Manufacturing News

Help for Arizona manufacturers hurt by pandemic

The Arizona Commerce Authority is putting out a call to Arizona manufacturers hurt by the pandemic. It has a program to help.

Companies hit hard by disruptions, layoffs, furloughs, loss of business and other setbacks due to Covid-19 are encouraged to apply for emergency assistance through the agency’s Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP).

Through the partnership, companies can receive subsidized or reduced rates for assistance in areas like rebuilding customer demand, overcoming supply chain disruptions, reassembling their workforce, and identifying new markets.

“There’s close to 5,000 manufacturers in Arizona and a lot of them need help but most of them don’t know that this kind of help is available to them so they don’t seek outside resources, especially the small companies that need it most,” said David Garafano, executive director of the program.

Many small manufacturers suffering setback 

Garafano said small manufacturers have been hardest hit. The goal is to bring them back to their pre-pandemic levels.

“In some cases we’ve seen companies that have seen their demand completely dry up. For example, when all of the airlines stopped flying, a lot of the aerospace work in the manufacturing supply chains stopped,” he said. “We saw furniture companies where 80 percent of their demand just evaporated. It was gone.”

Among the services MEP can assist companies with are:

  • Strategic planning and identification of new markets
  • Rebuilding customer demand
  • Overcoming supply chain disruptions
  • Financial and cash flow management
  • Lean manufacturing and continuous improvement
  • Staffing, training and workforce development
  • Maintaining a safe workplace in a COVID-19 world
  • Cybersecurity risk assessment and compliance planning

Bargain rates for top level expertise and analysis 

Through the MEP program, companies pay reduced rates for top level expertise to help them improve their business and operational performance. Customized solutions and hands-on assistance are provided by a network of third party service providers and the program’s team of seasoned manufacturing and professionals.

“The one thing that’s so much fun about the AZ MEP is that we’re just here to help,” said Garafano, who has more than 30 years experience in manufacturing and business in leadership positions with companies such as AT&T, Lucent Technologies, Celiant, Andrew and ON Semiconductor.

This emergency assistance is being made possible through the federal CARES Act. Arizona is receiving $730,000 to help these struggling companies get back on their feet. So far, $350,000 has been approved for 118 companies.

Why manufacturing is so important to Arizona 

Arizona has seen steady uphill growth in the sector since 2013. One of the biggest benefits of that growth has been higher paying jobs.

In 2019, there were an average 177,000 manufacturing employees with an average annual compensation of $87,387, according to the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM).

Manufacturing is also a revenue producer for the state. Manufacturers produced $20.93 billion in manufactured goods exports in 2019. Of that, $9.84 billion was from free trade agreement partners like Mexico and Canada. Small businesses comprised 88 percent of all exporters.

The bulk of manufacturing output in Arizona comes from three sectors: computer and electronics, aerospace and other transportation equipment, and fabricated metal products.

Pandemic changed landscape for manufacturing 

Many sectors have seen dramatic disruptions including Arizona’s most profitable, aerospace and defense.

So far, companies seeking assistance have needed a variety of services including rebuilding their workforces and finding new uses for their operations and equipment as demand has dried up, Garafano said.

“Probably one of biggest things we’re doing with these companies is a lot have been hurt financially by the pandemic and they don’t always have a CFO or a higher level finance person, so we’re bringing in CFO people to do analysis on the company and help them understand their cash flow,” he said. “They were healthy and the pandemic made them unhealthy, so we can help them build a plan to get healthy again.”

Relief needed to make it through the new year    

Allison Gilbreath, executive director of the Arizona Manufacturers Council, said there is a great need for aid for the industry right now. Not only are many industries flailing but other federal covid relief programs are about to dry up.

“The manufacturing industry in Arizona was hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic,” Gilbreath said. “Our members were faced with tough choices in 2020 and most manufacturers anticipate pandemic-related challenges well into 2021.”

For more information or to apply for assistance through the MEP program, go to: Arizona MEP emergency assistance program. 

Original Chamber Business News article here.

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Arizona’s standout leaders for manufacturing receive awards

Individuals and companies that stand out as shining role models in the manufacturing sector were recognized for their accomplishments at the 2020 Arizona Manufacturing Summit and awards ceremony Friday. The event was hosted by the Arizona Manufacturers Council (AMC) and the Arizona Chamber of Commerce & Industry.

Seven awards were given to manufacturing champions in innovation, excellence, sustainability, and leadership. Featured speakers also talked about the successes over the past year and challenges ahead including racial inequity from the classroom to the boardroom.

This year’s event was not only about recognizing the billions of dollars in revenues manufacturers brought to the state but their efforts during the pandemic, said Mark Gaspers, AMC chairman.

“We want to celebrate their innovation amidst our current challenges and their contributions to the state,” Gaspers said.

High-paying manufacturing jobs on the rise

Glenn Hamer, president and CEO of the Arizona Chamber, said the manufacturing industry has been a major contributor to Arizona’s economic success over the past year. Today, the industry employs about 177,000 workers statewide and pumps about $30 billion annually into the economy.

“We are at a point of time now, because of the good work of the Arizona Manufacturers Council, Governor Doug Ducey, and our friends at the state Legislature, where we have more manufacturing jobs in Arizona than construction jobs,” Hamer said.

2020 Award winners 

Seven companies and three individuals received awards this year:

• Large Manufacturer of the Year: Raytheon Technologies

Raytheon is Southern Arizona’s largest employer, serving customers in the commercial aerospace and defense industries. Founded in 1922, the company has become one of the largest aerospace and defense manufacturers in the world. Over the years, it has won numerous awards for its innovative technology solutions and world-class engineering teams.

• Medium Manufacturer of the Year: Mercury Systems 

Mercury Systems has earned a reputation as the leader in making trusted, secure mission-critical technologies more accessible to the aerospace and defense industries. The company’s innovative solutions power more than 300 critical aerospace and defense programs. Mercury established a $1 million relief fund for employees impacted by the pandemic.

• Small Manufacturer of the Year: Service Wire Co. 

Service Wire Co. is a second-generation, family-owned wire and cable manufacturer started in  1968. Today, its nationwide network of distributors and advanced distribution capabilities enable them to meet and exceed the often complex needs of industrial, commercial, utility, pump, irrigation, and transit customers throughout North America and the world.

• Legislator of the Year: State Representative Ben Toma

Representative Toma, chair of the House Ways and Means Committee, received the award for his “consistent and firm commitment to wise tax and regulatory policy to spur innovation and job creation.”  In 2020, Rep. Toma led passage of House Bill 2771, which revised and extended tax credits including a tax credit to incentivize businesses to relocate or expand manufacturing facilities in Arizona, including manufacturing related research and development.

• Advocates of the Year: Michael Denby and Eric Massey of Arizona Public Service

Denby, corporate environmental senior policy advisor for APS, and Massey, APS’ director for Environment and Water Resource Management, worked to advance policies in the water, energy, air quality, natural resources, and environmental spaces that encourage job growth and innovation while ensuring that the business community is part of the solution to promote wise environmental stewardship.

• Excellence in Sustainability: Swire Coca-Cola 

With revenues of $2 billion, Swire Coca-Cola produces, sells and distributes Coca-Cola and other beverages in 13 states across the American West. This year, Swire launched its Sustainable Development 2030 goals to increase recycled content in its packaging, decrease the amount of water it uses, and reduce its carbon emissions by converting to renewable energy. In response to Covid-19, Swire donated over 66,000 liters of water to the Navajo Nation.

• Excellence in Innovation: VB Cosmetics

VB Cosmetics conducts research and development, custom formulation, and private labeling and sale of cosmetics and personal care products including a transformational technology called Dazzle Dry, a quick-dry nail polish system. During COVID-19, the company has manufactured Personal Protective Equipment around the state for the Salvation Army.

• Lifetime Achievement Award: Dawn Grove

Grove was recognized for her tireless work on behalf of manufacturers, Arizona workers and the broader community. She is corporate counsel for Karsten Manufacturing Corporation, the parent company of PING. Grove is chair of the Workforce Arizona Council and serves on the boards of the Arizona Commerce Authority, National Association of Manufacturers and Karsten.

Two leading national figures spoke at the event  

Two national figures also spoke at the event.

Keynote speaker was Rick Wade, senior vice president of strategic alliances and outreach for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Wade discussed an intensive nationwide effort to improve racial equity in business and industry from the production floor to the board room.

Wade called on industry to continue to come together to reduce gaps in equity.

“We have made tremendous progress but we have a lot of work to do with regards to equality and opportunity,” he said.

Wade, who grew up in rural South Carolina in the 1960s when many schools were still segregated, said he was able to overcome racial barriers. But Black citizens continue to be left behind today, he said. They are more likely to be unemployed, incarcerated and poor.

Improving diversity and inclusion in business is more than a “moral imperative,” it’s also an economic one, he said. Research shows diversity increases company profits, and that if gaps in racial inequity were eliminated, the nation’s GDP would gain about $8 trillion, Wade said.

Original Chamber Business News article here.

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2022 Environmental and Sustainability Summit

Event Description:

More details coming soon!

Hosted by the Arizona Manufacturers Council, this event includes a day-long summit featuring panelists and presentations relating specifically to environmental policy and sustainability best practices. Speakers and attendees include manufacturers, business leaders and government officials. The 2022 event will take place in Flagstaff, Arizona on July 28—29.

