MacDonald Training Center is an agency that provides job skills training to adults with intellectual/developmental disabilities. They are currently developing a training curriculum to assist individuals in obtaining entry level manufacturing/production jobs within our local community. After researching for similar training programs, and being unable to identify any within the state of Florida, they are collaborating with Hillsborough Community College and University of Tampa to ensure the design will give individuals the skills that are needed to succeed within the industry. Their goal is to become certified, through the Department of Education, in offering a training program that will ensure individuals who have barriers to employment will be ready for the workforce.

The Business Services Team at MacDonald Training Center has been working closely with Sims Recycling and their hiring managers are excited to become a part of another focus group.

MTC would like to extend an invitation to you to participate in the next focus group to get a clearer idea of what training can be put in place for people with disabilities to work in manufacturing. The next focus group is on Thursday, August 25 at 3:00 p.m. at MacDonald Training Center, 5420 West Cypress St., Tampa 33607.

If you cannot make this meeting, perhaps you can extend the invitation to someone else in your company.

If you have any questions or would like to RSVP, please contact Leah Herring at 813-870-1300, x307 or LHerring@macdonaldcenter.org.

The Rise of Smart Operations: Reaching New Levels of Operational Excellence
White Paper by UPS

"Lean and Six Sigma (Lean Sigma) continuous improvement discipline has been at the center of operational excellence strategies in the manufacturing industry for decades. The new complexities of manufacturing — serving demanding customers with a rapidly increasing number of products and services — have tested the limits of Lean Sigma. In response, manufacturing firms are looking to technologies that instrument processes (e.g., the Internet of Things) and analyze information (big data/cognitive) in real time to supercharge value chains and create a new approach to operational excellence. This new approach is called smart operations."

The North American Manufacturing Research Institution of SME (NAMRI/SME), a research and development-based subset of manufacturing nonprofit association SME, installed its 2016-17 board of directors on July 1. Dean Bartles, PhD, FSME, 2016 SME president, chief manufacturing officer and executive director of the Digital Manufacturing & Design Innovation Institute in Chicago, assumed his position as the new board president.

READ MORE

It’s that time of the year when we start focusing our efforts on Manufacturing Day. We invite each of you to join forces with FLATE and its network of statewide partners that include the Bay Area Manufacturers Association to promote and celebrate 2016 Manufacturing Day (MFG DAY)/Month! Last year, FLATE, together with statewide partners, worked cohesively to coordinate and organize industry tours for hundreds of middle and high school students and teachers. This strategic effort enabled students and educators across Florida to visit local manufacturing operations across Florida on Manufacturing Day and throughout the entire month of October. It also placed Florida at the #1 SPOT IN THE NATION for hosting total number of tours and events for the 4th consecutive year!

This year we’re hoping to do even better and we need your continued support and participation to make that a reality. Read how you can participate and be part of this national phenomenon on the FLATE Blog, or visit the “Made in Florida” site http://madeinflorida.org/manufacturing-day, and contact Dr. Marilyn Barger, Executive Director of FLATE at barger@fl-ate.org/813.259.6578 or Contact Becky at BAMA at 727-754-3385 or becky@bama-fl.org.

Each year, the Manufacturers Association of Florida (MAF) recognizes the best in the industry with the annual Manufacturer of the Year awards. Recognize your colleagues or your own company for this prestigious award! All Florida manufacturers, distributors, suppliers and logistics companies are eligible to compete and self nominations are welcome!

Nominate Form is Here!

Deadlines:

• July 29, 2016 is the deadline for nominations
• August 5, 2016 is the deadline for nominated companies to return their company questionnaire (applications)

All nominations, questions and applications should be sent to Jeff Littlejohn, WSource 850.363.9644

Announcing new features
The Distributor category has been expanded to include suppliers and logistics companies.
MAF members who become Finalists will earn the MAF Seal of Excellence!
The seal distinguishes manufacturing companies above others in the industry by showing the receiving company holds a higher standard of excellence.

This year, the awards dinner will be on Wed, November 16 in Gainesville. Finalists are expected to attend. Winners will be announced at the awards dinner and all finalists and judges will be recognized for their achievements.

Enterprise Florida is offering eligible small and medium-sized manufacturers and professional service providers Target Sector Trade Grants to help Florida companies grow export sales through overseas international trade shows. Target Sector Trade Grants are reimbursable grants that will help offset exhibition booth expenses for trade shows that Enterprise Florida participates in, as well as other approved trade shows in one of Florida's identified target sectors. The grant covers 50% of basic turnkey booth expenses, up to $6,000. For more information, please contact your local Enterprise Florida trade representative or follow this link.

