For Immediate Release

April 8, 2020

Contact

AIF: Sarah Bascom / Kristen Bridges

Space Florida: Sara Shell

FloridaMakes: Zoraida Velasco

Enclosure

Connex Florida Why Join + FAQs 04.2020

Tallahassee, Fla. – The Associated Industries of Florida (AIF) in partnership with Space Florida and FloridaMakes today announced the deployment of an online database for Florida’s small to large manufacturers to engage in the marketplace.  The online database, Connex Florida, started as a disaster risk mitigation effort in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma and is proving to be a critical tool to streamline connections between Florida manufacturers and businesses in need of their products during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Recognizing a critical need for Florida businesses during the unforeseen COVID-19 pandemic, this partnership between AIF, Space Florida and FloridaMakes will allow more than 20,000 Florida manufacturers to connect with public/private organizations through a platform for this essential exchange,” said AIF President and CEO Tom Feeney.  “As Florida’s official affiliate of the National Association of Manufacturers, we thought this was the best way we could do our part in helping manufacturers across the Sunshine State have the opportunity to compete for business by connecting them through this database to other Florida businesses in need of their much-needed materials and supplies.”

In Florida, manufacturers are identified as essential critical infrastructure who bear a unique responsibility during a crisis to continue operations that, in turn, contribute to overall sustainability of Florida’s communities.  As such, AIF, Space Florida and FloridaMakes have begun compiling a database on industrial assets, capabilities and capacities that can be drawn upon at this time of critical demand. 

“Space Florida is delighted to offer its support to mature the industrial base of Florida for a robust recovery, and to better equip our supply chain to respond crisply to future crises,” said Space Florida President and CEO Frank DiBello.  “This capability will be a major competitive advantage for Florida.”

“We are proud of our partnership with AIF and Space Florida on the Connex Florida database,” said FloridaMakes CEO Kevin Carr.  “It is imperative that we have a functioning industrial base as we respond to the COVID-19 emergency, including innovative solutions to help our supply chain here in Florida and across the nation.  Together, all three organizations represent a cross-section of manufacturers of all sizes across the state for which this tool is tailored to meet their needs by collecting their capabilities and capacities to efficiently connect them to businesses in need of their supplies.”

Connex Florida is a statewide manufacturing supply chain, workforce and R&D connection solution offered free of charge to manufacturers, educational institutions, and those performing manufacturing R&D in Florida.  To request access to the platform visit Florida.MfgConnex.com, or for more information view PDF or contact Connex@FloridaMakes.com.

Connex Florida is also designed to be interoperable with the Manufacturers Marketplace that was developed by AIF and the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), as well as the COVID-19 Response Tool.  All of these databases are available at no cost during the pandemic to help streamline critical connections within the supply chain.

The COVID-19 Response Tool is accessible both locally and nationally and searchable by government and industries to aid in streamlining critical connections between manufacturers/suppliers and organizations seeking to purchase much-needed materials and products, such as masks, personal protective equipment (PPE), medical devices and component parts.  Suppliers are being added daily.  To access the COVID-19 Response Tool visit COVID-19.ManufacturersMarketplace.US.

The Manufacturers Marketplace is the U.S. supply chain connection solution built in partnership with NAM, manufacturers from across the country, and many other leading state and national manufacturing organizations.  If you are a manufacturer, you can register at ManufacturersMarketplace.US and be granted free access during the COVID-19 pandemic by contacting DSmart@ManufacturersMarketplace.US.

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About AIF

Known as “The Voice of Florida Business” in the Sunshine State, Associated Industries of Florida (AIF) has represented the principles of prosperity and free enterprise before the three branches of state government since 1920. A voluntary association of diversified businesses, AIF was created to foster an economic climate in Florida conducive to the growth, development, and welfare of industry and business and the people of the state.  For more information on AIF, please visit AIF.com and follow @VoiceofFLBiz. 

About Space Florida

Space Florida was created to strengthen Florida’s position as the global leader in aerospace research, investment, exploration and commerce. As Florida’s aerospace and spaceport development authority, we are committed to attracting and expanding the next generation of space industry businesses. With its highly trained workforce, proven infrastructure and unparalleled record of achievement, Florida is the ideal location for aerospace businesses to thrive – and Space Florida is the perfect partner to help them succeed. For more information on Space Florida, please visit Spaceflorida.gov and follow @SpaceFlorida.

