Nissan, Mississippi open second research facility
IT outsourcing not as widespread as perceived
SME names directors, Executive Committee members
Metalformers expect economic activity to increase
Survey: Lunch breaks dwindling
Timken distributes new line of industrial lubricants
Jobless claims fall in most recent week
Boeing approves 7E7 for sale to airlines
Henkel to acquire Dial Corp. for $2.9 billion
Welders file suit against welding product makers
OSHA cites metalworker for amputation hazards
Hiring levels to increase in 2004
Industrial production climbs in November
Viking Industries purchases Viking Air Tools Inc.
Timken to receive $70 million under continued dumping act
ASQ to hold quality competition at Annual Quality Congress
NAM testifies before Congress on Chinese counterfeiting

Nissan, Mississippi open second research facility
The second Center for Advanced Vehicular Systems (CAVS) opened recently in Canton, Miss. The facility was designed to provide research and development activity and engineering continuing education activity not just for Nissan, but for suppliers and other interested parties, according to Mississippi Major Economic Impact Authority project director Buzz Canup.

"Our role has been to provide overall coordination to meet the commitment made to Nissan by the state during the recruitment process and to provide the funding authorized through the bond issuance for facilities, equipment, faculty and seed money for research and development," said Canup. "We also performed the engineering and design in the construction of the facilities."

One other CAVS facility is located on the campus of Mississippi State University in Starkville (MSU).

The CAVS centers are both designed to university specifications, as part of the agreement package between Nissan and the state of Mississippi. In addition to the research conducted, the facility will offer workshops, seminars and meetings in its labs and classrooms. Its high-tech systems provides the means to administer analysis and evaluation, as well as 3-D modeling. Researchers will receive a grant to perform crash-worthiness testing for Nissan and other auto manufacturers.

"CAVS has a goal of enhancing the state's potential to attract other automotive and related industries," said J. Donald Trotter, director of the center and MSU associate vice president for strategic initiatives. "In addition to engineering expertise, CAVS has a strong commitment to apply advanced technologies to workforce development, in partnership with community colleges and other Mississippi institutions of higher learning. Both in applied research and in workforce education, we feel that higher education can offer many benefits to the state."

MSU interfaced directly with Nissan and Nissan Research and Development to identify research projects that can support Nissan. MSU has significantly expanded research and development activities in support of the automotive industry.

Under the agreement made between Nissan North America and the state of Mississippi, three endowed chairs have been funded in the amount of $1.5 million each as part of the research department at MSU. The funds will enable the university to recruit and employ people with national and international automotive experience to the CAVS center to apply their expertise in furthering automotive research in Mississippi.

The first named chair holder is Mark F. Horstemeyer with the CAVS chair in computational solid mechanics. Horstemeyer is world-renowned for his research in the transportation industry.

back to top

****************************************************************************

IT outsourcing not as widespread as perceived
Sixty percent of the Fortune 1,000 firms in the U.S. have not jumped on the offshore outsourcing bandwagon, and another 25 percent are in the experimentation phase, according to Forrester Research Inc.

Despite the hype surrounding the mass exodus of IT jobs to cheaper workers overseas, only 5 percent of the Fortune 1,000 fully implements offshore outsourcing.

Forrester finds that the move to offshore is not a simple short-term project for firms, but a four-stage journey taking place over a 24- to 60-month period. Fortune 1,000 firms have varying levels of insight and experience with offshore suppliers, internal project management skills, and perceptions of the offshore workforce. Based on these differences, Forrester classifies firms into the following four stages.

Bystanders
Sixty percent are either doing nothing or just starting to investigate the potential of offshore. They are not spending any of their IT services budget offshore.

Experimenters
Twenty-five percent to 30 percent have relationships with offshore vendors for small projects but have yet to make it a key element of their IT strategy. IT services spending on offshore falls within the 1 percent to 5 percent range.

Committeds
Five percent to 10 percent are using offshore suppliers for more complex applications and mission-critical development services. They typically spend 10 percent to 30 percent of their IT services budget offshore.

