MFG Meeting Declared a Success
The event took place in March.

Metalforming Pioneer Award Winners Announced
The award indicates a company’s success in the metalforming industry.

Entries Sought for Awards of Excellence in Metalforming
PMA invites companies to submit their entries.

February Business Conditions Report Predicts Growth
A monthly survey by the PMA predicts a spike in business.

The MFG Meeting Returns
The event takes place in March.

PMA Elects New Board Chairman
The Precision Metalforming Association (Cleveland, Ohio) has elected P.J.

NTMA, PMA Praise Currency Legislation
The National Tooling & Machining Association (NTMA) and the Precision Metalforming Association (PMA) praised the Senate’s passage of the Currency Exchange Rate Oversight Act, a bill designed to address currency manipulation by U.S. trade partners including China.   “U.S. manufacturers can compete with anyone if provided a level playing field; however, currency manipulation negatively impacts the ability of U.S. businesses—and small manufacturers in particular—to compete in the global marketplace,” the organizations said through a joint statement. “This bill is one step toward addressing this long-standing problem, and we urge the House of Representatives to pass this legislation as quickly as possible.”   The joint statement was issued through “One Voice,” a collaborative effort through which the two organizations combine their federal government advocacy programs.

Industry Organizations Commend Skills Initiative
Industry organizations reacted positively to President Obama’s announcement of a new system for standardizing manufacturing training credentials. The Manufacturing Skills Certification System was announced as an expansion to Skills For America’s Future, a workforce development initiative launched last year with the aim of improving collaboration between industry and community colleges.

Automotive Suppliers Gather for Annual Conference
The Precision Metalforming Association (PMA) has scheduled its 18th annual Automotive Parts Suppliers Council (APSC) meeting for May 2-3 in Novi, Michigan.

Second “Manufacturing for Growth” Meeting Planned
Based on the success of the inaugural “Manufacturing for Growth” Meeting, organizers have announced plans to host a second conference next year from March 8 to 11, 2012, at the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress in Orlando, Florida.   More than 650 manufacturing executives attended the first edition of the event from March 3 through 6 in Chandler, Arizona.

Meeting Aims to Chart Course for U.S. Manufacturing
The inaugural Manufacturing for Growth (MFG) meeting aims to bring together hundreds of manufacturing leaders to pursue the common goal of building sustained U.S. economic growth by strengthening the country’s manufacturing sector.   Scheduled for March 3 through 6 in Chandler, Arizona, the event combines the annual meetings of four associations that represent a cross-section of the industry: AMT – The Association for Manufacturing Technology, the American Machine Tool Distributors Association (AMTDA), the National Tooling and Machining Association (NTMA) and the Precision Metalforming Association (PMA).   Combined, the four associations comprise more than 4,000 small- and medium-sized manufacturers from all 50 states that provide products for the aerospace, automotive, construction, energy, medical and other industries.

Re-Shoring Initiative Continues
The next edition of the Contract Manufacturing Purchasing Fair, which is designed to connect large OEMs with competitive U.S. contract manufacturers for the production of parts and tooling, is scheduled for October 29 at the MGM Grand/Foxwoods in Mashantucket, Connecticut.The travelling fair is part of the Re-Shoring Initiative, an effort by the National Tooling and Machining Association (NTMA) and the Precision Metalforming Association (PMA) to reduce imports, increase exports and create jobs.

Re-Shoring Initiative Continues
The next edition of the Contract Manufacturing Purchasing Fair, which is designed to connect large OEMs with competitive U.S. contract manufacturers for the production of parts and tooling, is scheduled for October 29 at the MGM Grand/Foxwoods in Mashantucket, Connecticut.The travelling fair is part of the Re-Shoring Initiative, an effort by the National Tooling and Machining Association (NTMA) and the Precision Metalforming Association (PMA) to reduce imports, increase exports and create jobs.

“Re-Shoring Fair” Encourages Domestic Sourcing
Despite widespread perception that off-shoring production is cheaper, large manufacturers can be more competitive by working with domestic suppliers, according to the organizers of a new initiative designed to showcase the benefits of sourcing in the United States.Sponsored by The National Tooling and Machining Association (NTMA), the Precision Metalforming Association (PMA) and AMT – The Association For Manufacturing Technology, the 2010 NTMA/PMA Contract Manufacturing Purchasing Fair: Re-Shoring to Bring U.S.

Assessment Evaluates Employee Potential
The Precision Metalforming Association (PMA) Educational Foundation has announced a newly developed and validated assessment designed to evaluate employment applicants who have no experience in metalworking.

NTMA Moves HQ
The National Tooling & Machining Association (NTMA), a metalworking trade group, has announced plans to relocate its national headquarters to Independence, Ohio. The 2009 NTMA executive team says the relocation will strengthen the association by reducing operating costs, improving accessibility to members and increasing potential of its “One Voice” political advocacy coalition for American manufacturing.