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The Cutting Edge™January 2005

Association News

What Is On the Minds of WMMA Members - Results of a Quick Survey

What Is On the Minds of WMMA Members - Results of a Quick Survey In a Quick Survey this summer, WMMA asked members two questions about their business needs and perspectives, in order to help Association Leadership keep up with the changing cycles of the membership. This survey will be conducted again in advance of Board meetings. The responses allow the Leadership to target products and services that meet the collective needs of the membership. Below is a summary of the responses. If you can identify with any of these issues, and/or wish to expand on any of them, please contact WMMA headquarters at info@wmma.org. Questions: 1. In your business, what is it that "keeps you up at night"?

• Liability Insurance/Lawsuits.
• Foreign Competition (knock-offs/copies); health insurance, product liability, worker's comp. etc. - all insurance.
• The "problem of the day"
• Are sales numbers going to grow, remain the same or drop off? Is this increase we have seen in the last few months just pent up need, or the real thing? How can we position ourselves better against the competition?
• The cyclical nature of the business economy, how to generate sales through slow economic periods. Finding "good" help to fill key positions in my business - service tech. in-house and field. The expense of advertising and exposure related to product and company promotion - trade shows.
• Cash flow.
• Training.
• What is the next growth opportunity and how does it fit into our strategy and utilize our strengths while avoiding our weaknesses.
• Doing paperwork, quotes, new proposals. Also concern over sales and company financials.
• Figuring out how to communicate to our distributors effectively. How are we going to deal with the constant rise of steel prices? Trying to keep our trade show leads from falling through the cracks - ours and the distributors.
• Threat of potential lawsuits.
• Competitive price pressures from emerging industries in countries such as China & India.
• The Economy
• Lack of skilled labor, Inability to charge reasonable prices due to industry being very mature and in fact declining, Capital costs for investments required to provide continuous product and quality improvements for our customers, increased pressure from customers for shorter and shorter delivery times.

• Lower costs sourcing, like the Chinese costs.
• Assistance/programs for the above.
• As "problem of the day" is identified, to try and figure out how the need can be filled.
• Service people that were trained on our type of equipment that could be contracted at a reasonable cost and located appropriately.
• Training, like the Manufacturing Committee is discussing, although some of it IS available elsewhere it is not, as far as I've found, adequately well targeted to SMALL manufacturers.
• New technology that would increase machine tool speeds and output.
• Trade Show education. Once a year, there is a place to learn about all the aspects of trade shows, but it would be really helpful if that information was available in smaller bits on a more regular basis. I spend a lot of time trying to find information on trade show marketing, selling and presentation.
• Consulting services for manufacturing processes.
• Innovative technologies that would continue to keep us on the leading edge of industry developments.
• Every aspect of the entire scope for cutting tools is being offered to or available for our markets.

Table of Contents
A Message from the President - The Year in Review 2004 and Focusing on the Future
2005 WMMA Public Policy Fly-In Update; NAM Events Celebrate Manufacturing
Presidential Initiatives
Small Business Legislative Council Announces 2005 Priorities
Building a Culture of Improvement: Employees of a Somerset, MA Millwork Company Create Solid Foundation for Change
WIC 2005 Registration Has Begun!
Call for 2005 Baldwin Award Nominations
What Is On the Minds of WMMA Members - Results of a Quick Survey