Posts filed under 'Uncategorized'
November 16th, 2009
Show attendees have the opportunity to take advantage of the unified educational
curriculum offered at the 2009 FABTECH International & AWS Welding Show, including METALFORM, running Nov. 15-18, at Chicago’s McCormick Place. A variety of technical seminars, conferences, and professional programs are available. From metal forming, fabricating and welding technology to economic, operation, and management issues, the programming has been designed to provide the latest and most up-to-date information needed to successfully operate in every aspect of the industry. Register to attend the show and preview the full schedule of low-cost and free educational opportunities available at www.fabtechexpo.com
November 16th, 2009
Who is
America’s Best Welder? Professional welders will compete Sunday Nov. 15th through Tuesday, Nov. 17th at the 2009 FABTECH Int’l & AWS Welding Show, including METALFORM. Welders compete for a grand prize of $2,500 by making a pipe-to-plate weld on a pre-tacked joint in five minutes or less. The contest will be judged by a team of AWS Certified Welding Inspectors. Entry fee is $20 and registration is at the show, booth #4006. It’s free to root for your friends as they battle for the title of “Best Welder in the
U.S.A.In addition to the $2,500 grand prize, a $1,000 second prize and a $500 third prize will be awarded, and the top 12 competitors will win an AWS duffel bag. All participants will receive an AWS Professional Welders Competition t-shirt. Go to ww.fabtechexpo.com to find out about all the exciting events at FABTECH.
November 16th, 2009
On Monday, Nov. 16, 8:00 a.m., Jeff Knauf, president of Medalist Laserfab, Inc., will moderate a panel discussion on business strategies for surviving and thriving during a tough economy. The panel is comprised of several diverse members from the metal forming, fabricating and welding industry. Topics include workforce development, diversifying product lines and operations, obtaining financing/credit, and current tax incentives. Participants will provide a real-world perspective and offer practical ideas you can use immediately. FABTECH runs Nov. 15-18, 2009 at Chicago’s McCormick Place. Read more about the event and register to attend the show at www.fabtechexpo.com
November 15th, 2009
I hope you’ll visit Cockpit USA (www.cockpitusa.com) today where they are all about preserving the pride of our American heritage in a uniquely American classic style.
November 1st, 2009
NTMA Releases Fall 2009 Business / Customer Market Forecast Report – Signs Point to Slow Business Recovery for Member Companies
As the fourth quarter begins, there continue to be signs that the economy has bottomed out and is heading toward a recovery – albeit a very slow recovery for NTMA member companies.
There is expectation that this recovery, especially in the automotive industry, will be slow. The automotive industry, the largest single market for NTMA member products and services, is, in the fourth quarter of 2009, drastically different than that of fourth quarter 2008. Yet there are signs of future growth. After a tumultuous ten months, several vehicle manufacturers appear ready to release a number of new programs – meaning that the tooling industry could soon be overwhelmed with new orders.
Despite the above, there is concern as to whether the drastically smaller domestic tooling industry will be capable of handling the volume of the soon to be released new programs. There is also concern that much of this new tooling might be sourced, especially by GM, directly to low cost countries.
The commercial aerospace sector has held up relatively well in this severe downturn. However orders for new planes are well behind 2008 orders and indicate possible weakness for NTMA members serving this market in the next few years. The general aviation sector has not held-up nearly as well and there are signals suggesting that volume will be reduced in the next few years.
Industry projections for 2009 have been revised somewhat – tools, dies and fixtures are now expected to be down 60% for the year and the machining sector forecasts are also down from the previous NTMA projections. The latest projections for those special tooling and machining sectors tracked by NTMA are as follows:
Tools & Dies -60%
Molds -45%
Special Machines -55%
Precision Machining -40%
Aerospace Machining & Fabrication -20%
NTMA’s quarterly Business/Customer Market Forecast Reports provide valuable insights and forecasts regarding the major sectors of the U.S. contract special tooling and machining industry as well as its leading customer markets. A benefit of membership. www.ntma.org
October 27th, 2009
Since our area is one of the largest Aerospace Clusters in the USA—yes we are! The Aerospace Standard is an issue for many readers. For over a year they have said changes are coming. I am sure you have noticed increased audit days required for your company when you are scheduling annual and recertification audits. Often from (1) day to (3) days, thus triple the costs! I disagree with this but that is another discussion. Below is an update as to the status of the next revision level for AS9100. Some very different requirements are being put on auditors. There is already a shortage of AS auditors. The fact that Big Wind and other emerging markets are requiring this level of certification and as companies try to scramble to participate in the more “healthy” Aerospace Market it should be interesting to see how this all plays out. Going straight to the issue that is on many people’s minds: When will we be able to make the certification transition to Revision C of AS9100? The answer to the question is not fully known.
