Archive for July 31st, 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!!
