| The Economy and Manufacturing in 2025 |
| Looking at the U.S. economy, we’ve finally got some good things to talk about. Inflation is starting to slow down, decreasing the cost of items. Interest rate hikes have slowed and cuts are beginning. And, unemployment is low. All positive things, yet manufacturers face one significant challenge: shrinking year-over-year durable-goods demand. |
| |
|
| Put Your Company at a Competitive Advantage |
| Position your company as an industry leader when you utilize PMA resources—ITR Econ Trends reports, trade publications, One Voice and FABTECH trade shows. A PMA membership will provide your company and all of its employees with a range of valuable industry resources that are designed to help you become more connected, more informed, more efficient, more competitive and ultimately more profitable. |
|
|
| |
|
| A Discrete Manufacturers Guide to Evaluating ERP |
| In
this live virtual session, scheduled for January 22 at 2 p.m. ET,
you'll hear from Aptean senior ERP specialist Glenn Julia on the
essential steps to evaluate and select an ERP solution tailored to your
business needs. He'll highlight important industry trends and technology
advancements to consider, and share practical strategies to avoid
common pitfalls, helping to ensure a smooth implementation and maximize
return on investment. |
| |
|
| Metal Formers End the Year with Optimism |
| Metal
forming manufacturers express increased optimism heading into the new
year, with more manufacturers predicting an increase in economic
activity during Q1 2025, according to the December 2024 Precision
Metalforming Association (PMA) Business Conditions Report. The report
shows that 30% of manufacturers predict an increase in economic activity
in the next three months (up from 23% in November and 13% in October),
while only 21% anticipate a decrease in activity, down from 34% last
month. |
| |
|
| Tariffs, Taxes and EVs: The Road Ahead for the Global Auto Industry |
| The latest report from S&P Global Mobility notes that “the president-elect's proposed policies, including tax cuts, deregulation, tariffs and changes to electric-vehicle (EV) incentives, will have ripple effects on global automotive markets, especially in North America and Europe. How these policies unfold will shape the future of battery electric vehicle (BEV) sales and global trade dynamics.” |
|
|
|
|
|
| ISM Survey: Manufacturing’s Comeback Started Last November |
| While the Fed’s aggressive monetary policy over the last few years managed to help tame inflation, it did no favors to the manufacturing sector. Yet, manufacturing’s purchasing and supply executives expect overall growth in 2025, with that growth accelerating during the second half of the year. So finds the December Manufacturing PMI report from the Institute for Supply Management. |
| |
|
| Strategy Summit: Learn How Your Peers Use Industry 4.0, AI and Automation |
The Metal Fabrication Strategy Summit, from MetalForming
and PMA, will help fabricators improve their operations. This two-day
event brings together industry leaders, expert panelists and innovative
manufacturers to tackle the challenges facing fabricators today.
Facilitated panel discussions will address these and other topics:
- Design for Manufacture
- Automation Strategy
- Smart Manufacturing
- Digital Transformation
|
| |
|
| How AI is Revolutionizing Manufacturing: Use Cases and Examples |
| Generative
AI (artificial intelligence) is more than just a fun tool to spruce up
your writing. Manufacturers already have begun to use AI for predictive
maintenance, supply-chain optimization, quality control and demand
forecasting. Here are 12 brief use cases including Whirlpool, Foxconn,
General Electric and Ford Motor Co. |
| |
|
| Understanding Edge Computing |
Manufacturers large and small have begun to move away from central servers for collecting and processing data and toward edge computing—systems that process data locally, close to sources. Benefits are numerous, and implementation is not overwhelmingly complicated, yet careful planning and execution are musts.
Here’s a primer, including a look at real-world applications. |
| |
|
| PMA State of the Association Webinar |
Join
PMA president David Klotz and vice president of sales/publisher Mike
Vohland as they provide an update on the association and our
publications. When: Thursday, January 16, 1-2 p.m. ET.
During the webinar, they will:
- Provide a recap of 2024
- Address what to expect in 2025
- Review member benefits
- Share wins from our Washington, D.C. team
- Discuss the latest on PMA’s publications.
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
 |
|
Management
Stamping Presses