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Showing posts from 2013

Video: Success in the New Economy

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Attention all parents, students and educators! Here at PMA, we think education is a key component to succeeding in today’s work environment, and that’s why we love this new videoby Kevin Fleming called “Success in the New Economy." This interactive video makes a compelling case for students to make informed decisions about their college education goals. Fleming says that students should not just classical education but also the value of technical skill acquisition and the real-world applications for those skills. We've watched the video a few times (hey, it’s got some great animation!) and our favorite part is at 7:40, when Kevin talks about the importance of identifying an area that appeals to your interests, skills, and the labor market when deciding on your future. Kevin drives home the point that success in the new economy is all about acquiring the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed for in-demand occupations in our day and age. Check out the video a

PMA and Other FABTECH Show Partners Launch Fundraising Campaign to Help Illinois Storm Victims

PMA is proud to be a FABTECH 2013 show partner and to be part of the show's efforts to raise money for the victims of the recent storms in Illinois . From the FABTECH site - FABTECH 2013 show partners offer their condolences to the victims of the severe storms and tornados that devastated Washington, Illinois and other areas of the state on November 17 th .  Citizens of our host state for FABTECH 2013 are struggling to recover from the physical and economic damage caused by these storms that hit on a set-up day for the show.  Some of our exhibitors and attendees were directly impacted by this tragedy. Several show exhibitors have started to raise funds for the victims of the storms, with California-based Sutherland Presses pledging to match contributions up to a total of $5,000.  FABTECH is joining this fundraising effort.  The five FABTECH show partners* are donating $10,000 to this relief campaign, and encourage all show exhibitors and attendees to contribute.  Funds collected wi

November 2013 Business Conditions Report

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The latest PMA business conditions report is out and it looks like good new for metalformers.  The monthly survey of metalforming companies reveals that more than 25% of companies expect economic activity to improve over the next three months. Read more below - Business Conditions Report: November 2013 Wednesday, November 13, 2013   CLEVELAND, OH —November 13, 2013—According to the November 2013 Precision Metalforming Association (PMA) Business Conditions Report, metalforming companies expect an improvement in business conditions during the next three months.  Conducted monthly, the report is an economic indicator for manufacturing, sampling 124 metalforming companies in the United States and Canada. The November report shows that 27% of participants forecast that economic activity will improve during the next three months (up from 22% in October), 58% predict that activity will remain unchanged (compared to 56% last month) and only 15% believe that economic activity will de

PMA Member and Minnesota Senator Write Joint Op-ed on Closing the Skills Gap

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Erick Ajax and an employee at his facility. Star Tribune photo.  PMA member Erick Ajax, co-owner of E.J. Ajax in Fridley, Minnesota, and Minnesota Senator Al Franken appear together on the byline of an op-ed that ran in the Minnesota Star Tribune over the weekend.  The piece, " Closing the skills gap is a matter of partnership ," focuses on ways to build stronger relationships between businesses and two-year schools. It begins - Senator Al Franken (D-MN)      "One of us owns an innovative advanced metal forming company based in Fridley; the other is a U.S. senator. Both of us share a strong belief that the United States must address the “skills gap” that has left more than 3 million good-paying jobs unfilled. We also know from our experiences that we can close this gap in a way that will connect skilled workers with jobs, help make college more affordable and boost our competitiveness in a global economy.      By forging new and stronger partnerships b

Third Annual Women in Manufacturing SUMMIT a Resounding Success

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PMA is happy to announce the success of its Women in Manufacturing group's third annual SUMMIT event.  Here's the post-event press release.  You can also read it here .  And you can check out photo highlights of the event the Women in Manufacturing Facebook page . CLEVELAND, OH — More than 200 leading women manufacturing executives, managers and students from across the country gathered in Dearborn, MI, on October 22-23, 2013 for the Women in Manufacturing (WiM) SUMMIT 2013, hosted by the Precision Metalforming Association (PMA).  Designed exclusively for women who have chosen a career in the manufacturing industry, this third annual conference provided a unique opportunity for participants to share perspectives and network with their female peers in the manufacturing sector. “We were elated by the enthusiasm surrounding our third annual SUMMIT,” said WiM Director Allison Grealis. “The turnout at this year’s event shows that our group is continuing to develop from a sma