Full exploiters
Less than 5 percent have developed global sourcing as a core skill and documented best practices for large-scale development. Their IT services spending offshore ranges from 40 percent to 50 percent.

Additionally, the report follows the evolution of governance as it parallels the offshore commitment. Forrester notes that the offshore governance/sourcing roles and responsibilities also progress from administration to program management and development discipline as firms move through the stages.

Other findings include:
• Companies with no overseas experience perceive the issues holding back offshore investment differently than do those with offshore IT or business process outsourcing (BPO) expertise.
• Firms in each stage of the journey have different challenges that require suppliers to address unique security concerns, program management needs and best practices.

back to top

****************************************************************************

SME names directors, Executive Committee members
The Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME) announced the election of 14 new members to the SME board of directors and the election of the seven members to the Executive Committee for 2004. 

All were installed Nov. 16 at the SME Fall board of directors meeting in Dearborn, Mich. Their terms officially begin Jan. 1. Officers on the Executive Committee for 2004 include the following.

President Richard C. Peters
SME's 2004 president Rick Peters is an incumbent international director, current member of the Executive Committee of SME and has been a member since 1979. He serves as chief manufacturing engineer of Bucyrus operations at the Timken Company in Bucyrus, Ohio.

President-elect Eugene M. Nelson
An incumbent director and an SME member since 1982, Nelson was elected president-elect for 2004. Formerly director of advanced manufacturing pre-program engineering at Ford Motor Company, Nelson retired from Ford in 2001 after 37 years.

Vice President William J. Geary
Elected vice president, Geary is Boeing chief engineer of aircraft interiors for the 737/757 programs.

Secretary/Treasurer Edward H. Abbott
An incumbent director, Abbott has been a member of SME since 1982. Formerly project manager of the manufacturing analysis and planning department at Ford, Abbott retired in 2001 after serving 32 years.

Also elected to the 2004 Executive Committee were the following three at-large members.

F. Brian Holmes
An incumbent director and a member of SME since 1982, Holmes is vice president of operations at Columbia Plastics Ltd. in Surrey, B.C.

Richard L. Kegg
An active SME member since 1971, Kegg is an SME international director and at-large member of the Executive Committee. After a 45-year career at Milacron Inc., he retired as vice president of technology and manufacturing development.

George E. West Jr.
An SME international director and at-large member of the Executive Committee, West is vice president of manufacturing at PACCAR Inc. in Bellevue, Wash.

The 14 directors elected or re-elected to the board of directors assume their two-year terms of office Jan. 1 and will serve two years.

Those directors are:
•  James N. Brecker, president, Brecker Associates;
• Mark Brinkeroff, president, part owner, Fusion Design Inc.;
• Christopher A. Brown, Saint-Gobain professor at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI);
• Dean R. Davidson, vice president of North American operations, Alfmeier Corp.;
• Wayne F. Frost, product data management ream, John Deere Waterloo Works;
•  David J. Greer, director of manufacturing, Texstars Inc.;
• Richard L. Kegg, vice president of technology and manufacturing development, Milacron Inc. (ret.);
• Richard E. Morley, president, R. Morley Inc.;
•  Jordan Owens, president, Danly IEM, division of Connell Limited Partnership;
• Jack H. Schron Jr., president, Jergens Inc., and president, Tooling University;
• Ronald Vander Weerd, vice president of engineering and quality assurance, Eagle Window & Door Inc.;
• Guenter Warnecke, professor of manufacturing and production management (ret.), University of Kaiserslautern;
• George E. West Jr., vice president of manufacturing, PACCAR Inc.; and
• Robert L. Wolff, professor and manufacturing technology program coordinator, University of Dayton.

back to top

****************************************************************************

Metalformers expect economic activity to increase
Expectations for increased trade and industry activity have hit a 20-month high, according to the Precision Metalforming Association (PMA) Business Conditions Report. Conducted monthly, the report is an economic indicator for the manufacturing world, sampling 161 manufacturing companies.

