News
TEMPE, AZ – Economic activity in the manufacturing sector expanded in November for the 16th consecutive month, says the Institute for Supply Management. The PMI dropped 0.3 percentage points to 56.6%.
A reading above 50% indicates the manufacturing economy is generally expanding.
New orders fell 2.3 points to 56.6%, while production decreased 7.7 points to 55%. Inventories were up 2.8 percentage points to 56.7%, and customer inventories grew 1.5 points to 45.5%. Backlogs were 46%, flat with October.
“The manufacturing sector grew during November, with both new orders and production continuing to expand. With the PMI at 56.6%, November's rate of growth is the second fastest in the last six months. Exports and imports continue to support expansion in the sector. Prices moderated slightly during the month, but comments from the respondents express concerns with regard to pricing pressures. The list of commodities in short supply increased, though short supply items are not yet posing significant problems. Manufacturing continues to benefit from the recovery in autos, but those industries reliant upon housing continue to struggle,” said ISM spokesperson Norbert J. Ore.
The overall economy grew for the 19th consecutive month, says the firm.
STAMFORD, CT — Worldwide PC shipments are on pace to rise 14.3% increase year-over-year, according a revised forecast by Gartner.
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MUNICH - The market for SMT placement equipment is booming again, propelled by the electronics production market, Siemens' component placement business unit said today.
VELDHOVEN, NETHERLANDS -- Pick-and-place OEM Assembléon will be bought by a private equity firm.
ARAB, ALABAMA – EMS firm Current Circuits has merged with metal fab company Patterson Machines.
MILWAUKEE – The overall average salary for US full-time quality professionals is now $85,289, up 2.2% year-over-year and 5.2% compared to 2008, according to an ASQ survey.
Demand for quality management is surging, the firm says. Survey results show respondents’ salaries increase as their experience in the quality field increases. Quality professionals with more than 20 years of experience earned an average of $94,756. Professionals with 10 to 20 years of experience earned an average $86,993. Those with 10 or fewer years of experience earned an average $71,129.
Quality managers with more than 20 years of quality experience earn, on average, $4,000 more than managers with 10 to 20 years experience, says ASQ. These managers (20+ years) also earn over $12,000 more than managers with 10 or fewer years of quality experience.
Only 3.1% of respondents said they were unemployed, retired or laid off compared to 4.9% in 2009. More 2010 respondents also reported their companies didn’t have to make moves such as furloughs, layoffs or hiring freezes to weather the sputtering economy.
This year, 59% of survey respondents reported they have one or more ASQ certifications, and 25% said they hold two or more ASQ certifications.
Managers who are ASQ Certified Managers of Quality/Organizational Excellence reported they earn a higher average salary than their counterparts without this certification. In the US, the difference is $7,938. In Canada, the difference is $3,274.
Those in the US with Master Black Belt training earned a premium of more than $20,000 compared to those who stopped at Black Belt training.
A total of 5,348 responses were received this year, with the vast majority coming from the US and Canada.
DARMSTADT, GERMANY -- Plexus will set up a design and engineering center here as part of the EMS company's expansion into the EMEA region.
SUMMIT HILL, PA – A new collection of labor and space optimization techniques, assembly conveyor types, case histories, materials handling layout configurations and sizing dials, and examples of various return-on-investment scenarios is available.
Classic Productivity Systems, released by JD Gray Associates, also includes manual component insertion time values for through-hole components.
There are two versions: Rev A (278 pages) contains generic industrial engineering proposals should a company seek outside expertise in cost reduction; Rev B (243 pages) does not contain generic industrial engineering proposals.
The book provides a quiz to determine existing operation efficiency based on installed direct labor control systems, storage rack devices, level of robotic component installation, through-hole component clinching methodology, layout methodology, degree of inventory/tracking software and materials handling mechanization status.
HERNDON, VA — A new white paper reports on the progress of major OEMs toward removing halogenated flame retardants and PVC from desktop and laptop PCs.
LOWELL, MA -- Segue Manufacturing Services has acquired Sanbor Interconnect's plant in Xiamen, China. Terms were not disclosed.
MINNEAPOLIS -- Contract assembler HEI reported third-quarter a net loss of $510,000, cutting last year's losses by more than 50%.
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