By Andrew Carlsgaard, analytics director, First Resource In an increasingly competitive landscape for hiring and retaining skilled employees, rising healthcare and benefits costs for employers in the United States manufacturing sector have become a significant concern. These employers often face challenges in providing affordable healthcare benefits to their employees while … [Read more...] about US Manufacturers Face Threat of Increasing Healthcare Rates, Seek Answers to Protecting Margins
Economy
Partnership with ITR Economics Enhances Member Benefits
By Lindsey Munson, editor, The American Mold Builder On the rise and expected to grow over the next decade, mold manufacturing companies are challenged with meeting their operational expectations no matter the external market trends and economic impacts. Management teams are pressured now more than ever to assess, plan and respond based on environmental impacts and shifts – … [Read more...] about Partnership with ITR Economics Enhances Member Benefits
Simple Metrics to Drive Efficiency and Profitability
By Dianna Brodine, vice president, editorial, The American Mold Builder Every mold building company operates with a set of metrics guiding its decision-making process. Is it time to hire? Purchase new equipment? Find a new market or customer set? … Close the doors? Whether simple to calculate or incredibly complex, metrics often are the determining factor … but what if … [Read more...] about Simple Metrics to Drive Efficiency and Profitability
The Big 3 of Tax Increases
By Omar S. Nashashibi, co-founder, The Franklin Partnership, LLC These days, when there is reference to the Big 3 on Capitol Hill, it’s not about the Detroit OEMs. Instead, it’s about lobbying on the Big 3 tax provisions that are having an overwhelming impact on AMBA members: reinstating R&D expensing while eliminating capitalization and amortization requirements, … [Read more...] about The Big 3 of Tax Increases
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