UpFront
One SME Drive Dearborn, MI 48121
Editorial Staff Top 10 Reasons for Optimism in 2014
1. “Manufacturing is experiencing a comeback.” So says a December report from the Joint Economic Committee Democratic Staff, entitled, “Manufacturing Jobs for the Future.” It showed manufacturing has added about 554,000 jobs between February 2010 and No- vember 2013, helping drive US unemployment down to 7%, the lowest level in five years. 2. Policymakers on both sides of the aisle are tuned into the workforce-development issues facing STEM fields, such as manufacturing, and they are working diligently to do something about it. Interestingly, the Manufacturing Jobs report noted that many of the new manufacturing jobs aren’t in the same areas where manufacturing jobs have been lost in recent decades, demonstrating the need to retrain and reorient the workforce. 3. For now, a new generation of advanced manufacturing machines, aided by smooth software and new levels of automation, are helping manufacturers do more with less. And those high-tech systems are helping to offset relatively higher labors costs in the US and giv- ing American manufacturers a solid business case to build things at home again. 4. Energy is the lifeblood for this complementary workforce of advanced machines, and that blood is, for now, cheaper here. That’s because the US energy boom, aside from driving up demand for equipment needed to tap into new oil and gas sources, is helping to lower industrial energy costs at home.
5. When manufacturing work comes home, exports typically go up, and that means cash is coming into the economy, rather than going out. Manufacturing exports over the past year totaled $1.2 trillion, up 38% since 2009.
6. In fact, for every dollar of manufacturing work that comes back to the US, it generates an estimated $1.48 worth of additional economic activity. 7. It’s an IMTS year. The International Manufacturing Technology Show will be held in Chicago from Sept. 8 to 13. The event, which happens every two years, bolsters interest in new technology and purchasing of machines, software, accessories and services. 8. On Tuesday, Dec. 10, Congress announced it had reached a bipartisan budget deal. Who doesn't love this kind of cooperation?
9. This year might be the first since the end of the Great Reces- sion where GDP growth averages 3.0% or more, Chad Moutray, Chief Economist for the National Association of Manufacturers, writes in this month’s Viewpoints column.
10. Optimism always trumps pessimism! So remain cau- tious, and keep your worst-case scenario plans at hand, but let’s all aim for a good year.
EDITOR IN CHIEF Sarah A. Webster 313-425-3252
swebster@sme.org
SENIOR EDITORS Michael C. Anderson 313-425-3258
manderson@sme.org
James A. Lorincz 440-779-6946
jlorincz@sme.org
James D. Sawyer 313-425-3053
jsawyer@sme.org
Patrick Waurzyniak 313-425-3256
pwaurzyniak@sme.org
ASSISTANT EDITOR Katelyn DaMour 313-425-3251
ASSISTANT EDITOR Darlene M. Pietryka 313-425-3255
ME is designed and produced by the SME Graphics Department
Business Staff
GROUP PUBLISHER Tim Fausch 313-425-3260
tfausch@sme.org
PUBLISHER Greg Sheremet 313-425-3261
gsheremet@sme.org
PRODUCTION MANAGER Kim Stebbins 313-425-3257
kstebbins@sme.org
ADVERTISING COORDINATOR Kristen Golembiewski 313-425-3259
kgolembiewski@sme.org
AUDIENCE MANAGER Mary Venianakis 1-800-523-0922
mvenianakis@sme.org
CUSTOM MEDIA COORDINATOR Marcus Abdullah 313-425-3262
mabdullah@sme.org
ADDRESS CHANGES Cheryl Matulonis 313-425-3264
cmatulonis@sme.org
Although reasonable efforts are taken to ensure the accuracy of its published material, SME is not responsible for statements published in this magazine. Readers are advised that SME shall not be liable to any person or company for losses or damages incurred as a result of accepting any invitation or offer contained in any advertisement published in Manufacturing Engineering®
. Copyright © 2014 by SME.
Sarah A. Webster Editor in Chief
Photocopy information: Users registered with the Copyright Clearance Center, 21 Congress St., Salem, MA 01970, can purchase copies at $2.00 each referring to serial fee code 0361-0853/88/$2.00. All other photocopying without the permission of SME is prohibited. Reprint information: For tearsheets, reprints, and bulk orders, write the Production Manager,
kstebbins@sme.org. Available on microfilm/ microfiche from University Microfilms International, 300 N. Zeeb Rd., Ann Arbor, MI 48106. Canada Post Publication Mail Sales Agreement No. 1436813
8
ManufacturingEngineeringMedia.com | January 2014
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124 |
Page 125 |
Page 126 |
Page 127 |
Page 128 |
Page 129 |
Page 130 |
Page 131 |
Page 132 |
Page 133 |
Page 134 |
Page 135 |
Page 136 |
Page 137 |
Page 138 |
Page 139 |
Page 140