Location:

139 Drury Inn & Suites Flagstaff
300 South Milton Road
Flagstaff, AZ 86001
Telephone: (928) 773-4900
www.druryhotels.com

Book your hotel room HERE

Date/Time Information:

July 28 – 29, 2022

Fees/Admission:

Member: $300.00
General: $450.00
Presenting Sponsor: $10,000
Summit Sponsor: $5,000
Reception/Dinner Sponsor: $5,000
Sustainability Sponsor: $2,500
Eco Sponsor: $1,500

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Interface Awarded Arizona Manufacturers Council 2019 Manufacturer of the Year

It is with great honor that Interface is recognized in the Outstanding Small Manufacturer category for Quality Products and Involvement in Community by the Arizona Manufacturers Council as recipients of the “2019 Manufacturer of the Year” award.

Interface received the award at a gala luncheon held at the Arizona Biltmore on October 3, 2019. The annual award program recognizes the best companies in the state that exemplify how manufacturing betters their local communities and the state of Arizona.

“Interface takes great pride in the role we play in manufacturing excellence, and our entire company is honored to have received this distinguished award,” said Joel Strom, CEO of Interface. “We are especially pleased because as the builders and makers of precision force measurement solutions, the award recognizes Interface for the three aspects of our business we pride ourselves on: quality products, continued innovation, and involvement in our community.”

The Arizona Manufacturers Council plays a vital role in the state as the voice of Arizona manufacturing. They are associated with the National Association of Manufacturers and work tirelessly to promote and enhance a positive business climate for manufacturing and related industries in Arizona.

“Interface’s depth of expertise of breadth of products serves as a shining example in the manufacturing sector,” said Alison Gilbreath, executive director, Arizona Manufacturers Council. “We’re delighted to have presented Interface with this year’s well-deserved award and are confident they will continue to be a best-in-class example of what it means to successfully compete in the global economy and create jobs in Arizona.”

Interface is well known for premium accuracy and reliability when it comes to force measurement solutions. In the last 12 months, Interface launched one of its most disruptive and innovative solutions to date, the AxialTQ™ Wireless Rotary Torque Transducer and expanded its Wireless Telemetry System (WTS) for use in the automotive market. In the area of community involvement, the company introduced the Interface University Program to provide discounted products, services, and educational materials to innovators and educators. Interface is also continuing its involvement in the local STEM community, the Arizona Science and Engineering Fair and local Arizona universities.

Original article here. 

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Honoring Arizona manufacturers

On October 3rd, the Arizona Manufacturers Council (AMC) hosted the 2019 Arizona Manufacturing Summit, which featured keynote speakers in the industry and concluded with an awards ceremony honoring standout leaders in manufacturing.

In her opening remarks, AMC Chair Dawn Grove highlighted the many manufacturing firms making waves in the state and recognized others for their creation of thousands of jobs, including Intel, Raytheon, Nikola and more…

READ THE FULL ARTICLE

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Ratifying the USMCA Is Critical for Arizona—and America

By: Linda Dempsey, Vice President, International Economic Affairs, National Association of Manufacturers

Business owners know that market access is central to their success. A quick look at the math shows why: The United States makes up only 5 percent of the world’s population, so the ability to access the other 95 percent of the world is critical to allowing businesses to achieve their full potential. And when it comes to manufacturers in America, there are no more important trading partners than Canada and Mexico.

In Arizona, cross-border trade, particularly with Mexico, is vital to support industries and communities as well as the international partnerships that bring our countries together. To provide renewed certainty and improve many aspects of the trading relationship, manufacturers are calling on Congress to ratify the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement as soon as possible. The stakes are high. Canada and Mexico alone purchase more from the United States than our next 11 trading partners combined. And trade with those two countries supports 12 million jobs, including more than 2 million manufacturing jobs and more than 40,000 small and medium-sized businesses.

The National Association of Manufacturers recently released state fact sheets highlighting the importance of North American trade to manufacturing. Put simply, the industry relies on sound trade policies with Canada and Mexico—and our country relies on the success of the industry. One in five Arizona manufacturing firms export to Canada and Mexico, and nearly three-quarters of those are small and medium-sized businesses. Taking a step further back illustrates the larger picture: Canada and Mexico alone purchase more than two-fifths of Arizona’s total global manufacturing exports. Without a free trade agreement, Arizona’s manufacturing exports could face more than $2 billion in tariffs, raising the prices on the state’s exports and reducing the region’s international competitiveness.

The business implications are clear, but what cannot be overlooked is how much workers and communities rely on sound international trade policy. More than 19,000 Arizona manufacturing jobs depend on exports to Canada and Mexico. This includes jobs across industries—everything from electrical equipment and components, to metal products and motor vehicle parts, to communications equipment and chemicals, and more. These are well-paying jobs, too. Manufacturing jobs in Arizona pay, on average, $82,321 a year in wages and benefits compared to $43,759 for workers across all private nonfarm industries. Workers and businesses are calling on Congress to do what is right for their jobs and the economy by ratifying the USMCA.

It has been 25 years since NAFTA was enacted. Since that time, manufacturing output has more than doubled, and exports to Canada and Mexico have tripled. Meanwhile, as our economy has shifted considerably, NAFTA has been stagnant. The USMCA will improve NAFTA in areas where it hasn’t kept up, strengthening and modernizing rules to rev up America’s innovation engine, expanding access to Canada and Mexico and leveling the playing field for manufacturers in the United States.

Notably, the USMCA includes new best-in-class rules to strengthen protection and enforcement of the full range of intellectual property rights important to manufacturers and their workers in the United States, from patents, trade secrets and trademarks to copyright and regulatory data protection that are critical to all Arizona and U.S. innovative manufacturing industries. It will add a new best-in-class digital trade chapter that prohibits unnecessary barriers on the movement of information and data, the forced localization of information technology infrastructure or the forced disclosure of source codes that are important to small manufacturers using the internet as their global storefront and to all manufacturers relying on or creating new technologies. And it contains new chapters on good regulatory practices and technical barriers to trade as well as sanitary and phytosanitary measures that will set new standards for trade agreements around the world.

Arizonans deserve the opportunity for stability in their jobs, success in their business and a strong national economy. By ratifying the USMCA, Congress can do their part toward achieving those critical ends for businesses across the state and across the country.

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National Association of Manufacturers visits Arizona, hosts lineup of manufacturing and policy leaders

Allison Gilbreath

Spirits were high last week as manufacturing executives gathered in Scottsdale for the National Association of Manufacturers Spring Board of Directors meeting. The largest manufacturing association in the United States, NAM represents small and large manufacturers in every industrial sector and in all 50 states. The Arizona Manufacturers Council (AMC) is the official state affiliate of NAM.

The guest list included a star-studded collection of world leaders, celebrity speakers and top executives from iconic American manufacturing companies like PING, Ball Corp., Anheuser-Busch and others.

Vice President Mike Pence, Arizona Governor Doug Ducey, former U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Nikki Haley, SBA Administrator and WWE co-founder Linda McMahon, and economist and author of “Trumponomics,” Stephen Moore, were among the featured speakers.

OPTIMISM HIGH

Consistent themes throughout the event emerged around the positive economic effects of NAM-driven policies like federal tax cuts and regulatory reform. The need for certainty on trade – particularly the need to develop an innovative, enforceable agreement with China and a strong sense of urgency around the passage of the USMCA – also remained at the forefront. The AMC and the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry remain committed to leading advocacy efforts at the state level.

“Manufacturing in the United States is on the rise, and manufacturers are confident about the future,” said NAM President and CEO Jay Timmons at the three-day event at the Phoenician. Timmons is widely regarded as one of the most influential leaders in Washington today.

During the first quarter of 2019, an average of 91 percent of manufacturers reported an optimistic outlook about their own company and the economy according to the NAM Manufacturers’ Outlook Survey released March 5th. There were 12,834,000 manufacturing workers in February, with almost 1.4 million employees added since the end of the Great Recession – the most workers in the sector since December 2008.

While momentum is building, manufacturers expressed common concerns around trade, infrastructure deficiencies and workforce shortages.

USMCA, TRADE FIGURES PROMINENTLY

During his remarks, Vice President Pence urged manufacturers to “send a strong message to members of Congress in all 50 states that it’s time to approve the USMCA, and we must see it approved by Congress this year. “

Arizona’s international trade relationships remain vital to our state’s economy, especially with our strongest trading partners, Mexico and Canada. In 2017, Arizona exported $7.5 billion in goods to Mexico and $2.2 billion in goods to Canada. Trade with Mexico and Canada supported over 236,000 jobs in Arizona during the same year.

The AMC and the Arizona Chamber are working full tilt with the Arizona delegation to create a sense of urgency around the passage of the USMCA. The deadline for the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) to release an assessment on the agreement and its economic impact is expected in April of this

year and Congress will begin consideration of the agreement following the release of the ITC’s assessment.

“Ratification of the USMCA is the single most important issue facing Arizona. More than 236,000 Arizona jobs depend on our trade relationship with Mexico and Canada,” Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry President and CEO Glenn Hamer said.

WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT CRITICAL

On the workforce side, the tightest labor market on record is welcome news to employees and jobseekers. However, a red-hot job market often spells challenges for employers.

Recent studies show nearly 3.5 million manufacturing jobs will be created in the next decade. But 2.4 million of those jobs could go unfilled. The inability to attract and retain employees remained the top concern for the fifth consecutive quarter in the NAM’s Manufacturers’ Outlook Survey. One in four respondents indicated that worker shortages had forced them to turn down new business opportunities.

