By Rachael Pfenninger, director of strategic execution, AMBA As the average age of moldmaking professionals continues to rise, succession planning is becoming an increasingly important consideration for every business owner. These concerns – combined with the shrinking access to skilled labor – have led to significant efforts in cultivating and encouraging emerging … [Read more...] about A Strategic Outlook: Elevating the AMBA’s Emerging Leadership
Articles
It’s Not About Price! Strategies to Compete in the Global Marketplace
By Rachael Pfenninger, director of strategic execution, AMBA According to AMBA’s most recent Business Forecast Survey, the US mold manufacturing industry is facing its most varied landscape of challenges to date. Rising material costs and thin margins – combined with skyrocketing inflation – have forced domestic mold manufacturers to find new and creative ways to continually … [Read more...] about It’s Not About Price! Strategies to Compete in the Global Marketplace
Q&A: Automated Job Management and Workload Prioritization
Interview by Liz Stevens, writer, The American Mold Builder Controlling the production flow of a tool build throughout a mold shop requires careful scheduling of job tasks, available equipment and labor resources. On a busy shop floor, that schedule easily can be thrown off as higher-priority orders come through, equipment or material delays occur and employee absenteeism … [Read more...] about Q&A: Automated Job Management and Workload Prioritization
AMBA Rallies Support for Tariffs
By Omar S. Nashashibi, co-founder, The Franklin Partnership, LLC Members of the American Mold Builders Association (AMBA) sent a loud message to the Biden administration in January 2023 – keep the 25% tariffs on imported Chinese industrial molds and dies in place. More than 50 members of the AMBA filed formal comments with the Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) … [Read more...] about AMBA Rallies Support for Tariffs
Recession and Growth: Building Resiliency in a Mold Shop
By Laurie Harbour, president and CEO, Harbour Results, Inc. It’s been an interesting three years for the manufacturing industry. In 2020, the industry was hit by COVID-19. Together, everyone learned what to do. Despite starts and stops, ups and downs, the tooling industry persevered. Then, in 2021, it was a year of unprecedented high demand for energy and major durable … [Read more...] about Recession and Growth: Building Resiliency in a Mold Shop
Tool Builders Focus on 2023 Priorities
By Maggie Taylor, writer, The American Mold Builder After several unpredictable years, the mold manufacturing industry is primarily reporting positive sentiments as the first quarter of 2023 gets underway. “We’re on very good momentum right now,” said Tammy Barras, president of Westec Plastics Corporation in Livermore, California. “We’ve made a lot of improvements over … [Read more...] about Tool Builders Focus on 2023 Priorities