SIEMENS Energy Addresses Skilled Labor Gap

You can learn about the solutions mentioned below – and more -- at the Mission Critical: Workforce 2021 Feature Area at imX, powered by Tooling U. Come by for your free Workforce 2021 Readiness Assessment, which tests your organization’s ability to meet the industry’s workforce challenges.

A recent Businessweek headline, “Employers Ready to Hire Can't Find Workers Among 9.1% Unemployed,” gives a snapshot of the nearing crisis in manufacturing. In the next decade, changing industrial technology and the retirement of millions of baby boomers will mean a severely depleted workforce – unless companies address this now.

One company that is meeting this challenge head on is Siemens Energy in Charlotte, NC, makers of turbines and generators (watch this recent NBC “Nightly News” segment). We visited Siemens recently and were impressed by the company’s approach to hiring, training and career development. If more companies follow their lead, manufacturing will be stronger than ever by the year 2021.

“This is a very exciting time for us here at Siemens as we are currently expanding our facility,” says Pamela Howze, Technical Training Manager for the company. “We have 500,000 square feet of manufacturing space, and we’re adding an additional 450,000 square feet, and relocating a product line to Charlotte that we've never built here before. We are hiring an enormous amount of people, and our jobs here in Charlotte require a lot of very highly technical skills.”

Since January 2011, Siemens has hired 450 people, and the company is working on nearly doubling that number. This need to hire is coupled with the challenge of an aging workforce nearing retirement.

“Twenty percent of our employees could retire today if they chose to do so and that number actually rises to 25% in two years,” said Ms. Howze. “We are trying to figure out how to retain the knowledge of our seasoned, senior employees and also train a brand-new workforce on a product line that we had never made here before.”

The company is doing some innovative things to address this while closing the skilled labor gap. For instance, Siemens started an apprenticeship program mirrored after the German school education system, with six rising high school seniors going into apprenticeship training this month. The company also has a close partnership with the Central Piedmont Community College and the company receives legislative dollars to help build and train a strong workforce.

Siemens is also investing in online training through Tooling U, an SME Company, the leading provider of online training for manufacturers.

“Tooling U helps Siemens in many, many ways,” said Ms. Howze. “First of all, as a diagnostic tool, it tells us where our existing workforce needs to develop their skills. Second, online training is really a good fit for us because we can use it any time of the day or any time of night -- we operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, so it gives our operators a chance to access training anytime.”

Ms. Howze stressed that if we don't solve this workforce skills gap, we are not going to have personnel who can work in a high-tech manufacturing facility. She says: “Companies have to think strategically – and start thinking now because 10 years from now, it's going to be too late.”

Dollars and Sense: How a focus on profitability and productivity can sharpen the competitive edge of American manufacturing

How do you aim to reduce the cost of your machining process? If you are like most, tools, coolant and other perishable inputs take center stage. While these elements are an important consideration, there’s another alternative that can have a far greater impact.

The challenge of keeping American manufacturing competitive in today’s global economy is serious. Low-cost emerging markets present a tempting substitute to domestic production; a focus on fixed costs, however, can generate substantial productivity gains that make it easier to choose U.S. production.

The typical economic breakdown of a machined component is as follows: 25 percent variable costs (tooling, coolant and material); 55 percent fixed costs (real estate, equipment and labor); and 20 percent profit.

To increase the profit margin, manufacturers must create more components in the same amount of time, on the same equipment. By doing this, manufacturers only incur increased variable costs. Involving cutting tool experts early in the machine investment process—or, if the process is already in production, inviting experts in to help with optimization—manufacturers can reach this goal.

While the above cost breakdown assumes the sale of the additional components, it’s easy to see how producing more with existing investments can have a far greater impact on profitability than simply choosing cheaper inputs—a strategy that low-cost foreign markets typically rely on.

While cutting tools represent only 3 to 6 percent of the cost of typical metal component production, the proper planning and application of cutting tools and production logistics and machining strategies can lower overall production costs by as much as 50 percent.

This is what the upcoming imX event is all about: addressing the challenges that American manufactures face through education, interaction and networking. As a proud imX partner, Sandvik Coromant has seen firsthand how the application of this knowledge can fuel the engines of growth—making global competition far less daunting.