Dawn Grove, Chairwoman of the AMC and Chairwoman of the Workforce Arizona Council added, “Manufacturers are growing so rapidly, they are necessarily reaching out to new populations — hiring returning citizens, those with disabilities and many who have been out of the workforce for years. Modern manufacturers are implementing advanced technologies, automation and robotics to improve quality, bolster safety and better compete globally, such that American manufacturing workers are becoming better skilled, more productive and receiving higher wages than ever before.”

In Arizona, efforts are underway to create a pipeline of manufacturing workers through the power of Career and Technical Education. Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs are being developed that give students the hands-on skills needed to enter and succeed in the workforce.

The AMC and the Arizona Chamber strongly support Governor Ducey’s fiscal year 2020 budget plan which includes a $10 million investment to expand CTE offerings across Arizona. Through a grant program, high schools with CTE programs will receive up to $1,000 for each student who graduates with a certification in specific industries.

During a special edition of Ham(m)er Time filmed at PING in Phoenix, Hamer and Timmons sat down to discuss current workforce challenges and how technological advancements will continue to fuel demand for skilled workers.

The two-week, eight-state tour concluded in Phoenix last week, with additional stops at Intel in Chandler and Four Peaks Brewery in Tempe.

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NAM recognizes 115th Congress Manufacturing Legislative Excellence honorees

Each year, the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) recognizes U.S. legislators for their commitment to the manufacturing community. The Manufacturing Legislative Excellence Award is given to those lawmakers who score above 70 percent on NAM Key Manufacturing Votes.

This year, Arizona congresswoman and current U.S. Senate candidate, Martha McSally, was recognized with the award, scoring a 96 percent.

Arizona is proud to have champions of manufacturing advocating for sound, advantageous policies at the federal level.

Other Arizona lawmakers receiving the recognition include Senator Jeff Flake and Representatives Paul Gosar, Andy Biggs and David Schweikert.

Find the full list of U.S. Senate awardees here, and the full list of U.S. House awardees here.

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Arizona Manufacturer of the Year Awards: 2018 Winners

Each year, the Arizona Manufacturers Council recognizes creators and innovators of all sizes and industries. This year’s award recipients represent the very best of the Arizona manufacturing community, and exemplify how manufacturing betters its communities and betters the state.

Congratulations to the 2018 Manufacturers of the Year!

Outstanding Large Manufacturer of the Year: The Boeing Company

Outstanding Medium Manufacturer of the Year: TYR Tactical

Outstanding Small Manufacturer of the Year: Novembal

Excellence in Innovation: Moldworx

Excellence in Sustainability: Intel

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The Cutting Edge – April 2018

Group of young professionals visits PING, learns about manufacturing, trade and the workforce in Arizona

The Arizona Industry Fellows, a group of young professionals and future business and civic leaders, spent a day on-site at PING. The group heard from the Chair of the AMC and Workforce Arizona Council, and Corporate Counsel for Karsten Manufacturing Corp./PING, Dawn Grove about the unique environment for manufacturers in Arizona, the crucial role that the AMC plays in advocating for policies that benefit existing manufacturers and that help attract new manufacturers to the state, the challenges that exist with the workforce and ways to address those challenges.

The group took a tour behind the scenes of PING’s Phoenix operation, and was joined by special guest, Congresswoman Martha McSally. The fellows saw first-hand the amount of hand work that takes place in PING’s facility, many of them in awe of the amount of human power and attention to detail at play on the manufacturing floor. PING employees welcomed the group and Congresswoman McSally, and spoke enthusiastically of the company’s custom-engineered, custom-fit and custom-built premium golf equipment and their culture that values and treats employees like family.

The group got a look inside PING’s gold putter vault, where they store golden casts of all the tournament-winning PING putters.

The fellows’ program for the rest of the day included discussions with some of the industry’s most well-known experts on topics including trade relationships and border efficiency, Arizona’s mining industry, career and technical education and workforce training at the community college level and navigating Arizona’s policy landscape as a small manufacturer and business owner.

Follow the AMC on Facebook for more exclusive content

The AMC is revamping its Facebook footprint. For updates from AMC Executive Director Allison Gilbreath, brief interviews with industry leaders and inside stories from AMC members, keep up with us on Facebook.

 

Watch ED Allison Gilbreath’s introduction video for a preview of what’s to come:

 

In the News

Around the Nation:

U.S.News: Adaptability to Volatile Industries Key to Rocky Mountain Economic Success

State and local government officials across the country were sent scrambling back in 2013 when Boeing announced plans to significantly expand operations outside of its Puget Sound birthplace in Washington – potentially opening up new communities to the promise of high-paying jobs, larger tax revenues and more substantial economic development.

So valuable was Boeing’s business to the state of Washington that a nearly $9 billion package of tax incentives was eventually passed by state lawmakers hopeful that they could convince the company to stick around and keep its business in the Evergreen State. That bid failed, however, and Boeing eventually announced plans to beef up operations in states such as California, South Carolina and, notably, Utah – a Rocky Mountain state known in part for its advanced manufacturing output in which Boeing for years had maintained a presence.

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Manufacturing Global: Attracting investors: tech in the manufacturing sector

Sweeping changes in technology are disrupting nearly all sectors of the global market. In the home, the shop floor, the factory and the hospital, and even our daily commute, technology is leading to huge changes in commercial business models. Why should manufacturing be any different?

This is the new industrial revolution — Industry 4.0 — and as with any rapid change, new opportunities have arisen and new ways of thinking have emerged. However, there are also new hurdles to overcome for businesses large and small.

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Bloomberg: Nafta or Not, Quebec Is Putting Millions Into Manufacturing

The future of Canada’s trade relationship with the U.S. is in limbo but that didn’t stop Robert Belanger from investing C$3.6 million ($2.8 million) to upgrade his Quebec fabrics plant.

New weaving machines and a state-of-the-art dying system are helping his company, Belt-Tech Inc., produce enough of the webbing used in seat belts and pull straps to meet a 30 percent surge in orders from the North American auto industry. Part of the financing came from Quebec’s government, which is pushing manufacturers to modernize their factories despite uncertainties surrounding renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement.

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Around the State:

Arizona continues to be a haven for business and manufacturing

Phoenix Business Journal: Commercial Real Estate: West Valley scoring with cheaper land, access back to California

The timing is finally right for the West Valley and economic growth — at least from California businesses’ perspective.

Patrick Feeney Jr., senior vice president with CBRE’s Phoenix office, said Southern California businesses have reached the point where gathering products in California ports, shipping them to Phoenix for warehousing and then shipping them back to California for consumers has become a more affordable option than just keeping the products in the Golden State.

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Phoenix Business Journal: California manufacturer moving production, jobs to Goodyear after $4M investment

IAC Industries is moving its manufacturing operations to Goodyear from Southern California.

Brea-based IAC makes furniture, work stations and fixtures for laboratories, industrial and other workplaces.

IAC bought a 50,000-square-foot building at 3831 S. Bullard Ave. near Phoenix Goodyear Airport for $3 million from a real estate trust.

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AZ Big Media: Arizona becomes additive manufacturing (3-D printing) leader

Polymer-based 3-D printing has been all the rage, well-known for faster prototyping or novelty items that can be made on the spot, but the world of 3-D printing is about to get a lot more metal.

Many Arizona-based companies, particularly firms in the aerospace and defense industry, have been working night and day to bring metal 3-D printing, or additive manufacturing, parts to market while also gearing up to create a workforce of the future.

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Manufacturing Global: University of Arizona is developing holographic heads up display for vehicles

The University of Arizona has been developing heads-up display technology to be used in road vehicles and planes.

The technology allows for drivers and pilots to receive and read information, such as driving directions or flight data, whilst still looking through the transparent glass of the front window.

Researchers at the university are currently working on incorporating holographics to the technology, which will allow the user a wider view.

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The Arizona Manufacturers Council is the voice of Arizona manufacturing. We are a community of makers dedicated to creating the innovations that safeguard and improve people’s lives and to providing the jobs that anchor Arizona’s economy. We are the official state affiliate of the National Association of Manufacturers and we aim to promote and enhance a positive business climate for manufacturing and related industries that operate within Arizona.

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Arizona Manufacturers Council welcomes Allison Gilbreath as new executive director

Allison Gilbreath

Gilbreath will serve as Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry vice president of strategic initiatives in new role

PHOENIX (March 16, 2018) The Arizona Manufacturers Council has named Allison Gilbreath as its new executive director. Gilbreath will also serve as the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s vice president of strategic initiatives.
 
The Arizona Manufacturers Council is the official Arizona affiliate of the National Association of Manufacturers and works to promote a positive business climate for manufacturing and related industries in the state. In addition to advocating for pro-manufacturing public policy, the AMC also produces the annual Manufacturer of the Year Awards and Summit, and the annual Environmental and Sustainability Summit.
 
“Allison’s breadth of experience and understanding of the issues that are important to job creators in the manufacturing sector will serve the Arizona Manufacturers Council incredibly well,” AMC Chair Dawn Grove said. “I am encouraged to have Allison on board and am confident that she will amplify the voice of our manufacturers, helping them compete in the global economy and create more high-paying jobs in Arizona.”
 
Gilbreath joins the Chamber from the Greater Phoenix Economic Council, where she was vice president of business development and where she worked with companies across multiple industries looking to establish a presence in Greater Phoenix. Prior to GPEC, she spent nearly 10 years at the Arizona Commerce Authority, most recently serving as vice president of business attraction.
 
