WASHINGTON – North American manufacturers consider the US the most desirable country for expansion over the next three years, according to a survey released today by the National Association of Manufacturers, The Manufacturing Institute, the Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters and Deloitte.
The largest number of North American companies (44%) say they intend to expand production in the US over the next three years. And 57% say they will become more globally competitive over the next five years across the supply chain from sales, marketing and customer service to engineering and information technology.
The news, however, is not all rosy. “The survey clearly shows concerns that manufacturing companies want government to address,” said Emily DeRocco, NAM senior vice president. “Manufacturers cited controlling labor costs, enacting favorable tax policies and assisting with the severe shortage of skilled manufacturing workers, including engineers, scientists and technicians, as the top three areas that policymakers should address to help improve their global competitiveness."
Nearly 80% of respondents identified tax cuts for manufacturers as the key factor promoting innovation and R&D. “Clearly, Congress needs to extend the R&D credit that expired at the end of last year,” noted DeRocco.
The survey sheds new light on how North American manufacturers view free-trade agreements. Contrary to widely held perceptions, North American manufacturers paint a positive picture of their experiences with NAFTA after almost 15 years. Almost half (49%) say that NAFTA helped their business to become more competitive, while 10% say it has hurt their business. The remaining 41% said it did not affect them one way or the other.
“On the trade policy side, the significant competitive momentum that is felt among U.S. manufacturers in this survey is reflected by the surge in U.S. export sales that has stabilized the U.S. economy this year,” said NAM vice president, international economic affairs Frank Vargo. “This report is a clarion call to negotiate and approve free trade agreements that will knock down barriers to U.S. exports. Congress should heed the news in this report and vote to strengthen the ability of North American-based manufacturers to compete effectively in the global economy.”
The survey, Made in North America, reflects the views of 321 top-tier executives in a broad range of North American manufacturing companies of all sizes. The majority of companies represented in the survey (45%) are based in the US. To download the survey, go to www.nam.org/northamericansurvey.
The largest number of North American companies (44%) say they intend to expand production in the US over the next three years. And 57% say they will become more globally competitive over the next five years across the supply chain from sales, marketing and customer service to engineering and information technology.
The news, however, is not all rosy. “The survey clearly shows concerns that manufacturing companies want government to address,” said Emily DeRocco, NAM senior vice president. “Manufacturers cited controlling labor costs, enacting favorable tax policies and assisting with the severe shortage of skilled manufacturing workers, including engineers, scientists and technicians, as the top three areas that policymakers should address to help improve their global competitiveness."
Nearly 80% of respondents identified tax cuts for manufacturers as the key factor promoting innovation and R&D. “Clearly, Congress needs to extend the R&D credit that expired at the end of last year,” noted DeRocco.
The survey sheds new light on how North American manufacturers view free-trade agreements. Contrary to widely held perceptions, North American manufacturers paint a positive picture of their experiences with NAFTA after almost 15 years. Almost half (49%) say that NAFTA helped their business to become more competitive, while 10% say it has hurt their business. The remaining 41% said it did not affect them one way or the other.
“On the trade policy side, the significant competitive momentum that is felt among U.S. manufacturers in this survey is reflected by the surge in U.S. export sales that has stabilized the U.S. economy this year,” said NAM vice president, international economic affairs Frank Vargo. “This report is a clarion call to negotiate and approve free trade agreements that will knock down barriers to U.S. exports. Congress should heed the news in this report and vote to strengthen the ability of North American-based manufacturers to compete effectively in the global economy.”
The survey, Made in North America, reflects the views of 321 top-tier executives in a broad range of North American manufacturing companies of all sizes. The majority of companies represented in the survey (45%) are based in the US. To download the survey, go to www.nam.org/northamericansurvey.
BANNOCKBURN, IL — Formula One, IndyCar and World Sports Car driver Derek Daly will keynote IPC Midwest in September, IPC announced.
Daly's talk will center on the role electronics will play in future high performance race cars. The talk takes place Sept. 24 at the Schaumburg (IL) Renaissance Hotel.
To Daly, electronics has been the greatest source of competitive edge in the motor sports industry. In 1987, Daly test-drove the car with the first electronic dashboard. He is one of a handful of world-class drivers to compete in all three of the most prestigious races in the world: Indianapolis 500, Grand Prix of Monaco, and the Le Mans 24-hour endurance race.
Daly's talk will center on the role electronics will play in future high performance race cars. The talk takes place Sept. 24 at the Schaumburg (IL) Renaissance Hotel.
To Daly, electronics has been the greatest source of competitive edge in the motor sports industry. In 1987, Daly test-drove the car with the first electronic dashboard. He is one of a handful of world-class drivers to compete in all three of the most prestigious races in the world: Indianapolis 500, Grand Prix of Monaco, and the Le Mans 24-hour endurance race.
In 2008, he published his first book: Race to Win, How to become a Complete Champion.
