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
Benchmarking
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
Cautious Optimism Vies with Varied Challenges in 2023
By Rachael Pfenninger, director of strategic execution, AMBA Cautious optimism reigned in this year’s American Mold Builders Association (AMBA) 2023 Business Forecast Report, where just over 90% of respondents indicated that business conditions were fair or better. However, other economic factors – such as inflation and continuing pressure from foreign competition – continue … [Read more...] about Cautious Optimism Vies with Varied Challenges in 2023
Are Workforce Woes Improving? Data Points to Positive Indicators
by Rachael Pfenninger, director of strategic execution, AMBA As Americans nationwide experience the pinch of inflation, wages continue to be an increasingly hot topic of conversation. Paired with the persistent labor issue (an industry-wide challenge made worse by the coronavirus pandemic), employers are scrambling to see how they can remain competitive in the war for … [Read more...] about Are Workforce Woes Improving? Data Points to Positive Indicators
AMBA Hones Competitive Edge for US Mold Builders with Shop Rate Data
by Rachael Pfenninger, director of strategic execution, AMBA At the end of 2021, the American Mold Builders Association (AMBA) surveyed US mold manufacturers on compensation data across 51 unique job positions. At that time, the AMBA benchmarking team discovered that, despite experiencing the highest inflation rate since 1982 (7%), mold manufacturers were continuing to raise … [Read more...] about AMBA Hones Competitive Edge for US Mold Builders with Shop Rate Data
Mold Manufacturers Identify Both Challenges and Opportunities in Healthcare Landscape
by Rachael Pfenninger, director of strategic execution, American Mold Builders Association According to an article published by the American Medical Association in 2020, healthcare spending in the US increased by 4.6% in 2019 – a percentage that was on par with 2018 growth and slightly faster than what was observed in 20171. What is most remarkable, however, isn’t that … [Read more...] about Mold Manufacturers Identify Both Challenges and Opportunities in Healthcare Landscape