Precision Metalforming Association Sponsors Second Annual Manufacturing Day

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We just posted our press release about Manufacturing Day.  We are excited that so many of our members are participating tomorrow in a day that celebrates our industry! Independence, OH – Precision Metalforming Association member companies across the country will open their doors to their local communities on Friday, October 4, 2013 as part of the second annual Manufacturing Day.  PMA along with Women in Manufacturing are among the industry leaders sponsoring this national day to promote U.S. manufacturing. Manufacturing Day – or MFG DAY – addresses common misperceptions about manufacturing by giving manufacturers an opportunity to show what manufacturing is – and what it is not.  The goal is for manufacturers to connect with future generations, take charge of the public image of manufacturing, and ensure the ongoing prosperity of the whole industry. “MFG Day is important for PMA member companies because it allows them to raise awareness in their communities about 21 st

PMA Members Attend Event for Congressman Tiberi

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On September 24, PMA members participated at an event for Congressman Pat Tiberi (R-OH) that was hosted by the political action committees of PMA, the National Tooling and Machining Association (NTMA) and the Precision Machined Products Association (PMPA). Congressman Tiberi has long been a supporter of manufacturing, pushing for pro-growth and pro-jobs legislation, and we were pleased to have the opportunity to return some of that support for him. The Congressman spoke to a full room at Lockkeepers in Valleyview, OH.  He offered his assessment of activities in Washington today and painted a picture of the way forward.  He suggested that times are trying and expressed concern about the impact of Obamacare and some tax reform proposals on American small businesses.  Still, he predicted the long-term success of American manufacturing which he said is strong and thriving. We were also honored that Congressman David Joyce (R-OH), in whose district we were gathered, stopped by.  We en

September Business Conditions Report: Manufacturers Expecting Slight Dip

CLEVELAND, OH—September 16, 2013—According to the September 2013 Precision Metalforming Association (PMA) Business Conditions Report, metalforming companies expect a dip in business conditions during the next three months.  Conducted monthly, the report is an economic indicator for manufacturing, sampling 130 metalforming companies in the United States and Canada. The September report shows that 14% of participants forecast that economic activity will decline during the next three months (up from only 7% in August), 51% predict that activity will remain unchanged (down from 59% in August) and 35% believe that economic activity will improve (compared to 34% in August). Metalforming companies also expect a decline in incoming orders during the next three months, with 18% expecting a decrease in orders (up from 10% in August), 37% anticipating an increase in orders (compared to 38% in August) and 45% predicting no change (down from 52% last month). Average daily shipping levels rose

MFG Day is Only One Month Away!

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MFG Day - Manufacturing Day - 2013 is just around the corner.  Scheduled for October 4, 2013, the annual event dedicated to dispelling common misconceptions about the manufacturing sector, is just one month away. MFG Day is an important part of efforts to support the future of manufacturing here in the US. As manufacturers today, we know that negative, untrue stereotypes plague our sector and drive young people away.  We know that we have to overcome the perception that manufacturing jobs are dirty, dangerous dead ends.  We know that we must spread the word that manufacturing has gone high tech, with modern, clean facilities, computers, robot, and automation.  We know that counteracting outdated, negative images with current, positive ones is the best way to fight problems like the skills gap that threaten the American manufacturing sector's recent boom. And MFG Day is just the way to do what we know we must. MFG Day gives manufacturers around the country the opportunity t

Huffington Post Blogger Writes "Maybe You Should Have Gone to Trade School"

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A blog posted on the Huffington Post Business page this week addresses a topic we often discuss here at PMA - the value and relative benefits of trade school. HuffPo Blogger Rachel Ryan notes that college enrollment numbers are decreasing, but registers little surprise.  Why not, she questions, when today's economy has rendered a full 40 percent of college diploma holders unemployed. Ryan points to a society so inundated with bachelor's degrees that the same entry level jobs for which that degree once sufficed now require a master's.  And to what end?, she wonders.  For an unpaid internship?  For a chance to work for free or virtually free in "white collar office buildings"? Ryan then suggests another way.  She challenges the singular significance Americans have ascribed to four year colleges.  Offering an alternative, she references the skills gap in our very own manufacturing sector, suggesting that students seek the education required to attain these h

