PMPA Business Trends November 2020

With 75 companies responding, the PMPA Business Trends Index for November came in at 125 – this is two points (1.6%) over November 2019’s 123 value.  It is down 6 points (4.5%) from October 2020. While the rate of growth slowed, it remains positive. The index is five points above the November 5-year average of 120.2.  

All sentiment indicators were positive, with Employment and Profitability outlook notably improved. Our precision machining shops- and our talented performers- continue to play a positive and essential role in the economic recovery.

PMPA BUSINESS TRENDS NOVEMBER 2020 REPORT

My Employee Tested Positive for COVID-19 – What Do I Do Now? by Melanie Webber

With COVID-19 cases spiking across the country, employers need to be ready when an employee advises that he or she tested positive or was exposed to someone who has the virus. A positive diagnosis for one employee triggers a host of questions and considerations.

In this webinar, Melanie discusses the steps to take if your employee tests positive, has been in close contact with someone who has tested positive for or been diagnosed with the virus, or needs to take time off to care for someone in quarantine or isolation.

During the webinar, attendees receive answers to these questions, and more:
• When an employee tests positive, do I need to notify all employees?
• If an employee has symptoms but refuses to see a doctor, can I require the employee to stay home?
• How is “close contact” defined now?
• Do we have to notify the Dept. of Health of positive tests?
• If an employee has been in close contact with someone who has tested positive, how long should they remain off work?
• When can I require a doctor’s note to return to work?
• Am I required to pay employees who self-quarantine, but do not have a medical diagnosis?
• Does the Families First Coronavirus Relief Act (“FFCRA”) require me to pay employees who have been in close contact with someone diagnosed with COVID-19?

New PMPA President is Honored to Serve Your Association

Fellow PMPA members,

On October 24, 2020 at the Annual Meeting held at Big Cedar Lodge in Ridgedale, Missouri, I was formally introduced as President of your PMPA for 2020-21.

I am honored and humbled at the opportunity to serve this great association.  It is my pleasure to inform you that PMPA is in excellent standing, due to the stewardship of countless talented and driven individuals over the past 87 years.  Please know that your current Committees and Board are also filled with great people who are doing an excellent job to position us well for the future. 

The year 2020 has proven to be a very difficult year for many of our companies and for many millions of people around the globe.  Through it all, we have been comforted by the fact that none of us were alone or without guidance.  We have also been recognized and respected for the fact that many of our products truly are “essential” to the health and safety of our country and our world.

During the current pandemic, PMPA has actually grown in membership.   Much of this growth is likely a combined result of our alliance with GMAS (Gardner) and the growing understanding of the vast resources available to our PMPA members.   

Our Team in Brecksville; Cate, Miles, Renee, Carli, Veronica and Joe (plus Matt and Kent in Cincinnati) have done some really great work throughout this year.  It has been a pleasure to see the Team having fun as they serve our members and come up with new ideas.   Through all of the twists and turns associated with the ever-changing environment, we have been supplied endless information on government imposed shutdowns, health and safety updates, PPP changes and updates, and we have been provided a steady flow of technical information.  Contracts for conferences have been negotiated and re-negotiated, due to the uncertain times.  Our website has been updated in-house, and a large number of podcasts have been produced and are available for viewing by our members.   This is all in addition to the normal, behind the scenes work that our Team does for the benefit of our association on a daily basis.

In 2020, it has been unfortunate but necessary to suspend a majority of local Chapter meetings and events.  Our hope is that 2021 will allow our local Chapters to once again hold meetings, as these meetings are an important way for our members to connect with each other.  It remains our goal to continue working toward growing our local Chapters.

I would like to thank our outgoing President, Victor DaCruz, for the great work he has done and the excellent example he has set over the past year.  Victor is a wonderful person, and he has served PMPA very well.  Due to the pandemic, Victor wasn’t able to visit many local Chapters.  He and I are hopeful that in 2021 we may be able to visit some of the Chapters and also tour a number of member facilities together. 

I hope to see many of you in the coming year, either at Local or National meetings. 

In closing; thank you to all of our members.  You are the reason PMPA exists, and our goal is to continually show you what we already know; we truly are ….”Better Together.”

Best regards and best wishes for the upcoming holidays and new year!

Tom Halladay

PMPA President

President, H&R Screw Machine Products, Inc.

PMPA 2021 Holiday Time Off Survey

PMPA 2021 8 HOUR HOLIDAY TIME OFF REPORT

PMPA 2021 10 HOUR HOLIDAY TIME OFF REPORT

PMPA Business Trends October 2020

Precision Machining Industry Steady as She Goes in October.

Sales came in at just above the five year average for the month of October, and out performed the Fed’s Industrial Production (IP) and Manufacturing Output indexes.

Three of our four sentiment indicators remained positive and steady, with Employment Prospects dropping just 2 percent from 88 percent in September to 86 percent in October. Seventy-nine shops participated. Hours of work scheduled increased by one hour in October.

