The Monthly Newsletter of the Council of Industry
March 21, 2024
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Council of Industry Updates
What's Happening in Your Association
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Manufacturers Visit Albany to Participate in Advocacy Day – Tax Policy, Workforce and Energy Among the Priorities
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The Manufacturers Alliance of New York hosted its Advocacy Day February 28th in Albany. More than 60 manufacturing sector leaders from across the state converged on the capitol to press for growth friendly policies and remind legislators of the important role manufacturing plays in the state’s economy. Participants met with State Elected Officials to press them for pro-growth policies. Among the issues discussed with legislators were the rules being put in place to implement the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, zeroing out the tax on pass through manufacturers to align with those organized as C corporations, supporting apprenticeships in manufacturing as well as other workforce development programs, and letting COVID leave laws sunset.
Participants also learned about the latest policy initiatives and politics during a breakfast at The Fort Orange Club with a keynote by New York State Senator John Mannion (D-50). The group returned to the Fort Orange Club to hear Public Service Commissioner Diane Burman, who is retiring later this year, deliver a lunch keynote, where she called for a pragmatic and realistic implementation of the CLCPA.
Learn more about the Manufacturing Alliance of New York
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2024 Manufacturing Champion Awards Breakfast And Workforce Developer Expo Scheduled for April 26th, Sponsors Wanted
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The Council of Industry's Manufacturing Champions Award is presented annually to individuals and/or organizations that “Through vision, dedication and tireless involvement have worked to overcome some of the many obstacles faced by manufacturers in the Hudson Valley and in so doing they have made it possible for manufacturers and their employees to prosper.”
The Council of Industry Board of Directors is pleased to announce this year’s Champions:
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Barbara Reer - Assistant Dean for Workforce, Career Development, and Apprenticeship Initiatives at SUNY Ulster. Barbara has patiently and persistently built SUNY Ulster’s Advanced manufacturing training programs over the past decade in support of manufacturing businesses across the region, not just Ulster County. The programs she has built have been key to the growth of the MIAP apprentice program.
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Ron Hicks - Dutchess County Assistant County Executive for Strategic Planning and Economic Development. Ron has been a fixture in the world of economic development for more that 2 decades. His recent commitment to see the Mechatronics Lab built at Dutchess Community College’s Fishkill campus is but one example of his vision and commitment to Dutchess County and Hudson Valley manufacturing.
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Frank Falatyn - President, Fala Technologies and STEPs Industry Pre-apprenticeship – Founder / Executive Director. Frank’s commitment to workforce development in the Hudson Valley is unmatched. He helped launch the Hudson Valley Pathways Academy P-TECH School. His support of apprenticeships and pre-apprenticeships programs was instrumental to the success of the MIAP program and has helped countless individuals find meaningful careers in manufacturing at his firm, Fala Technologies, and in many others throughout the region. His championing of manufacturing opportunities for neurodiverse individuals has been inspirational and transformative.
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Upcoming Spring Council Programs To Keep you Safe, Prepared and Informed
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In addition to our regularly scheduled Certificate in Manfuacturing Leadership Classes (which are wail list only) and the above mentioned Manufacturing Champions Award Breakfast and Workforce Developers Expo, The Council of Industry has four programs scheduled over the next several weeks intended to provide information on global trade, workplace safety, workforce preparation and sustainability. Here they are with links to registration and more information.
