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…

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.