Manufacturing news

December 2002

Boeing receives largest order for 2002

The Boeing Company received its largest order this year from Taiwan-based China Airlines for 10 747-400 jets, a deal worth approximately $2 billion at list prices.
31 Dec 2002 19:32

Cadbury buys Pfizer chewing gum unit for $4.2B

Cadbury Schweppes has announced plans to purchase the Adams chewing gum unit from Pfizer, Inc., adding brands like Dentyne, Trident, Clorets, and Certs to its line up.
31 Dec 2002 19:31

Durable goods drop in November

Contrary to economists’ predictions of a healthy 0.8% gain in November, orders for durable goods dropped approximately 1.4%, according to a recent Commerce Department report.
31 Dec 2002 19:03

ISM says manufacturing is on the upswing

According to the Institute for Supply Management’s (ISM) latest report, activity in the manufacturing sector grew for the first time in four months and took the largest leap since 1991.
31 Dec 2002 20:34

General Dynamics to acquire GM Defense for $1.1B

General Dynamics, a global leader in defense technology, has announced plans to buy GM Defense for $1.1 billion.
20 Dec 2002 18:37

Index shows manufacturing recovery on hold

Employment in the manufacturing sector showed little change during November, while orders for consumer and capital goods decreased, according to the Conference Board’s latest index of leading economic indicators.
19 Dec 2002 22:00

US manufacturing in need of kick-start

Manufacturing output increased a slight 0.1% in November, following October’s revised drop of 0.6% and September’s flat-line performance, the Federal Reserve reported, and experts say manufacturing is in need of a kick-start.
18 Dec 2002 17:06

Delphi invests in electronics development

Delphi Corp. has announced it will invest more than $243.5 million over the next three years in electronic product lines in Kokomo, Indiana.
17 Dec 2002 20:22

Producer prices decreased in November

November’s decline of 0.4% in producer prices indicates that deflation stands as a greater danger than inflation in the months ahead, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ latest report.
13 Dec 2002 22:19

US and Chile continue trade talks

The United States has reached an agreement on the text of a long-awaited bilateral trade agreement with Chile, the National Association of Manufacturers reports.
13 Dec 2002 22:07

John Deere to produce fuel cell demonstrator vehicle

In conjunction with Canadian-based Hydrogenics Corp., John Deere will develop a technology demonstrator fuel cell-powered Commercial Work Vehicle (CWV) that will offer lower emissions, quieter operation, and improved efficiency.
12 Dec 2002 22:04

Northrop and TRW, a done deal

Northrop Grumman announced today that, after receiving the necessary shareholder approval, its merger with TRW was official.
12 Dec 2002 21:49

ISM says economy to strengthen in 2003

There is reason to believe economic growth in the US will strengthen in the manufacturing and non-manufacturing sectors during 2003, according to the Institute for Supply Management’s 64th Semiannual Economic Forecast.
11 Dec 2002 22:50

TRW receives $21.3M DOD laser contract

TRW has been awarded a $21.3 million contract from the Air Force Research Laboratory to research and develop an electrically powered solid state laser capable of emitting 25-killowatts of laser beam power.
11 Dec 2002 14:56

Fed says short-term rates stay at 1.25%

After dropping rates a half percentage point last month, the Federal Reserve voted Tuesday to keep short-term interest rates unchanged at a 40-year low of 1.25%.
10 Dec 2002 21:48

Machine tool orders remained steady in October

Orders for machine tools held steady in October at a three-month high, falling only slightly to $186.93 million from $186.95 million in September, the Association for Manufacturing Technology and the American Machine Tool Distributors Association said in a recent report.
10 Dec 2002 21:27

IBM to buy Rational for $2.1B

IBM has announced plans to buy Rational Software, a development tools vendor, for $2.1 billion cash.
09 Dec 2002 22:22

Hyundai announces new Truck America division

Hyundai Motor Company has just announced the formation of a new company division, Hyundai Truck America, which will begin promoting Hyundai’s light- and medium-duty trucks in the US next month.
06 Dec 2002 19:09

ISM evaluates effects of West Coast port stoppage

The Institute for Supply Management (ISM), at the request of the Commerce Department, has evaluated the effects of the mid-November West Coast port stoppage.
06 Dec 2002 22:41

October’s orders experienced overdue increase

October’s factory orders increased for the first time since July, according to a recently released Commerce Department report which also stated that factory orders were up 1.5% in October after dropping in August and September.
05 Dec 2002 21:19

Raytheon awarded $118.7M missile contract

The US Navy has awarded Raytheon a $118.7 million contract for the second year of low-rate, initial production of Evolved Sea Sparrow Missiles (ESSM).
05 Dec 2002 18:02

Boeing’s new contract accepted by overwhelming majority

Approximately 12,000 members of the Wash.-based SPEEA, the Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace, accepted Boeing’s new three-year contract by an overwhelming majority.
04 Dec 2002 21:06

General Dynamics receives $45M Naval contract

General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems has been awarded a contract ultimately worth $45 million by the Naval Sea Systems Command for the low-rate initial production of the Area Air Defense Commander (AADC), an integrated air defense planning and execution system.
04 Dec 2002 22:38

Northrop Grumman sets date for TRW deal

Northrop Grumman’s $7.8 billion purchase of TRW is scheduled to take place December 11.
03 Dec 2002 17:50

Toyota delivers fuel-cell vehicles to universities

Toyota Motor Sales USA today delivered two hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles to the University of California, Irvine and University of California, Davis at a press conferene on the UCI campus.
03 Dec 2002 20:16

Delphi plant ranked in environmental magazine’s top five

Delphi Corporation’s Deltronics facility in Matamoros, Mexico has recently been distinguished as one of Environmental Protection magazine’s Facilities of the Year.
02 Dec 2002 14:17

ISM says US manufacturing weakens

Manufacturing continues its downward trend, according to The Institute for Supply Management’s (ISM) latest report which indicated that manufacturing declined for the third straight month in November, while the overall economy grew for the 13th consecutive month.
02 Dec 2002 22:09

Diversification touted at annual APICS conference

The annual APICS conference attracted over 3,000 resource management professionals to Nashville at the end of October. General sessions were headed up by Glen Barton, CEO of Caterpillar; Jim McCann, CEO of 1-800-Flowers.com; William Taylor, co-founder of Fast Company; and Steve Lundin, co-author of Fish, a remarkable way to boost morale and improve results.
01 Dec 2002 13:09

Durable goods drop in November

Contrary to economists’ predictions of a healthy 0.8% gain in November, orders for durable goods dropped approximately 1.4%, according to a recent Commerce Department report.
01 Dec 2002 19:01

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