The Bi-Weekly Newsletter of the Council of Industry
September 21, 2023
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Council of Industry Updates
What's Happening in Your Association
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Annual Luncheon & Expo November 17th – FBI Cybersecurity Expert to Keynote, Leadership Certificate Recipients Recognized
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The Council of Industry’s Annual Luncheon & Member Expo will be held on Friday, November 17th at the Grandview in Poughkeepsie, NY. The Event will open with the Member Expo beginning at 11:15. The Luncheon program begins around noon with the presentation of Manufacturing Leadership Certificates to more than 40 individuals who have completed the program since last year’s event.
Lunch and a Keynote address from Michael Pollice Special Agent Strategic Partnership & Domestic Security Alliance Council (DSAC) Coordinator. DSAC is a public-private partnership offered by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Office of Private Sector and the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Intelligence and Analysis that enhances communication and promotes the timely and effective exchange of security and intelligence information between the federal government and the private sector.
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Hudson Valley Focus Live to Broadcast Live from DCC’s New Mechatronics Lab on Mfg Day, October 6th 
- Start Planning Your Event Too
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The Council of Industry will once again team up with WKIP’s Hudson Valley Focus Live to Celebrate National Manufacturing Day October 6th. The Broadcast will be live from Dutchess Community College’s New Mechatronics Lab located at the College’s Fishkill Campus. The broadcast will take place from 6:00 A.M. – 9:00 A.M. and will include guests from education, economic development, government and the manufacturing industry.
Celebrated nationally on the first Friday in October, MFG Day is manufacturing’s biggest annual opportunity to inspire the next generation, positively shift perceptions about our industry, and build the foundation for the manufacturing workforce of the future. Now is the time for you to start planning an event for your company. By hosting a MFG Day event you help students, teachers, parents and community leaders explore careers in modern manufacturing and see how creators are making the future in the United States and the Hudson Valley. Events can be as simple as an open house, a tour for teachers and students or workshops and hands-on experiences. Mfg Day helps us end the misperceptions of modern manufacturing and present the sector as a viable career path in our region.
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HV Mfg Fall 2023 Edition in Production
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Ad Essentials and Maar Printers are hard at work putting the finishing touches on the fall 2023 edition of HV Mfg with publication expected in Mid-October. This edition features our Leader Q&A with Unshattered’s Kelly Lyndgaard and a profile of long time Council of Industry member Balchem Products. Other articles include a look at how demographic shifts in the region will affect the workforce, cybersecurity best practices, schools and industry partnerships in the region, and some book reviews and recommendations from some of our members and friends. The magazine will also feature news briefs and a resource guide for members.
Keep an eye on your inbox and your mailbox for your copy.
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Council of Industry Directors Hear from Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) Reps and Board Meeting September 14th
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CISA is the operational lead for federal cybersecurity and the national coordinator for critical infrastructure security and resilience. The agency is designed for collaboration and partnership, and their mission to reduce risk to the nation’s cyber and physical infrastructure. CISA develops a range of cyber and infrastructure security services, publications, and programs for federal government, SLTT governments, industry, small and medium businesses, educational institutions, and the American public.
Mo Taleb, CISA’s Deputy Regional Director, Region 2, which includes New York State, talked about the many cyber threats facing the nation including those that target key industries such as manufacturing. He gave an overview of the many programs and services the agency offers including supporting preparation, response and recovery efforts for hazards, and conducting security surveys and assessments. CISA is looking to support manufacturers anyway they can and there is never any cost for their services.
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CI Golf Outing August 28th – A Final Thanks to our Sponsors
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More than 100 golfers teed off August 28th at the Powelton Club in Newburgh for the Council of Industry’s annual golf outing. It was a fund day that could not have been possible without the support or these generous sponsors:
Tee Sign Sponsors: AMI Services Inc., Arnoff Global Logistics, Balchem Corp., Eastern Alloys, Elna Magnetics, Emergency One Urgent Care & Occupational Health, Fair-Rite Products Corp., Fryer Machine Systems Inc., GTI Graphic Technology, Inc., Hudson Valley Investment Advisors, ITC Communications, LaBella Associates, M&T Bank, Metallized Carbon Corporation, Orange Bank & Trust Company, Pawling Corporation, PKF O'Connor Davies, LLP, RBT CPAs LLP, Sono-Tek Corp., TD Bank
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For information on advertising in this and other CI publications
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Manufacturing Sector News
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How Off-the-Shelf Tech Can Make Factories More Profitable
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When many people imagine a smart factory, they envision something complicated and expensive — the kind of massive “manufacturing execution system,” or MES, that can take more than a year and millions of dollars to implement. If you’re Elon Musk, you can pour money into advanced automation and robotics — and keep pouring. But you don’t need to be Elon Musk. Many of the greatest benefits of intelligent manufacturing require much less time and money.
