Manufacturing news
September 2002
Key indicator index drops
The Conference Board, a nonprofit research group that compiles indexes for the DOC, reported that its index for leading economic indicators decreased by 0.2% in August.
25 Sep 2002 20:33
Boeing strike on hold
Boeing’s 1,400 employees from the UAW Local 1069 union in Ridley, Penn. are returning to work temporarily as the two parties try to reach a more permanent contract agreement.
24 Sep 2002 19:51
Wrigley selects mySAP.com
The Wrigley Company, the world’s largest manufacturer of chewing gum, has selected mySAP.com to increase the efficiency of its global operations, enhance customer service, and improve communications and information access to its employees.
24 Sep 2002 18:53
Philly’s index grows
Manufacturing in the Pennsylvania region improved slightly during September, according to the Philadelphia Federal Reserve’s monthly regional index.
23 Sep 2002 21:46
CAR study shows room for improvement
The Center for Automotive Research (CAR) released a new study exposing key process problems in the automotive industry.
20 Sep 2002 21:32
Hershey rejects offer
Hershey Trust shareholders have announced that because of serious political and legal opposition, Hershey Foods, the nation’s largest candy company, is no longer for sale.
20 Sep 2002 21:31
General Dynamics wins $3.2B Navy contract
Bath Iron Works, a division of General Dynamics, was awarded a $3.2 billion modification contract this week by the US Navy to build six DDG 51-class destroyers.
19 Sep 2002 20:46
Metaldyne joins auto supplier fly-in
Doug Grimm, vice president of Metaldyne, announced he will join other automotive supplier representatives in the October 1st fly-in to Washington to urge the modification and elimination of steel tariffs imposed by the Bush administration.
19 Sep 2002 20:48
July inventories increased
Manufacturer’s inventories, excluding semiconductors, rose 0.4% to $1,124.5 billion, according the US Census Bureau’s latest report.
18 Sep 2002 19:22
US industrial output decreased in August
Industrial output from factories, mines, and utilities dropped 0.3% following a revised 0.4% gain in July, according to the Federal Reserve’s latest report.
18 Sep 2002 19:21
Northrop wins $1.9B Naval contract
Northrop Grumman was awarded a $1.9 billion contract from the US Navy to construct four DDG 51-class, Aegis-guided missile destroyers, raising the number of ships awarded in the multiyear procurement plan to 60.
17 Sep 2002 21:04
Workers reject contract, local union strikes
Members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) rejected Boeing’s “last, best, and final offer” in a second vote this week but fell short of the 66.6% majority support needed to start a strike, according to union officials.
17 Sep 2002 21:02
EU releases list of potential tariffs
The EU is targeting 80 categories of US products for trade tariffs, including electrical equipment, apparel, carpets, leather, toys, nuclear reactor parts, aluminum, copper, iron, steel, glass, ceramics, and a variety of agricultural and dairy products.
16 Sep 2002 20:33
Lucent revenues fall, staff cuts expected
Citing a drop in demand, Lucent Technologies has said its revenues may fall as much as 25% in the current quarter.
16 Sep 2002 20:31
Boeing struggles to stay in the air
The Boeing Company’s commercial airplane division is clearly struggling, with production down and a large part of its workforce on the brink of strike.
13 Sep 2002 19:12
Hershey sale status undecided
Robert Vowler, president and CEO of Hershey Trust is maintaining the trust’s decision to sell the company is not set in stone, although it will continue to seek bids.
13 Sep 2002 19:19
Unemployment decreased in August
Unemployment in the manufacturing sector decreased slightly to 5.7% during August, according to the Labor Department’s latest report.
12 Sep 2002 21:44
Delphi releases first commercial vehicle product
Delphi, a leading global supplier of automotive technologies, has released a power sliding door for the commercial vehicle market.
11 Sep 2002 20:55
Raytheon reports dropped sales
The Raytheon Company announced that production of its Premier 1 jet has slowed down considerably, but its financial target for the program remains intact.
11 Sep 2002 20:54
DOC and NAM to partner on fostering trade
The US Department of Commerce’s BuyUSA.com program and the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) have announced a partnership for members to identify and pursue new international sales opportunities.
