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According to this article online at the Wall Street Journal, manufacturers in some areas of the country have seen a dramatic increase in the number of qualified applicants to fill skilled positions. Those companies that are still growing sales are taking advantage of this to "upgrade" their work force, so to speak.
It's a somewhat positive note in an era of negative news; distributors who may be hiring or plan to in the near future to meet returned demand should make what some call a talent management plan to ensure they meet current and future needs based on strategic direction.
Easier said than done, perhaps, but a large number of highly skilled and experienced ...
It's a somewhat positive note in an era of negative news; distributors who may be hiring or plan to in the near future to meet returned demand should make what some call a talent management plan to ensure they meet current and future needs based on strategic direction.
Easier said than done, perhaps, but a large number of highly skilled and experienced ...
The manufacturing sector failed to grow in May, according to the latest Manufacturing ISM Report On Business.
The Institute for Supply Management reported: "While employment and inventories continue to decline at a rapid rate and the sector continued to contract during the month, there are signs of improvement. May is the first month of growth in the New Orders Index since November 2007, with nine of 18 industries reporting growth. New orders are considered a leading indicator, and the index has risen rapidly after bottoming at 23.1 percent in December 2008.
"Also, the Customers' Inventories Index remained below 50 percent for the second consecutive month, offering encouragement that supply chains ...
The Institute for Supply Management reported: "While employment and inventories continue to decline at a rapid rate and the sector continued to contract during the month, there are signs of improvement. May is the first month of growth in the New Orders Index since November 2007, with nine of 18 industries reporting growth. New orders are considered a leading indicator, and the index has risen rapidly after bottoming at 23.1 percent in December 2008.
"Also, the Customers' Inventories Index remained below 50 percent for the second consecutive month, offering encouragement that supply chains ...
Milwuakee, WI-based Rexnord LLC, a diversified industrial company focused on power transmission and water management products, reported fourth quarter sales of $432 million, down 14% from the prior year. The company recorded a quarterly loss of $7.8 million. Core sales contracted 10%.
Fourth quarter power transmission sales declined 16% to $312 million.Core sales were down 11%.
Water Management fourth quarter sales declined $9 million, or 7%, compared with the prior year fourth quarter to $120 million. Core sales contracted 9% from the prior year quarter.
For fiscal year 2009 - ended March 31, sales were $1.88 billion, an increase of 2% over the prior year. The loss recorded for the year was $207 million. Core sales contracted 1%. Power ...
Fourth quarter power transmission sales declined 16% to $312 million.Core sales were down 11%.
Water Management fourth quarter sales declined $9 million, or 7%, compared with the prior year fourth quarter to $120 million. Core sales contracted 9% from the prior year quarter.
For fiscal year 2009 - ended March 31, sales were $1.88 billion, an increase of 2% over the prior year. The loss recorded for the year was $207 million. Core sales contracted 1%. Power ...
New orders for manufactured durable goods in April increased $3.0 billion or 1.9 percent to $161.5 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau announced. This was the second increase in the last three months and followed a 2.1 percent March decrease. Excluding transportation, new orders increased 0.8 percent. Excluding defense, new orders also increased 1.0 percent.
Transportation equipment, up three consecutive months, had the largest increase, $2.1 billion or 5.4 percent to $40.5 billion.
Shipments of manufactured durable goods in April, down nine consecutive months, decreased $0.3 billion or 0.2 percent to $174.2 billion. This was the longest streak of consecutive monthly decreases since the series was first published on a NAICS basis in 1992 and followed a 1.9 percent ...
Transportation equipment, up three consecutive months, had the largest increase, $2.1 billion or 5.4 percent to $40.5 billion.
Shipments of manufactured durable goods in April, down nine consecutive months, decreased $0.3 billion or 0.2 percent to $174.2 billion. This was the longest streak of consecutive monthly decreases since the series was first published on a NAICS basis in 1992 and followed a 1.9 percent ...
The Industrial Product Price Index (IPPI) and the Raw Materials Price Index (RMPI) were both down 0.5% in April compared with March, halting their upward movements since the start of the year according to Statistics Canada.
The decline in the IPPI was led by lower prices for motor vehicles and other transport equipment (-2.2%) and pulp and paper products (-2.3%). These two product groups are more affected by fluctuations in the exchange rate.
The Canadian dollar rose 3.3% in April in relation to its US counterpart. If the exchange rate used to convert these prices had remained unchanged, the IPPI would have risen 0.3% instead of declining 0.5%.
12-month change
Year over year, the IPPI fell 2.2% in April following ...
The decline in the IPPI was led by lower prices for motor vehicles and other transport equipment (-2.2%) and pulp and paper products (-2.3%). These two product groups are more affected by fluctuations in the exchange rate.