Many smart factory proponents, bedazzled by technology, overlook the biggest potential sources of value creation. Most manufacturers make far too little use of readily available data. Labor hours, for instance; those numbers are collected for payroll, but rarely extracted from clock-in/out systems and analyzed to discover ways to operate more efficiently. Similarly, off-the-shelf RFID technology can trace scrap origins, and simple Internet of Things (IoT) sensors can deliver real-time insights into utility usage. The ability to see, analyze, and act on information immediately can have as much impact on factory profitability as advanced robotics, at much lower cost. The low-tech, low-cost path to a smart factory works for companies of any size and is especially well suited to the appetites and abilities of midsized companies.
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Video: Real-World Generative AI Applications in Manufacturing
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This week, IndustryWeek’s ‘Production Pulse’ talked to Mauricio Casares, the smart industry guru at Schneider Electric who determines how and where that industrial giant spends much of its technology investments. Casares agrees that most current ChatGPT applications pitched at manufacturers are more about sales than operations, but solid use cases are coming.
Casares says most AI manufacturing applications use traditional machine learning techniques, but his companies and others are finding ways of using ChatGPT-style systems to boost productivity and drive operations.
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Corporate Investments in Supplier Diversity Remain Strong
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Enterprises continue to view supplier diversity as a value-generating supply chain strategy and are implementing programs as planned, according to the 2023 State of Supplier Diversity report, which was released today by Supplier.io. The research found most businesses (69%) report that the current economic climate has had minimal impact on their supplier diversity programs, and 89% expect business support to stay the same or increase in the upcoming year.
A notable 66% of those surveyed cited supply chain competitiveness (cost savings, risk reduction, innovation, etc.) as a primary driver for their supplier diversity program. The research also found few organizations are investing solely for corporate, regulatory or societal requirements. In fact, when evaluating the business drivers of supplier diversity, implementing for customer requirements and government compliance were down 33% and 27%, respectively, over the past six years.
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NYSERDA’s Strategic Energy Management Program
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Strategic energy management (SEM) is a comprehensive approach to aligning energy efficiency with business practices and goals to achieve long-term benefits. Instead of managing energy saving projects one by one, SEM gives you the tools to manage energy in a coordinated and strategic way across your organization—helping your business increase profitability, create a competitive advantage, and achieve greater resiliency. NYSERDA is offering two fully funded program options for businesses. Participants will be guided by a professional coach to develop a SEM plan that will increase profitability, help attain environmental goals, and achieve greater resiliency.
NYSERDA’s Energy Coaches have worked with over 100 sites and bring experience that can save you money right away: A site in Rockland got a utility lighting rebate for a project already completed as a result of their first meeting with their Energy Coach. Their CFO also spent 20 minutes listening to the Coach explain how the Production and Site Managers had identified compressed air system changes as a big savings opportunity and OK’d pursuing it on the spot.
A site in Orange County reviewed a dozen cost savings opportunities with their Energy Coach walking through their process. One of these was simply resetting a sump pump float to avoid unnecessary run time, saving $1,000 per year for no expense at all. This has encouraged the site “energy team” to work with the Energy Coach to find other no cost changes to their production and write up the projected savings for several needed capital improvements as well.
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Make Supply Chain Resiliency the Cornerstone of Your Risk Preparation Program
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Barely owned for a year and already a pile of ashes -- 230,000 square feet of finished-goods warehouse space for custom fabrication company Morgan Li is decimated by a massive fire. “A good portion of that was stuff we brought in from China for one of our biggest clients,” says Morgan Li CEO Andy Rosenband. In a matter of hours, the Chicago Heights, Illinois-based manufacturer of fixtures, furniture and graphics lost one of its five domestic facilities. However, just seven months after this immense blow, the third-generation family business is on a path of rebuilding and growth, including new projects and clients.
How did the company do it? A few key supply chain strategies. “In our business, there are people who only import and who only do domestic. We have bridged the gap. We have full redundancy; everything we can do in China, we can do here, and vice versa. That was even before COVID. That was just a strategic plan that we put in place,” Rosenband says. Morgan Li’s blended onshore/offshore manufacturing process allowed it to preemptively prepare for changing market conditions by leaning on a flexible supply chain.
