Machine-shop operators at the International Manufacturing and Technology Show in Chicago in September were scouring the show floor for robotic equipment and other machine tools they’ll need to keep pace with rising demand from OEMs for parts for cars, appliances, jets and other durable equipment, The Wall Street Journal reported. Tool makers entered the year expecting a rebound after a 5.4-percent order drop in 2013 in the $5-billion-a-year business, according to the Journal.
Meanwhile, the metal-service-center industry is finally seeing a significant uptick in one of the few remaining sectors of the U.S. economy where improvement hadn’t been much in evidence before: non-residential construction. Demand for metal components for pole buildings, bridges, waterworks, transmission towers and other industrial construction finally has begun kicking in, according to David Hannah, CEO of Reliance Steel & Aluminum in Los Angeles.
“Close to 30% of our revenue is related to non-residential construction, and it has been the laggard in terms of recovery from the recession,” says Hannah. “Pretty much all other areas we touch in the industrial economy—energy, manufacturing, capital goods, aerospace—have recovered quite a bit more than non-residential construction so far.”
Non-residential construction, Hannah says, is the largest consumer of steel products in the country, even more than the auto industry. Although, “we’re still close to 20 percent off of what we think normal should be in the non-residential area.” Since 2009, he says, there have been a few attempts at recovery in that category, but they’ve been sidetracked because of domestic or international political issues. “They have the effect of creating uncertainty, and that’s not good for large decisions.”
What he’s seeing most this year, he says, is work from steel mills. “Our suppliers are talking more about big projects,” Hannah continued. “For the first time they’re talking positively about non-residential activity. We’ve seen more activity in our business dedicated to non-residential, and we’re doing better than a year ago in those businesses.”
As a result, he adds, “I’ve got a little more confidence through the remainder of this year and next year and even into [2016] that part of our business should continue to improve more than it has. And we are well positioned as a company because we’ve made some fairly substantial acquisitions over the last few years in non-residential construction.”
Whether organic or acquired, demand appears to be improving, and that’s good for manufacturers all the way around.
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1:00 - 5:00 pm
Over 70% of Executives Surveyed Agree: Many Strategic Planning Efforts Lack Systematic Approach Tips for Enhancing Your Strategic Planning Process
Executives expressed frustration with their current strategic planning process. Issues include:
Steve Rutan and Denise Harrison have put together an afternoon workshop that will provide the tools you need to address these concerns. They have worked with hundreds of executives to develop a systematic approach that will enable your team to make better decisions during strategic planning. Steve and Denise will walk you through exercises for prioritizing your lists and steps that will reset and reinvigorate your process. This will be a hands-on workshop that will enable you to think about your business as you use the tools that are being presented. If you are ready for a Strategic Planning tune-up, select this workshop in your registration form. The additional fee of $695 will be added to your total.
2:00 - 5:00 pm
Female leaders face the same issues all leaders do, but they often face additional challenges too. In this peer session, we will facilitate a discussion of best practices and how to overcome common barriers to help women leaders be more effective within and outside their organizations.
Limited space available.
10:30 - 5:00 pm
General’s Retreat at Hermitage Golf Course
Sponsored by UBS
General’s Retreat, built in 1986 with architect Gary Roger Baird, has been voted the “Best Golf Course in Nashville” and is a “must play” when visiting the Nashville, Tennessee area. With the beautiful setting along the Cumberland River, golfers of all capabilities will thoroughly enjoy the golf, scenery and hospitality.
The golf outing fee includes transportation to and from the hotel, greens/cart fees, use of practice facilities, and boxed lunch. The bus will leave the hotel at 10:30 am for a noon shotgun start and return to the hotel after the cocktail reception following the completion of the round.