The Canadian dollar rose 3.3% in April in relation to its US counterpart. If the exchange rate used to convert these prices had remained unchanged, the IPPI would have risen 0.3% instead of declining 0.5%.
12-month change
Year over year, the IPPI fell 2.2% in April following ...
The speculation is now over: GM has officially followed Chrysler into bankruptcy.
There are few differences in the story this time around: Jobs will be lost, cuts will be made, uncertainty in the market will continue. A key difference, however, is the focus of the news. More agencies are paying attention to the impact the move will have on suppliers to the industry. GM accelerated payments to some suppliers, with the hope of softening the blow, and the White House released a statement promising continued support from the Treasury Department's Supplier Support Program during the process.
Even with these measures, the impact will ripple through the supply chain and have potentially devastating effects. All we can do as a Tier 2 supplier is manage the ...
There are few differences in the story this time around: Jobs will be lost, cuts will be made, uncertainty in the market will continue. A key difference, however, is the focus of the news. More agencies are paying attention to the impact the move will have on suppliers to the industry. GM accelerated payments to some suppliers, with the hope of softening the blow, and the White House released a statement promising continued support from the Treasury Department's Supplier Support Program during the process.
Even with these measures, the impact will ripple through the supply chain and have potentially devastating effects. All we can do as a Tier 2 supplier is manage the ...
RBC Bearings Inc., Oxford, CT, a manufacturer of highly-engineered precision plain, roller and ball bearings for the industrial, defense and aerospace industries, reported sales for fiscal year 2009, ended March 28, 2009, were $355.8 million, up 7.6% over fiscal year 2008 results. Profit declined 14.3% to $34.5 million.
For the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2009, sales were $83.8 million, down 9% from fourth quarter of fiscal year 2008. Profit decreased 46.2% to $6.5 million. ...
For the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2009, sales were $83.8 million, down 9% from fourth quarter of fiscal year 2008. Profit decreased 46.2% to $6.5 million. ...
UK-based building materials distributor Wolseley plc reported sales for the nine months ended April 30, 2009, were £12 billion (US$19.2 billion), up 0.2% year-over-year. Excluding the impact of foreign currency, sales were down 15%. Pre-tax profit fell 80% - 88% in constant dollars - to £72 million (US$115 million).
Continued weakness across most markets, led by the commercial and industrial sectors in the U.S., and significant declines in the UK and Ireland and Nordic region, have led to continued cost reduction measures being implemented. These measures include further headcount reductions. In the nine month reporting period, Wolseley has reduced headcount by 13,746 worldwide - including the elimination of 5,317 positions through the exit from ...
Continued weakness across most markets, led by the commercial and industrial sectors in the U.S., and significant declines in the UK and Ireland and Nordic region, have led to continued cost reduction measures being implemented. These measures include further headcount reductions. In the nine month reporting period, Wolseley has reduced headcount by 13,746 worldwide - including the elimination of 5,317 positions through the exit from ...
Wayne, PA-based Moro Corp. sent out a press release today announcing its first sales order it says is being financed by the economic stimulus plan. Its Construction Products Division received a contract to provide reinforcing steel to parts of the I-295 Pavement Rehabilitation and Bridge Deck Replacement in two New Jersey counties.
Adam Fein, in his Distribution Trends blog, looks at the scheduled outlays under the stimulus plan. Click here to read his latest update on the economic stimulus package. ...
Adam Fein, in his Distribution Trends blog, looks at the scheduled outlays under the stimulus plan. Click here to read his latest update on the economic stimulus package. ...
The Chicago Fed Midwest Manufacturing Index (CFMMI) declined 1.1% in April to a seasonally adjusted level of 81.0 (2002 = 100). Revised data show the index decreased 2.9% in March to 81.8.
The Federal Reserve Board's industrial production index for manufacturing (IPMFG) edged down 0.2% in April. Regional output in April was down 22.7% from a year earlier - lower than the 14.3% decrease in national output.
The region's steel sector output declined 3.4% in April after dropping 6.1% in March. The nation's steel output was down 1.8%. Regional steel output dropped 36.0% from its April 2008 level, and national steel output fell 25.3%.
Regional auto sector production moved down 2.0% in April after decreasing 0.8% in March. The ...
The Federal Reserve Board's industrial production index for manufacturing (IPMFG) edged down 0.2% in April. Regional output in April was down 22.7% from a year earlier - lower than the 14.3% decrease in national output.
The region's steel sector output declined 3.4% in April after dropping 6.1% in March. The nation's steel output was down 1.8%. Regional steel output dropped 36.0% from its April 2008 level, and national steel output fell 25.3%.
Regional auto sector production moved down 2.0% in April after decreasing 0.8% in March. The ...