In addition to overseeing manufacturing issues, Gilbreath will work on legislative issues and initiatives relating to the Chamber’s technology and infrastructure priorities.
 
“We are thrilled to welcome Allison to the Chamber,” Arizona Chamber President and CEO Glenn Hamer said. “She knows what it takes to create jobs, and she has earned an outstanding reputation among business leaders and government officials across the state. I know she is going to do great things for the Arizona Manufacturers Council and the Chamber and will be an effective voice at the state Capitol, before state agencies, and regulatory bodies.”
 
In her career, Gilbreath has been involved in the attraction of tens of thousands of new jobs and billions of dollars in new capital investment to Arizona.
 
“I’m excited to get started,” Gilbreath said. “Arizona’s manufacturers represent some of the most innovative and creative leaders in the state’s business community. I am looking forward to advancing the AMC agenda and taking a leadership role advocating for tech and transportation infrastructure priorities.”
 
Gilbreath is a graduate of Middle Tennessee State University. She resides in Phoenix with her husband, Matt, and their two dogs, Stella and Tucker.
 
#  # #
 
 
The mission of the Arizona Manufacturers Council is to promote and enhance a positive business climate for manufacturing and related industries that operate within Arizona.
 
The Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry is committed to advancing Arizona’s competitive position in the global economy by advocating free-market policies that stimulate economic growth and prosperity for all Arizonans.
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The Cutting Edge – February 2018

NAFTA

The end of January saw the sixth round of negotiations for the modernizations of NAFTA. The hope going into this round of talks, the longest yet, was that the players would finally tackle some of the more contentious issues that are far from resolved. Canada promised to enter the talks with new ideas for creative solutions while Mexico showed signs that it may be willing to compromise on some of its most important issues, such as automotive regulations within the deal.

This sixth round of negotiations still fell short of reaching any landmark decisions or compromises. U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer said to reporters in Montreal, “[W]e finally began to discuss some of the core issues. So this round was a step forward, but we are progressing very slowly.” Members of all three delegations seemed to walk away with the same cautious optimism about the trajectory of future negotiations, all recognizing that there is progress in the right direction but that some of the biggest obstacles remain.

NAFTA Roundup

U.S. Turns Up the Hear in Pivotal New Phase of Nafta Talks

Trade Experts Expect to See a ‘Zombie’ NAFTA

Business Groups in US, Canada, Mexico Fear Breakup of Manufacturing Supply Chain without NAFTA

U.S. rejects proposals to unblock NAFTA, will seek ‘breakthrough’

Listen in to hear NAM’s Linda Dempsey defend ISDS

Tax Reform

Since the Dec. 22nd signing of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, numerous American manufacturers have announced plans to share the benefits of tax reform with employees and reinvest additional savings into expansion and updated infrastructure. The manufacturing industry makes up a significant percentage of the myriad of companies participating in tax savings bonuses, wage increases, extended benefits, raised retirement contributions and increased capital expenditures. An estimated 3.5 million Americans will receive or have already received a tax reform bonus, primarily due to the lowered corporate rate and full expensing on short-lived capital investments introduced under the new legislation. The list of manufacturers and businesses taking advantage of this burgeoning investment opportunity is continually growing. These are just a few notable examples:

  • Pivot Manufacturing, here in Arizona is now able to purchase machines and equipment that were put off for many years.
  • Nationally, Fiat Chrysler, announced that it will in
  • vest $1 billion in the United States, adding 2,500 new jobs to produce Ram trucks in Michigan.
  • Likewise, Apple is investing $30 billion in new capital expenditures and hiring 20,000 new employees for a new support center.
  • Boeing announced that it will invest $100 million in infrastructure alone. Boeing employs over 140,000 people worldwide, of which there are over 3,700 employees in Arizona.

Tax Roundup

U.S. economy to grow 2.7 percent in 2018, boosted by Trump tax overhaul

Tax reform windfall: These companies are hiking pay, delivering bonuses

Pfizer Plans $5 Billion Boost in U.S. Manufacturing From Tax Law Changes

In the News

Around the Nation:

IndustryWeek: Has US Manufacturing Been Unleashed?

“This legislation represents historic progress for manufacturers and for all Americans,” Jay Timmons, president and CEO of the National Association of Manufacturers, said in response to passage of the tax reform bill, which lowered the U.S. corporate tax rate from 35% to 21%. With the new bill, Timmons promised, manufacturers will “increase capital spending, expand their businesses and hire more workers…” — and “nearly half will increase employee wages and benefits.”

Tax reform is just one of a series of policy changes the Trump administration and the Republican-led Congress are seeking that business groups have lobbied for in recent years. The president has already started to push back against regulations.

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Rutgers University: Faster, Cheaper, Nano-Based Manufacturing

Engineers at Rutgers University-New Brunswick and Oregon State University are developing a new method of processing nanomaterials that could lead to faster and cheaper manufacturing of flexible thin film devices — from touch screens to window coatings, according to a new study.

The “intense pulsed light sintering” method uses high-energy light over an area nearly 7,000 times larger than a laser to fuse nanomaterials in seconds. Nanomaterials are materials characterized by their tiny size, measured in nanometers. A nanometer is one millionth of a millimeter, or about 100,000 times smaller than the diameter of a human hair.

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WATCH: Why NAM CEO Timmons is Optimistic About Manufacturing Jobs

WATCH: Fluor CEO Says ‘Regulatory Morass’ Is Impacting Infrastructure

Around the State:

AZCentral: Nikola Motor Co. to bring 2,000 jobs, $1 billion investment to Arizona

A maker of zero-emissions commercial trucks said it will establish its manufacturing operations and move its headquarters to metro Phoenix, bringing 2,000 jobs here.
Nikola Motor Co. announced it will establish operations in Buckeye, jump-starting the development of the Douglas Ranch section on the north side of the city. Gov. Doug Ducey called it a “huge announcement” that will include a $1-billion capital investment, with 4,000 construction jobs, too.

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Phoenix Business Journal: New life for a shuttered Surprise manufacturing plant

A California company has bought a shuttered manufacturing building in Surprise and will expand its operations there.
The 51,000-square-foot building at Peoria Avenue and Litchfield Road in Surprise previously was home to plastics manufacturer Brentwood Industries.

The property was bought by Z&E Holdings Group LLC an arm Global Trading Marketing Inc. for $4.5 million.

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AZCentral: Company wants to turn Fountain Hills into watchmaking capital of the United States

Move over, Switzerland: Fountain Hills appears ready to become a new hub for watch manufacturing.
Large-scale watchmaking has all but died out in the United States, but that could start to change with a new venture involving high-school students and adult workers in the East Valley, a small local company and one of India’s giant conglomerates.

Read more

The Arizona Manufacturers Council is the voice of Arizona manufacturing. We are a community of makers dedicated to creating the innovations that safeguard and improve people’s lives and to providing the jobs that anchor Arizona’s economy. We are the official state affiliate of the National Association of Manufacturers and we aim to promote and enhance a positive business climate for manufacturing and related industries that operate within Arizona.

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The Cutting Edge – November 2017

Former speaker optimistic about getting to ‘yes’ on tax reform

During an event hosted by the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Former Speaker John Boehner addressed tax reform and trade, two pivotal issues for Arizona manufacturers. Mr. Boehner expressed confidence in both a successful tax reform package as well as a revised NAFTA agreement.

On tax reform, Mr. Boehner said the odds of it getting through are “frankly better than 50-50,” reiterating that Republicans know this is a must-do.

As for NAFTA, Mr. Boehner admitted that the nearly 25 year old agreement needs some updating, and that the public may see what looks like a completely new document. Regardless of whether or not the document gets a new name, Mr. Boehner is sure that the trilateral agreement will endure despite any rhetoric to the contrary.

The article below offers more details on the event and words from Mr. Boehner. AZCentral:

John Boehner dishes on Trump, tax cuts and GOP ‘knuckleheads’

Manufacturers stand strong on tax reform

Federal tax reform efforts continue in Washington and U.S. manufacturers have much at stake in the final policy. Jay Timmons, President and CEO of the National Association of Manufacturers, commended the House for its passage of the “Tax Cuts and Jobs Act,” stating that the House has shown its commitment to American manufacturing workers.

NAM now looks to the Senate to move forward with the bold tax plan it has laid out. NAM summarizes their continued engagement in the article below, including the five main objectives they will continue working to realize on behalf of manufacturers:

  • A corporate rate as close to 15 percent as possible.
  • Lower rates for income from small businesses and other “pass-through” entities.
  • A “territorial” tax system that doesn’t touch U.S. companies’ foreign earnings.
  • Preservation and enhancement of the research and development tax credit.
  • Incentives for the purchase of capital equipment.

THE HILL: A running start for NAM chief

Manufacturers make clear what they need out of NAFTA

With the future of NAFTA still unclear after four rounds of negotiations, manufacturers have spoken out about the gravity of preserving the trilateral relationship and modernizing the agreement. The National Association of Manufacturers stresses the importance of enforcing certain policies identified in NAFTA in the article below.

Among the NAM’s top priorities are a functional investor-state dispute settlement system and a structure that encourages American manufacturers to invest at home and abroad.

