Month: May 2018
The Institute for Trend Research (ITR) quarterly reports focus on major areas of economic growth and decline in key market segments for the Precision Machined Products Industry. They are provided to PMPA members as part of the association’s overall business intelligence program and are used as a management tool to help PMPA members plan for what lies ahead and which markets they should focus on in a complex manufacturing environment.
With 86 companies responding, the PMPA Business Trends Index for May 2018 rebounded five points to 138, highest May on record and 2 standard deviations above the 5 year average for the index in May. The five point increase represents a 3.8% increase in Sales for our responding shops, and raises the calendar year average by a point to 136. The 2018 May index of 138 is 6.2% higher than May 2017’s 130 value. This is our Index’s highest value recorded for May, and is our second highest value ever recorded (March 2018’s 143 was the highest ever). Our year to date average is 136, up 11 points or 8.8% over 2017’s year-end average of 125. We are at 106% of where we were a year ago in May.
Delay of Enforcement of the Beryllium Standards
May 11, 2018 is the day if your shop machines Beryllium
“… we have decided to delay enforcement of the general industry standard by 60 days until May 11, 2018. Furthermore, to ensure employers have adequate notice before OSHA begins enforcing them, as well as in the interest of uniform enforcement and clarity for employers, we have decided to also delay enforcement of the PEL and STEL in the construction and shipyard standards until May 11, 2018. No other parts of the construction and shipyard beryllium standards will be enforced without additional notice. In the interim, if an employer fails to meet the new PEL or STEL, OSHA will inform the employer of the exposure levels and offer assistance to assure understanding and compliance. No provisions of the beryllium final rule may be enforced until May 11, 2018. Please notify your staff of this delay.”
www.osha.gov/laws-regs/standardinterpretations/2018-03-02
OSHA Direct Final Rule Clarifying Beryllium Standard for General Industry Becomes Effective July 4, 2018
OSHA’s direct final rule (DFR) for its beryillum standard for general Industry will become effective on July 4, 2018, according to the OSHA Trade Release published May 4, 2018. Notice can be found here: www.osha.gov/news/newsreleases/trade/05042018
The DFR clarifies aspects of the standard for general industry as it applies to processes, operations, or areas where workers may be exposed to materials containing less than 0.1% beryllium by weight.
Link to OSHA DFR for Beryllium for General Industry: s3.amazonaws.com/public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2018-09306.pdf
Despite a drop of two points from 59.3 to 57.3, the April Institute for Supply Management Purchasing Managers Index (ISM-PMI) indicated continued solid, but slowing growth in the manufacturing sector. Of the 18 Manufacturing Industries, 17 reported growth in April. Demand remains robust, but the nation’s employment and supply chains continue to struggle- April 2018 ISM PMI, Timothy Fiore, Chair, ISM Manufacturing Business Survey Committee.
The April report noted declines in other indexes such as New Orders (down 2 points); Production Index (down 3.8 points); New Orders down 0.7 points); and he Employment index (down 3.1 points) compared to March. Prices index was up 1.2 percent from prior month, indicating the 26th consecutive month of gains.
The prices index is currently at its highest value since April 2011; 17 of 18 industry sectors reported price increases.
What is going on in manufacturing? Here are a couple of comments from some of the ISM’s respondents:
PMPA’s March Business Trends Report just came in and showed a record high at 143 for sales. We look forward to seeing what our April report has in store.
Chart courtesy Calculated Risk Blog
ISM April PMI Report
May 2018 | Craftsman’s Cribsheet #66
While austenitic grain size is a result of chemistry, the changes it evokes in our processes are a result of material structure and properties, not just the chemical ingredients.
Published May 2018
By Miles Free III
Two PMPA members were honored by the Manufacturing Institute’s 2018 STEP Awards for excellence in manufacturing.
Published May 2018
By PMPA Staff
More than 90 years ago, Clarence H. Gosiger founded the C. H. Gosiger Machinery Company in Dayton, Ohio.
Published May 2018
By Miles Free III
In my experience, when things go bad, the first questions asked are usually, “Who did this? Who is responsible?” These are the wrong questions to ask and will actually create obstacles to conducting the root cause analysis needed to make a permanent corrective action.