If you would like to hear more about this topic, be sure to visit our Learning Lab and attend the “Production Dollars and Sense” session, happening every day from 2 – 2:45 p.m.

By Mike Verkamp, Director of Business Services and presenter of Production Dollars and Sense

A Failure to Communicate?

As Mark Twain once so famously espoused: The reports of my death are greatly exaggerated. More contemporarily, it is not hard to see the parallels between Twain’s much-repeated quote and perception vs. reality in the world of manufacturing.

Telling Your Own Stories

There is another time-worn saying about speaking only when spoken to. And while that old school phrase was once promoted by parents to their offspring pre-“Dr. Spock,” it can also be compared to the theory of sticking one’s head in the sand; avoiding controversy and being silent in the face of conflict.

Today, more than ever, it is important – vital – for proponents of manufacturing to

spread the word of what the industry is today and where it is going in the future. This includes inwardly to employees and vendors and partners as well as externally to customers, potential customers and the media. The platforms available today are many and varied – from websites and e-blasts to in-person conversations.

Moreover, when it comes to the media, it’s important to think beyond the trades, those that directly cover your industry and specialized sector. It is beyond the trade media where the disconnect festers; where there is still not a keen understanding of how manufacturing has adapted and evolved, including in the area of advanced manufacturing. What were the challenges and what were the innovative solutions? Those stories are being developed every day.

An Industry Working Together

In any industry, quite often, positive messages and news of creative work product are not communicated for reasons of proprietary considerations. After all, who wants to lose a competitive advantage? Yet, in a few short weeks, competitors and collaborators alike will come together at imX in Las Vegas to do something earth shattering and counterintuitive: to look beyond spread sheets and customer orders and work together to promote and further manufacturing.

The so-named “Experience” will be just that. An opportunity for all to discuss challenges and solutions; learn and teach best practices; and discover (or rediscover) why the industry is well positioned now and for the future.

The key to it all, at imX and beyond, is communication. Breaking down silos to see the big picture; the forest through the trees; the “we” vs. “me.” To be sure, imX will serve as an incredibly important resource and platform; one like perhaps never before.

Don Tanner is a founding partner with Farmington Hills, Michigan-based

Tanner Friedman Strategic Communications. The firm is the official PR agency of imX.

The Benefits of Attending imX.

We’ve received a lot of inquiries lately from potential guests seeking a brief rundown on the benefits of imX.

They understand the basic concept and how imX is like a series of “open houses” or “demo days” rolled into one large event. They get how we’re trying to put “learning” from the best companies, speakers and industry experts right up front and at the heart of the imX experience. They can relate to imX building a quality environment where a select group of attendees are invited to come meet, learn and exchange ideas with their peers.

Yet we are often asked to give them a quick “highlight reel” of the key parts of imX.

First and foremost, it’s important to remember that all the exhibits and educational programs at imX are available to all registered guests FREE of charge. Once you get invited and confirmed and registered… you’re in!

You have unlimited and complimentary access to all keynotes, panels, more than 100 sessions at the Learning Labs and more than 40 sessions at the Knowledge Bars and more than 150 imX eXhibits!

Here’s a snapshot of activities that every guest will have full access to:

· Direct one-to-one access to the experts who are there to answer your questions. Selected companies have made it a priority to have the right people on hand to answer all of your technical and business questions.

· Discover and explore the latest products and solutions from hand-picked exhibit partners dedicated to advancing the industry. We want to give you the opportunity to experience the newest products and innovative technologies to help you immediately improve your operation.

· Hear from the industry’s leading visionaries at the Keynotes and Industry Panels presented every day. All presentations include an interactive Q&A component for the audience.

· Easily navigate our themed-event layout and take advantage of an approach that makes it easier than ever to locate the companies and individuals you want to meet with in neighborhoods built around solutions.

· Take full advantage of full “peer-to-peer” networking that ensures that you can plan and meet with your industry colleagues before, during and after the event in the countless programs created to foster real eXchange.