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Webinar: Global Trade Resources for Manufacturers - March 22, 8:30 – 10:00 AM -This session is designed to provide a comprehensive overview of how the U.S. Commercial Service can be a valuable asset in assisting manufacturing companies in targeting, entering, and succeeding in international markets. It will be led by Michael Grossman, Senior International Trade Specialist at the U.S. Department of Commerce. We will also delve into discussions about U.S. government export financing assistance programs with Rich Foy, Regional Director at the Export-Import Bank of the United States and Abigail Martinez, Export Finance Manager with the SBA. This is ideal for manufacturers looking to gain valuable knowledge and guidance in navigating international trade opportunities. More information and register
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Executive Network: Preparing Students for Their Future, Not Our Past – March 28, 7:30 – 9:45 AM - This meeting will feature a presentation by Dr. Willard Daggett, founder of both the Successful Practices Network and the International Center for Leadership in Education. Dr. Daggett began his career as a teacher, local administrator, and then director of the New York State Education Department. He spends much of his time providing leadership and guidance to the National Dropout Prevention Center and the Career and Technical Education Technical Assistance Center, which are part of the Successful Practices Network. He will share his insights on the importance of preparing kids for their future, not our past, and what it means to teach students to be career ready. His message is important for anyone who cares about workforce development to hear and understand. Email Harold King to learn more and register.
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Executive Network with Dutchess County Executive Sue Serino (DC Manufacturers Only) – April 4, 1:00 – 3:00 PM - Invite Only / limited space / Open to Dutchess County Manufacturing Executives Only. The meeting will feature a discussion of issues of interest and concern to Dutchess County Manufacturers with newly elected County Executive Sue Serino.
The meeting schedule is as follows:
1:00 - 2:00 PM - Tour of James L. Taylor Manufacturing
2:00 - 3:00 PM - Discussion
Members: If you are interested in attending this meeting, please e-mail Harold King
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Webinar: OSHA Update with Walden Environmental Engineering - April 12, 8:30 – 10:00 AM - The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has been active on the enforcement front and has several significant rule makings underway. In addition, OSHA’s data and rhetoric indicate that the agency is adopting a more aggressive approach than it has in years. In this webinar, the speakers will discuss the industries that OSHA is hitting the hardest and provide tips for effectively dealing with new OSHA enforcement policies that may mean more citations and higher penalties for employers. The speaker will share best practices for effectively handling OSHA enforcement. More information and register
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Webinar: Understanding Your Carbon Footprint – April 16, 9:00- 10:00 AM - Join us for a webinar featuring Mark Hillhouse, a Director on Wells Fargo’s Sustainable Finance and Advisory Team. The team is focused on helping clients develop, execute, and finance their sustainability strategies. During the webinar, Mark will provide an overview of the reasons why companies are trying to understand and reduce their carbon footprints, as well as the actions they are taking to become more sustainable. Topics will include: How manufacturers are thinking about and acting on their goals. Why companies are interested in their suppliers’ decarbonization effort. Public and private investors’ thoughts on sustainability. The current regulatory environment. More information and register
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Celebrate the 2024
Manufacturing Champions!
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For information on advertising in this and other CI publications
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Manufacturing Industry News
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Zero Defects - American Manufacturers Seek Perfection as Quality Issues Mount
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Imagine a world in which every product that leaves a factory is flawless, every time. What sounds like a plant manager’s dream is the end goal of zero-defect manufacturing, an idea that is gaining traction among industry executives. Surging recalls and high-profile problems have cast a harsh light on the quality of American manufacturing. But some companies say a combination of technology, training and focus can eliminate errors. Companies in industries as varied as pharmaceuticals and snack foods have announced zero-defect goals. More manufacturers say they are aiming for perfection as quality-control problems have mounted.
The zero-defects philosophy took shape in the early 1960s when defense contractor Martin sought to eliminate errors from Pershing missiles. The company had relied on inspections to find problems as small as a loose valve but refocused on prevention, exhorting workers with posters and rallies to do their jobs right the first time—followed by extensive audits. Many companies adopted the practices, but decades later quality control remains problematic. Robert Leachman, a professor of industrial engineering and operations research at the University of California, Berkeley, said while quality programs helped U.S. companies improve their products considerably in the 1980s and 1990s, the effort stalled when businesses began outsourcing much of their work to low-cost regions.
