Page 38 - MetalForming Magazine March 2022
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 and the rest of his team at Marion Mfg. include its bevy of industry surveys, such as the Monthly Business Condi- tions Report, quarterly Metalforming Insights reports (separated into four key areas—financials and KPIs, oper- ations and HR, sales and marketing, and wages and benefits) and quarterly economic reports from ITR Economics. Marion Mfg. also actively participates in PMA offerings that include:
• Regional and national seminars and conferences, and online seminars; • Its partnership with ADP to sup-
port payroll and HR activities;
• Discounts on MRO products via PMA’s relationship with Grainger and
Office Depot;
• Access to members-only online
forums specifically devoted to HR pro- fessionals, CFOs, safety professionals, and sales and marketing; and
• Last but not least, its executive networking groups.
“The networking group that I par- ticipate in,” shares Johnson, “functions almost like a board of directors. I don’t make a big decision here at Marion Mfg. without first talking to some of those in the group. For example, we recently invested in a new automated vision-measurement system, and I was able to use the networking group as a sounding board as we evaluated the different machine models and suppliers.
“We also tour each other’s facilities,” Johnson continues, “and spend a con- siderable amount of time discussing what they’re doing well, and opportu-
nities that we see for improvement. I always come away with ideas that we can implement here at Marion Mfg.”
Several years ago, PMA managed just two such networking groups; now it manages five. “We think we can add as many as five more in the next few years, each with 15 to 20 members,” says Klotz.
Driving Membership, Growing the Community
Using METALFORM EDU to pro- mote workforce development and help drive membership in PMA has helped grow the community that Johnson so eloquently discusses as he takes the PMA helm. It’s all about strength in numbers, and numbers are trending in the right direction. PMA has added 300 new member companies in the last 2 yr., so Johnson and Klotz now seek to use that larger, stronger community to help regain momentum that the industry lost during the pandemic.
“What can we do to help regain lost momentum?” asks Johnson. “Number one, we can use our influence in Wash- ington, D.C., and our advocacy team to help shape a recovery plan focused on fighting bad legislation and sup- porting good legislation. We need to rally our membership to lobby, locally and nationally.
“To help step up our advocacy efforts, PMA will work to strengthen its communication with members,” Johnson continues, “to circle the wag- ons with our members, refocus and re- engage the metal forming community
Marion Mfg. has stepped up its marketing initiatives, under the guidance of marketing director Ashley Wells (Doug Johnson’s daughter), shown here discussing recent social-media results with Doug, his son and plant manager Tyler (left), and inside sales man- ager Joe Havriliak.
so that we’re all riding in the same
direction. We’re going to build a community that other companies want to join.”
Yet another opportunity to build momentum for metal formers, says Johnson: the rising trend toward reshoring. Reshoring of U.S. manufac- turing surged to a record high in 2021, according to the Reshoring Initiative (of which PMA is a Silver Sponsor). For the second year in a row, reshoring job announcements outpaced those from foreign direct investment. And, with the pandemic causing shipping bot- tlenecks, reshoring can help ensure faster time to market and more timely deliveries.
“How can we as an association help ensure that our members are ready to support OEMs as they look to reshore production?” Johnson asks. “How can we get members more prepared to take advantage of reshoring opportunities?
“PMA must focus its efforts on returning the industry back to pre-pan- demic growth levels,” Johnson contin- ues. “We will do this via our strong advocacy efforts, and improved com- munication to membership. We will continue to push the message that manufacturing provides great career opportunities to our young people. If you ask the young people working at Marion Mfg., they will tell you that manufacturing is cool, and rewarding. We make it that way, and other com- pany leaders must do the same.
“We have an industry to protect, and we need to call on all of our resources to recover from the pandemic and regain momentum.” MF
36 MetalForming/March 2022
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