· Discover implementable and proven strategies directly from the industry’s experts at the largest, most interactive classroom. Eight dedicated Labs focused exclusively on learning strategically positioned right on the event floor and powered by the leading companies. You’ll get firsthand knowledge of the latest trends and technology solutions and will be able to take advantage of more than 100 Learning Lab sessions free to every executive guest.

It’s time to start eXploring!

If you haven’t yet registered for this event you need to act quickly and apply to join imX as soon as possible. You can click on this link to apply https://www.xpressreg.net/register/IMXE091/reginfo.php

Please don’t hesitate to email me with any questions or comments at sprahalis@sme.org.

Best regards…

Manufacturing: Automation, Multitasking Trends Continue To See Demand

Manufacturing Engineering recently sat down with two imX eXperience partners to discuss manufacturing trends and the future of the industry. Both topics will be salient to imX. The article appears in the August 2011 issue and features interviews with Dan Janka, President of MAG IAS, LLC and Tomo Ishibe, President and CEO, FANUC FA America. Read a portion of the interview below:

Manufacturing Engineering: What is the market asking for with regard to new machine tool technology?

Dan Janka: We regard the machine tool platform as the basis for any complete solution for our customers. It’s critical that machine tool technology is dynamically designed to enable high-precision and high-speed machining that optimizes processes to reduce overall cycle time.

Tomo Ishibe: In the last ten or fifteen years, we have focused on high-speed machining. In fact, that was my focus when I was a software engineer working in the FANUC laboratory. Today, that is still true, with the addition of five-axis machining and multitasking machining.

ME: What educational activities are you planning for imX?

Janka: We’ll highlight real-world cryogenic machining for difficult-to-machine materials like titanium, Inconel, hardened steel and CGI. We’ll also feature multifunction machining of extremely large parts, and tie in the importance of volumetric accuracy in production of large, high-precision complex parts.

Ishibe: Our goal at imX is to educate end users, machine tool builders, and distributors on how the integration of cutting edge CNC and robotic technologies can increase their productivity. One important point that will be discussed in our learning labs at imX is that our newest technology provides the most cost-effective solution when measured by the total cost of ownership (TCO) and life cycle of machines.

ME: What outcomes do you expect from imX? Janka: We’re looking for quality interaction with our customers and manufacturers that will lead to a much greater influence in their investment decisions as they look to improve their productivity. We’re looking to not only inform and provide meaningful ideas about our innovations, but we’re looking forward to closer ties, especially when they make future inquiries.

ME: How has FANUC recovered from the recent tragic events in Japan?

Ishibe: FANUC HQ executives worked quickly and diligently with each of our component suppliers and were able to secure a sufficient inventory of components by the beginning of June. Additionally, FANUC FA America sources quality components locally which also minimized the impact of any parts shortage.

Manufacturing: Automation, Multitasking Trends Continue To See Demand

Manufacturing Engineering sat down with two imX eXperience partners to discuss manufacturing trends and the future of the industry. Both topics will be salient to imX. The article appears in the August 2011 issue and features interviews with Dan Janka, President of MAG IAS, LLC and Tomo Ishibe, President and CEO, FANUC FA America. Read a portion of the interview below:

Manufacturing Engineering: What is the market asking for with regard to new machine tool technology?

Dan Janka: We regard the machine tool platform as the basis for any complete solution for our customers. It’s critical that machine tool technology is dynamically designed to enable high-precision and high-speed machining that optimizes processes to reduce overall cycle time.

Tomo Ishibe: In the last ten or fifteen years, we have focused on high-speed machining. In fact, that was my focus when I was a software engineer working in the FANUC laboratory. Today, that is still true, with the addition of five-axis machining and multitasking machining.

ME: What educational activities are you planning for imX?

Janka: We’ll highlight real-world cryogenic machining for difficult-to-machine materials like titanium, Inconel, hardened steel and CGI. We’ll also feature multifunction machining of extremely large parts, and tie in the importance of volumetric accuracy in production of large, high-precision complex parts.

Ishibe: Our goal at imX is to educate end users, machine tool builders, and distributors on how the integration of cutting edge CNC and robotic technologies can increase their productivity. One important point that will be discussed in our learning labs at imX is that our newest technology provides the most cost-effective solution when measured by the total cost of ownership (TCO) and life cycle of machines.