Before any of us can be certified to AS9100C, our aerospace auditors must undergo recognized training and pass a test to perform audits against that standard. The IAQG sanctioned training for auditors, has not been developed yet. Actually, at this moment, the IAQG is deciding on who will be the organization awarded with the contract to develop the training.
A pivotal issue for the training is also the release of AS9101 Revision D. As previously communicated, the next version of 9101 will be a significant departure from the current version of the document. The upcoming 9101D document will no longer be a checklist, as the current one is, but rather a standard providing both guidance and requirements on how to plan, execute and report audits performed to the 9100, 9110 and 9120 standards. It contains some very interesting concepts, such as requirements for auditors to assess and report not only on the degree of conformity to requirements, but also on the effectiveness of the processes in reaching certain objectives. Auditors will have to carefully evaluate the process and report the results via a specific form, the PEAR form (Process Effectiveness Assessment Report). Below is an excerpt of the latest DRAFT of the 9101D guidance/requirements:
4.1.2.5 Process Performance and Effectiveness
The audit team should audit processes to sufficient depth and detail to evaluate if the organization’s processes are capable of meeting planned results and performance levels, including applicable customer specific targets.
The audit team should evaluate, as appropriate, that processes:
a) are identified and appropriately defined;
b) are sequenced and interactions are defined;
c) have process input/outputs, activities, and resources defined;
d) have responsibilities assigned and responsible functions identified;
e) have relevant process controls defined;
f) have the availability of resources and information required to operate and support associated activities, including appropriate training and competency of personnel;
g) are monitored, measured, and analyzed against planned results (determination of process effectiveness);
h) have actions implemented to achieve planned results and to promote continual improvement; and
i) are effective in achieving the desired results (e.g., verify performance information available - percentage of nonconforming parts/products, percentage OTD).
9101D will also require auditors to gather and use data about customer satisfaction and the percentage of the aerospace business as relevant input, as part of the audit planning process. OASIS feedback entries about the organization’s performance will also be used as part of the audit planning process.
Once again, an excerpt of the DRAFT of 9101D states: The audit planning should take into account:
a) the scope and complexity of the organization’s quality management system;
b) the processes of the organization, including their sequence and interactions;
c) the criticality of products and processes;
d) product related safety issues (e.g., airworthiness issues, reporting to customer and/or authorities);
e) results of internal audits;
f) previous audit findings;
g) the KPIs and trends for quality and OTD;
h) previous management review results;
i) customer satisfaction and complaints log, including feedback requests received by the CB (e.g., items identified through OASIS feedback process);
j) customer specific, statutory, and regulatory quality management system requirements;
k) performance data available from the customers;
l) changes to organization (e.g., structure; facilities; business strategy; processes; technologies; a review of requirements from new aviation, space, and defense customers); and
m) the audit team member required background/experience and desired competencies.
The audit team leader shall use organization’s customer feedback requests, including those received through OASIS, to assist with audit planning for surveillance and re-certification audits. The audit activities shall be prioritized based upon performance data for business risks that can impact the customer (i.e., customer concerns, customer special statuses) and on low performing processes.
As an input into the audit planning process, the audit team leader shall obtain information from the organization regarding their customers on the proportion of aviation, space, and defense business each customer represents, based on their approximate percentage of business. The audit team leader shall ensure that the amount of audit time planned on auditing any one customer’s specific quality management system requirements is consistent (approximately) with the proportion of aviation, space, and defense business each customer represents (e.g., customer X may only have 20% of the business so do not spend 80% of the time verifying customer X’s specific quality management system requirements).
So, as you can see, the revision of the 9101 document will introduce some significant heightened expectations for the audits conducted under the ICOP Scheme. Is Rockford part of the discussion?