 Information is based on conditions as of Dec. 1, 2003.

When asked to compare their expectations for general economic activity for the next three months with today, 53 percent said activity would increase, a 12 percent rise from last month and the highest percentage since April 2002. Only 8 percent anticipated a decrease, while the remainder, 39 percent, expected no change.

Hopefulness continued with respondents of another survey question that asked about the trend of incoming orders for the next three months. Forty-seven percent thought orders would increase, up slightly from November, and 15 percent higher than one year ago. Forty-one percent predicted that orders would remain the same, and 12 percent said they would decrease.

Positive results also emanated from the question that inquires about percentage of layoffs. For the second consecutive month, companies with workforce on short time or layoff has declined to just 17 percent for this report.

back to top

****************************************************************************

Survey: Lunch breaks dwindling
Will the lunch hour soon go the way of carbon paper and the typewriter? It’s possible, suggests a recent survey. The poll shows the average time spent on lunch breaks is 42 minutes, well under the traditional hour. Close to one-third (31 percent) of respondents said it was shorter compared to the length of their breaks three years ago.

The survey was developed by OfficeTeam, a staffing service specializing in highly skilled administrative professionals. It was conducted by an independent research firm, and includes responses from 150 executives with the nation’s 1,000 largest companies.

Executives were asked, “What is the average length of your typical lunch break?” The mean response was 42 minutes.

Survey respondents were also asked, “Are your lunch breaks longer or shorter than they were three years ago?” Their responses:

“Time is at a premium at work,” said Liz Hughes, vice president of OfficeTeam. “People must meet more deadlines and greater expectations within the same number of hours and days. Furthermore, with business being conducted in multiple time zones there is no noon slowdown, which makes it difficult for some workers to break away.”

Hughes warns against skipping lunch on a regular basis, as it can quickly lead to burnout. She offers the following tips on how to break for lunch on your busiest days.

Be reachable. If you’re worried about missing an important call or the chance to provide input on a critical project, ask a colleague to cover for you during your break. Carry a cell phone and let the person know when you plan to return.

Be practical. Limit stress by avoiding major traffic routes and crowded restaurants. Maximize your time by checking off something from your weekend to-do list. Use your break to visit the dry cleaner, buy a birthday gift or get your car washed.

back to top

****************************************************************************

Timken distributes new line of industrial lubricants
The Timken Company recently began distributing a new line of industrial lubrication products, including All-Purpose Industrial Grease; Off-Highway Grease featuring heavy duty Moly; Pillow Block Grease for ball bearings; Premium Mill Grease; and High-Speed Grease for electric motor ball bearings.

These specially formulated lubricants help bearings and related components function effectively by reducing friction, preventing wear and protecting bearing surfaces from heat and corrosion.

"Proper lubrication is essential to successful bearing performance in demanding industrial operations," said Scott G. Biltz, global manager of new products. "Nearly 50 percent of all bearing damage is related to inadequate or improper lubrication. Timken's new line of lubricants feature high-temperature, anti-wear and water-resistant additives that offer superior protection in challenging industrial environments."

Timken lubricants are application- and environment-specific, added Biltz. For example, the All-Purpose Grease is designed for bearings in high-wear environments with moderate loads, speeds and temperatures, such as those found in agriculture and heavy-duty industrial applications. Off-Highway Grease is appropriate for extreme heat and slow speeds, in applications such as off-highway construction and rock quarry equipment. Pillow Block Grease is intended for ball bearings in wet and corrosive conditions in noise-sensitive applications. Premium Mill Grease offers protection against corrosion and is best for heavy loads, such as in paper and steel mill applications. High-Speed Grease is designed for ball bearings in high-speed, light-load environments in applications such as electric motors and generators.

These new lubricants are ideal for use in Timken bearings and also Timken G-Power and M-Power Single-Point Lubricators, a line of gas and motorized units that deliver periodic lubrication to bearings, as well as chains, guideways, gears and seals.