ME: What outcomes do you expect from imX? Janka: We’re looking for quality interaction with our customers and manufacturers that will lead to a much greater influence in their investment decisions as they look to improve their productivity. We’re looking to not only inform and provide meaningful ideas about our innovations, but we’re looking forward to closer ties, especially when they make future inquiries.

ME: How has FANUC recovered from the recent tragic events in Japan?

Ishibe: FANUC HQ executives worked quickly and diligently with each of our component suppliers and were able to secure a sufficient inventory of components by the beginning of June. Additionally, FANUC FA America sources quality components locally which also minimized the impact of any parts shortage.

The countdown to imX is on!

It’s hard to believe that imX is only a couple of months away. After years of planning, we are getting ready to head to Las Vegas for an event like no other, an “invitation only” event created by the industry and created just for you.

If you have already been invited and confirmed as an eXecutive guest, you will be receiving personalized correspondence that will help you build your plan for this event. You can also see all the latest developments.

If you haven’t yet registered for this event, you need to act quickly and apply to join imX as soon as possible. You can click on this link to apply imXevent.com/apply

One of the commitments we made early on – based on your feedback – was to ensure that this event focused on “relevant and implementable” learning. You wanted to leave imX with information that could immediately help your operations. You wanted the learning to happen right on the event floor, and you wanted to meet with the experts.

There was no question of the importance of education at this event. From demonstrations to hands-on learning to client testimonials and case studies, you wanted to see, hear and learn all in one place, at one time.

It’s important that you know that the imX executive committee and our partners have worked diligently to create this unique education program that provides every imX guest with FREE and total access to all the learning available at imX. This includes all keynote presentations, the interactive Industry Panels, more than 100 sessions in the 8 dedicated Learning Labs and more than 40 unique sessions hosted by our industry experts in the Knowledge Bars.

Again, there are no registration fees associated with any of these programs for imX invited guests. Your investment is your time and your commitment to ensuring your organization’s and youy industry’s future.

We can’t wait to see you at imX.

Please don’t hesitate to email me with any questions or comments that help us to continually improve your event at sprahalis@sme.org.

One more reminder – If you haven’t booked your room yet, please note that there is a limited number of rooms reserved at the Bellagio at the imX rate of $169/night. This rate includes no additional resort fees, free internet and unlimited complimentary transportation to and from the Las Vegas Convention Center. Click on imXevent.com/accommodations to reserve your room today.

Best regards.

Media partner Manufacturing Engineering recently sat down with Bryon Deysher, President and CEO of Methods Machine Tools and John Tucker, Vice President and President Business Groups of Kennametal Inc. to get their take on the future of manufacturing. The article, titled, “imX Experience Partners Discuss Manufacturing Trends,” appears in the June 2011 issue and features an expanded view on manufacturing and each company’s ties to imX and the future of the industry.

Manufacturing Engineering: What is the market looking for in new machine tool technology?

Bryon Deysher: The market is trending more toward production on demand, the theme we are using for imX. We are seeing more requests for small-lot production, for part-off complete, for multitasking, and five-axis machining capabilities. Our customers are looking at minimizing cost, and reducing setup time.

John Tucker: Turnkey solutions are really one of the important ways that we can provide value to our customers. Turnkey solutions, applications engineering, and test cuts, for example, are being pushed down from the customer, giving us a greater role in helping them make their machine tool selections.

ME: What is being done to educate the customer about how to get the best performance out of their manufacturing technology?

Deysher: As much as this is an Internet-oriented society and people are going there to get information, the machine tool business is a people-oriented business. It requires us to provide our customers with knowledge-based solutions.

Tucker: Our application-engineering expertise can aid and assist our customers in how to properly apply the cutting tool in terms of feeds and speeds that optimize tool life and performance. We are also participating in technology seminars with our machine tool builders and distributor partners at their locations.

ME: How can we attract young people to manufacturing?

Deysher: We have to promote how innovative our industry is. This isn’t a dirty business any more. It’s an industry where people can be challenged, grow, and be successful.

Tucker: We see our relationships in terms of research and development and partnering with universities as a key component of our product innovation process. We see that as an important element to develop interest in cutting tools and the challenges we face in always improving our product.