Read more at The WSJ
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Integrating Your Business, Manufacturing Systems Doesn't Have to be Hard
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If you are struggling to manage production to meet customer needs, your facility may benefit from a Manufacturing Execution System, or MES. Whether you need improved inventory control, recipe management, or better production visibility for management, an MES can simplify how you run your business. The reality is that many industrial companies operate like two separate entities when handling business and production. The “business” side of the company is responsible for managing client orders and inventories, predicting future sales and business needs, and determining what needs to be made and when.
The “production” side is responsible for manufacturing a product on time and cost efficiently, with a focus on personnel safety, proper equipment maintenance, and raw material and energy use. Both groups employ talented people with different educational backgrounds and skill sets. Despite differences in technology stacks—and even geography in many cases—they need to work together. Obvious benefits of improving both “business” and “production” include better inventory management, faster response to client demands, better production planning, reduced product turnarounds, and more readily available production metrics.
Read more at Smart Industry
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3 Reasons For The Coming Leadership Deficit—And How To Fix It
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Organizations today are facing a challenge: Sourcing employees who are not only the stuff that leaders are made of, but who actually want to take a leadership position. The 2024 Randstad Workmonitor study found that a third of employees (34%) never want to become managers. Like, never. Not only that, but 39% don’t even want to be promoted. Fifty-one percent are content with no advancement opportunities, if they’re in a role they like.
This is a huge shift, and one that many Baby Boomer leaders could find hard to grasp. We hail from a day when promotions were courted and coveted, when you went above and beyond to impress the powers that be with your ability to take charge—when the corner office was the ultimate career destination that signaled a simple truth: you’d arrived. In 2024 and beyond, the question is not ‘how do we narrow down to the best leaders?’, but rather, ‘how do we motivate our talent to reach their leadership potential?’
Read more at Forbes
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Gartner Outlines Six Cybersecurity Trends for 2024
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The driving forces behind cybersecurity trends for 2024, according to Gartner, Inc. include Generative AI (GenAI), unsecure employee behavior, third-party risks, continuous threat exposure, boardroom communication gaps and identity-first approaches to security. This year leaders will need to respond to the combined impact of these forces by adopting a range of practices, technical capabilities and structural reforms within their security programs, with a view to improving organizational resilience and the cybersecurity function’s performance, says the firm.
“GenAI is occupying significant headspace of security leaders as another challenge to manage, but also offers an opportunity to harness its capabilities to augment security at an operational level,” said Richard Addiscott, senior director analyst at Gartner, in a statement. “Despite GenAI’s inescapable force, leaders also continue to contend with other external factors outside their control they shouldn’t ignore this year.”
Read more at Material Handling & Logistics
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Mercedes-Benz Will Test Humanoid Robots in Manufacturing Facilities
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Humanoid robots took another step toward initial deployments in supply chain settings today when Apptronik said it had agreed to provide its two-legged “Apollo” model for tasks in Mercedes-Benz manufacturing facilities. Other examples of humanoid robot deployments in manufacturing and logistics include decisions by Amazon and GXO to trial the “Digit” mobile manipulation robot (MMR) made by Oregon-based Agility Robotics.
The Apollo model weighs in at 5 feet 8 inches tall and 160 pounds, with the ability to run for four hours on a battery pack charge and handle 55-pound payloads. Mercedes-Benz said it is exploring potential use cases for Apollo humanoid robots in logistics to bring parts to the production line for workers to assemble, the so-called delivery of assembly kits, while simultaneously inspecting the components. Apollo will also be used to deliver the totes of kitted parts later in the manufacturing process.
Read more at DC Velocity
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Tesla's Optimus Robot Could Transform Factory Work
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Elon Musk’s Tesla is famous for its electric cars, but the company is also a world leader in robotics. Tesla builds incredible robotics and AI systems. Its main vehicle for showcasing them is Optimus, Tesla’s humanoid robot. Let’s dive into some of the most exciting, interesting, and relatively unknown parts of Tesla’s robotics division. Meet Optimus – Gen 2—Tesla’s latest and greatest humanoid robot. Optimus – Gen 2’s hand movements are so gentle and precise that it handles the preparation of eggs. In a demo video, Tesla showed how Optimus’ hand could pick up an egg using its tactile finger sensors. Then, Optimus transferred the egg from one hand to the other, before placing it in an egg boiler.