"All Timken lubrication products and accessories have been developed by leveraging our knowledge of tribology and anti-friction bearings and how these two elements affect overall system performance," said Biltz. "Similar to our bearings, Timken greases are backed by highly trained customer service and technical support personnel."

The new line of Timken grease is available through Timken authorized distributors in the United States.

back to top

****************************************************************************

Jobless claims fall in most recent week
New claims for unemployment insurance declined 22,000 to 353,000 for the week ended Dec. 13, according to the Labor Department. The four-week moving average fell 2,250 to 361,750 during the same period.

The four-week moving average is generally considered by economists to be the more reliable of the two because it smoothes out week-to-week volatility.

Both rates remained below 400,000, which is the level economists use to define a weak labor market and a stable one. This is the 10th consecutive week both levels have remained below 400,000.

Continuing claims for unemployment insurance increased 28,000 to 3.3 million for the week ended Dec. 6. Continuing claims are those older than two weeks.

back to top

****************************************************************************

Boeing approves 7E7 for sale to airlines
The Boeing Co.'s board of directors has given the company's Commercial Airplanes unit the go-ahead to begin offering for sale the new 7E7 Dreamliner passenger airplane.

Boeing can now make sales proposals to airlines around the world. The company expects those sales proposals to result in firm customer commitments and a production go-ahead, or formal launch, in 2004.

"The board's decision validates the 7E7's compelling business case and the tremendous customer interest in this airplane," Boeing president and CEO Harry Stonecipher told more than 3,000 7E7 team members gathered at Seattle's Washington State Convention and Trade Center. "The 7E7 is a game changer and we're anxious to begin offering it to our airline customers."

Boeing Commercial Airplanes president and CEO Alan Mulally, and 7E7 senior vice president Mike Bair presented the 7E7 business case to the board of directors at a meeting in Chicago yesterday.

"Savor this moment," Mulally told the 7E7 team. "This is a great way to start the second century of powered flight. It demonstrates our commitment to our customers, our employees and our industry, and it will ensure that Boeing continues its leadership in commercial aviation."

Dec. 17 is the 100th anniversary of the Wright Brothers flight that made modern aviation possible.

Boeing also announced that Everett, Wash., was selected as the final assembly location for the 7E7, following a six-month evaluation of proposals from sites across the U.S.

Boeing and McCallum Sweeney Consulting Inc. evaluated the proposals against criteria designed to find the final-assembly location that would best support the 7E7 business plan.

"We are excited to continue our partnership with the state of Washington and the city of Everett on the 7E7," said Bair. "Many states submitted extremely competitive proposals and many factors weighed into the decision. But it's clear that the best overall solution for Boeing and the 7E7 is to place final assembly in Everett."

Boeing announced last month that the 7E7 program management and design integration teams will also be based in Everett. The company expects to announce airplane systems and engine partners for the 7E7 in 2004.

Boeing has been working with more than 50 airlines around the world to define the requirements for the 7E7. The 7E7 family of airplanes will carry 200 to 250 passengers on flights up to 8,300 nautical miles. Three models of the airplane are in development, including a short-range version for flights of 3,500 nautical miles with 300 passengers in two-class seating. The 7E7 will be more efficient, quieter and have lower emissions than other airplanes while offering passengers greater comfort and the convenience of direct, non-stop flights between more cities around the world.

"The 7E7 is all about taking passengers where they want to go, when they want to go there more comfortably and affordably than ever before," said Mulally. "At the same time, it will provide airlines with unprecedented operating economics and efficiencies. This airplane will allow us to continue to set the standard for commercial aviation in the second century of flight."

Boeing forecasts a need for between 2,000 and 3,000 airplanes in the 7E7's market segment over the next 20 years.

back to top

****************************************************************************

Henkel to acquire Dial Corp. for $2.9 billion
The Henkel Group of Düsseldorf, Germany, will acquire home and personal care manufacturer The Dial Corporation of Scottsdale, Ariz., with a cash transaction of about $2.9 billion. The transaction is expected to be concluded in April 2004.

