News
The monthly order index compiled by the Electronic Components, Assemblies & Materials Association (ECA, Arlington, VA) took its annual December dip, but the outlook remains positive for 2004.
"Based on previous years, we expected a December dip," said Bob Willis, ECA president. "The good news is that the December dollar value is up by more than 20% over 2002, and the 12-month moving average ended on an upward note. Our members believe that 2004 might be the first year of sustained growth since 2000."
Electronic components are the building blocks of most consumer goods and technology hardware, so the industry normally reflects the movement of the economy as a whole. This year, the outlook is good. Nariman Behravesh, chief economist for Global Insight, predicts that economic growth in 2004 will be the strongest since the bursting of the high-tech bubble in 2000, with the U.S. and Asian countries outside of Japan enjoying the fastest growth.
Behravesh said, "The beleaguered manufacturing sector will finally enjoy a year of strong, uninterrupted growth - barring any unforeseen shocks."
According to Willis, the ECA has scheduled a full slate of events and marketing opportunities that will help its members make the best of the industry's rebound.
"There is a lot of justifiable optimism, but companies need the resources to manage the intricacies of demand, raw materials, supply flow, distribution, inventory and other interrelated issues," said Willis. "We had prosperity a few years ago, but it went bust. We want our members to have access to the information and opportunities that will allow them to take advantage of the good and mitigate the bad."
Copyright 2004, UP Media Group. All rights reserved.
Professor Deborah Nightingale, PhD., of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Lean Aerospace Initiative (LAI) will present a keynote presentation, "Transforming the Lean Enterprise Value Stream," on May 6, 2004, as part of the NEPCON East/Electro and Assembly East event. The co-located manufacturing shows will take place May 5-6 at the Hynes Convention Center in Boston, MA.
The conference program will begin one day earlier on May 4. Combined, the three shows will provide Northeast manufacturers with a single source for cutting-edge manufacturing solutions at the board, component and final product assembly levels. In addition, attendees can see even more new products with the concurrent running of The Vision East Show featuring automated machine vision solutions.
"Lean Manufacturing is a very hot topic," said Kelvin Marsden-Kish, vice president of the NEPCON/Assembly family of events, produced by Reed Exhibitions. "To have a world-class educator such as MIT's Professor Nightingale share their knowledge will be very valuable for NEPCON East/Electro and Assembly East attendees."
In her address, Professor Nightingale will share the successes that the MIT LAI has experienced with its implementations of Lean. The presentation will focus on the need for contemporary networked enterprises transforming the entire value stream, including suppliers and partners. Dr. Nightingale will explain how applying lean principles to all life cycle, enabling and leadership processes will be required to achieve value for the total enterprise.
Nightingale is a Professor of Practice in the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics and the Engineering Systems Division. She serves as the MIT lead on the Lean Enterprise research and product development team within the LAI. Prior to joining MIT in 1977 she worked for AlliedSignal Aerospace for 17 years, serving in executive leadership positions across the entire enterprises.
Copyright 2004, UP Media Group. All rights reserved.
IPC (Northbrook, IL) has announced the schedule for its second annual Sacramento Day, taking place Feb. 3-4, 2004, at the California Chamber of Commerce headquarters in Sacramento, CA.
Open to all companies in the electronic interconnection industry with operations in California, IPC and its California Circuits Association's (CCA) two-day event will assist businesses in lobbying the California Legislature to develop and pass a pro-growth, pro-manufacturing, fiscally responsible agenda for California's printed circuit board industry.
On the evening of Tuesday, Feb. 3, participants will kick off the event with dinner and a presentation by Richard Costigan, legislative secretary for Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. Costigan will address the attendees on the Governor's recently released 2004 budget blueprint and present the keys to returning California to fiscal stability.
Fred Main, counsel, government and policy division of Manatt, Phelps and Phillips LLP, will commence Wednesday's activities with a primer on lobbying the California Legislature. Then, Dominic DiMare, vice president of government relations for the California Chamber of Commerce, will discuss the key business issues facing the legislature in 2004.
Next, the attendees will meet their Assembly Members and Senators to share crucial industry concerns, such as workers compensation reform and the creation of a pro-business environment to foster increased investment, innovation and jobs in California's high-tech manufacturing community.
After a morning of lobbying, the attendees will hear luncheon speaker Dan Walters, political columnist for the Sacramento Bee, discuss the historic recall effort, the election of Governor Schwarzenegger and its impact on the political environment in the Golden State. Following lunch, attendees will participate in afternoon lobbying visits before a wrap-up session to compare notes from the day.
For more information, visit www.calcircuits.org/sacday or contact Dick Crowe, CCA's executive director, (714) 343-6267.
Copyright 2004, UP Media Group. All rights reserved.