ME: What are you planning for imX, what technologies and educational activities will be showcased?

Deysher: At imX, our theme is production on demand. There is a high degree of need for small-lot production, especially in the aerospace and medical industries.

Tucker: Our imX participation will focus on our ability to enhance productivity with selection of the right tool and machine process to drive productivity and profitability.

To view the full article, visit http//www.sme.org/manufacturingengineering

Education is the Answer to Future American Manufacturing Workforce

The American manufacturing workforce has been dealt several blows over the past few years due to overseas outsourcing, a global recession and a skills shortage among incoming employees. Education is the answer to all three thorns in the industry. Globally integrated companies are at an advantage when laying the foundation for education in the metal cutting industry: companies can position themselves as thought leaders and provide accessible resources to those entering the workforce.

Sandvik Coromant combats this looming issue with a three-pronged approach: Smart Events, Technical Training courses, and partnering with industry associations including the National Institute for Metalworking Skills. Smart Events are our free educational seminar series hosted at technical centers across the country. The series addresses solutions and best practices for milling, threading, aerospace and titanium machining, and development tools for building a more informed, profitable workforce.

Smart Events

At a recent Smart Event, Bridging the Skills Gap, the Director of NIMS Steve Mandes, presented the importance of maintaining a globally competitive manufacturing workforce. The news was promising: manufacturing activity has grown for 20 consecutive months, employment in manufacturing increased by 200,000 in the last year and by all counts, manufacturing is leading the U.S. economy out of the recession. For this reason, it is of the utmost importance to ensure skilled labor enters the industry and education is the driving force.

Technical Training

Sandvik Coromant technical training courses support industry development with application knowledge and fundamental, theoretical know-how broken down into four main training levels. Our Technical Guide and Application Guides serve as supportive, more in-depth material. These guides outline important product- and application-specific information on choosing the right tools; employing the correct machining methods; tooling maintenance, productivity and optimization.

NIMS Skills USA

Our dedication to education and development of the American manufacturing workforce is furthered by our partnership with NIMS and participation in Skills USA. The institute is a vital partner in addressing the major concern of a skills shortage in U.S. manufacturing. Sandvik Coromant supports Skills USA National Championships. Skills USA fosters education and communication between students, teachers, and industry leaders.

imX: Focus on Customer Engagement, Interaction and Education

As a global leader, Sandvik Coromant has an unmatched depth of metal-cutting knowledge and expertise to share with the industry. We work in close cooperation with not only customers, but industry partners. imX will be the industry’s most significant networking opportunity due to its focus on customer engagement, interaction and education.

We are looking at imX as a platform to collaborate with top-level manufacturing executives and partners, improving processes and innovating new ways of working together. Our continued commitment is on helping customers achieve higher efficiencies and maximize profits. We stand behind this mission: Your success in focus.

The imX will be the first time an event will bring together leading industry experts to specifically focus on the needs of the manufacturing industry. The event shows a commitment to providing economic growth and job opportunities in the United States and ensures easier navigation to help manufacturers find the solutions they are looking for in one place.

Sandvik Coromant imX eXperience partner

Decisions, Decisions, Decisions about Maintaining U.S. Manufacturing Competitiveness

As the unemployment rate continues to weigh heavily on a turnaround in the U. S. economy, the national conversation seems to have turned, once again, to the manufacturing industry for analysis and answers.

And why not? Those of us who work in the industry know how important U.S. manufacturing is! Yes, it makes up 21% of the global manufacturing economy, and at $1.6 trillion in annual revenue accounts for 11.2% of GDP. Manufacturing employs some twelve million workers or 9% of the U.S. workforce down from a peak of about 19 million workers in 1970 or about 21% of the workforce. U.S. manufacturing workers are twice as productive as workers in the next ten economies. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, unit labor costs have declined 40% relative to the average unit labor cost of fourteen countries that are major competitors in global markets.

Still we know that many jobs have been outsourced overseas, but we now know that the trend to send part production for some items overseas is reversing because of low quality, high energy and transportation costs and wages that are beginning to increase. From 2005 to 2010, wages in China increased 69% and are expected to continue to increase about 17% annually.