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World’s First Mass-Produced Humanoid Robot Aims to Assist China’s Aging Population
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In response to the increasing demand for medical services amid labor shortages and a rapidly aging population, Shanghai-based Fourier Intelligence is developing an innovative humanoid robot. The GR-1, as it is called, promises to transform healthcare facilities and offer vital assistance to the elderly. The GR-1 is poised to be the world's first mass-produced humanoid robot. This 1.64-meter-tall, 55-kilogram robot possesses an array of human-like capabilities, including walking, obstacle avoidance, and the ability to perform routine physical tasks such as lifting objects. With an emphasis on versatility, the GR-1 can also assist in transferring patients from beds to wheelchairs—an essential function in healthcare facilities.
Fourier Intelligence has an extensive history of manufacturing rehabilitation technology and exoskeletons, which serves as a strong foundation for the development of the GR-1. By combining rehabilitation knowledge with humanoid robotics, Fourier Intelligence aims to create a comprehensive solution that benefits patients across various healthcare needs.
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The Federal Deficit is Growing – Why, and Why it Matters to Manufacturers
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Fiscal policy frequently has received less attention than its monetary policy sibling. Yet in recent months, fiscal policy has emerged back into the spotlight. A pronounced debt ceiling fight occurred throughout the spring of this year, eventually culminating in a last second bipartisan deal to suspend the debt ceiling until January 1, 2025. A potential government shutdown looms on the horizon if Congress cannot pass a continuing resolution or the 12 annual appropriation bills by October 1. On August 1, Fitch Ratings downgraded the U.S. sovereign credit rating from the highest rating of "AAA" to "AA+".
Fitch pointed to a "high and growing general government debt burden" and an "expected fiscal deterioration over the next three years." These points were punctuated on August 3 when the U.S. Treasury announced larger-than-expected auction sizes for Treasury security issuance in the coming months. The 10-year Treasury yield, which was already high by the standards of recent history, has climbed further since the end of July and currently stands at 4.30%, near the highest levels since the 2007-2009 financial crisis.
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DEI Major Factor in Job Decisions for Candidates
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Diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) is still a key factor for 53% of U.S. workers when considering a company for employment, according to research from Eagle Hill Consulting. Age is a factor in this perception as it's important to Gen Z at 77% compared to Millennials at 63%. When considering a new job, employees say it is important that there are employees they identify with (63%), leaders they identify with (59%), and that DEI is a priority for the CEO (52%). During the recruitment process, workers say it is important to hear that employee perspectives are valued (85%), employees feel safe bringing their authentic self to work (80%), leadership has transparent decision making (80%), and the company has a collaborative culture (75%).
However, employers have to catch up to address their workers’ needs. Only 29% of employees say their company has taken more action in the past six months to demonstrate its commitment to DEI. Some segments of the workforce, however, report that their employers have taken more steps on DEI, including workers who identify as having a physical impairment (46%), LGBTQ (40%), military veterans (40%), and neurodiverse (39%).
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What is Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt?
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The Six Sigma Yellow Belt is the first step for people/professionals into the world of process improvement. Six Sigma Yellow Belt certification is meant for those who wish to gain a basic understanding of Six Sigma and the phases of DMAIC, Define, Measure, Analyze, Measure, Control. Six Sigma is a step-by-step process of statistical tools and interventions, with the help of which companies can interpret the business processes requiring attention, find the root cause of problems, and sustain improvement gains.
Yellow Belt professionals use their understanding of the Six Sigma concepts to help with the Green Belt projects within the organizations. Essentially, they have the responsibility of administering small projects using the Plan, Do, Check, Act (PDCA) methodology.
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Machine Guarding Webinar with Walden Associates
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Monday, September 20
1:00 PM - 2:30 PM (EDT)
Do you know if you need machine guarding in your facility, and if so, what type? For example, you may need fixed, interlocked, adjustable, or self-adjusting guards. If you are unsure, protecting your staff from industrial work hazards can be challenging.
Walden Environmental Engineering will present a webinar on Machine Guarding that could help you. The webinar will help attendees recognize when machine guarding is needed and identify different types of guarding that meet regulatory requirements and consensus standards. Walden will cover regulations and the governing bodies that developed them, including OSHA, ANSI, ISO, and others. Attendees will leave with the foundational knowledge needed to develop a comprehensive plan for machine guarding in their facility.
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Lean Six Sigma: Yellow Belt
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Tuesday, October 17 to Thursday, October 19
8:30 AM - 4:30 PM (EDT)
DCC @ Fishkill
Yellow belt is an approach to process improvement that merges the complementary concepts and tools from both Six Sigma and Lean approaches. The resulting approach will have greater impact than one that centers on only Six Sigma or Lean. Participants will learn a short history of each approach and how they can complement each other.
They will be introduced to the Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, Control
improvement process and some of the tools associated with each stage.
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NEW Episode of Manufacturing Matters Out Now!
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