• What's Happening at MAMe
• Health Care Plan Rollout
• MEAA News
• New Balance Tour
• What's Happening in BGS
• MTI R&D Summer Session
• Members in the New
  
• Energy Cost Concerns
• Employees Legal Problems

REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN!!! 

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  Call MAMe at (207)854-2153
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What’s Happening at MAMe?  

• The MAMe Medical Device Manufacturing Cluster feasibility study is underway. All MAMe manufacturing members will receive the survey in June, 2011. Please take 5 minutes to complete the survey assessment!
   
• A small group of members including Saunders Electronics, SPX/Dielectric and Howell/Shivey Labs
  requested a meeting to discuss the wireless communications, electronics sector after a successful session at the Manufacturing Summit in May. The initial meeting was held at SPX in Raymond. A number of activities in this sector were discussed for action. We will work with Maine DOL to identify the Maine companies in this sector and assess company interest in training, certifications and other related business needs.
   
• Manufacturing Summit Sector results: At the Summit, each sector held a facilitated session to indentify issues, challenges and solutions to deliver to Governor LePage. We are finalizing the report and will post on the MAMe website for members to access.

Health Care Plan Rollout

(Westbrook, Maine) -- The Manufacturers Association of Maine (MAMe) has unveiled a healthcare program that will fundamentally change the face of healthcare insurance. For the last two years, MAMe has been working on a product that targets wellness as a way to contain healthcare costs and make businesses more competitive. MAMe invited a select number of businesses to sign up for the program in the first of many statewide meetings.

Executive Director, Lisa Martin said, "We know that one of the most expensive and difficult pieces for manufacturers who are often small business owners, is healthcare costs. After reviewing several products, it's clear that this program by Meritan will be the envy of other businesses across the state. It encourages health and wellness.
The flexibility in the plan allows companies to choose which plan works best for its employees overall. There are also several different incentives including cash incentives to help people make the lifestyle changes necessary to become healthier individuals."

Mountain Machine Works President, Bruce Tisdale has been running a pilot program for the last six months and he has seen a change in his employees, "This has been a phenomenal program. It has initiated a necessary culture change at our manufacturing plant. Our employees have embraced this program and we are seeing it pay off with healthier employees which leads to greater productivity. We know that 74% of all healthcare costs are due to lifestyle choices and we are seeing a huge difference in our employees.

One of the benefits to the program is that it is regulated by ERISA at the federal level and not under state restrictions. The plan also allows the employer to tailor the plan to the health needs of the group. In the end, healthcare costs are less expensive for both employers and employees. At Mountain Machine Works if people enroll in the program, there costs are covered 100% by the employer.

Links to online articles and broadcasts:

• MPBN Interviews Bruce Tisdale of Mountain Machine, Secretary of the Board of Directors, and Paul Tyson of Thermoformed Plastics, Communications Committee Chair, about the new health plan unveiled yesterday. Check out the article and broadcast recording.
• Manufacturers Association of Maine launches new health and wellness plan for members. Check out this interview with Carl Paine of Maine Oxy on "Good Day Maine" about the roll out of the plan: www.myfoxmaine.com/Global/story.asp

Speakers Carl Paine of Maine Oxy and Bruce Tisdale
of Mountain Machine Works  at the Health Plan Rollout.

MEAA News

Things you may or may not have been aware of:

• We were instrumental in creating and teaching the first time ever Aeronautics/Astronautics courses at U. of Maine leading to an undergraduate minor in Aeronautics/Astronautics. Our thanks to Dr. David Rubenstein, Maine Aerospace Consulting, for creating and teaching the courses. We presented Dave with an MEAA Achievement Award for his efforts at our June 1st Steering Committee meeting. These courses will be expanded this fall to the graduate degree level leading to a minor in Aeronautics/Astronautics at the graduate level. All courses can be taken remotely via the internet. 

• We have trained 44+ companies for certification or increased certification and assisted several others in ITAR registration since the MEAA began.

• We have grown our membership from 50 to 76 companies since we started and will be adding more members in the near future.
   
• Industry Forums will start in August for members of MEAA.  These forums will focus on alliance strategies, business development, topics of expertise and industry networking.  We plan to host a forum at Kestrel Aircraft of Brunswick Landing in partnership with the Maine Composites Alliance.

• We have been successful in getting members on Approved Supplier lists for L-3 Communications, SAIC, Boeing Military, Boeing Commercial, NASA – Marshall Space Flight Center, NASA – Goddard Space Flight Center and continue to work to get more Primary, Secondary and Terciary companies to recognize our members.

• Since my start in Oct. 2010 I have been able to visit with all most members. I hope to meet with everyone again at our Forums which will start in August.

• We had 11 members pledge to support the purchase of artwork for the Aviation Business Expo booth in August. Thanks to Janseneering, Custom Composites Technology Inc., Specialty Products Co., Titan Machine, Goffs Machine, J&M Machine, Kennebec Technologies, Arundel Machine Co., Cote Corporation, Saunders Electronics and Bodycote Thermal Processing for supporting the MEAA is this effort. Their company name/Logo will be displayed on the counter at the very front of the booth.

• We have met with State of Maine, Department of Economic Development and Federal Senatorial and Congressional members to promote the MEAA’s members and enhance the image of Maine Aerospace.

 
Lisa Martin, Executive Director of MAMe greeting the tour group.

Patrick O'Brien and Darrell Donahue of IDEXX Laboratories.

What's Happening in BGS?

