Manufacturing 2.0 » 2008

Archive for September, 2008

One Manufacturing Survey

Add comment September 30th, 2008

We just took a look at our outstanding quotations for our products at companies in the foundry, machine tool, and several other markets. We also wanted to know about what their business outlook was….

the results: from “tight to good”. No one was shutting down or jumping from the highest building in town. Let’s hope it continues.

Is it True?

5 comments September 30th, 2008

Manufacturers, like consumers, will pay the price for the circus that is going on in Washington.

Is it true…95 Democrats voted NO including several from Barney Frank’s own Finance Committee and …..the Speaker told some of her fellow Demos…”you can vote NO…..?

So if credit tightens for us, where is the responsibility of the ruling party? When do we recognize the stunts that they are pulling?

In the manufacturing world, people get fired for this kind of game playing!

Who Really Manufactured Your Car?

Add comment September 30th, 2008

Here’s a good article about car and parts manufacturers in the U.S….

http://www.chicagofed.org/publications/fedletter/cfloctober2008_255a.pdf

What will McCain or Obama do for Manufacturing?

Add comment September 30th, 2008

This is an IndustryWeek summary of Senator McCain’s and Senator Obama’s positions on a number of manufacturing-oriented issues, as furnished by the candidates’ campaigns. Check it out here…..

http://www.industryweek.com/ReadArticle.aspx?ArticleID=17320

Midwest Manufacturing Output Drops in August

Add comment September 29th, 2008

The Chicago Fed Midwest Manufacturing Index (CFMMI) is a monthly estimate by major industry of manufacturing output in the Seventh Federal Reserve District states of lllinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, and Wisconsin. It is a composite index of 15 manufacturing industries that uses hours worked data to measure monthly changes in regional activity.

Latest CFMMI Release

The Chicago Fed Midwest Manufacturing Index (CFMMI) declined 2.6% in August, to a seasonally adjusted level of 103.5 (2002 = 100). Revised data show the index increased 0.2% in July, to 106.2. (PDF,105KB)

More about the CFMMI
The CFMMI provides a regional comparison with the manufacturing component of the Industrial Production Index (IPMFG) compiled by the Federal Reserve Board. Although the IPMFG is constructed differently than the CFMMI, it also uses hours worked data as measures of industry output for about 60 percent of its total production index.

See the report here….

http://www.chicagofed.org/economic_research_and_data/files/cfmmi_august2008.pdf

Superintendent Search - Business Input

Add comment September 29th, 2008

This morning I attended the Business Forum with a representative from Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates. Also in attendance were representatives from the Chamber, RAEDC, RACVB and a major restaurant. After discussing strengths and challenges of the District 205 School District, we opened up about key characteristics of the new superintendent that we thought were important.

The need for a Strategic Plan was one of the first requirements; a Plan approved by the board so that the superintendent would execute. It was apparent that this plan does not exist and needs to be available as they start to finalize the candidates. It seems that some work to the end was being done and hopefully would be made available before a final selection was made.

Strong leaderships skills, engaging with the “customers” a collaborator, one who could “roll up his/her sleeves” and connect with the various organizations in the community were among the major characteristics that we thought were important. As business people and organizations, we see the workforce element of the job very important so the person need not a straight academic but one who has business skills to better understand what the community (customers) needs.

We all felt that the process was good and as it develops, we hope that input will be asked again as the finalists are narrowed down and more of us get the chance to add our opinions. It’s an important selection, so stay tuned.