NAM: Why America and American Manufacturers Need a Pro-Investment and Pro-ISDS Enforcement Strategy

In the News

Around the Nation:

Fox Business: Tax reform is the ‘single most important thing’ to grow economy, jobs: Boeing CEO Dennis Muilenburg

President Donald Trump’s pro-business agenda has been welcome news for U.S. manufacturing icons like Boeing. The airplane manufacturing giant inked a $13.8 billion deal with Singapore Airlines recently that would create 70,000 jobs in the United States.

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U.S. News: Trump Announces Semiconductor Company’s Return to US

WASHINGTON — A $100 billion semiconductor company based in Singapore will legally relocate its home address to the United States, President Donald Trump announced Thursday. Broadcom Limited, which manufactures communications chips around the world, said it would relocate its legal address to Delaware once shareholders approve the move, bringing $20 billion in annual revenue back to the U.S. The move will allow Broadcom to avoid a cumbersome federal review process.

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The Wall Street Journal: Forecasters Predict Nafta Withdrawal Would Slow U.S. Growth

The probability of a U.S. withdrawal from the North American Free Trade Agreement is roughly 1 in 4, according to private-sector forecasters, who said such a move would likely weigh on economic growth. President Donald Trump has indicated he may pull the U.S. out of NAFTAif efforts to renegotiate it fail. The talks are set to resume Nov. 17 in Mexico City.

Read more

Around the State:

12 News: ASU students are using robots to solve problems from health to public safety

MESA, ARIZ. – Arizona State’s Polytechnic Campus in Mesa is where students and professors are exploring the potential of robotics to help meet an array of challenges in the realms of health care, education, transportation, manufacturing, national defense, public safety, environmental health, communications, sustainable energy systems and earth and space exploration.

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Daily Miner: Manufacturing Day: KAMMA tours give students a look at factory work

KINGMAN – Developing an educated and skilled workforce is a challenge for every rural community in Arizona, a tricky balance of providing high school graduates with specialized training and enticing them to stick around for meaningful employment.

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The Arizona Manufacturers Council is the voice of Arizona manufacturing. We are a community of makers dedicated to creating the innovations that safeguard and improve people’s lives and to providing the jobs that anchor Arizona’s economy. We are the official state affiliate of the National Association of Manufacturers and we aim to promote and enhance a positive business climate for manufacturing and related industries that operate within Arizona.

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Why manufacturers are optimistic

Glenn Hamer

June 23, 2017

Energy and confidence defined the latest National Association of Manufacturers annual summit held earlier this week in Washington, D.C.

The right mix of policy reforms and executive and legislative branch leadership has put optimism among manufacturers at a 20-year high.

The Arizona Manufacturers Council, an entity of the Arizona Chamber of Commerce & Industry, serves as NAM’s state affiliate for Arizona. I attended the summit on the AMC’s behalf and came away more excited than ever about what’s in store for this sector.

Manufacturing produces over $2 trillion in economic output and over 13 million jobs. In Arizona, we’re leaders in aerospace, defense and semiconductors. We also manufacture items ranging from golf clubs – PGA-tour-event-winning equipment by Karsten Manufacturing’s PING, for example – to the world’s best refrigerators from Sub-Zero and Wolf.

The sector is defined by cutting-edge technology and innovation, and it’s growing in jobs and output.

Summit speakers included Vice President Mike Pence and Speaker of the House Paul Ryan. Leadership at the highest levels is behind manufacturing now more than ever, a vital sector for economic growth.

We need to convert this attention and energy into the passage of NAM’s legislative agenda. The four top legislative priorities highlighted at the summit:

Tax reform. Speaker Ryan called this a once-in-a-generation opportunity. The vice president also stressed the importance of tax reform. The keys to this effort are to reduce the U.S. corporate tax rate – the world’s highest rack rate – to 15 percent, and to reduce the personal income tax rate, which applies to two-thirds of manufacturers as well.

We need to move to a territorial tax system and eliminate the death tax that harms capital intensive family businesses. Maintaining and even enhancing the permanent research and development tax credit and reducing taxation on capital expenditures are also important for our efforts to accelerate innovation.

Infrastructure investment. Manufacturers need a modern infrastructure to move goods efficiently from shop floor to market. Complex supply chains and just-in-time inventory management require no less. For Arizona, a key here is to build out Interstate 11, which would connect Las Vegas and Phoenix, the nation’s largest cities not currently connected by an interstate.

Regulatory reform. This is an area where much progress is being made, and necessarily so. A 2014 NAM study pegged the cost of regulations for manufacturers at a whopping $19,564 per employee.

Speaker Ryan spoke of implementing reforms in waves.

The first wave was to use the Congressional Review Act to reverse regulations enacted at the end of the previous administration. This mechanism has been used now a record 14 times. Executive orders and other administration activity is also moving at a feverish pace to undo some of the overregulation of the past eight years. The reversal of the punitive gainful employment regulations for higher education is one example.

The next wave is a two-out, one-in approach to any new regulations. It’s not a gimmick. NAM found in a 2016 study that manufacturers face 297,696 restrictions on their operations from federal regulations. If any sector could stand some regulatory relief, it’s manufacturing.

More difficult, but also important, is to pass into law regulatory reform bills that require more robust cost-benefit analyses to justify their necessity.

Workforce development. Skills, skills and skills. Both the vice president and speaker stressed this area. NAM is putting muscle behind legislation that would reauthorize and improve the Perkins Act, which covers career and technical education and vocational programs.

There was also excitement at the summit about the president’s apprenticeship announcement, intended to create a new workforce development program that other countries have used successfully to prepare willing workers for available jobs. As we enter what some are calling the fourth industrial revolution, workforce readiness is critical.

NAM’s work on international trade is also important. It has been a privilege to serve on NAM’s NAFTA Task Force led by Linda Dempsey, NAM’s vice president for international economic affairs. Linda is one of Washington’s most important players when it comes to the NAFTA modernization effort. NAM understands that a new and improved NAFTA is critical to our continent’s highly integrated manufacturing supply chains and our ability to sell products marked Made in the USA to the 95 percent of consumers who live beyond our borders. Let’s modernize and improve NAFTA and hold it up as a model for future trade agreements.

The energetic NAM president and CEO, Jay Timmons, cheerfully told the summit crowd, “This is our time.”

He’s right. Manufacturers have every reason to be excited.

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Arizona Manufacturers Council Manufacturing Summit and Awards to recognize state’s best manufacturers

Arizona Manufacturers Council Manufacturing Summit and Awards to recognize state’s best manufacturers

U.S. Senators John McCain and Jeff Flake special guests at luncheon

PHOENIX (October 20, 2016) – The Arizona Manufacturers Council will honor the achievements of Arizona’s outstanding manufacturers tomorrow, October 21, 2016 at the Arizona Manufacturing Summit and Awards Luncheon.

The Summit and luncheon, which will take place at the Arizona Biltmore in Phoenix, will also recognize two legislators who have served as advocates for manufacturing in the state.

Outstanding Large Manufacturer

Arizona’s Outstanding Large Manufacturer for 2016 is Sub-Zero, which manufactures technologically advanced solutions at its Phoenix and Goodyear facilities to meet virtually any home refrigeration need.

“Sub-Zero is honored to be recognized by the Arizona Manufacturers Council as the Large Manufacturer of the Year for 2016. For over 70 years, Sub-Zero has been the leading manufacturer of luxury appliances,” Sub-Zero Corporate Manager for Manufacturing Engineering Bill Lawrie said. “Our Goodyear facility, which is currently completing a 260,000 square-foot expansion, produces over 50 percent of all Sub-Zero products built. We are delighted to see manufacturing grow in Goodyear, the West Valley and Arizona and are proud to join the elite group of past winners of this award.”

Outstanding Small/Medium Manufacturer

Pivot Manufacturing will be honored by the AMC as Arizona’s 2016 Outstanding Small/Medium Manufacturer.

Pivot, located in Phoenix, provides machining and mechanical assembly operations for various industries including defense, aerospace, commercial electronics and semiconductors.

“Pivot is thrilled to be recognized by the AMC as one of the state’s outstanding manufacturers,” Pivot President Steve Macias said. “Throughout our company’s history, we’ve worked hard day in and day out to meet our customers’ needs with the finest machined parts and assemblies, while delivering outstanding service. We share in and applaud the AMC’s support of Arizona’s manufacturing community and we look forward to celebrating our entire sector with our fellow manufacturing leaders.”

Additional awards recognizing manufacturing excellence

Excellence in Sustainability: Honeywell International, Inc.

“We take our commitment to environmental stewardship seriously at Honeywell, so we couldn’t be more appreciative of this recognition from the Arizona Manufacturers Council,” Scott Harczynski, vice president for health, safety, environment & facilities at Honeywell Aerospace said. “Our commitment to be more efficient and responsible is reflected in the extensive work we do to make our businesses more environmentally friendly, safer, and more sustainable. We thank the AMC for this award as we continue to develop technologies that expand the sustainable capacity of our world.”

Excellence in Innovation: Intel, Corp.

“Intel is proud to be named the 2016 Manufacturer of the Year for Excellence in Innovation. As an IoT leader, Intel is committed to driving innovation across all market sectors, with a significant focus on transportation, retail, and manufacturing,” Doug Davis, Intel Corp.’s senior vice president and general manager of the Internet of Things (IoT) Group said. “We are collaborating with policymakers, automakers, suppliers, academia, and cities worldwide – utilizing the IoT to accelerate innovation.”