ISO 9001 has provided a common basis for communicating and specifying requirements through supply chains for nearly three decades. The standard has evolved from the heavily manufacturing bias in the 1980s and 1990s, to one that delineates requirements to define and control processes for any type of organization.

Read more: www.industryweek.com

A couple of news articles that may be of interest:

How to Revitalize US Manufacturing
The importance of selling and what China and the U.S. can learn from each other

The American Manufacturing Skills Initiative (AMskills) is sponsoring a summer program for teens and young adults ages 15 – 24 starting on June 13 through July 1st in Pasco, Hernando and Pinellas Counties. This years program will introduce participants to the a variety of hands-on projects in mechatronics, pneumatics, electronics, CNC Machining and others. The highlight will be assembling a Drone and participating in a Drone Flight Demonstration; Ropes Course and manufacturing tours to PharmaWorks and Pall Aerospace.

A special invitation is offered to all children of manufacturing employees. Your children may have heard what your career is and perhaps they want to follow in your footsteps. The AMskills program gives them the chance to experience your world and help them to open their eyes to a career in manufacturing. There is no fee for the program, however donations are requested. Time is running out to register!

To learn more, call Jady Vargas at 727.301.1282 ext. 103.
Register at http://amskillseventregistration.eventbrite.com/ .

“I Am a Woman with a Career in Manufacturing”
FLATE’s NEW “Women in Manufacturing” Video Explores Gender Equality & Diversity in Manufacturing

FLATE, the Florida-based National Science Foundation Regional Center of Excellence, is announcing the release of its recently produced new video highlighting the role of “Women in Manufacturing.” The video is an extension of FLATE’s role in leading initiatives across Florida that enable and empower women/girls to be excited and engaged in STEM and manufacturing. The “Women in Manufacturing” Video explores a hotly debated, but relevant topic on gender equality and diversity in the manufacturing workforce.

The Video is currently posted on FLATE’s YouTube Channel, and is produced through a collaboration with the Scientific League, a Florida-based multi-media production company that promotes STEM and manufacturing.

The all NEW, Women in Manufacturing Video chronicles the journey of women, from the onset of World War I in 1917, when they entered, or were forced to enter the manufacturing workforce, and transports viewers to the present where women are increasingly a steady part of the manufacturing workforce occupying leadership roles in the global manufacturing marketplace. The Video is a journey in time as it provides a historical perspective on the challenges women have faced, continue to address and/or are beginning to dissipate as more women join the manufacturing workforce changing the status quo and face of the manufacturing industry itself. It even journeys into an imaginary timeline in the future, where in 2050 women could potentially represent 50% of the manufacturing workforce.

The Women in Manufacturing video is a captivating projection of the changing face of the manufacturing workforce. It captures the diverse perspectives of women from a dozen companies across Florida who are currently employed in the manufacturing sector. The video features personal accounts of women, from the factory floor right up to the C suite level, who share their views about their journey/pathway into manufacturing. These women provide first-hand perspectives about their experience not only as engineers, but as technicians and administrators and the richness in the diversity of their individual experiences/successes.

Despite the challenges/set-backs, in the United States, more than three million women have proven that it is possible to face the challenges to become successful in the manufacturing industry. The video showcases how women have succeeded and overcome some of these obstacles through sheer hard-work, competence and perseverance. The Video also highlights the benefits and rewarding aspects of being involved in manufacturing. It sheds light on some of the factors that have motivated women for the last 100 years to be a part of the manufacturing workforce, and how women have found fulfilment in the diversity of skills, knowledge and talent they bring to the workplace.

While women have come a long way, the video drives home a key point that there is still a lot of work to be done in the quest for equality in the workforce. Together we can empower the next generation of young women who represent the “I Am a Woman with a Career in Manufacturing” mantra that could end the gender inequality of women in manufacturing in America. To view the Women in Manufacturing video head on over to FLATE’s YouTube Channel at https://youtu.be/rKW7DslaZAs. Later this summer, stay tuned for the DVD version of the Women in Manufacturing video which will include additional interviews and other goodies. You can also access additional resources on FLATE’s websites www.madeinflorida.org and www.fl-ate.org, or contact Dr. Marilyn Barger at barger@fl-ate.org.

"FLATE is a National Science Foundation Regional Center of Excellence, committed to ensuring Florida has a well prepared workforce for advanced and emerging technologies. Created in 2004, FLATE is one of 42 Advanced Technological Education Centers in the United States funded by the National Science Foundation focused on improving science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education and training to meet the needs of American advanced technology industries. For more information visit www.fl-ate.org.