An Alternative Basics Education: Valve Ed Comes to You!
By: Judy Tibbs, Editorial Consultant, VALVE Magazine
For the first time in the seven-year history of the Valve Basics education program, the Valve Manufacturers Association (VMA) held a company-specific training event conducted by the VMA Education Committee’s Valve-Ed team.
#VMAnews #basics
What’s in Store for the Construction Market?
As was the case with many of the presenters at VMA’s Market Outlook Workshop held in August 2016, Randy Giggard of FMI Consulting noted that availability of labor at all levels is a major concern in the construction business.
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The 2017 Market Outlook: Oil & Gas, China and U.S. Dollar Are Still Top Concerns
As was the case at last year’s event, speakers and attendees at this year’s Market Outlook Workshop were consistent in their concerns about the low price of oil and the high U.S. dollar.
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The Nation’s Confidence in the Economy Looks Brighter
One major change in the economic picture that’s occurred since the beginning of this year is that “we’re starting to see improvement in terms of sentiment,” according to Chad Moutray, chief economist for the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM). He gave a third-quarter update via webcast July 21. “When I meet with manufacturing leaders around the country, I’m often asked: have we hit rock bottom?
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U.S. and Canadian Concerns are Worldwide Concerns
During the recent meeting of the European Congress of the Valves and Taps Industry (CEIR) in Lyon, France, the 55 representatives from 11 different European nations discussed issues that closely mirror topics of concern to the valve community in the United States and Canada.
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Highlights from VMA’s 2016 Leadership Forum
The latest Valve Industry Leadership Forum, held March 22-23 in Denver, was attended by key personnel from VMA member companies.
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Safety All the Way at VMA’s 2016 Technical Seminar
To meet the increasingly stringent environmental and safety standards instituted by governments and standards boards, manufacturers and users alike must be constantly aware of changes and challenges for which they are ultimately responsible.
#VMAnews #standards
Forecast for U.S. Valve Industry: No Growth Expected
By: Judy Tibbs, Editorial Consultant, VALVE Magazine
For the first time since 2009, U.S. industrial valve shipments are predicted to have almost no growth in 2016, according to the annual forecast of the Valve Manufacturers Association (VMA). VMA’s forecast indicates shipments will be up just $3 million over 2015 to be about $4.5 billion total. “Our industry crested in 2008 at about $4 billion before taking a tumble from the recession.
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Is Your Company Ready for The New Reality?
Since August, 2015, when VMA’s 2016 Market Outlook event was held, there have been a few more bumps in the economic road for valve, actuator and control manufacturers, their suppliers, distributors and end users.
#actuators #VMAnews
Changing the Way Americans Think About Manufacturing Careers
The Valve Manufacturers Association is focusing a major effort on developing a solution to a problem that plagues this industry as well as most of the industrial world: how to find and attract talented new workers.
#basics #VMAnews
The U.S. Economy: A Curve in the Road
Dr. Alan Beaulieu is a frequent presenter at VMA events, with an impressive record for accurately predicting economic developments.
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VMA Human Resources Workshop Focuses on the Next Generation of Workers
At VMA’s first-ever Human Resources Workshop: Promoting Valve Careers to the Next Generation, member HR professionals gathered in Arlington, VA, Nov. 9-10, to hear from recruiting experts on how to attract and develop manufacturing talent, build a strong workforce, employ essential mobile and social media tools, expand college presence, and employ best practices in recruiting.
#VMAnews #basics
2016 Market Forecast: Dodging Market Strikes
Discussion of crude oil and natural gas have dominated much of the last few VMA Market Outlook Workshops and this year’s event, which was Aug. 6-7 in Chicago, was no different: Declining oil prices made it into most discussions at the workshop, and shale gas came up many times.
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VMA Welcomes New Leaders, Honors Members and Looks Forward
By: Judy Tibbs, Editorial Consultant, VALVE Magazine
The Valve Manufacturers Association elected new board members, presented awards to people who have served the organization and listened to speakers share their ideas on how the economy and the industry are faring at the 77th Annual VMA/VRC (Valve Repair Council) Meeting Sept. 30 to Oct. 2 in Naples, FL.
#maintenance-repair #VMAnews
Commercial Construction on the Rise
“While single family building normally dominates the construction market, right now, multi-family building is on fire!” said Richard Branch of Dodge Data and Analytics during his opening statement at the 2016 VMA Market Outlook event held in August.
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VMA, Manufacturers Work to Bridge the Skills Gap
Across the world of manufacturing, the talent gap is getting broader as top positions are vacated and companies struggle to entice qualified candidates.
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VWAM Expo: VMA Members Highlight New Products
Much of the business conducted at Valve World Americas Expo & Conference, July 15-16, was done on the 39,000-square-foot exhibit floor at the George R.
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2016 Market Outlook: Mostly Cloudy
While the shale gas boom continues to play an important part in the economic well-being of the United States, it was the price of oil that was foremost in the minds of presenters and attendees alike at VMA’s 2016 Market Outlook event held in Chicago this month.
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Leadership: The Essential Ingredient to Lean Transformation
The 2015 VMA Manufacturers Workshop featured a two-day intensive workshop on Lean Leadership.
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Valves & Actuators 101 Precedes Valve World Americas Expo & Conference 2015
VMA is presenting a one-day version of its popular Valves, Actuators & Controls 101 educational program on July 14, the day before Valve World Americas Expo & Conference.
#actuators #VMAnews #controls