The Detroit Free Press (8/19, Priddle) reported, “As Ford pushes to standardize the way it builds cars throughout the world, efficiency should improve and costs should fall, but headaches triggered by regional differences will never go away.” The Press reported, “At a recent industry conference in Traverse City, John Fleming, head of Ford’s global manufacturing, said having a single system to build vehicles anywhere in the world will reduce manufacturing investment costs by 8% a year while boosting by 25% the number and types of vehicles that can be produced per facility by mid-decade. The ‘One Ford’ strategy will support Ford’s largest expansion in 50 years, including nine plants in Asia.”
Kickoff Fall with NADCA Education Classes!
NADCA’s education division is excited to announce the release of its 2012 Fall Education Schedule! This fall NADCA will be offering the following courses:
- EC-205 Quick Die Change – October 29, 2012
- EC-202 Zinc Die Casting – October 30, 2012
- EC-305 Metallurgy Of Die Casting Alloys – October 31, 2012
- EC-211 Dimensional Repeatability – November 1, 2012
- EC-515 Die Casting Defects – November 5, 2012
- EC-514 Gating Design – November 6, 2012 – November 7, 2012
- EC-700 PQ² – November 8, 2012
- EC-606 Product Design – November 12, 2012
- EC-506 Engineering Die Casting Dies – November 13, 2012 – November 14, 2012
Do not miss out on your chance to gain valuable knowledge about die casting parts and processes! For more information on the spring semester course schedule please visit: www.diecasting.org/education/schedule.htm. To register for a course or courses visit: www.diecasting.org/education/registration.
If you would like to learn about other education services NADCA offers please visit: www.diecasting.org/education or contact Melisa Ryzner at (847) 808-3161.
Report: Reshoring To The US Could Provide Significant Cost Advantages For Metals, Chemicals Sectors
IndustryWeek (9/13, Katz) reports, “‘Reshoring’ manufacturing production to the US could provide significant cost advantages for the chemicals and metals sectors, according to a PricewaterhouseCoopers report released Wednesday. Lower energy and transportation costs, an educated workforce and a depreciating US dollar are factors contributing to this new opportunity for manufacturers.” The PwC report said shale “gas has created new investment prospects for chemicals and metals producers because of more affordable energy and demand for their products from increased drilling.”
Study: Federal Regulations On Manufacturers May Reduce Output By As Much As $500 Billion This Year
Bloomberg News (8/22, Wingfield) reports, “Regulations on US manufacturing may reduce output by as much as $500 billion this year, according to an industry-sponsored study that cast doubts on President Barack Obama’s efforts to trim red tape in the federal government. The Obama administration has established an average of 72 regulations on manufacturers annually, an increase from the 45 per year imposed under President George W. Bush, according to the study”conducted by NERA Economic Consulting. “With job creation a central theme in the US presidential race, the health of manufacturing companies is of importance to both Obama and his Republican challenger Mitt Romney.” The National Association of Manufacturers and other industry groups “have said federal regulations hinder economic growth.”
IndustryWeek (8/22, Minter) reports, “In ‘Macroeconomic Impacts of Federal Regulation of the Manufacturing Sector,’ NERA looked at the cumulative impact of federal regulations issued since 1981 that affect the general economy and the manufacturing sector in particular. The study found 2,183 regulations affecting manufacturing, of which 235 are considered ‘major’ regulations with compliance costs of $100 million or more. The NERA study estimates that these regulations cost the economy from $265 billion to $726 billion a year in direct compliance costs.”