All Blog Posts (960)

Jackson Center, PA:  Imperial Systems, Inc., a full-service dust collection and air pollution control equipment manufacturer and installation specialist, is now offering GreCon spark detection and extinguishment technology with its CMAXX line of dust and fume cartridge collector systems.  “We are definitely responding to a trend shift with this preventive safety technology,” states Jeremiah Wann, President and CEO.   “Aggressive risk management initiatives are justifying investment in…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nlrSZR8KYQg

PLC Training - http://www.bin95.com/Troubleshooting-PLC-Controls-Simulator.htm Troubleshooting PLC Circuits uses a PLC…

The Productivity Paradox – by Jerry Jasinowski

In a perfect world, no economist who has never visited a modern industrial workplace or spent time with real world business executives would be allowed to write commentaries about the state of manufacturing.

Alas, we do not live in a perfect world. Over the past decade and counting, as U.S. manufacturing shed 5.7 million jobs, I have listened to one economist after another, many of them in prominent government positions, explain that…

A number of moderately positive factors point to sustained momentum for the U.S. economy and its manufacturing sector, according to a new report.

The Manufacturers Alliance for Productivity and Innovation (MAPI) Quarterly Economic Forecast predicts that inflation-adjusted gross domestic product (GDP) will expand by 2.2 percent in 2012 and by 2.4 percent in 2013, a solid increase from 1.7 percent growth in 2011. The 2012 forecast represents a slight upgrade over the…

The following is an analysis from Cliff Waldman, Economist for the Manufacturers Alliance for Productivity and Innovation (MAPI), regarding the durable goods report for December 2011: 

“Like other recent data, the December 2011 report on demand for long-lasting goods paints a picture of an economy that ended a volatile and challenging 2011 on a positive note,” Waldman said. “Total new orders, now up during five of the last six months, increased a strong 3 percent after an…

Stephen Gold, president and CEO of the Manufacturers Alliance for Productivity and Innovation (MAPI), offered this response to President Obama’s State of the Union address:  

“After years of public officials ignoring or even writing manufacturing off, our national leaders are finally recognizing the critical role the factory sector continues to play in innovation, creating jobs, and raising living standards.  MAPI applauds the President for shining a primetime spotlight on…

In August 2011, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) issued a series of four important decisions that in combination substantially enhanced the ability of unions to organize employees and provided greater protection of unions’ new or established bargaining unit representative status. In each of these cases, the Board reached its result by overturning prior Board decisions, some of which had been issued only a few years earlier. 

In The NLRB’s Precedent-Overruling Decisions…

The following is an analysis from Daniel J. Meckstroth, Ph.D., Chief Economist for the Manufacturers Alliance for Productivity and Innovation (MAPI), regarding the industrial production report for December 2011: 

“The Federal Reserve announced today that industrial production increased 0.4 percent in December.  Manufacturing production increased 0.9 percent while electric utilities saw a 2.7 percent decline, but mining industries increased 0.3 percent,” noted Daniel J.…

Iran’s threat to block the Strait of Hormuz, a 34-mile-wide channel located near the nation’s southeastern corner (in retaliation for sanctions imposed by the United States and other countries related to nuclear weapons development) would have dramatic consequences if carried out, according to a new report from the Manufacturers Alliance for Productivity and Innovation (MAPI).

Sustained closure of the strait, while unlikely, would have a “huge impact” on the price of oil, argued…

Since the turn of the century, India has been recognized as one of the world’s foremost emerging economies.  Touted as a future economic powerhouse, the nation has become a leader in attracting foreign direct investment and is considered poised for continued economic prosperity. One lingering threat to this promising potential, however, is corruption. 