Awards recognizing legislative advocacy on behalf of manufacturing

State Senator of the Year: Sen. Sylvia Allen

State Representative of the Year: Rep. Frank Pratt

“I congratulate all of our award winners for their accomplishments and valuable contributions to Arizona’s manufacturing community,” Arizona Manufacturers Council Chairwoman Dawn Grove said. “All of our state’s manufacturers, large and small, play a leading role in the advancement of our state. I can’t think of a better way to celebrate Manufacturing Month than to honor Arizona’s creators, innovators and advocates at this special event.”

U.S. Senators John McCain and Jeff Flake to speak at awards luncheon

Arizona’s United States senators, John McCain and Jeff Flake, will be special guests at the luncheon, offering their insight into the issues at a federal level impacting manufacturing in our state and country.

WHAT:  Arizona Manufacturers Council Manufacturing Summit and Awards

WHEN:  Friday, Oct. 21st

9:00 AM – 11:00 AM Summit featuring panel discussions and presentations

11:45 AM Awards luncheon with Senators McCain & Flake

WHERE: Arizona Biltmore, 2400 E. Missouri, Phoenix

MEDIA RSVP to Garrick Taylor at gtaylor@azchamber.com. A mult box will be available.

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It’s Manufacturing Month. Here are five things you need to know.

  by Dawn Grove

October 6, 2016

Commentary from a manufacturing perspective

It’s October,which means it’s the season for the annual celebration of manufacturing. For the Arizona Manufacturers Council, this is our time to shine.

Think of this time of year as the annual manufacturing checkup. We get to remind policymakers why Arizona should continue to advance public policy that encourages manufacturing, discuss how we can attract more of these good-paying job creators, and make the case as to why we should grow a sector that is on the leading edge of technological innovation. We also showcase our manufacturing facilities, share best practices and make the connections that strengthen all of us.

Here are five things you need to know about manufacturing and Manufacturing Month.

1)      Manufacturing means jobs. Manufacturing employs 12.3 million Americans and over 150,000 Arizonans. Our state’s total manufacturing output is $23.77 billion, according to the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM). And manufacturing means good, career track jobs. NAM reports manufacturing jobs in Arizona pay over 75 percent above Arizona’s average annual compensation. Plus, every manufacturing job births additional service and supplier jobs, and innovation, research and development eventually follow manufacturing wherever it goes.

Next time someone tells you that America’s best manufacturing days are behind it, point to the tremendously positive impact manufacturing is making on Arizona.

2)    Arizona manufacturing is world class. What does manufacturing look like in Arizona? Forget the caricature of sparks flying on a grimy shop floor. Manufacturing in Arizona today is defined by technologically advanced, environmentally conscious, world-class companies turning out products that improve the lives of people around the world.

Think of high tech manufacturers like Intel in Chandler, which employs nearly 11,000 Arizonans who are making products that will define our future. Or our aerospace and defense manufacturers like Boeing or Raytheon, who are equipping our men and women in uniform with the tools to ensure they emerge victorious in the toughest battles and come home safely. And I’m incredibly proud of Karsten Manufacturing and PING, which makes premium, custom fit golf equipment. Our clubs are in the hands of tournament-winning professionals and weekend duffers alike, in each case helping golfers putt, chip and drive their best.

3)      We’re preparing our talent pipeline for tomorrow’s jobs. The Arizona Manufacturers Council was strongly supportive of the Legislature’s and Governor Doug Ducey’s work in the 2016 legislative session to bolster funding for career and technical education, otherwise known as CTE.

States are in a pitched battle for good-paying manufacturing jobs. If we’re going to win the jobs of tomorrow’s economy, we must grow the talent pipeline to meet employers’ needs. That’s why CTE, which prepares high-school students with the skills and credentials they need to be successful in fields like manufacturing, is so critical.

CTE also sets the stage for students to move on to even more advanced training. According to a report from Georgetown University’s Center on Education and the Workforce, two-thirds of tomorrow’s jobs will require some sort of post-12th grade industry certification or credential. That doesn’t necessarily mean a bachelor’s degree, but it does mean further education. To that end, Governor Ducey recently launched Achieve60 AZ, which seeks to increase to 60 percent (from the current 42 percent) the number of Arizonans with post-high school training. This is the right move at the right time for Arizona’s economy.

4)  Manufacturing thrives when we cut red tape. An onerous regulatory environment negatively affects all businesses, but it’s like kryptonite to our manufacturing heroes.

Those of us in manufacturing are dealing with the same federal regulations that all job creators are confronting: anti-employer labor rules, mandates affecting wages and employee leave that discourage hiring, and a legal environment that forces many to spend more time worrying about lawsuits than growing their businesses.

But Arizonans are disproportionately affected by environmental regulations coming from Washington, D.C. Beltway bureaucrats are issuing rules that, in the name of improving air and water quality, are thwarting job creation while having almost no positive effect on theenvironment. Thankfully, leaders like Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich are standing up to Washington’s regulatory overreach.

5)  October 21, 2016 is our Manufacturer of the Year Summit and Awards Event. I hope we’ll see you Oct. 21 at the Arizona Biltmore for the AMC’s annual Manufacturer of the Year event.

This year we’re proud to welcome both Senator John McCain and Senator Jeff Flake, who will give us an inside look at what’s happening on Capitol Hill and how what’s happening at a federal level affects Arizona’s manufacturing sector. We’ll also have discussions on preparing Arizona’s workforce for the careers of tomorrow, how recent changes in Internet governance may affect manufacturers, and honor our large and small manufacturer winners for innovation, sustainability and overall excellence.

Register online today. I look forward to seeing you there.

There are many great events occurring around the state for Manufacturing Month. Watchtwitter.com/AZManufacturing or contact Christine Martin to find a tour and join in on the action.

Dawn Grove is Corporate Counsel for Karsten Manufacturing Corporation, parent company of PING, Inc. and the Chairman of the Arizona Manufacturers Council.

The Arizona Manufacturers Council within the Arizona Chamber is the state affiliate of the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM). For more on manufacturing and NAM, visit www.nam.org.

The Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry is committed to advancing Arizona’s competitive position in the global economy by advocating free-market policies that stimulate economic growth and prosperity for all Arizonans. For more information visit www.azchamber.com.

 
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Dawn of a new day for manufacturing

by Steve Macias
November 24, 2015

While observing recent national politics, one cannot be faulted for pondering the old Elvis Costello line “Oh, I used to be disgusted, and now I try to be amused.”

Fortunately, we are in Arizona, so a more apropos song for today could be Coldplay’s anthem, “A Sky Full of Stars,” which is a far cry from the beginning of the tumultuous economic period in place when I took the reins of the Arizona Manufacturers Council chairmanship seven years ago. However, in retrospect, the past several years have turned out to be a fortuitous time to focus on manufacturing and growing the Arizona economy.

As the state was seeking ways to climb out of the economic cliff we had fallen off, the AMC was looking to reestablish manufacturing in our government’s frontal lobes as a pillar of the economy, not an afterthought.

Beginning in 2010 with Governor Jan Brewer and the Arizona State Legislature trying to fill a massive deficit in the state budget, manufacturing came to be looked upon as a solution to help move the Arizona economy forward, and the AMC and the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry were sought after for guidance in achieving that goal.

Working closely with the Governor’s office and the then newly formed Arizona Commerce Authority, the AMC made great strides in achieving policy that has helped existing manufacturers thrive and attracted new business into the state. Now Governor Doug Ducey has taken the Little Deuce Coupe (I’m rolling with music analogies) and dropped a supercharger into the economic engine and we are seeing an even higher level of business attraction. Combine that with the renewed focus and leadership on the part of our federal delegation and we are in exciting economic development times.

Arizona is well on the road to understanding the importance of our aerospace, defense, and semiconductor industries and how they can be leveraged and utilized as the cornerstones upon which to continue building our manufacturing base.

So what happens when governments, business, and the community work together? Results like the Rio Salado Habitat Restoration Area south of downtown Phoenix. My company is located in the area and back in 2000 when we started in business, the river bottom was full of mattresses, abandoned cars, tires and other junk. Yet, a few Saturday mornings ago, I was jogging along through the Restoration Area and was joined by hawks, burrowing owls, lizards, a coyote, quail, joggers, bicyclists, walkers and a running stream, a far cry from the wasteland it used to be and a testament to working together.

Now that I am moving on to other Arizona Chamber duties (along with running Pivot Manufacturing), who will help lead the Arizona Manufacturers Council and Arizona manufacturing into the next stage of habitat restoration? None other than Dawn Grove, corporate counsel for Karsten Manufacturing, which is the parent company of PING, the makers of world famous Ping golf equipment. Dawn is as committed to manufacturing as anyone I have ever met and she will be the ideal chair for the AMC.

Dawn’s family has invested in Arizona since Karsten  Manufacturing began in 1959. She works for one of the premier manufacturing companies in Arizona that has a global reputation for excellence. Her devotion to the community and her family is unchallenged and I look forward to working with her as she moves the AMC forward and helps makes Arizona a great place to manufacture.

By the time she is done, dare I say we’ll have a whole bunch of Shiny Happy People!

Steve Macias is the president of Pivot Manufacturing and the immediate past chairman of the Arizona Manufacturers Council

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The Cutting Edge – November 30, 2015

STATE AND FEDERAL NEWS FOR ARIZONA’S MANUFACTURING COMMUNITY

If you’ve been following the Arizona Manufacturers Council (AMC) or participated in recent events, you know it has been a busy October and November. October kicked off Manufacturing Month, which celebrated the invaluable role Arizona’s broad and diverse manufacturing sector plays in our state. A special “Manufacturing Day” started things off with a tour of Phoenix manufacturer PING’s impressive facility, which occupies a full city block and employs nearly 800 people.

