Archive for July, 2008
July 31st, 2008
This is from The Economist, a UK weekly publication which I enjoy reading because it gives their views on the U.S. from a perspective other than our U.S. media. Interesting headlines and excerpt….read the rest of the story. Don’t forget, exports are a valuable source of good paying jobs!
“America’s economy has steered clear of recession so far. How long can it keep growing?THE American economy has often defied predictions of its demise. It has done so again. Official figures published on Thursday July 31st show that America’s GDP rose at an annualised rate of 1.9% in the second quarter. This would a respectable enough growth rate at the best of times. That this was achieved despite the considerable handicaps of a badly damaged banking system, a big jump in oil prices and the ongoing housing bust, makes it remarkable.
Revisions to earlier quarters took some of the shine of the news. Government statisticians now reckon that the economy shrank in the final three months of last year: the annualised change to GDP was revised from 0.6% to -0.2%. But growth picked up slightly to 0.9% in the first quarter, so on this reading at least, America seems to have just steered clear of a technical recession—two consecutive quarters of contraction.
One reason why the economy has held up well is that the weak dollar has encouraged exports and curbed imports. American firms have been kept going by foreign sales during a period in which domestic spending has been somewhat hampered. In the two years since the housing bust started in earnest, the contraction in homebuilding has taken around one percentage point a year of GDP growth. That drag has been more or less fully offset by the boost from net trade. In the second quarter, exports net of imports accounted for all and more of the increase in GDP”……..continue at this link.
http://www.economist.com/finance/displayStory.cfm?story_id=11850301&source=features_box1
July 31st, 2008
One way to keep up with new trends is seeing what other people are doing. Manufacturing News, a periodical from Gross Publications highlights manufacturing activity in our region. It is inexpensive too! You can obtain a free subscription on-line at www.ipnews.con/subscribe.html. Also, most content is available on-line at the same web-site. John Gross, managing editor visited Rockford and the EIGERlab, specifically to see the rapid prototping technology at the SUPER FABlab. He will post an article in October in all four regional magazines of Manufacturing News in October about rapid protoyping in Rockford. A magazine of this type is helpful for spreading the word about the great capabilities we have in manufacturing in our region.
July 31st, 2008
What is lean manufacturing? Ed gave a good explanation. He and Gordy have been doing a great job of explain “shop language” to the camp kids. It is easy to forget that not everyone understands words we use everyday.
All of the projects were finished! Each step of the way the group had to figure out the tolerance for the next step. One of the parts fit into the machine just a little off so that one has a different end finish….a lesson to all about being accurate. Each student was able to operate all of the different mill and lathe machines available at Techworks.
WOTM handed out tee shirts today. There were lots of visitors…Clarcor, Fabricators and Manufacturers Association, Dave Morgan, Sam Schmitz, and others. Terry Egan, from the FMA was the speaker for lunch and learn. He brought home two things 1- How many things can be made from a tube (or lots of similar shapes); and how many uses that item might have—it just takes looking at an item differently than before. One example was a tube—lots of important uses but it could be a door stop or hold pencils on your desk. He makes balloon critters and finished out by reminding the students that from the same balloon shape they can each create something different—thanks Terry!
At noon six students we guests on a radio program that focuses on Manufacturing. I guess I didn’t get the details.
D Machine brought lunch lots of tacos!
P.S. The two golf cart guys went shopping for one yesterday afternoon but were unhappy to find the cheapest one was $500 (without a working motor)…..they said they would keep looking.
July 31st, 2008
As part of a teacher exchange, I was able to go to the Netherlands. I was with a group of Dutch teachers and asked if they were affected by the war. A young student with the group said, “Oh, yes.” She proceeded to tell me how the fall of Saddam Hussein affected her family. She was an Iraqi immigrant to the Netherlands.
My assumption is most consider ‘The War’ to mean World War II. And it’s my thought the post-war boom helped to build a nation-shared esprit de corps in the workplace. What dawned on me then is just how much of a generational divide there is between those currently in our workforce with those entering. For our workforce to thrive we need to communicate the values and expectations of the workplace, but we need to be cognizant that the references and experiences that shaped many of us may not be shared with new workers.
July 31st, 2008
Rockford Area Ventures, Rockford Area Economic Development Council and the Rockford Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring a Networking Reception AT McCORMICK PLACE during IMTS.
This Reception is being held to showcase our region’s technologies and capabilities to a broad audience of IMTS attendees. As noted earlier, IMTS is the premier manufacturing technology show in North America.
This event will be held on Wednesday, September 10 2008 from 4:30 - 6:30 p.m. with a Networking and Cocktail Reception. Estimated attendance at the reception will be 200 to 250.
How do you participate and sponsor?
