonus Depreciation, while 55 percent claimed the R&D Tax Credit. It’s clear that American manufacturers deserve to have their voices heard, especially in an important election year. The eighth-annual One Voice Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C. on April 12-13, 2016 provide...

The U.S. economy is in recovery mode, adding an average of 221,000 jobs per month in 2015.  Last month, for the first time since early 2008, the unemployment rate fell below 5%.  In the last 12 months, the number of unemployed Americans decreased by 1.1 million.  Manufacturing has been an engine for growth.  The sector is expected to create 3.5 million new jobs in the next decade.  But manufacturers still face a number of challenges related to recruiting and retaining qualified workers.  As many a 2 million of the expected 3.5 million manufacturing jobs could go unfilled due to a lack of skilled workers. In a recent survey of One Voice members (PMA members and members of the National Tooling and Machining Association), 77 percent of members reported they currently have skilled job openings.  For those with job positions, 66% reported having 1-5 jobs open, 8% have 6-10 openings, and 4% have between 11-20 open jobs. Finding the right people ...

To keep your company on top, it is essential to have partners you can depend on.  The Precision Metalforming Association (PMA) is proud to have served the metalforming industry as that trusted resource for nearly 75 years.  An investment in a partnership with PMA can provide you with: Opportunities for networking and business development through PMA’s conferences, seminars and local districts Significant discounts on a wide range of training systems and educational materials Partnership with PMA affinity partners that save time and money on shipping, equipment, utilities and more This video demonstrates how membership in PMA can keep your company equipped with the most current information and the best tools to be competitive in this ever-changing environment. Have we piqued your interest?  Contact Sarah Billman, PMA sales and relationship manager, at sbillman@pma.org or 216-901-8800 to connect with the only national trade association dedicated t...