October 18th, 2009
The American Free Enterprise. Dream Big campaign is one of the most important and necessary initiatives in the Chamber’s nearly 100-year history. As a nation, we face major policy challenges–but none greater or more important than reviving the economy, restoring the 7 million jobs lost to the current recession, and creating the 13 million more jobs that will be needed over the next decade. A recent survey by the U.S. Chamber found that while people support free enterprise, they do not clearly see how it benefits them as individuals. Respondents also expressed concern about the future of the free enterprise system and believe that the private sector will and should take the lead in the nation’s number one challenge–job creation.
At the U.S. Chamber, we believe that the values of individual initiative, hard work, freedom of choice, and the free exchange of trade, capital, and ideas can lead America back to prosperity. Only free enterprise will create the innovation, the opportunities, and the jobs our nation needs. That is why we are launching this campaign. You can sign up … here
September 27th, 2009
Today was a great day in Rockford when the Lincoln Bicentennial Commission of Winnebago County unveiled “Iron Determination” a Lincoln Sculpture by John W. McClarey and cast by a local craftsman (Adams) in nearby Mt. Morris, IL. Christiansen says this bust, in the Courthouse Square, is our connection to Lincoln and the powerful things he did while in office as our 16th President. Today was full of history about the times Lincoln was in our region and how he loved the Rock River Valley but more than that how he is the only President to hold a patent for his own invention. The Honorable Scott H Christiansen so cleverly wove his comments to include our rich manufacturing history and to speak of how rich it will be in the future. I hope someone makes his comments available past today as they were excellent! In the meantime slip downtown and be inspired by this man who, years after his death, points us to the future and the success it can hold.
September 25th, 2009
Keeping up with the news these days seems all BAD! Success stories during this economy are important! People who are having success need to step up and tell us….do you have a success story? Maybe it is that you are still here and have cash flow. Maybe it is that your back log is filling up! Maybe you have made changes that improve your out put. Maybe you have gotten a new big customer…..on and on! Too shy to share? At least be sure to look in the mirror and tell your self your success story today! Entrepreneurs can do well in this economy. Things are picking up…think positive thoughts….keep on keeping on and ENJOY!
September 9th, 2009
I wish I would have taken two weeks off….would people have waited?
I have just come back from my 2 week vacation at my beach house…no email, no voice mail, ,no twitter, facebook, or cell phones- only lots of beach, family time, novels, food, fireworks (is there an iPhone app for that?) and campfires (I know there is an app for that!). While I was away from business I learned 5 things this summer:
1. It is possible to go on vacation and let go of your business obligations temporarily. Sure, I came back to 3400 emails, but no one died, no one went out of business and nothing happened that I could not work on this week. Give yourself a break. No matter how fast we think that business moves (which is does), things can and will wait for you. Let go!
2. The best communication is still face to face for people. I love technology like social media, email, phone calls, Skype, Twitter and Facebook but guess what? Humans still communicated best face to face. On vacation, while family and friends visited our beach house, I was able to have extended conversations or play games with people without having to get to the next meeting or obligation. This allowed me to deepen our relationship together and it felt much more rewarding that 1 hour meetings with agendas.
3. Reading novels about zombies, aliens and ghosts are good for the brain. I read alot of business magazines and books at the office and home. Reading these types of novels allowed my mind to relax and expand so new business ideas came up that I never would have thought of …btw, I read Patient Zero (Thanks, Chris Brogan), Treason (what if you morphed into a woman?), Good People (What would you do if you found $370,000) and Ghost Road Blues (Halloween will never be the same)
4. Work by task, not time. Typically, I accomplish a business task in a certain amount of time. This is necessary to meet deadlines and meet all my business obligations. On vacation at the beach house, there were no time pressures so I was able to work on a task until it was done (Or I got bored of it). This felt much more rewarding. I accomplished the tasks more completely and enjoyably.
5. Even on vacation, things change daily. The weather at Lake Michigan was not the best. Temperatures varied from 37 degrees (ouch!,see photo above) to 80 degrees. As a result, everyday the lake (rough, calm and flat), the beach (hot, windy or wet) and sunset (yellow, orange, fireball and foggy) were different. The best skill that we can develop anywhere is to adapt for change. What is your plan if it is sunny, cloudy or raining? Does it change or can it stay the same?
barrymoltz.com lots of interesting thoughts on business!
Previous Posts