 

The month continued with site visits across the state, including Local Motors in Chandler, DIRRT in Phoenix, Sub-Zero in Goodyear, and McKee Foods in Kingman. From golf to 3D printing, from construction and refrigeration technology to food distribution, Arizona manufacturers are on the leading edge of innovation and this was their month to show off!

 

Manufacturing Month culminated with the annual Arizona Manufacturing Summit and Awards Luncheon. Local Motors took home the award for Excellence in Innovation and BAE Systems earned honors for Excellence in Sustainability. Manufacturer of the Year awards went to Four Peaks Brewing in the small/medium category, and Intel for large. Congratulations to this year’s winners!

 

Manufacturing-themed activity continued in November with a sold-out Air Quality Conference, which the AMC hosted in conjunction with the Maricopa County Air Quality Department. The blitz of new federal regulations in this area gave presenters a variety of issues to address. Representatives from the Maricopa County Department of Air Quality, Arizona Department of Environmental Quality, and Environmental Protection Agency offered updates on a broad spectrum of policy issues affecting Arizona manufacturers. County Supervisors Hickman and Kunasek were also on hand to provide opening and closing remarks. Stay tuned for an AZ Chamber blog with more on this content-rich event.

 

One final item: as you begin your week, I encourage you to read this column by AMC Chairman Steve Macias. Steve’s knowledge, warmth, and character come through in this personal column, which highlights his earliest connections to manufacturing and why he remains optimistic about the future of manufacturing in Arizona and around the country.

 

Here at the AMC we are thankful to be engaged in the important work of making Arizona a place where manufacturers can thrive. 

 

The Arizona Manufacturers Council is the leading manufacturing lobbying association at the state capitol and is the official state affiliate of the National Association of Manufacturers.

National News

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Local News

AZCentral: Industrial growth surging in Mesa, Chandler, Gilbert, Tempe

UANews: New WEST Center to Address Water Issues

 

We welcome feedback from our members about the type of news and information you would like to see. Please contact Erica Wrublik to share any editorial suggestions.

 

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November 2015

by Steve Macias
November 24, 2015

During this week of Thanksgiving, I am first and foremost thankful for family, friends, community, health, and my mom’s sausage-based stuffing. I am also thankful for Arizona and the people who live here that are trying to make it an even better place than it already is.

I travel once a month or so, and over the last year in cities from Boston to Indianapolis to Denver to Houston to Los Angeles and places in between, there are similar sights: usually a healthy dose of retail centers, plenty of schools and schoolchildren and, sadly, shrinking industrial areas. Last month in Woodland Hills, California, as I stared through a chain link fence at a padlocked Rocketdyne plant, I felt like Iron Eyes Cody in the 1970s “Keep America Beautiful” commercial.

As our industrial base shrinks, I wonder where the children in the schools will work. Will they earn a good enough living to support the retail centers and the people who work there? Will our three teenagers never leave the house? Before that last thought causes me to seize up, the recent statewide focus on manufacturing and the benefits it provides, does give me some optimism that Arizona will be able to provide jobs and a living for our kids and future transplants.

In the last three weeks we have had events such as the Arizona Manufacturers Council awards, the Arizona Technology Council’s Governor’s Celebration of Innovation Awards, and the Minority Business awards where manufacturers large and small took center stage. Winners included companies who produce missiles, pacemakers, body armor, cars, beer, computer chips and construction products among others. The diversity and ability of these companies keep me optimistic that our industry will continue to provide good jobs and opportunities to those willing to work hard.

As a Phoenix native, I have vivid memories of my dad coming home from his part-time JC Penney job at 9:30 at night, eating dinner and then getting ready to leave again at 11:15 PM with his lunch pail in hand for his graveyard shift at the Reynolds Aluminum plant on Van Buren. Our Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners were usually served about 1:00 in the afternoon so Dad would have time to eat and then work the holiday swing shift, which meant double-time pay and some extra money on the table.

Halfway across the country, my father-in-law was walking and driving the streets of Chicagoland with blueprints, maps, interest-rate tables, and a briefcase full of notes and charts looking to finance and build his projects. Among the ventures were many that included small and medium manufacturing plants, places where people like my dad would eventually find meaningful and gainful employment.

These are the types of results and the type of system the Arizona Manufacturers Council is striving to help create as we look at our 2016 legislative agenda: an atmosphere where more job creators can create jobs and more working class folks are able to secure good jobs and get ahead. So as our elected leaders – both local and national – move forward into 2016, let us put our focus on guiding the economy toward the things that will encourage industry, create jobs, and teach that hard work has its rewards.

By doing so we can avoid the shadow of that shuttered Rocketdyne plant in California, and stay in the sunshine that is Arizona.

 Steve Macias is the president of Pivot Manufacturing and the chairman of the Arizona Manufacturers Council

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AMC Press Release

Manufacturing Month continues with tour of Local Motors. Cutting edge custom vehicle-maker just part of several tours in month that culminates with Manufacturing Summit and Awards Luncheon on October 30th

Phoenix – Arizona Manufacturers Council (AMC) members and business leaders on Friday had the great privilege of touring Local Motors’ two Valley facilities for an up-close look as some truly leading edge manufacturing.

Headquartered in Chandler, Local Motors is leveraging innovative technology to revolutionize specialty car-making. From co-creation techniques to open-source design, 3D-printing, and the emergence of worldwide microfactories, Local Motors is the embodiment of the diversity and depth of manufacturing in Arizona we celebrate all month long during Manufacturers Month.

The AMC thanks co-founder John “Jay” Rogers and his incredible team for the opportunity to see firsthand the innovative design and build-out of some truly spectacular vehicles made right here in Arizona, including the Rally Fighter, a futuristic, fully-customizable off-road vehicle that is as at home on the set of a Transformer movie as it is rambling along rugged desert trails.

Friday’s tour, and the numerous others hosted by the AMC all month long, is a lead-up to the 2015 Manufacturing Summit and Awards Luncheon on October 30th. At the AMC’s signature event, Arizona’s manufacturing community is celebrated for its tremendous role in building the world and reshaping the future.

The 2015 Manufacturing Summit and Awards Luncheon is set to take place at the Arizona Biltmore on October 30th from 8:00 a.m. – 1:45 p.m. The morning summit will feature an update from Washington with Aric Newhouse of the National Association of Manufacturers, expert panel discussions that will address manufacturing workforce needs and federal challenges, and a special announcement by Maricopa Community Colleges Chancellor Rufus Glasper. The afternoon luncheon will feature a keynote address by Arizona Board of Regents President Eileen Klein.

Awards will also be presented to local manufacturers for Excellence in Innovation, Excellence in Sustainability, Manufacturer of the Year (Small/Medium), and Manufacturer of the Year (Large).

The event will conclude with a highly anticipated congressional panel discussion featuring five members of Arizona’s congressional delegation discussing issues critical to the local manufacturing industry.

The line-up of monthlong Manufacturers Month tours and events is posted at azmanufacturerscouncil.com.

A comprehensive list of all statewide Manufacturers Month events is posted at manufacturingrevolution.com.

And guests may register for the 2015 Arizona Manufacturing Summit and Awards Luncheon at azchamber.chambermaster.com/events

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The Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry is committed to advancing Arizona’s competitive position in the global economy by advocating free-market policies that stimulate economic growth and prosperity for all Arizonans. Learn more at azchamber.com.

The Arizona Manufacturers Council, an affiliate of the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry, is the leading manufacturing lobbying association at the state capitol, and the official state affiliate of the National Association of Manufacturers. For more information about the Arizona Manufacturers Council or to follow us on Twitter or Facebook, please visit azmanufacturerscouncil.com.

About Local Motors: Local Motors is a technology company that designs, builds, and sells vehicles. From bytes-to-bits, the Local Motors platform combines global co-creation with local micro-manufacturing to bring hardware innovations, like the world’s first 3D-printed car, to market at unprecedented speed. To learn more about and join the Local Motors community, please connect on facebook.com/localmotors or follow on Twitter @localmotors. Discover more at localmotors.com.

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AMC Press Release

PING Hosts Manufacturing Day Tour, Kicks Off Monthlong Manufacturers Month Events and Tours

Phoenix – On Friday, October 2, 2015, the Arizona Manufacturers Council (AMC) in partnership with the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) and thousands of manufacturers across the country, participated in Manufacturing Day. During this annual event, companies opened their doors to students, parents, educators, business leaders, and community leaders to showcase the many career opportunities available through manufacturing.

Manufacturing Day in Arizona featured a tour of Phoenix manufacturer PING, one of the top three golf equipment brands in the U.S. and member of the AMC. PING’s impressive facility has been in the valley for 56 years, now occupying a full city block and employing nearly 800. Manufacturing Day visitors enjoyed a warm welcome from PING Chairman and CEO, John A. Solheim, followed by a start-to-finish walk of the shop floor, culminating in a visit to the Gold Putter Vault, home to more than 2,800 gold putters, each commemorating a major tournament win by a professional golfer playing PING clubs. Decades ago, founder Karsten Solheim pioneered a winning formula, and today his children and grandchildren and the tremendous team at PING continue to manufacture excellence and innovation right here in Arizona’s backyard.

