INSIGHTS

Insights

What We Learned at VMA’s 2017 Leadership Forum

By: Judy Tibbs, Editorial Consultant, VALVE Magazine

The positive forecast Alan Beaulieu of ITR Economics shared was welcome news at VMA’s 2017 Leadership Forum. “You’re going to like 2017 and 2018,” he said. “Consumers are in great shape, retail sales are at a record high level, housing starts are positive, interest rates remain favorable, employment and wages are rising, and banks are lending.” However, it is not all smooth sailing.
#VMAnews

Manufacturing

VMA Sees Limited Valve Shipment Growth for 2017

After a year of little growth in 2016, U.S. valve shipments for 2017 are forecast to gain ground: about 2% for the year.
#VMAnews

Insights

The Manufacturer’s Guide to Digitizing 7 Key Business Processes

Many manual and ad hoc processes are used to manage the unstructured information that surrounds key manufacturing processes.

Insights

The Valve Industry’s Role in Climate Change

The world may not agree on all the causes of climate change, but most people realize our actions over the last 150 years have directly contributed to greenhouse gas (GHG) buildup, most notably accumulation of carbon dioxide and methane.
#VMAnews #water-wastewater

Insights

The 2017 Energy Outlook: Exports and the Demand for Valves

The recently released Annual Energy Outlook 2017 (AEO2017) from The Energy Information Administration (EIA) provides modeled projections of domestic energy markets through 2050.
#VMAnews

Technical

Misconceptions Regarding Control and Isolation Valve Standards

All on/off isolation valve standards are not created equal and cannot be applied unilaterally to all valves.
#standards

Insights

Is Your Favorite a 2016 Top 10 Article?

Since VALVEMagazine.com was inaugurated many years ago, valve professionals have increasingly taken advantage of the valuable information and insights provided in content created exclusively for and by our readers.
#VMAnews

Insights

Six Tips for Successful Listening: The Importance of Being Earnest

In business or in life, one of the most valuable skills to master is listening, yet, according to Nikki Bishop and Bruce Smith in a presentation at the 2016 Emerson Global Users Exchange, less than 2% of all professionals have had formal education or learning to understand and improve listening skills and technique.
#basics

Education

HR Professionals Gather at VMA Workshop

Human resources managers, executives representing their companies and YVPs (young valve professionals) from VMA companies gathered Nov. 14-15 at the Valve Manufacturers Association’s Human Resources Workshop in Houston.
#VMAnews

Applications

Cast vs. Forged: The Ongoing Debate Takes a New Direction

In the valve industry, the cast versus forged debate has been around for many years.
#materials #standards