About FloridaMakes

FloridaMakes is a statewide, industry-led, public-private partnership operated by an alliance of Florida's regional manufacturers associations with the sole mission of strengthening and advancing Florida’s economy by improving the competitiveness, productivity and technological performance of its manufacturing sector, with an emphasis on small- and medium-sized firms. It accomplishes this by providing services focused on three principle value streams: technology adoption, talent development, and business growth.  As a National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP), an agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce, approved Center, FloridaMakes is the official representative of the MEP National Network in the State of Florida.  For more information about FloridaMakes, please visit FloridaMakes.com and follow @FloridaMakes.

OVER $1 BILLION IN IMPACT REPORTED BY MANUFACTURERS WORKING WITH THE FLORIDAMAKES NETWORK

The Bay Area Manufacturers Association (BAMA) Improves the Competitiveness and Productivity of  Tampa Bay, Florida’s Manufacturers

Tampa, Florida  August 13, 2019 – BAMA, a member of the FloridaMakes network, announced today that Florida manufacturers who received services through our state-wide FloridaMakes network have reported a combined total of over one billion dollars in measurable economic impacts and created or retained 6,953 manufacturing jobs since the program started delivering services in 2016.

The FloridaMakes network is a state-wide industry-led initiative operated by Florida’s Regional Manufacturers Associations in partnership with industry, research, educational, and economic development organizations, both public and private, at the state and national levels. The network’s mission is to improve the productivity and technological performance of Florida manufacturers by accelerating technology adoption, talent development, and business growth, and to strengthen the state’s high-wage manufacturing economy. BAMA, through its participating partners, provides services that are customized to meet the needs and opportunities of individual companies.

Impact results represent data from 283 client engagements across the state and were obtained through a survey conducted by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), an agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce. On average, $3.7 million in total impact, and over 24 jobs were created or retained per firm (total survey data through Q1, 2019). The numbers break down as follows:

• Increased and retained sales: $697 million
• Total cost savings: $97.9 million
• Total investments: $249.5 million
• Jobs created and retained: 6953

“This remarkable impact demonstrates the significant strides manufacturers have taken in improving their businesses, and FloridaMakes’ dedication to helping Florida companies increase their global productivity and technological performance,” stated Maria Alfano, FloridaMakes’ Chief Operating Officer.

 

BAMA supports manufacturers and promotes economic development in the Tampa Bay Region.

The Bay Area Manufacturers Association is a Tampa Bay resource that helps companies address current challenges, create new opportunities for growth, and achieve measurable results.  To learn how we can unlock growth opportunities and cost savings for manufacturers, contact Paula DeLuca at 727-498-0990.

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About BAMA

The Bay Area Manufacturers Association (BAMA) supports manufacturers and promotes economic development in the Tampa Bay Region. BAMA provides a forum to exchange ideas and share best practice information, network with colleagues and learn about manufacturing related topics through educational programs and tours. BAMA supports STEM programs and offers scholarships to students pursuing manufacturing and STEM education. Manufacturing provides jobs for approximately 60,000 people in approximately 2,500 facilities throughout Pinellas, Hillsborough and Pasco counties. More information about BAMA is available at www.bama-fl.org.

About FloridaMakes

The FloridaMakes network is a state-wide, industry-led initiative operated by an alliance of Florida's Regional Manufacturers Associations with the sole mission of strengthening and advancing Florida’s economy by improving the competitiveness, productivity and technological performance of its manufacturing sector, with an emphasis on small- and medium-sized firms. It accomplishes this by providing services focused on three principle value streams: technology adoption, talent development, and business growth.

The FloridaMakes network is the official representative of the MEP National Network, which is operated by NIST, for the State of Florida.  More information on the FloridaMakes network is available at www.floridamakes.com. More information about the MEP National Network is available at www.nist.gov/mep.

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Paula DeLuca is a FloridaMakes Business Advisor that will now be based at the Bay Area Manufacturers Association.   Paula has worked in manufacturing for more than 30 years, and has extensive experience in the aerospace, security & defense, electronics, sheet metal, machining, automotive and medical device manufacturing industries.

Paula’s areas of expertise include materials and inventory management, logistics management, Lean manufacturing/Kanban/ISO, Toyota Daily Kata process, ERP implementation, supply chain management, MRP product planning & scheduling, material flow, new product development and customer support management.  She has additional experience in small business government reporting, quality audits conducted by suppliers for major OEMs, managing direct reports, and training for manufacturing employees.

Paula most recently served as the Business Advisor for FloridaMakes in the Jacksonville area for the past 2 years.  She has both served as an independent consultant and worked for a wide variety of manufacturing companies across the country, including:   Kaman Integrated Structure & Metallics, B/E Aerospace, Triumph Actuation Systems, L-3 Communications, Eaton Corporation, Environmental Technologies/Johnson Controls, E-L Products, and Ohmeda.