The Dial Corporation generated net sales of $ 1.3 billion in fiscal 2002 and operating profit of about $220 million. Dial operates through four business units: Laundry Care, Air Fresheners, Personal Cleansing and Food Products. The company employs nearly 2,900 workers.

It was agreed that Herb Baum will continue in his role as CEO of Dial for the next two years. Along with Baum, top-level management is expected to stay. Dial's headquarters will remain in the current Scottsdale location.

"Today's announcement is the culmination of a strategy put in place three years ago to serve the long-term interests of the company and its shareholders by making Dial part of a larger, global enterprise," said Baum. "Henkel will be an outstanding partner and will bring additional scale, resources and technology to continue to grow Dial's presence in new and existing markets. This is clearly a win/win transaction for both companies."

back to top

****************************************************************************

Davis and King allege that welding rods create harmful fumes that can lead to personal injuries such as Manganism and Parkinson's disease.

The complaint alleges that the element Manganese is found in toxic levels in the fumes created when welding rods are used to weld together two pieces of metal. Exposure to Manganese has been linked to the early onset of Parkinson's disease and Manganism.

A 2001 study performed by the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis found that welders who participated in the study developed Parkinson's disease an average of 15 years earlier than non-welders who developed Parkinson's disease.

The complaint alleges that exposure to the toxins in welding fumes, including high levels of Manganese, can damage the central nervous system and cause neurological problems. Other disorders caused by the toxins in welding fumes include manganese poisoning, and Manganism, according to the complaint.

If the court certifies the case as a class action, Davis and King will represent a class of welders who have personal injuries or who are at risk for developing Parkinson's disease and other Manganese-related diseases as a result of exposure to fumes from welding rods.

Parkinson's disease is a progressive disorder that is characterized by slowness of movement and tremors that affect one side of the body more than the other. Other symptoms of Parkinson's disease include stiff muscles, speech problems, and problems with walking and balance. Manganism has similar symptoms to those of Parkinson's disease.

back to top

****************************************************************************

OSHA cites metalworker for amputation hazards
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) cited Elixir Industries Inc. for exposing workers to amputation dangers and other safety hazards at a Fitzgerald, Ga., metal fabrication plant. 

The agency issued 12 serious citations, with proposed penalties totaling $48,078.

During an Aug. 6 inspection, an OSHA investigator observed Elixir employees operating power presses that did not have required safety guards to prevent workers' fingers, hands and arms from being pulled into the machinery.

"Unguarded power presses cause some of the most serious and debilitating worker injuries," said OSHA Savannah, Ga., area director John Deifer. "Safety standards are designed to protect workers who operate these machines, and they must be strictly followed."

The company also allegedly failed to perform required equipment inspections, which is another necessary precaution that prevents worker injuries and deaths.

Included in the OSHA citations were: lack of machine guarding on power presses; failure to conduct annual lock-out/tag-out inspections to assure that machinery is rendered inoperable during routine maintenance or repair; failure to perform annual inspection of overhead cranes for wear and defects, and failure to train employees who inspect and operate power presses.

back to top

****************************************************************************

Hiring levels to increase in 2004
U.S. employers continue to show optimism in their hiring forecast for the first quarter of 2004, according to the latest Manpower Employment Outlook Survey, conducted quarterly by Manpower Inc.

“Five years have passed since we last witnessed an increase in hiring expectations between the fourth quarter survey and the employment outlook for the new year,” said Manpower chairman and CEO Jeffrey A. Joerres. “Although hiring intentions are still not as buoyant as they were in the late 1990s, employers are taking a step in that direction with their hiring plans for the beginning of the year.”

Of the 16,000 U.S. employers polled, 20 percent said they plan to boost employment levels for the first three months of 2004, while 13 percent anticipate a slower hiring pace. Sixty-two percent of employers expect to offer the same number of jobs as last quarter, and 6 percent are unsure of their first-quarter employment activity.

When the seasonal variations are removed from the survey results, the data reveals that the hiring forecast from January to March is more positive than it was last quarter and relatively consistent with the outlook a year ago.