For $500.00 you will have a small display table-top at this event for display of your company information and/or products. PLUS….10 complimentary tickets to the reception (you get to invite potential customers)….PLUS 2 complimentary drink tickets provided at reception to each sponsor guest…..PLUS you get included in local media alerts and news releases.
Instead of attendees fighting for taxis and buses after the exhibition that day, why not enjoy a relaxing networking event with your fellow manufacturers and potential customers.
For further details and information, contact Janyce Fadden or Lelani Hillis at 815-987-8118.
This is such a cool deal, I’ve signed up already!!
July 30th, 2008
It’s too early to tell whether high fuel prices and the falling dollar will be enough to bring offshored operations back home, but some recent moves suggest it’s possible. Read the story….
http://www.industryweek.com/ReadArticle.aspx?ArticleID=16778
July 30th, 2008
Jersey Day—-all participants were to wear the Jersey of their favorite team over a work shirt—a way to have fun and build camaraderie! Of course, Bears were the most represented team….we started out with a dimensioning lesson. Figuring out the +/- tolerance that they can have on the project they are about to machine. Next there is a video about cutting material.
Machining—WOW! It is fun to see the students each put their metal into the machine, make sure it is even and tight, then start the cutting process. As they file the burr off they are pleased!
Thom Shelow came to speak about joining processes and his journey in manufacturing. Superior Joining Technologies, Inc. provided lunch. Students left their partially finished project ready to come back tomorrow! P.S. Two of the students are inspired to think of altering a golf cart into a tank that will shoot tennis balls…..imagine that!
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July 30th, 2008
September 9th is the Rockford Area Student Day at the IMTS in Chicago. 220 students from Guilford, Jefferson, Belvidere North and the new Academic Career Education High School will ride in 4 buses be transported to the Windy City. These students are in for an exciting day at the world’s largest machine tool exhibition.
Manufacturers who will serve as mentors on each bus will also accompany the students. It will give them a good opportunity to discuss and teach.
The event is being sponsored by the Rockford Chamber of Commerce Manufacturers Council as they have done in past years. For more information and sign up forms, see this link.
http://rockfordilcoc.weblinkconnect.com/CWT/External/WCPages/WCNews/NewsArticleDisplay.aspx?ArticleID=146Â
July 29th, 2008
Five of the students were sitting in the parking lot waiting for camp to start this morning. Every young person is excited! The day starts with donuts, pop, juice and other assorted sugared snacks…they love a school environment where pop at 8 AM is okay! The first thing of the day was to watch a master machinist working on (3) R & D harmonicas. They will be made from brass, plastic and wood. The designer of these harmonicas usually makes them by hand (3) per day. He is interested in mass producing them. The Eigerlab and Techworks are participating in this project…anything can be made in Rockford.
The computer lab is the exciting next place. Each student goes through Solid Works to design what they will make the next two days. By lunchtime they are putting their design onto a flashdrive so that it can be printed out.
Lunch and learn was Glorialea Dixon from GE Osmonics. She told the kids to never apply for a job in shorts! And to look the interviewer in the eye—otherwise you may be a liar….real world advice!
July 28th, 2008
All the preparations are done—Techworks looks as good as ever! Judy has bought snacks for the week—but the way they eat she may be back to the store by Wednesday! Ed and Gordie have the class planned, all the hand outs ready, and supplies bought. Teresa has lunch and learn speakers all set. Barb and Courtney have the kids all signed up and signed in. Lunch providers are ready to bring lunch…8 AM…students going into 8th, 9th and 10th grade show up very quiet…excited parents and grandparents drop them off. The adults look around and often share their connection with manufacturing. Proud and excited their students are about to be exposed to something well, life-changing. Students just sit quietly not knowing exactly what they are in for. One student asked if they would be outside—-after all this is camp—that is often outside.
Teresa welcomes the 15 students. Students have been driven from Grand Detour, Oregon, Durand, and the Chicago Suburbs to attend. She explains that this is the 6th year for WTOM Manufacturing Camp, why WOTM does this —to expose young people to Manufacturing, why it is important to go to school, finish school and plan to take classes that will make them more able to move into education and jobs where they can buy houses, have families, and or buy electronic items that might interest them….everyone smiles….big smiles. Ed and Gordie give a tour, show a shop safety video, students gobble up snacks, next he teaches measurement and the use of decimals—Ed does a great job explaining what some people graduate from High School and never understand—-these kids are already on their way to being the head of their class! Next comes how to use calipers, micrometers, and understand blueprints…ready for lunch and learn…15 Pizza’s, provided by Carl and Melba Bradberry at S & B Jig Grinding, arrive hot and ready to eat. The Winnovation Robotics team is our guest speaker. They bring their 2008 robot. No one speaks during the entire presentation. The passion of the Winnovation team excites all of the students and adults watching. We are off to a great week……
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