Industry News

Winds of Change

Industry experts 0ptimistic that 2012 brings improvement

Article from The Business Journal, December 30, 2012

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Hope for Manufacturing

The government should take steps to improve the business climate for companies that make things. 

Editorial in the Journal Sentinel, Sept 17, 2011

 

The long, ugly slide in manufacturing jobs needs no further elaboration for those who have experienced it. Go to Janesville to understand that. Or Milwaukee's central city. Or the Fox Valley.

Yet there is reason to believe that Wisconsin and other American centers of manufacturing may see a rebirth.

Read more

 

Skilled Laborers Sought in Factories

High unemployment persists amid dearth of qualified workers

September 2011

If not for the recession, Paul Rauscher said, his company would have been hard pressed to fill skilled manufacturing jobs including machinist and assembler positions.

Click to read full article in JS Online

Green is the New Gold for Wisconsin Manufacturers

Sustainability is becoming an essential strategy for today's manufacturers
August 2011

A vortex of customer demand, increased regulation and rising energy and raw material costs is driving sustainability deep into the consciousness of manufacturers and their suppliers.

Click to read full column by Buckley Brinkman in the Green Bay Press Gazette

Supply Chain Savvy

Major defense constracts in region seek suppliers with process improvement smarts - August, 2011

The numbers alone speak to the interest in taking part in one of the hefty military contracts centered in the region. When Marinette Marine Corporation held a small business industry day in early February in Green Bay, the session drew close to 500 registrants.

Click to read full article at InsightOnBusiness.com

Military contracts march into state

Wisconsin now ranks 16th per capita - March 10, 2011

From boots to burgers, Wisconsin companies are getting a bigger share of Department of Defense spending.

Wisconsin has risen from 48th three years ago to 16th per capita in bringing home Pentagon dollars, according to 2010 data compiled by the Wisconsin Procurement Institute in Milwaukee.

Read full article in JS Online

Wisconsin Economic Outlook Winter 2011

From the Wisconsin Department of Revenue Report IHS Insight, Winter 2011

SUMMARY

 The Wisconsin economy grew in 2010. Employment increased 32,600 December 2010 over December 2009. Personal income has increased four consecutive quarters through third quarter 2010. The labor market has lagged the recovery in 2010, but should gain momentum due to the improvement in domestic demand. Wisconsin employment should grow 1.3% in 2011 and 1.9% in 2012.

Link to report

North American Manufacturers Concerned about Skills Shortage and Government Over-regulation

PR Web, February 26, 2011

Most North American manufacturers see the retirement of skilled workers as a key detriment to business growth over 2011-2012, according to an industry poll conducted by Global Intelligence Alliance (GIA), a global strategic market intelligence and advisory group.  Click here to view release.

Wisconsin's exports increased 18.3% in 2010

from JSOnline, February 22, 2011

Wisconsin's exports increased 18.3% to $19.78 billion in 2010, the state Department of Commerce said Tuesday. Wisconsin now ranks as the 18th-largest exporting state, up from 21st in 2006.

State exports remain 3.8% below the peak of $20.57 billion recorded in 2008.

Exports to Canada, Wisconsin's largest international market, grew by 24.9% to $6.04 billion.

Link to full article in JSOnline

Survey shows economic strength in northeastern Wisconsin

from The Wisconsin State Journal, Jan. 13, 2011

The economic recovery is gracing businesses in northeastern Wisconsin more quickly than those in other parts of the state, including the Madison area, according to a survey sponsored by First Business Bank.

It shows 51 percent of company executives in the northeast part of the state saw an increase in sales in 2010 over the previous year and 63 percent think their revenues will jump again this year.

Read full article in wsg.com

Walker unveils plans to replace Department of Commerce

from BizTimes Daily, Dec. 28, 2010

Governor-elect Scott Walker today announced his plans to replace the state Department of Commerce with the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC), a public-private partnership that would promote commerce and handle economic development activities for the state.

Read full article at BizTimes.com

Manufacturers expect sales growth in 2011, survey shows

By Rick Barrett of the Journal Sentinel, Nov. 16, 2010

A majority of manufacturers are optimistic about an economic uptick in 2011 at their organizations, according to a survey released Tuesday from Milwaukee-based ASQ, an association that deals with quality control issues.