The new year brings stronger job prospects to each of the four U.S. regions. Employers in the West foresee the most hiring activity, while those in the Midwest are the least optimistic. Job seekers in the Northeast are expected to have more opportunities than they have had in nearly three years.

“As we look at the results of the survey, employers across the country are clearly more confident about what they see with demand for their products and services,” said Joerres. “In fact, nine of the 10 industry sectors polled are more optimistic about their hiring intentions in the first quarter than they were for the fourth quarter of 2003.”

First quarter hiring estimates within the durable goods manufacturing sector have rebounded to the same level at which they stood in the final half of 2002. This marks a moderate improvement in hiring plans over last quarter and a slight increase in job prospects from the first quarter of 2003. The employment forecast for durable goods manufacturing is identical across the Midwest, Northeast and South and is only slightly lower in the West.

back to top

****************************************************************************

Industrial production climbs in November
Industrial production rose 0.9 percent in November, its largest increase since October 1999, according to the Federal Reserve. At 112.9 percent of its 1997 average, output was 1.6 percent above its level in November 2002.

Despite a small decline in the production of motor vehicles and parts, manufacturing output climbed 0.9 percent in November. Capacity utilization for total industry moved up 0.6 percent to 75.7 percent, a level 0.3 percent higher than its year-earlier level but 5.6 percent below its 1972-2002 average.

The production of durable goods increased 1.4 percent; gains were widespread across industries. Increases of more than 1 percent were recorded in several industries, including computers and electronic products, machinery, miscellaneous goods, primary metals, nonmetallic mineral products, and furniture and related products.

Among the high-tech industries, all three major sectors -- computers, semiconductors, and communications equipment -- posted gains for the second consecutive month.

The production of industrial materials increased 1.1 percent, and the production of construction materials increased 1 percent.

back to top

****************************************************************************

Viking Industries purchases Viking Air Tools Inc.
Air and portable tool manufacturer Viking Industries of Lake Forest, Ill., recently acquired Viking Air Tools Inc. of Indianapolis. recently acquired Viking Air Tools Inc. of Indianapolis.

“For more than 60 years, Viking air tools and the Viking brand have been synonymous with quality, reliability and value. The company’s patented Dual Piston Straight-Line Sander has become an industry standard. It was the first in a line of highly respected sanders, which improved productivity in auto body shops by cutting labor time 70 percent,” said Viking Industries president and CEO Ernie Torkilsen.

“Over the next few months, we will be expanding the Viking brand with our own line of patented products and leading edge air tools from international sources. These products will be showcased in a new catalog available in January and sold through a global network of distributors,” said Torkilsen.

back to top

****************************************************************************

Timken to receive $70 million under continued dumping act
The federal government will pay The Timken Company more than $70 million under the U.S. Continued Dumping and Subsidy Offset Act (CDSOA). The payments are related to the original Timken tapered roller, ball and cylindrical bearing businesses.

Timken continues to await notification on amounts that would be received as a result of the company's February 2003 acquisition of The Torrington Company.

The CDSOA provides for distribution of monies collected by U.S. Customs from antidumping cases to qualifying domestic producers where the domestic producers have continued to invest in technology, equipment and people. This is the third year Timken will receive a payment under CDSOA.

"Economic and national security in the U.S. depend on preserving a strong industrial base, and we're pleased that Congress and the administration continue to make this a priority. CDSOA is important because it helps assure continued investment in research, training and equipment by U.S. industrial companies, thus contributing to the health of our nation," said Timken president and CEO James W. Griffith.

Timken qualified for a distribution of monies based upon the company's consistent U.S. investments in production technology to remain competitive globally. In the past five years, Timken spent $257 million on research and development to support bearing and steel programs and improve manufacturing processes.

Timken will use the proceeds of the CDSOA payment to continue reducing debt levels. This follows other debt reduction actions by the company in the last few months. The company reduced debt by $78 million in the third quarter and used $55 million in proceeds from a share offering in October to further reduce debt.

back to top

****************************************************************************

ASQ to hold quality competition at Annual Quality Congress
The American Society for Quality's (ASQ) Annual Quality Congress will feature, for the first time, a quality competition. The Association for Quality and Participation (AQP) will present the coveted National Team Excellence Awards during this year's Annual Quality Congress in Toronto.