Filmmakers Bringing "Made in America" to the Silver Screen

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As has often been heralded in the news, the US has added 500,000 jobs to its manufacturing sector since hitting bottom during the recession in 2010. These numbers have prompted some to ask if we're in the midst of a comeback in manufacturing. The answer, at least according to filmmakers Vincent Vittorio and Nathan McGill is...hopefully! They are currently traveling the country - 32 cities in 32 days - and promoting their new film, American Made Movie.   The film attempts to grow demand for products made here at home. Watch this interview with the filmmakers - 

PMA Member Pens Op-Ed, Stands Up for Small Businesses and Manufacturers

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As a trade association representing nearly 900 companies in the metalforming industry of North America, we are always proud to highlight the many achievements and accomplishments of our member companies. Joe Szydlo, a machine operator, works the single hit punch press at Automation Tool & Die Inc. in Brunswick in October 2011. (Photo: Plain Dealer) And when one of our individual member companies stands up and advocates for the industry as a whole, we are even more proud. That’s why we chose to focus our blog today on an op-ed in the Cleveland Plain Dealer written by Randy Bennett, co-owner of PMA-member Automation Tool & Die. Randy was joined in authoring the article by Dave Sattler, president of Sattler Companies Inc. Randy’s article, published today in the major Ohio news outlet, called for legislators in Washington to respect manufacturers as the backbone of our communities while they debate the future of comprehensive tax reform. Automation Tool & Die, a

PMA and MetalForming Magazine Conference on ERP Software

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ERP software is changing the way companies do business.  ERP, enterprise-resource-planning, programs compile all of a company's data and processes into one system, an effort that saves time and money. Interested in learning more about how your business could benefit from ERP software?  Check out the PMA and MetalForming Magazine event on the technology in a few months in Cincinnati.  Read more in the press release below. PMA and MetalForming Magazine to Hold Conference on the Latest Developments in ERP Software     CLEVELAND, OH—July 23, 2013—The Precision Metalforming Association’s (PMA) flagship publication, MetalForming magazine, announces The Manufacturing ERP Experience, a conference that will provide information on the industry’s leading enterprise-resource-planning (ERP) software systems for small to midsized manufacturing companies.  The event is scheduled for October 8-9, 2013, in Cincinnati, Ohio. Modern ERP systems have changed how companies do business.

PMA Releases July Business Conditions Report

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We released our monthly business report today showing that metalforming companies expect a slight dip in business conditions over the next three months.   PMA has issued the monthly Business Conditions Report since 1979 and for the past 34 years it has been used to take the pulse of manufacturing in the US by both policymakers and the news media. The full PMA Business Conditions Report results are available here .   Our press release providing a summary of the report is below: Business Conditions Report: July 2013 Thursday, July 18, 2013 For more information, please contact Christie Carmigiano According to the July 2013 Precision Metalforming Association (PMA) Business Conditions Report, metalforming companies expect a slight dip in business conditions during the next three months.  Conducted monthly, the report is an economic indicator for manufacturing, sampling 124 metalforming companies in the United States and Canada. The July report shows that only 22% of parti

Welcome to the Metalforming Matters Blog

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Bill Gaskin, PMA President Hello!  Welcome to the Metalforming Matters Blog, powered by the Precision Metalforming Association (PMA) ! PMA is the full-service trade association representing the metalforming industry of North America.  If you're wondering why metalforming matters, let me tell you this: Metalforming is the industry that creates precision metal products using techniques like stamping, fabricating, spinning, slide forming and roll forming.  Our industry amounts to $113billion in North America and our members' products are present in a wide array of industries.  Just check out the chart at the bottom of this post. PMA was launched in 1942 in Cleveland and we celebrated our 70th anniversary last year.  Though times have changed, we have maintained an unwavering commitment to supporting innovative member companies toward superior competitiveness and profitability. Manufacturing is growing in this country and our industry is proud to be a part of that res