As work continues to be re-shored back to the U.S., jobs will certainly follow. GE has announced that it will bring some appliance production back to the U.S. Caterpillar is bringing some excavator production back to Texas, NCR is bringing ATM production back and those are just a few of the re-shoring efforts by big name companies. There are thousands of small and medium-size manufacturers that are bringing parts production back as well.

Over the last couple of years since the end of the most recent economic downturn, U. S. manufacturing has added nearly a quarter of a million jobs back to the economy according to the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), but there is a disconnect between the unemployment rate today when we know that many jobs in manufacturing are going unfilled because employers need a skilled workforce and are unable to find qualified candidates to meet their needs.

President Obama recently announced a major expansion of Skills for America’s Future, an industry-led initiative to improve industry partnerships with community colleges and build a nationwide network to maximize workforce development strategies, job training programs, and job placements.

The Manufacturing Institute, the affiliated non-profit of NAM, announced an effort to help provide 500,000 community college students with industry-recognized credentials that will help them get secure jobs in the manufacturing sector. The Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME), the American Welding Society, (AWS) and the National Institute for Metalworking Skills (NIMS) are included in this credentialing program.

The President also announced an effort to develop a new credentialing system that works for industry and will give students the opportunity to earn manufacturing credentials that will travel across state lines and be of value to a wider range of employers.

A number of community colleges across the country that are part of the National Coalition of Advanced Technology Centers (NCATC) already have outstanding programs in place to supply industry with a qualified workforce, but more is needed and the President’s plan will be helpful, although it will take time.

To bridge the skills gap now, many companies are increasing expenditures in new capital equipment to become more productive and increase their global competitiveness by taking advantage of the continuation of Sec. 179 tax incentives. President Obama first proposed temporary 100% expensing for capital investments last September. The new law enacts the President’s proposal by increasing bonus depreciation to 100% for new equipment purchased and placed into service after September 8, 2010 and through December 31, 2011.

This September, while many American companies join with educators on solutions for workforce development and re-training efforts, they will also attend the imX event and Learning Labs for insight and answers about how they can innovate, become more productive and more competitive in the global marketplace.

Positioned as the Epicenter of Innovation, imX is the forum that will provide a preview of the technologies that this revived workforce will manage in the coming resurgence of U.S. manufacturing.

Peter Borden, President

AMTDA

U.S. Manufacturing Renaissance Will Require Collaboration

The May 10, 2011 editorial titled “The coming renaissance in U.S. manufacturing,” provides an inspiring outlook on an industry that is critical to our nation’s future. However, for this renaissance to take shape and be sustainable, it will require an entirely new way of thinking and behaving.

In the past, the approach favored by manufacturers was an “own it all” and bury the competition mentality, leaving the details to work themselves out along the way.

In today’s economy, it will be crucial for domestic multiple vendor companies – OEMs, integrators and distributors – to work collaboratively. Only with this mindset will the U.S. manufacturing community be able to compete and win globally.

The customer of today, and tomorrow, is more interested in finding the right “total solution” than a “quick fix” to resolve one specific challenge. Customers expect, and will continue to demand, that vendors come together to create these solutions on their behalf.

Manufacturing leaders are gathering to chart this new course for the industry at imX this fall. Will you be on board? Click here to apply for your invitation.

Steve Prahalis

Event Manager for imX

Future of Manufacturing Means Working, Winning Together

Manufacturing Engineering Magazine recently spoke with two imX eXperience partners about the present and future of the manufacturing industry. The importance of collaboration to the latter will be an important theme of imX. The article, titled “Working Together, Winning Together,” appears in the May 2011 issue and features interviews with Tom Dillon, Vice Chairman, DMG / Mori Seiki USA, and John Israelsson, President, Sandvik Coromant US. Excerpts are below.

ME: Is there a greater demand these days for turnkey solutions than we saw in the past? Do manufacturing professionals want plug and play?

Israelsson: To a certain extent, absolutely, there’s more demand for turnkey solutions. But I think… customers today seem to need more help than before to develop a total solution. Maybe they don’t have all the resources… so they are looking to their suppliers—their machine tool suppliers and their cutting tool suppliers—to help them develop that total solution….