The team excellence process promotes business effectiveness through team-based management and encourages individuals, teams and organizations to excel in quality through participation practices. The process provides teams the opportunity to demonstrate their abilities to solve problems and successfully implement improvement projects, receiving feedback from impartial judges. The competition combines the application of continuous improvement tools, problem-solving processes, team dynamics, project management, and communication skills to generate significant performance improvements within an organization.

In addition to providing national and international recognition for teams that participate in the award competition process, the Team Excellence Award criteria also are used by many organizations for self-assessment and to improve internal process improvement and team problem-solving efforts.

The primary value of the process isn't participation in competition or winning; it's the feedback the teams receive, which leads to continuous improvement of team members' abilities and their organizations' overall problem-solving capabilities.

Recent Gold Award winners of the AQP International Team Excellence Award Competition include: 
• Solectron Technololgy Inc.(1999),
• Emerson Electric (2000),
• Blue Cross & Blue Shield (2001),
• Merrill Lynch (2002), and
• Fidelity Investments (2003). 

All of the 2003 team finalists saved more than $19 million for their companies.

"We are proud of our team whose dedication to innovation not only earned the Gold Award, but continually improves our business as well," said Fidelity Investments president Doug Sutton.

The Fidelity Investments team was charged with improving service delivery to customers, increasing production efficiencies and reducing unit cost. Using quality tools and teamwork, they increased service delivery by 31 percent; improved productivity by 33 percent; reduced transaction cost by 32 percent; improved quality by 52 percent; and created savings of $1.9 million annually.

To date, the AQP International Team Excellence Award Competition has had more than 700 entrant teams since its inception in 1985.

In May at ASQ's Annual Quality Congress in Toronto, attendees can watch the team competition live performances. Judging will take place all day on May 24 and May 25. The final awards will be presented May 26.

The 2003-04 Team Excellence criteria and guidelines are now available. Call x7303 or visit www.agp.org to receive a free copy.

back to top

****************************************************************************

NAM testifies before Congress on Chinese counterfeiting
While China has made progress in its intellectual property rights laws since joining the World Trade Organization, lack of enforcement of those laws continues to cost U.S. manufacturers billions of dollars, according to National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) testimony before a subcommittee of the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee.

“Product counterfeiting is occurring on a massive scale,” NAM vice president for international economic affairs Frank Vargo told the Subcommittee on Oversight of Government Management, the Federal Workforce and the District of Columbia. “It includes consumer hygiene and health care products, athletic footwear, pharmaceuticals, food and beverages, motorized vehicles, aircraft parts, windshield glass, brake linings and thousands of other products. Many of these involve the unauthorized use of U.S. testing and product quality marks.

Vargo said the impact on the brand name reputations and export and sales abilities of U.S. companies amounted to billions of dollars, with an affect on U.S. jobs as well.

“China needs effective laws and enforcement to criminalize counterfeiting," said Vargo. "It also needs to enforce existing commitments to stop the export of counterfeit goods.”

Vargo praised the recent actions of U.S. Trade Representative Bob Zoellick, who made counterfeiting a top priority in his October trip to China. Vargo also cited the innovations of new Deputy U.S. Trade Representative Josette Shiner.

“Now that U.S. officials have emphasized to the Chinese the imperative of acting, it is necessary to obtain results,” Vargo said. “We know that the Chinese government has the ability to stop the actions that it wants to stop, and the time has come to stop counterfeiting. Should this fail, there would be no alternative but to press the U.S. government to pursue our rights in the WTO. There is little benefit in negotiating measures addressing trade barriers without ensuring that the agreements are honored.”

back to top

****************************************************************************

Industry News archives
Industry News for this week

Copyright 2004 Pfingsten Publishing L.L.C. All rights reserved.