Paula holds a Bachelors of Science in Business Management and her Masters of Science in Management from Hodges University/International College in Naples, Fl. She has been a member of the American Production & Inventory Control Society (APICS) since 1984, served on the BOD and is a Past-President of the Buffalo chapter.

We are excited to report that Florida manufacturers who received services through FloridaMakes have reported a combined total of over $906 million in measurable impacts (total survey data through Q4, 2018). The results break down to include:

• Increased or retained sales: $592.3 million
• Total cost savings: $87.3 million
• Total investments: $226.6 million (equipment, new products, skills and other)
• Jobs created or retained: 5,915

The survey results represent data from 266 firms. On average, $3.4 million in total impact and over 22 jobs were created or retained per firm. 

The findings were reported directly by manufacturers through a third-party outside survey conducted on behalf of the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s Manufacturing Extension Partnership.

FloridaMakes is a great resource and can help your company address current challenges, create new opportunities for growth and achieve measurable results.  To learn how FloridaMakes’ services can unlock growth opportunities and cost savings for your company, contact your FloridaMakes’ Business Advisor at info@floridamakes.com.

FloridaMakes is an industry-led public-private partnership operated by participating regional manufacturer associations throughout Florida. As part of the Manufacturing Extension Partnership network, FloridaMakes is the official representative of NIST MEP in the State of Florida. Learn more at www.floridamakes.com.

Recently BAMA held a workforce development roundtable discussion in partnership with FloridaMakes and FLATE.  The group of over 25 people was composed of manufacturers, educators, and community leaders in economic development.  Both manufacturers and educators shared the great things we are doing in the Tampa Bay area, and identified a few key challenges we face.  The one challenge echoed by all of the manufacturers was the lack of skilled labor available to fill open positions.  In order to address this issue the group decided that fostering a stronger relationship between manufacturers and educators was critical, and that one way to do this in a relatively short period with realistic deliverables was to create an Instructor Incubator Committee.

Many of our local educational institutions have a difficult time finding instructors for the industrial or manufacturing courses they offer.  The Instructor Incubator Committee, composed of manufacturers, will identify several topics or skills that are important to the job functions at their facilities, and identify candidates from the manufacturers that can provide instruction on the those topics or skills.  The instructors would not have to teach for an entire semester, they would only need to teach a specific topic as a guest lecturer.

 Help BAMA by participating in this exciting new endeavor

Contact Committee Chariperson, Peter Cirak for more information:  PeterCirak@sealdynamics.com

HRP's fast-paced RCRA seminar is designed to provide both entry-level and experienced environmental managers with a comprehensive review of state and federal hazardous waste regulations. The four-hour seminar assists industry in meeting their annual RCRA training requirement. Regulatory examples and case histories are used during this seminar to emphasize and reinforce aspects of the hazardous waste regulations. The key training topics include:

• What wastes are hazardous?
• Satellite accumulation requirements
• Hazardous waste classification differences
• Container management requirements
• Universal wastes
• Used oil requirements
• Enforcement
• What to do if inspected

Certificates of Completion will be provided to all attendees.

RCRA: $245pp/$225pp for multiple registrants from same company 

Embassy Suites Tampa Brandon, 10220 Palm River Rd, Tampa, FL 33619
(813) 653-1787

Click here for more details - http://bit.ly/hrp-fl-training

The highly-interactive DOT four-hour training program is designed to provide both entry level and experienced environmental managers with an in depth understanding on how to properly prepare a hazardous material package for transportation and their responsibilities under the DOT’s Hazardous Material Transportation regulations. The Hazardous Material Transportation Training Manual, which is designed to address the types of issues environmental professionals face on a daily basis, provides a clear and concise reference on how to complete each step for hazardous materials transportation. Topics to be introduced and discussed during the four-hour session include the following:

• Classifying a Hazardous Material;
• DOT Hazard Classes;
• Hazardous Substances/Marine Pollutants/Elevated Temperature Materials;
• How to read and use Hazardous Material Table 172.101;
• Proper Shipping Name Identification;
• Proper Packaging;
• How to Mark and Label hazardous materials packages;
• How to prepare Shipping Papers;
• Placarding Requirements;

• Training and Record Keeping requirements;
• Safety and Emergency Response Information requirements; and
• DOT Security requirements.

Certificates of Completion will be provided to all attendees who successfully pass the required quiz. Every attendee will receive a copy of the most recent Emergency Response Guidebook.

DOT: $195pp/$180pp for multiple registrants from same company

Click here for more details - http://bit.ly/hrp-fl-training

Roy Sweatman, the president of Tampa-based Southern Manufacturing Technologies was interviewed by Fox 13 News to address the challenges manufacturers face in finding skilled people to fill manufacturing jobs.

Read more here.