Looking forward, Arizona celebrates the incredible diversity and depth of manufacturing all month long with the entire month of October designated as Manufacturers Month. This collaborative effort among the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Arizona Manufacturers Council, RevAZ–a program of the Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA), the Arizona Manufacturing Partnership (AMP), the Arizona Technology Council, the Arizona Department of Education, and the Arizona Tooling and Machining Association (ATMA), is an excellent opportunity to increase awareness and highlight Arizona’s approximately 4,000 manufacturers who are generating $24 billion in annual manufacturing output – from microchips, to space vehicles, helicopters, guided missiles, champion putters, award-winning brews, and more.

The Arizona Manufacturers Council’s line-up of Manufacturers Month tours and events is posted at www.azmanufacturerscouncil.com.

A comprehensive list of all statewide Manufacturers Month events is posted at www.manufacturingrevolution.com.

“Manufacturing opens doors of opportunity for everyone,” NAM President and CEO Jay Timmons said. “There are so many eager young people across the country seeking rewarding and exciting careers—and manufacturing delivers that path every day. Manufacturing Day invites everyone to see and experience firsthand how we dream, build and make our future.”

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The Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry is committed to advancing Arizona’s competitive position in the global economy by advocating free-market policies that stimulate economic growth and prosperity for all Arizonans.

The Arizona Manufacturers Council, an affiliate of the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry, is the leading manufacturing lobbying association at the state capitol, and the official state affiliate of the National Association of Manufacturers. For more information about the Arizona Manufacturers Council or to follow us on Twitter or Facebook, please visit www.azmanufacturerscouncil.com.

The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) is the largest manufacturing association in the United States, representing small and large manufacturers in every industrial sector and in all 50 states. Manufacturing employs more than 12 million men and women, contributes $2.09 trillion to the U.S. economy annually, has the largest economic impact of any major sector and accounts for more than three-quarters of private-sector research and development. The NAM is the powerful voice of the manufacturing community and the leading advocate for a policy agenda that helps manufacturers compete in the global economy and create jobs across the United States. For more information about the National Association of Manufacturers or to follow us on Shopfloor, Twitter and Facebook, please visit www.nam.org.

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Chair Emeritus Post: Manufacturing Month

by Mark Dobbins
October 1, 2015

Having been at this for longer than some of you have been on this earth, I can’t help looking at how far we have come – and just how far away our goals keep stretching before us.  Because, you see, I’m from a home where we were told your only limit is YOU.  Work hard and you’ll make it.  I always wonder, “Make it to what?”

I have a friend who was an executive in manufacturing.  He had the determination to try to start an auto parts distribution business back east.  Now, a quarter century later, he has sold that business to an even bigger company and is a retired millionaire with homes scattered from Florida to points north.  One day, he said to me, “People are always telling me how lucky I am.”  I say, “Ya, the harder I work, the luckier I get.”  So, looking forward to next month – Manufacturing Month – I reflect on just how new our jobs in manufacturing are – and how the same truth about hard work still applies today, regardless of what path you decide to take.

In today’s world, the first thing you must have is commitment.  Then, there must be a skill – training that is valued by the market economy we live in.  Many times, people ask me how I made it to where I am, and I answer that I found something I liked early on, and that was organizing people and events to achieve an outcome.  Next, I looked at what might earn me a career and a good income doing that, and discovered that Human Resources and Industrial Relations were a good fit.  Up to that point, I had never, in my tender, young life, been inside a manufacturing plant.

I knew that for what I had chosen, I needed a four-year degree.  At the same time, a lot of my friends had also chosen their career paths, some going to training schools, others to community colleges, and some straight into the workforce from high school.  One of those friends became a lineman for the power company.  He made good money and had a successful career in a satisfying, well-paying job.  I can’t name any of the other folks who did not go on for further training.  They sort of drifted from job to job, and I lost track of them.

What I learned was, “Wow.  If I work hard and get a sell-able skill, my new wife and I can maybe start a family without starving.  We might even be able to afford a TV and not have to trade secondhand cars with my parents (yes, they drove Buicks before Buicks were cool).  That’s not to say there weren’t lots of bumps in the road, but you keep learning life lessons.

So, as we get ready to celebrate Manufacturing Month in Arizona, remember this:  There are many ways to reach our goals.  Be who you are, and focus on what you are interested in as a career.  Look at the requirements to be successful in that career.  Look at the training and pre-requisites needed.  I encourage you to look at a career in manufacturing.  Like my Daddy’s Buick, manufacturing’s not the same anymore – it’s way cooler.  And if you’re under 30, ask your parents what ‘cool’ means.  LOL

Come on in – the water’s fine.

Mark Dobbins is senior vice president and secretary of SUMCO Phoenix Corporation; chair emeritus of the Arizona Manufacturers Council; co-chairman of Arizona Manufacturing Partnership; member of the board of directors for the National Association of Manufacturers; and a past chairman of the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry

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Boeing Mediaroom: Boeing Receives Order from India for 22 Apache and 15 Chinook Helicopters

PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 29, 2015 – The India Ministry of Defence has finalized its order with Boeing [NYSE: BA] for production, training and support of Apache and Chinook helicopters that will greatly enhance India’s capabilities across a range of military and humanitarian missions.

India will receive 22 AH-64E Apache attack helicopters and 15 CH-47F Chinook heavy-lift helicopters. Both are the newest models of those aircraft.

“This is a milestone in Boeing’s expanding commitment to India,” said Pratyush Kumar, president, Boeing India. “This acquisition enhances the Indian Air Force’s capabilities and offers us an opportunity to further accelerate ‘Make in India.’ Large sections of the Chinook fuselage are already manufactured in India and discussions are ongoing with our Indian partners to make Apache parts.”

The Apache is the world’s leading multi-role attack helicopter. The AH-64E Apache, the most modern variant also flown by the U. S. Army, features enhanced performance, joint digital operability, improved survivability and cognitive decision aiding.

The CH-47F Chinook is an advanced multi-mission helicopter operated by the U.S. Army and 18 other defense forces. The Chinook has proven its ability to operate in the range of conditions that typify the Indian subcontinent, including delivering heavy payloads to high altitudes.

“These new aircraft will provide world-class capabilities to meet the Indian Air Force’s missions today, tomorrow and well into the future,” said David Koopersmith, vice president and general manager, Boeing Vertical Lift division. “This agreement represents another major step forward in our long and successful relationship with India.”

India is the 14th nation to select the Apache and the 19th nation to select the Chinook.

“The Apache and Chinook represent the best of high-performing technologies that will modernize India’s defense capabilities,” said Dennis Swanson, vice president, Defense, Space & Security in India. “We look forward to delivering the newest Apache and Chinook to our customers and remain focused on delivering on its commitments to the Indian Air Force and India’s Ministry of Defence.”

A unit of The Boeing Company, Defense, Space & Security is one of the world’s largest defense, space and security businesses specializing in innovative and capabilities-driven customer solutions, and the world’s largest and most versatile manufacturer of military aircraft. Headquartered in St. Louis, Defense, Space & Security is a $31 billion business with 53,000 employees worldwide. Follow us on Twitter: @BoeingDefense.

# # #

Contact:

Ashmita Sethi
Corporate Communications
Boeing India
Office: +91-11-4656 6035
ashmita.sethi@boeing.com

Amrita Dhindsa
International Communications – India
Defense, Space & Security
+91 96546 06067
amrita.dhindsa@boeing.com

Tom Marinucci
Vertical Lift Communications
Boeing Military Aircraft
+1-610-591-2673
thomas.marinucci@boeing.com

Carole Thompson
Vertical Lift Communications
Boeing Military Aircraft
+1-480-891-2119
carole.j.thompson@boeing.com

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AMC: Cutting Edge Newsletter

STATE AND FEDERAL NEWS FOR ARIZONA’S MANUFACTURING COMMUNITY

September 28, 2015 – Our Accelerate Arizona team is on the road between August and November meeting with business leaders, community members, and elected officials to talk about local transportation needs. We are traveling the state from Flagstaff to Nogales to build a broad coalition of champions for a stronger statewide transportation system that meets Arizona’s growth and economic development needs.

 

While not always the most glamorous issue, infrastructure is critically important to facilitating healthy commerce in our state. Arizona’s manufacturers know firsthand the importance of sustaining a strong transportation system. It helps us move our goods, our people, and ultimately our economy.

 

Infrastructure needs are complex and vary by region, which is why we are spanning the state to hear what challenges exist in both rural and urban areas. The big question of course is how to identify the resources necessary to provide the long-term infrastructure network needed to grow Arizona’s economy.

 

Check out what we’ve learned so far on the roadshow by visiting our blog here. We conclude our Accelerate Arizona roadshow in November with a stop in Yuma. Stay tuned for more!

 

The Arizona Manufacturers Council is the leading manufacturing lobbying association at the state capitol and is the official state affiliate of the National Association of Manufacturers.

The Wall Street Journal: GE to Shift Jobs to Canada In Ex-Im Bank Protest

Posted 09/28/2015

The Hill: Week ahead: EPA set to release ozone rule

Posted 09/28/2015

Reuters: US hosts meeting next week in bid to wrap up Pacific trade pact

Posted 09/24/2015

AP: Boeing to hold grand opening for research, technology center 

Posted 09/24/2015

 

LAST DAY! Nominate a manufacturer today for recognition at the Oct. 30th Arizona Manufacturing Summit and Awards Lunch: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/MOY2015

 

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