 A new Manufacturers Alliance for Productivity and Innovation (MAPI) report, India’s Anti-Corruption Crossroads…

The following is an analysis from Daniel J. Meckstroth, Ph.D., Chief Economist for the Manufacturers Alliance for Productivity and Innovation (MAPI), regarding the Institute for Supply Management (ISM) index for December 2011:

"The Institute for Supply Management (ISM) reports that its index for manufacturing was 53.9 in December, an improvement from 52.7 the previous month,” Meckstroth said. “A number above 50 indicates growth, and generally the larger the number, the faster…

When the New Year’s Eve ball drops at festivities around the United States this weekend, many Americans will be hard at work…in factories, in plants, and on loading docks, where they handle heavy equipment with the precision of a heart surgeon. Contrary to the perception in some quarters that manufacturing in the U.S. has made, and continues to make, a fast dash for the exits, manufacturing activity here continues to grow.

The Manufacturers Alliance for Productivity and Innovation…

Latin America’s largest economies will experience lower growth than previously forecast in 2011, due largely to a soft patch in Brazilian factories’ output, but the region should see moderate growth in 2012, according to the Manufacturers Alliance for Productivity and Innovation (MAPI) Latin America Manufacturing Outlook (ER-735), a semiannual analysis that examines the latest trends and provides a near-term forecast for 16 major industries.

The report, authored by…

As the only G7 member that has fully recouped its GDP and employment losses sustained during the downturn, Canada has led the economic recovery among industrialized nations. However, with commodity prices topping out and dimming prospects for global growth, Canada will be hard-pressed to maintain its superior economic performance, according to an annual report from Manufacturers Alliance for Productivity and Innovation (MAPI). The G7 is composed of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the…

We Need A Manufacturing Agenda-- by Jerry Jasinowski

President Obama’s announcement last week that Commerce Secretary John Bryson will join National Economic Council Director Gene Sperling as co-chair of a new White House Office of Manufacturing Policy offers a glimmer of hope that our government will finally get serious about promoting U.S. manufacturing.

The good news is we still have a vibrant manufacturing base that is dominant in many key industries. We can turn things around…

U.S. manufacturing industrial production rebounded in the third quarter of 2011, growing by 4 percent, and is extending into the final months of the year, according to the Manufacturers Alliance for Productivity and Innovation (MAPI) U.S. Industrial Outlook (ER-734), a quarterly report that analyzes 27 major industries.

 “The growth is being led by the energy, transportation, and industrial equipment industries,” said Daniel J. Meckstroth, Ph.D., MAPI Chief Economist and…

The following is an analysis from Daniel J. Meckstroth, Ph.D., Chief Economist for the Manufacturers Alliance for Productivity and Innovation (MAPI) regarding the durable goods report from October 2011:

“The U.S. Bureau of the Census reported that durable goods new orders fell 0.7 percent

in October.  Defense capital goods new orders fell 19.8 percent in the

month and civilian aerospace new orders plummeted 16.4 percent,” Meckstroth

said. “Excluding these very…

Good News For Thanksgiving-- by Jerry Jasinowski

While the stock market may not see it, it is worth noting we have a lot to be thankful for, including a recent run of positive economic reports that suggest we may be coming out of the slump.

Last week, the government reported that retail sales were up 0.5 percent in October, capping several months of stronger than expected consumer spending. Consumers are drawing down some on savings, so this can’t go on forever, but it could come…

Investment in business equipment and increased exports will be the drivers for economic growth over the next five years as the U.S. economy rebalances away from excessive reliance on

debt-based consumer spending, according to a new report.

The Manufacturers Alliance/MAPI Quarterly Economic Forecast predicts that inflation-adjusted gross

domestic product (GDP) will expand by 1.8 percent in 2011, by 2.1 percent in

2012, and by 2.4 percent in 2013. The 2011…

The following is an analysis from Daniel J. Meckstroth, Ph.D., Chief Economist for the Manufacturers Alliance/MAPI, regarding the industrial production report from October 2011:

“The Federal Reserve reports that industrial production increased 0.7 percent in

October.  A large increase in mining and a small decline in utilities

production were reported, and manufacturing production increased a strong 0.5

percent,” Meckstroth said.  “Motor vehicles posted a very…