10 Sep 2002 18:50
Raytheon relocates global headquarters
Raytheon Technologies, a global leader in defense, government and commercial electronics, and business and special mission aircraft, has announced plans to relocate its global headquarters to a site at the Waltham Woods Corporate Center in Waltham, Mass, scheduled to be complete by the end of 2003.
10 Sep 2002 18:49
Auto suppliers confront the white house
The Motor and Equipment Manufacturer’s Association (MEMA) announced it will sponsor a fly-in to Washington, DC on October 1st for auto supplier executives to express their difficulties with the steel safeguard program.
09 Sep 2002 21:32
BuyAmerican.com sponsors American products and manufacturers
In a tough economy, BuyAmerican.com has become a major vehicle for promoting and purveying American-made products.
09 Sep 2002 21:33
Hershey sale on hold
A judge from the Dauphin County Orphans Court in Pennsylvania ordered a freeze on the legal proceedings involving the sale of Hershey Foods, the country’s largest chocolate manufacturer.
06 Sep 2002 19:39
Increase in manufacturer’s new orders
Manufacturer’s new orders increased 4.7% in July to $327.6 billion, according to the Census Bureau’s latest report, marking the largest increase in new orders since October 2001.
06 Sep 2002 19:41
EU to impose trade sanctions on US products
As a result of the World Trade Organization’s latest ruling, the European Union is allowed to impose $4 billion in trade sanctions on US manufactured products due to the Foreign Sales Corporation (FSC) provisions of US tax law.
05 Sep 2002 21:42
HP posts third-quarter gains
The new Hewlett-Packard/Compaq conglomerate is showing signs of success, reporting $16.5 billion in revenue for the third quarter of 2002.
05 Sep 2002 21:41
Boeing near strike
Although members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers’ contract with the Boeing Company expired midnight on Sunday, union leaders urged its 26,000 members to go to work on Tuesday to see if the final offer improves.
04 Sep 2002 17:18
ISM’S PMI remains strong
Overall, manufacturing has grown for the seventh consecutive month, according to the Institute for Supply Management (ISM).
04 Sep 2002 17:19
Boeing’s last offer is final
The Boeing Company issued a statement this week, at the request of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, in regard to the recent vote on its latest offer a new contract by International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) members. It stated that the Boeing negotiating team has done everything possible and within reason to craft an offer that is fair, competitive, and respectful of the concerns of its IAM-represented employees.
03 Sep 2002 21:12
NAM says recovery remains delicate
The National Association of Manufacturer’s latest annual Labor Day report indicated that a recovery for the manufacturing sector remains in the fragile stages. Despite a lull in economic activity in July and August, manufacturing orders for September and October are slowly picking up, indicating that the economic recovery remains on schedule.
03 Sep 2002 21:15
Auto makers, government locked in emmissions battle
A California law signed by Governor Gray Davis in July restricts emissions of so-called greenhouse gases from the tailpipes of cars and trucks.
01 Sep 2002 11:47
Caterpillar CEO will be headline speaker at 2002 APICS conference to be held October 27 to 30 in Nashville
Glen Barton, chairman and CEO of Caterpillar, Inc. will be one of four featured speakers at this year’s APICS conference, being held October 27 to 30 in Nashville.
01 Sep 2002 11:50
Confidence holding
Positive economic signs continue to appear, including revised June figures for manufacturers’ new orders and steady consumer satisfaction with durable goods.
01 Sep 2002 11:49
Consolidation, e-business growth anticipated by auto suppliers
Mid-tier auto suppliers expect further consolidation by their customers, according to a study by the Center for Automotive Research (CAR).
01 Sep 2002 11:48
EasyJet picks Airbus over Boeing
Two days before Boeing is set to release its third-quarter financial results, EasyJet has announced the section of Airbus over Boeing for its order of 120 A319 airplanes over five years.
01 Sep 2002 21:44
Expo event will deliver top-level information for executives
The Manufacturer 2002 Management Expo taking place in Telford, UK this month (September 25 and 26) will have approximately 3,000 attendees from around the world, including heads of site, production, finance, IT, HR, plant maintenance, and logistics.
01 Sep 2002 11:51
Industry groups call for expedited review on steel tariffs
Although the International Trade Commission (ITC) is not required to complete its review of the Section 201 steel tariffs until the midpoint of the program, a Concurrent Resolution urging President Bush to request an expedited review was introduced in the House of Representatives yesterday.
01 Sep 2002 21:32