"Make It In America" Agenda Is Heating Up

http://www.imts.com/visitor/newsletter/insider/2011Jul14/biz_MakeItInAmerica.html 

July 14, 2011
In an effort to spur innovation and manufacturing in this country, Congressional Democrats have been pushing their "Make It In America" jobs agenda hard this past month, in conjunction with President Obama's Advanced Manufacturing Partnership he introduced on June 24. This agenda is a comprehensive approach that focuses on numerous initiatives to cultivate a pro-business and manufacturing environment. It aims to establish the conditions necessary to produce, innovate, and create jobs here in the United States while giving American businesses a competitive edge against their international competitors.
"Make It In America" aims to again place manufacturing in its pivotal role in creating a strong economy, strengthening the middle class and making America more competitive in the world economy. There is no one-stop solution available that could turn this dismal economy around – that is why it takes a multi-pronged approach such as this one. Many of the initiatives proposed in this agenda agree with AMT's Manufacturing Mandate – including the need to provide innovation and R&D incentives, increase global competitiveness, ease the availability of capital and build a better educated and trained workforce in the next generation of advanced technology.
Several bills introduced in the House of Representatives are worth keeping your eye on are:

• National Manufacturing Strategy Act - H.R. 1366 - Representative Daniel Lipinski (D-IL) – Directs the President to work with industry and labor leaders in developing a multi-year national manufacturing strategy
• Research and Development Tax Credit Extension Act – H.R. 1693 – Representative John Carney (D-DE) – Amends the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to make the research credit permanent and to increase the alternative simplified research credit
• Currency Reform for Fair Trade Act – H.R. 639 – Representative Sander Levin (D-MI) – Holds countries accountable that create an unfair trade advantage by manipulating their currencies
• Job Opportunities Between Our Shores – H.R. 1716 – Representative Steny Hoyer (D-MD) – Establishes a Workforce Investment Act pilot program to provide education and training programs in advanced manufacturing
• Make It In America Block Grant Act – H.R. 1912 – Representative David Cicilline (R-RI) – Establishes a grant program for small- and medium-sized businesses in communities hardest hit by the recession to retrofit their operations and train their workforce in the most promising technology

There are many other proposed bills in the "Make It In America" agenda that display strong support for the manufacturing industry. As these bills move forward, AMT will keep you updated and will continue to push Congress to find new, innovative ways to bolster manufacturing and strengthen our country.



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Article from IMTS Insider
http://www.imts.com/visitor/newsletter/insider/2011Jul14/lead_PresidentUnveilsAMP.html

President Unveils Advanced Manufacturing Partnership

July 14, 2011
Last month, President Obama announced the launch of the Advanced Manufacturing Partnership (AMP) to create highly-skilled, good-paying jobs and improve U.S. global competitiveness.
AMP is a national effort to bring industry, universities and the federal government together to invest in emerging industries, particularly those critical to national security. It is based on the recommendations of a study by the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) titled "Ensuring Leadership in Advanced Manufacturing." The $500 million plan uses existing funds and future appropriations from the budgets of various federal agencies to boost innovation in manufacturing technologies such as small, high-powered batteries, advanced composites, metal fabrication, bio-manufacturing and alternative engineering. The goal is to enhance defense-critical industries; build U.S. leadership in next-generation robotics; and increase energy and technological efficiency in manufacturing.
The Department of Energy has announced two initiatives supporting AMP. The first is an investment of up to $120 million over three years to support the development of transformational manufacturing technologies and innovative materials that would improve energy efficiency at manufacturing plants. The second is a partnership between DoE's National Training and Education Resource (NTER), National Association of Manufacturers' Manufacturing Institute, the Ford Partnership for Advanced Studies, and Macomb Community College to explore opportunities to support manufacturing job training.
In Congress, House Democrats have been touting their own manufacturing agenda. The "Make It in America" plan includes several bills aimed at strengthening the "smartforce" and stimulating innovation and R&D. To read more about "Make It in America," see the related article in this Insider issue.
Thus far, the Republican congressional leadership has offered no specific agenda to boost manufacturing, and the field of GOP candidates for President has been virtually silent on the subject. However, many GOP members of Congress have been vocal on the need to rein in taxes and regulations, especially on small businesses, which they believe is key to restoring confidence to the industrial sector.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0711/58414.html

Committing to U.S. manufacturing

By PETER A. BORDEN | 7/6/11 

We can do more as a nation to accelerate manufacturing expansion, says the author. | AP Photo

A quiet revolution is under way today inside many U.S. factories.
Using modern processes, large and small manufacturers are creating U.S. jobs, exports and economic strength at a time when these gains are especially important.