EL SEGUNDO, CA – Despite challenging economic conditions, worldwide PC shipments in the first quarter rose in accordance with normal seasonal patterns, increasing by a double-digit percentage compared to the same period in 2007, according to iSuppli Corp.
Global PC unit shipments rose to 69.9 million units, up 12.1% year-over-year. Hewlett-Packard Co., Dell Inc. and Acer Inc. retained the top-three rankings with no change from the previous quarter.
“The first quarter of 2008 was better than hoped for, due to continued strong demand growth for mobile PCs,” said Matthew Wilkins, principal analyst for compute platforms research at iSuppli. “However, the financial markets are still adjusting to the effects of the sub-prime mortgage crisis in the United States, as are the consumers and businesses who have had their financial positions impacted.”
During the last five years, first-quarter PC shipments have grown by an average of 12% year-over-year, putting the beginning of 2008 on par with the norm, the research firm says.
Leading PC brand H-P started the year on a high note, boosting its first-quarter global PC shipments 23% compared to the same period last year, to reach 13.2 million units. This was the strongest percentage growth among the Top-10 PC makers and allowed the company to retain its No.-1 worldwide ranking with a market share of 18.9%.
Dell expanded its market share position half a percentage point sequentially, at 15.4%, with worldwide shipments of 10.8 million units. Company shipments were up 20% year-over-year.
Acer rounded out the Top-3 with unit shipments of 6.8 million units – a figure that includes shipments of recently acquired Gateway and Packard Bell – giving it a global market share of 9.7%.
Fellow Asian OEMs Lenovo and Toshiba rounded out the Top-5 rankings with market shares of 6.9% and 4.4% respectively.
As a result of its recent acquisitions, Acer’s worldwide PC market share now stands at less than a half a percentage point lower than the magical 10% mark, says iSuppli. Only two brands now hold worldwide PC market shares of greater than 10%: Dell and H-P.
Acer now has distanced itself from its once close rival in market-share terms: Lenovo. In the first quarter of 2007, the two companies were separated by a 0.4 percentage point of market share; however, in the first quarter of 2008, the delta grew to 2.8%.
Overall, the first quarter performance of the PC market was slightly better than expected. Nonetheless, many of the challenges identified in the first quarter still remain.
“iSuppli continues to see a higher value proposition in notebook PCs relative to desktops, and the growth in this segment bears witness to this,” Wilkins said.
iSuppli believes that despite challenging conditions, the outlook for the PC market in 2008 remains healthy.
“We now forecast global PC unit shipment growth in the range of 10% to 11% this year,” said Wilkins. “Exciting new developments in the area of low-cost PCs will help stimulate PC demand, along with bringing them to a wider audience.”
CARY, NC – Lord Corp., supplier of thermal management materials, adhesives, coatings and encapsulants, has invested $2.5 million to renovate its electronic materials labs at its headquarters here.
The expansion permits Lord to increase capabilities for technology development, including live device reliability testing on individual packages, says John Hill, technology manager for Lord’s Electronic Boards and Components Industry Group.
As part of the expansion, the firm consolidated labs previously located in Elverson, PA, and Indianapolis. The expansion includes about 7,500 sq. ft. of new or refurbished lab space and more than $600,000 in new instruments and equipment.
The expansion includes purchase of the latest finite element analysis (FEA) tools.
BRUSSELS – Industry leaders addressed concerns with the Öko-Institut report on the proposed expansion of RoHS substance restrictions at an IPC workshop on June 18.
Öko-Institut was contracted by the European Union to study the inclusion of additional hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment under the RoHS Directive. In its draft report, the Öko-Institut recommended the restriction of TBBPA, the flame retardant used to protect more than 80% of PCBs and found to be safe by a comprehensive EU risk assessment.
In addition to TBBPA, HBCDDs, several phthalate plasticizers and all organic compounds containing chlorine and bromine are included in the report as suggested bans.
“IPC is concerned that Öko-Institut’s recommendations are arbitrary and lack a sound scientific basis. Implemented, these recommendations will have a significant negative impact on our members,” explained Fern Abrams, IPC’s director of government relations and environmental policy.
IPC is developing a supply chain white paper in response to the proposed restrictions.
Öko-Institut was contracted by the European Union to study the inclusion of additional hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment under the RoHS Directive. In its draft report, the Öko-Institut recommended the restriction of TBBPA, the flame retardant used to protect more than 80% of PCBs and found to be safe by a comprehensive EU risk assessment.
In addition to TBBPA, HBCDDs, several phthalate plasticizers and all organic compounds containing chlorine and bromine are included in the report as suggested bans.
“IPC is concerned that Öko-Institut’s recommendations are arbitrary and lack a sound scientific basis. Implemented, these recommendations will have a significant negative impact on our members,” explained Fern Abrams, IPC’s director of government relations and environmental policy.
IPC is developing a supply chain white paper in response to the proposed restrictions.
HELSINKI – A deal to purchase Elcoteq’s subsidiary in Russia fell through after Flextronics failed to obtain approval from Russian competition authorities.
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