Read full story on JS Online

SATOP Offers up to 40 hours of technical assistance FREE

Ever wish you had a rocket scientist to help with your business?

If your business is facing a technical challenge, the Space Alliance Technology Outreach Program, (SATOP), wants to help.

SATOP offers up to 40 hours of FREE engineering assistance for qualified requests, utilizing the vast expertise of NASA and our Alliance Partners.

Click here for more information

Navy deal could create 1,000 jobs

Revised proposal on combat ships needs OK from Congress
By Paul Gores of the Journal Sentinel

Nov. 3, 2010

The Navy wants Congress to approve two new warship-building contracts instead of one, a move that would guarantee Wisconsin's Marinette Marine Corp. a multi-year project expected to create 1,000 new jobs and thousands more in offshoot work.

Currently, Marinette Marine and its partner, Lockheed Martin Corp., are competing against Alabama shipbuilders Austal USA and its partner, General Dynamics Corp., for an all-or-nothing contract for 10 ships. 

Read full article in JS Online

ISM Report on Business - Manufacturing Sector Expanded in October

October 2010 Manufacturing ISM Report On Business®

(Tempe, Arizona) — Economic activity in the manufacturing sector expanded in October for the 15th consecutive month, and the overall economy grew for the 18th consecutive month, say the nation's supply executives in the latest Manufacturing ISM Report On Business®.

The report was issued today by Norbert J. Ore, CPSM, C.P.M., chair of the Institute for Supply Management™ Manufacturing Business Survey Committee. "The manufacturing sector grew during October, with both new orders and production making significant gains. Since hitting a peak in April, the trend for manufacturing has been toward slower growth. However, this month's report signals a continuation of the recovery that began 15 months ago, and its strength raises expectations for growth in the balance of the quarter.

Read full article at http://www.ism.ws/ISMReport/MfgROB.cfm

Wisconsin’s manufacturing sector rebounding, employment lagging, reports say

November 1, 2010, BizTimes.com

Milwaukee’s Manufacturing Index improves for October, while employment remains flat.

The economy in metro Milwaukee continues to improve, according to the October business survey by the Institute for Supply Management – Milwaukee.

The Milwaukee Index rose six points last month to 56 – a rating above 50 indicates expansion. New orders received was down to 60, while production remained at 64. Order backlog rose five points to 54, and supplier lead times improved three points to 37.

Read full article at BizTimes.com

Market for Electronics Manufacturing Services Returns to Double-digit Growth

October 29, 2010 Industry Week

The North American EMS sector is predicted to grow 28% in 2010 and 12% in 2011.

Despite economic setbacks in 2009, the world market for electronics manufacturing services (EMS) is returning to double-digit growth, according to a study recently released by IPC. a global trade association.

Read full article in IndustryWeek.com

Quad to create 1,300 jobs in Wisconsin, will get $46 million in tax credits

October 28, 2010 BizTimes.com

Sussex-based Quad/Graphics Inc. announced today that the company plans to consolidate and expand its operations and create up to 1,300 new jobs in Wisconsin. The company says it is looking to fill 420 full-time and part-time jobs immediately. 

Read full article in BizTimes.com

Milwaukee-area companies see value in sustainable practices

October 9, 2010 Thomas Content JSOnline

Firms see savings and take pride in reducing their 'footprint'

Top level executives are used to using numbers to chart their progress. But the spreadsheets at InPro Corp. in Muskego may seem off the beaten path. Here are the metrics they're charting these days: Thirteen toilets flushing twice as many gallons as they need to; 180,000 Styrofoam cups tossed in the past year; 3.4 million sheets of paper printed on company printers and copiers; and one energy-intensive machine that was wasting loads of electricity 22 hours a day.

Read full article at JSOnline

Manufacturing opportunities may exist in hot water

September 30, 2010 Blog post, Thomas Content, JSOnline

A study released Thursday pinpoints growth opportunities for southeastern Wisconsin manufacturers looking to make parts for solar water heating systems.

Read full blog post at JSOnline

Wisconsin lands federal grant to build LEED accelerator in Wauwatosa