PMPA Business Trends October 2020

PMPA Webinar: Top Ten Issues Employers are Facing in Today’s New Working Environment

2020 has been quite a year.  From keeping up with CDC guidance with regard to face coverings, COVID-19 reporting and managing sick employees, to managing employee tensions in the workplace (and remotely), as well as COVID and ADA issues and considerations. Melanie covered it all in her hour-long webinar on November 19^th.  Click on the links below to view the webinar and to download her presentation slides.

ITR Economics Report for PMPA – November 2020

Despite the uncertainty in the news cycle regarding the election, recounts, Covid-19, and the markets, many monthly economic indicators are rising in a positive direction.

PMPA’s latest Business Trends Report showed strong out-performance over Fed Industrial Production and Manufacturing output indicators. The latest ITR November 2020 Economic Report for the Precision Machining Industry marshals a host of facts about our markets to explain their positivity. “Empirical evidence made it clear that results were likely to surpass expectations for the industrial and consumer sectors… revising our expectations accordingly.” 

Of course, the caveat of a fall/winter flu season and shutdowns remains possible- but the “Empirical evidence” supports optimism at this point in time from the economic data. What are YOU doing to prepare your processes and performers for this rising trend?

Technical Members Receive Participation Award

Congratulations to the following PMPA Technical Members who were also recognized at the Annual Awards Banquet with the Technical Member Participation Award.

Through their active participation, PMPA’s Technical Members contribute greatly toward keeping the Association thriving and progressive.  Our thanks and congratulations for their service and participation in PMPA activities during the 2019-2020 year.

Participation Award 

• Henning Industrial Software
• Peterson Tool Company
• Lester Detterbeck Enteprises
• Absolute MachineTools
• Champion Screw Machine Engineering
• CJWinter

PMPA Members Recognized at the Annual Meeting

Awards Banquet

The Annual Meeting is not only about attending informational business sessions and networking with colleagues, it is also the event where we take the opportunity to acknowledge, recognize and celebrate those individuals and companies that have gone above and beyond their service to the association as a PMPA member over the past year.  

Congratulations to the following 2020 award recipients:

Retiring PMPA President (term 2019-20)

• Victor DaCruz – DACRUZ Manufacturing, Bristol, CT

Victor and Betty DaCruz, DACRUZ Manufacturing

Director’s Service Award (retiring Director 3-year term on the Board)

• W. Richard Hoster, III (At-Large) –  Smith & Richardson, Inc.
• Dennis Izzo (District I) – Prime Engineered Components

Technical Membership Chairman’s Award

• Patrick Lowman – Superior Stainless & Alloys, LLC

25 Years of PMPA Membership

• Amerascrew, Inc.
• Billco Corporation
• Gosiger
• MacLean Curtis LLC
• Masters Machine Company
• MSK Precision Products, Inc.
• Smith & Richardson Inc.
• Topcraft Metal Products, Inc.

Rich Hoster, Smith & Richardson – 25 Years of PMPA Membership

50 Years of PMPA Membership

• Pleasant Manufacturing Co. Limited

75 Years of PMPA Membership

• Ohio Screw Products, Inc.

Jim Fetcko, Ohio Screw Products – 75 Years of PMPA Membership

PMPA Welcomes New Executive Officers

At the recent PMPA Board of Directors meeting held on Thursday, October 23, 2020, prior to PMPA’s 87th Annual Meeting at the Big Cedar Lodge in Ridgedale, Missouri, the following Officers were elected to serve on the Board:

Tom Halladay, H&R Screw Machine Products, Inc., Reed City, MI, was formally elected President of the PMPA for 2020-2021.

PMPA 1st Vice President – Aneesa Muthana, Pioneer Service, Inc., Addison, IL

PMPA 2nd Vice President – John Habe, IV, Metal Seal Precision Ltd., Mentor, OH

Treasurer – Steve Sorenson, Sorenson Engineering, Yucaipa, CA, will continue his term for one more year.

And during their meeting at the Big Cedar Lodge on October 23rd, the Technical Members elected Mike Mulligan, Nucor Cold Finish Group, Oak Creek, WI, to serve as Chairman, Courtney Ortner, Absolute Machine Tools, Lorain, OH, to serve as 1st Vice Chair, and Kevin Coffman, Champion Screw Machine Engineering, Inc. to serve as 2nd Vice Chair, representing the Technical Members on the Board of Directors.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, nominations for new Board members were delayed until the October Board Meeting.  The following individuals were officially nominated by the Nominating Committee and will be elected by a vote of the membership (Manufacturing voting members) to serve on the Board this month:

At-Large Director: Darlene Miller, Permac Industries, Burnsville, MN

Director District I:  JoAnn Vlach, Efficient Machine Products, Inc., Strongsville, OH

Director District II:  David Thuro, Thuro Metal Products, Inc., Brentwood, NY

Ballots for the above individuals were emailed this week to Manufacturing member Certified Representatives

Congratulations to all our new officers, and a big thank you to outgoing PMPA President Victor DaCruz.  We hope to see more of both of you next year…when we can hopefully begin face-to-face visits!