Dillon: They still talk about it being a turnkey, but in reality it’s a shared key…. We know our machines; the customer usually knows how to machine their parts as well as anyone because they are doing it already. Together we have the capacity to create positive difference on our end-users' manufacturing floors. The operative word here is “together”. They just want to do it better, faster, more economically. We can certainly assist a great deal in this area, but, in the end, it’s about working together.

ME: [imX] is designed or intended mainly as an educational event. What education-oriented activities are you planning for imX?

Israelsson: Traditionally, we talk about learning, Learning Labs, immediate things. If you think about the target audience for imX—more senior management, more decision makers—they probably are thinking more about profitability, about how to work smarter in general….

Dillon: We are now talking with customers more about where they want to be and less about where they presently are. As for imX, it’s a unique concept. If we can speak to the people who understand where they need to be in the future at their company, they can share such information with other staff members “…I saw something at imX that made good business sense to me.” We will win together, we may not “always” win together, but it will always be together.

More Complex, Integrated Solutions Help Continue USMTC Increases in 2011

The U.S. manufacturing technology consumption has, again, exceeded March expectations and by a large margin.

According to AMTDA, the American Machine Tool Distributors’ Association and AMT – The Association for Manufacturing Technology, March U.S. manufacturing technology consumption totaled $511.15 million. This total, as reported by companies participating in the USMTC program, was up 57.6% from February, and up 99% when compared with the total of $256.88 million reported for March 2010. With a year-to-date total of $1,203.57 million, 2011 is up 118.6% compared with 2010.*

This is a great sign for the U.S. economy. Not only are customers modernizing to become more efficient and to increase capacity as energy and commodity process rise, but also, supplier price increases and reduced inventories seem to be pulling orders sooner in order to use year end depreciation tax advantages.

What is striking is the continued focus on delivering more complex and innovative solutions through collaboration between OEMs and their integration partners. This is the type of collaboration that will be on display at imX.

In the same way that machine tool sales are now combining more features for a total solution, imX is built on promoting Productivity over Capacity. The focus is not on showing every machine or product in a company’s inventory, but instead hosting a conversation on technology integration and innovation, both in the marketplace now, as well as what’s coming down the road.

imX is the forward launch point for manufacturing in the U.S., and we’re counting on you to be part of this “event like no other.”

Peter Borden, President

AMTDA

* For more information including regional breakdowns, visit the USMTC report online. The data in the USMTC report are based on the totals of actual data reported by companies participating in the USMTC program.

imX Achieves Goals of Cooperation & Quality Attendees

As imX has evolved from a concept that pre-dates the Big Recession to a reality that will be upon us in just five months, there have been two primary goals. The first is that imX is about collaboration over competition. The second is that imX is about the quality and not the quantity of attendees.

It has been apparent for quite some time that this event has succeeded on the collaborative angle. From AMTDA and SME joining forces in 2008 to create and execute this “event like no other”, to the commitment of our eight eXperience Partners -- DMG/Mori Seiki U.S.A., FANUC, Kennametal, MAG IAS LLC, Makino, Methods Machine Tools, Okuma America and Sandvik Coromant – we have collaboration down pat.

What we couldn’t know for sure, however, is whether imX truly would attract the high-level industry leaders from across the nation.

Well, the results are now coming in. Having issued only a fraction of the invitations planned for imX, we can confirm that our forecasts were accurate. The first 1,000 eXecutive Guests not only come from 40 different states, they are proving to be the high-level executives for whom imX was developed. Here’s just a sampling of the titles we’re seeing:

· President

· Director of Operations

· Director of Product Innovations

· Director of Manufacturing

· General Manager

· Plant Manager

· VP of Manufacturing

· CEO

· Owner

· VP of Operations and Projects

· Director of Engineering

· Chief Estimator

So it’s clear that we’re on to something with this “event-like-no-other” model. Come September 12-14, the Las Vegas Convention Center will be where industry leaders come together to move manufacturing forward.

Will you be part of the effort?

Welcome to imX. We look forward to your feedback.

Steve Prahalis, eXperience manager