Anticipating volume; one ingredient to success

When it comes to measuring the real success of a newly designed and introduced product, you have to dig a bit deeper to make the determination from a manufacturing point of view. The recipe for success has many ingredients, which should be considered at the earliest stages of design, engineering and marketing. Clearly understanding the end-user’s needs is the base of the recipe; overlooking or assuming on this- ruins the pot.  Making an educated guess on the anticipated volume of parts required for the initial three years leads to the processes, materials and demand chain that will meet the required performance specifications and economies of scale.

Too often companies take the conservative route on volume. This leads to smaller profit margins; when sales volume happily increases, so does material costs, secondary operations and delivery time, to name a few. Re-design for the increased volume further stunts the real profitability.

The recipe starts by aligning customer’s needs with innovative design and balanced with a committed and aggressive decision on volume targets.

Henry Bliss
EV Partners, LLC
hbliss@evpartners1.com

MTI R&D Funding Summer Session

Dear MTI Friends and Partners:

MTI will be hosting a day-long summer session on June 23 for entrepreneurs and small businesses to learn about R&D funding and meet with officials from eight of the eleven federal funding agencies representing the Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR) programs. The federal SBIR/STTR program represents the largest source of early-stage research and development funding for innovative technology in the US providing more than $2.5 billion each year to small businesses across the US to help entrepreneurs take their ideas from laboratory to market. 

June 23, 2011
Point Lookout Conference Center
Northport, Maine

AGENDA:
8:30am Registration
9:30-4:30pm Presentations
$25 includes lunch

This year’s Summer Session will host officials from:
► US Navy
► Defense Advanced Research Project Agency
► Department of Homeland Security
► National Institutes of Health
► National Science Foundation
► US Department of Agriculture
► US Department of Energy
► US Department of Transportation

 Who Should Attend?
Small business owners, entrepreneurs, scientists, inventors, consultants as well as service providers to network with other active SBIR /STTR participants to learn about the opportunities available through the SBIR/STTR program for technology-based businesses.

Register at www.mainetechnology.org/news-events
or with Linda Adams at207-582-4790 x 206 or ladams@mainetechnology.org

Members in the News

Hussey Seating Acquires Ill. Company

Hussey Seating, a 175-year-old family business, recently bought Clarin Seating, based in the Chicago area, and will move the manufacturing operation to Maine as soon as possible, according to a press release from the company. By fall, Clarin's operation will move to Maine, bringing a net gain of jobs to North Berwick.

The two companies focus on the school and sports facility markets, creating a range of seats for stadiums, entertainment venues and churches, according to the release. Hussey manufactures more than 500,000 seats a year from its facility in North Berwick. Clarin is known for making portable seats for gyms, arenas, theaters and casinos, as well as fixed tabletops for schools.

SMCC Hires Manufacturing Instructor

Thomas Narciso joins the instructional team at Southern Maine Community College in the Integrated Manufacturing Department.

He brings 16 years of experience teaching precision machining at Sanford Regional Technical Center. Tom also worked for 15 years in the precision machining industry while completing a tool-making apprenticeship from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Tom’s credentials include NIMS certifications as well as a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership from the University of Southern Maine.
Congratulations Tom!

Energy Cost Concerns

Are high energy costs of growing concern? Have you yet thought about possible ramifications of climate change upon your supply chain?

Either one or both of these topics could be addressed in fall and winter MAMe seminars / workshops, depending upon your interest.We will hold sessions that will include some of the following issues:

• Cost saving energy efficiency improvements for industrial properties, featuring existing and planned Efficiency Maine and other programs
•  Energy efficiency case studies of industrial properties; review of funding sources for such undertakings
• Cost saving industrial heating options
• Alternative energy sources for industrial companies
•  “Have you begun planning for adaptations to the expected impacts of climate change?”
• Climate change strategic planning issues.
  - Business continuity planning
  - Supply chain resilience

The last two bullet points may not seem important, but the recent earthquake and tsunami in Japan have demonstrated that supply chains can be impacted by unexpected events. Rising sea levels, among other effects anticipated with climate change will, for example, are expected to cut what have become reliable supply chains routes. “Just in time” manufacturing may become “Sorry, but when we get the supplies …”

Let us have your thoughts, please. Send your comments and specific preferences from among the ideas above (or related topics) to admin@mainemfg.com ASAP.

Many thanks!

Employees Legal Problems

Did You Know...?

Employees Legal Problems Impact Employers Bottom Line

The LSK Associates study demonstrates that unnecessary or unplanned absence of key revenue generating employees and mission critical employees, due to personal legal problems, does negatively impact top line and bottom line revenue results.

In addition to the impact on company economics, the study recognized the added consequential effect on customer service and retention performance. The study further revealed employees with legal problems usually:

• Are absent five times more than average for their jobs
• Use their medical benefits four times more than average
• Use sick leave twice as often as the average employee
• Experience a substantial reduction in their productivity

Two key LSK statistics identified that 48% of a company´s employees will experience some legal or legal related issues during the year, and will be away from his/her job at least 51 hours per year to resolve them.

These study results show that the adverse effect on your company’s revenue and costs can significantly add up to you as the employer, including hidden costs, such as: accidents, stress, poor health, higher administrative costs, higher insurance and compensation premiums and claims, and impaired team relationships.

Let us show you how we can help you improve your company’s performance and profitability, and save you money at ZERO cost to the company.

Regina Krause-Consultant
Maine Business and Employee Solutions
207-504-2990-direct
maineemployeesolutions@yahoo.com