Tesla is not just building one or two of these robots to prove the concept. They’re designing Optimus to be a fleet of mass-produced robots, much like Tesla’s mass-produced cars. What exactly are people going to do with all of these Optimus robots? The answer isn’t immediately obvious. While Optimus has no stated use cases yet, one idea many have floated is that they’d make good factory workers. Tesla has already automated much of its car-making process, using enormous robot arms to move heavy car panels. However, Optimus could be a useful robot to do more delicate tasks.
Read more at Gizmodo
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“China Plus” Among Three Supply Chain Megatrends Identified by UPS President
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Three megatrends are very much top of mind for Bill Seward, president of UPS Supply Chain Solutions: trade lane shifts, the promise of technology to improve customer outcomes, and health care as a growth market for the parcel shipping and supply chain company. Seward says there has been a definite shift in where companies are sourcing and manufacturing from, as evidenced by the fact that Mexico surpassed China to become the U.S.’s largest trading partner last year.
But Seward is not just seeing an increase in nearshoring to Mexico, he is also seeing a rise in companies adopting what UPS calls a “China Plus” strategy. China continues to play “an absolutely paramount role in the global supply chain,” Seward says, but companies are also moving into countries such as Vietnam, Thailand, and India. “If the last time you looked at your supply chain approach was three years ago, you need to look again because things have changed so dramatically,” he said. Seward is also bullish on the benefits of automation in logistics and distribution. Seward says that UPS has found that in their most automated facilities, lifting injuries have decreased by 30% to 40% and employee retention has increased 25% to 30%.
Read more at DC Velocity
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How 5S Can Drive Lean Manufacturing Success
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5S Lean manufacturing is a concept, derived from the Japanese terms "Seiri, Seiton, Seiso, Seiketsu, and Shitsuke." It is a methodology within Lean manufacturing to optimize workplace efficiency and organization. The 5S pillars form the foundation of a systematic approach that enhances continuous improvement in various industries, particularly in Lean manufacturing. 5S principles have revolutionized how businesses organize their workspaces, streamline operational processes, and foster a continuous improvement culture.
It's not surprising to find the 5S lean manufacturing approach in your quest for shop floor excellence. Organizations constantly seek ways to optimize processes, eliminate waste, and enhance productivity. Helpfully, the 5S framework popularized by TPS (Toyota Production System) can help organizations reduce waste and improve operational efficiency.
Read more at Lean Transition
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Fun Innovation: Just Plain Cool-Looking Robots
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New Equipment Digest has previously discussed lawn mower robots, and how they're starting to sweep the yard maintenance industry, whether for personal or commercial use. Theis month they decided to take a look at the recent IDF Design Awards and found quite a few different types of not just lawn mower robots, but pool robots, cleaning robots, and other really cool-looking robots.
So here they are as an escape from the standard manufacturing product coverage. Just enjoy these sleek, cool, futuristic designs—outside of their function and usefulness Feast your eyes on these 9 award-winning robotic marvels that are pioneering robotic design and revolutionizing everyday tasks with style and sophistication.
Read more at New Equipment Digest
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TOMORROW! Global Trade Discussion Session - March 22nd
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Join us for an engaging webinar featuring Michael Grossman, Senior International Trade Specialist at the U.S. Department of Commerce. This session is designed to provide a comprehensive overview of how the U.S. Commercial Service can be a valuable asset in assisting companies in targeting, entering, and succeeding in international markets.
We will also delve into discussions about U.S. government export financing assistance programs with Rich Foy, Regional Director at the Export-Import Bank of the United States and a representative from the SBA. This is ideal for manufacturers looking to gain valuable knowledge and guidance in navigating international trade opportunities.
Don't miss out on this opportunity to enhance your understanding of global trade dynamics and strategies.
Register Here
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NEW PODCAST EPISODE OUT NOW!
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