Manufacturing 2.0
Rock River Valley manufacturing experts discuss the many facets of manufacturing: technology, education, training, events, people and any other aspects of this important segment of our economy. They’ll use this blog to get the word out and solicit feedback on local and global manufacturing. They hope to better engage our employers, employees and our future work force and increase their understanding of manufacturing.

Archive for April 10th, 2009

Recovery Here Too??

Add comment April 10th, 2009

Let’s hope this isn’t another “Mission Accomplished”…..Recovery

China Rebounding, are We Next??

Add comment April 10th, 2009

This article from the WSJ is fairly positive and was reinforced by Pres. Obama saying today that “there are signs…”

“China’s massive $585 billion government stimulus program appears to be kicking in, new data suggested Friday, raising the chances that the world’s third-largest economy may be turning a corner.

Chinese demand for raw materials, hard hit in past months, is showing signs of recovery, with crude-oil imports hitting a one-year high in March, the government reported Friday. Steel mills in March imported record quantities of their key raw material, iron ore, in anticipation of a pickup in demand in coming months.”  See the rest of the story….ChinaRebound?

Go Global II #4

1 comment April 10th, 2009

180 people from many regions and countries gathered to share experience, fears, facts, and dreams about going global. One local company I spoke with is putting a facility in India. I wondered if he had spoken to a Machine Shop I knew had done that—he had never even heard of this company (maybe we should know our town before we look outside—but that is another topic!) I will try to put them together–one type of benefit from Go Global II. I met two regional companies that were not aware of what we could offer–direct sales to a regional partner, another benefit from Go Global. Lots of time to interact with Regional Economic Development and support entities so I could be sure I was interacting with all they have to offer my company—one more benefit of attending Go Global II. Great Speakers at the break out sessions and the Keynotes or Luncheon Speakers made it worth attending all by itself! Yesterday Dr. Tanuja Singh, Director of Marketing department at NIU spoke about Cultural differences between all global market places. She used humor and statistics to help us to understand how important it is to research where we are going to find work/resources and who is coming to see us! Below is a web site that she sited as very informative and useful. Add it to your go global tool box! I contend that small company to large OEM has cultural differences. Early on in my manufacturing venture a mentor from a large company came along, she and I have enjoyed learning about the different cultures we operate in. It has been a treasure of information as I have dealt with large potential customers. This web-site could be that for you as you look on the horizon and GO GLOBAL!

http://www.geert-hofstede.com/