Thanks to machine tool technology advances, U.S. corporations of all sizes have become more competitive, boosting their output per labor hour — the definition of productivity increase — without raising costs. Many U.S. firms now provide global customers with the lowest cost per part available anywhere. Beyond increased efficiency, favorable economic forces also strengthen our manufacturing sector.

“The gap between U.S. and Chinese wages is narrowing rapidly,” according to the Boston Consulting Group, which speaks of a “manufacturing renaissance.” The respected business strategy firm forecasts a continuing shift back to stateside production – “reshoring” or “insourcing” – for some appliances and heavy equipment marketed domestically. It cites a new Caterpillar plant in Texas, with 500 workers.
Manufacturing has added more than 230,000 jobs since January 2010, according to federal figures. Economic activity in the sector expanded in May, for the 22nd straight month, and is growing at its fastest pace since 2004, according to the Institute for Supply Management.

Many toolmakers are resuming two- and three-shift operations, reopening a production spigot they turned off in late 2008, when the global financial crisis began. With auto makers and many other manufacturers reinvesting, the order pipeline is refilling.
The death of American manufacturing has clearly been greatly exaggerated.
More than 50 bills have been introduced in Congress to bolster this sector. One measure calls on the administration to work with industry, labor leaders and others “to achieve the greatest economic opportunity for manufacturers in America.” according to of Rep. Daniel Lipinski (D-Ill.), who introduced the bill with 28 bipartisan cosponsors. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) introduced a Senate version.
It’s encouraging to see Congress focus on manufacturers as a vital national resource. Just as positive is the White House support for an expanded Skills for America’s Future program, which aims to help 500,000 community college students “get industry-accepted credentials for manufacturing jobs that companies across America are looking to fill,” as President Barack Obama announced in early June.

But we can do more as a nation to accelerate manufacturing expansion and make it a permanent cornerstone of our economy.
A national commitment to manufacturing would be similar to the one that made NASA a priority during the 1960s. The parallels are striking — as could be the results:
• Manufacturing, like the space program, can benefit from a new generation of engineers, computer scientists, research and development support and technology skills training.

• As a leading-edge field, dependent on computer-assisted design, robotics, laser tools, battery improvements, green processes and global logistics, manufacturing is a high-skill, well-paid career.
• Innovations developed and patented for manufacturing can migrate to energy, health care, electronics, telecommunications and other areas — much as many NASA research breakthroughs spread.
• Seeing more Americans build what we use and export should bolster the economy and national pride, just as when we built rockets carrying capsules that could circle the globe.
As part of this effort, the American Machine Tool Distributors’ Association is joining with the Society of Manufacturing Engineers and several leading companies to inaugurate a manufacturing summit this fall. The Interactive Manufacturing Experience, or imX, is designed to share new technologies and foster collaboration that can help advance our industry.
We want to show how manufacturers in aerospace, automotive, medical devices and other fields are rebooting to reach higher levels of innovation, efficiency and productivity in the U.S.
We plan on addressing challenges that define the future of our entire industry, including workforce development, cost reduction, green manufacturing, production floor networking, micro-machining technology, lean manufacturing and other topics.
But the crucial conversations at imX must extend beyond this three-day summit. Discussions about the future of U.S. manufacturing – the economic engine of our nation – must continue in Washington, on factory floors and in boardrooms across the country. And they must lead to collaborative action by government and industry leaders if manufacturing is to continue powering our economy to a full recovery.

Peter A. Borden is president of the American Machine Tool Distributors’ Association. The group is a founder of the inaugural Interactive Manufacturing Experience (imX), a manufacturing summit this September.

 

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Digital Protractors

The PRO 360 and PRO 3600 are high performance, angle measurement tools that are sold exclusively through our network of industrial distributors. Both units have a One Year Limited Warranty, CE Certification and National Stock Numbers.* These state-of-the-art, angle measurement tools have features such as "Hold" which lets you to store the last reading taken with a touch of a button. They also have "Alternate Reference" (Alt Zero) which allows you to electronically zero the reading anywhere within the protractor's 360° range. The PRO 3600, in addition to higher resolution (0.01°), has an RS-232 port so you can output the angle measurement data to a computer. Both protractors can be easily fitted with an available, magnetic base or an array of custom attachments.
Applications include:

• Automotive
  • Driveline Measurement
  • Racecar wing & chassis adjustment
  • Wheel alignment
  • Frame straightening
• Aerospace
  • Control surface rigging
  • Prop adjustment
  • Fire control elevation
  • Rotor angle measurement
  • Aircraft leveling
• Industrial
  • Machine tool set up
  • Lathe and mill alignment
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• Medical
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* The National Stock Number (NSN) for the PRO 360 is #5220012512120 and the PRO 3600 is #5210014180671.

Product Listing:

• PRO 360
• PRO 3600

PRO 360

• Full 360 degree range (90° x 4)
• Easy to read LCD display which intelligently flips over when the unit is upside down.
• Maximum accuracy of +/- 0.1° and maximum resolution of 0. 1°
• Precision, machined aluminum frame.
• Unit can be recalibrated to factory accuracy in the field without special tools or fixtures.

The PRO 360 Digital Protractor $179.99 is a revolutionary measuring tool that provides an immediate, digital reading of all angles in a 360° range. The unit utilizes a patented, liquid-filled sensor combined with precision measurement circuitry to provide unparalleled accuracy and stability.
A precision machined aluminum frame provides a rigid, lightweight, ultra-precise platform for extremely accurate measurements. The frame is grooved along the bottom surface to facilitate use with round objects such as pipes or shafts and incorporates threaded holes on the bottom for rigid attachment if desired.
The front panel buttons can be used to capture desired readings or to designate an alternate reference surface from which subsequent angles are then measured. The unit can also be easily recalibrated in the field to factory accuracy using any available flat surface.
The unit operates for up to 500 hours on a single 9V battery, incorporates an automatic power down feature, and ships standard with a rigid plastic case.
Typical applications include:

• Drive shaft alignment
• Aircraft flap calibration
• Setup of precision machines
• Road or rail-track layout
• Satellite or aerial alignment

PRO 3600

• Full 360 degree range (90° x 4).
• Easy to read LCD display.
• Maximum accuracy of +/- 0.05° and maximum resolution of 0.01°
• Precision, machined aluminum frame.
• Unit can be recalibrated to factory accuracy in the field without special tools or fixtures.
• RS-232 compatible interface for computer data collection.

The PRO 3600 Digital Protractor $316.93 is a revolutionary measuring tool that provides an immediate, digital reading of all angles in a 360? range. The unit utilizes a patented, liquid-filled sensor combined with precision measurement circuitry to provide unparalleled accuracy and stability.
A precision machined aluminum frame provides a rigid, lightweight, ultra-precise platform for extremely accurate measurements. The frame is grooved along the bottom surface to facilitate use with round objects such as pipes or shafts and incorporates threaded holes on the bottom for rigid attachment if desired.
The front panel buttons can be used to capture desired readings or to designate an alternate reference surface from which subsequent angles are then measured. The unit can also be easily recalibrated in the field to factory accuracy using any available flat surface.
The PRO 3600 features an RS-232 compatible serial interface for transmission of angle measurement data to a computer or other equipment. The unit operates for up to 500 hours on a single 9V battery, incorporates an automatic power down feature, and ships standard with a rigid plastic case.
Additional information about interfacing to the PRO 3600 Digital Protractor is available in Application Note AN-202: Interfacing to a PRO 3600 Digital Protractor (see link below).