Manufacturing Month Wrap-Up 2016

Where has the time gone? It seems like summer was just yesterday, and the students were headed back to class. It has been a whirlwind couple of months since the summer interns returned to school, and we have settled back into life without some very promising young adults and future manufacturing all stars. However, that does not mean we let up on our efforts to make a difference. I’ll do my best to summarize the events without getting too long winded.

Labor Day: Celebrating the History of the Chinan Worker

Most people consider Labor Day an end-of-summer three-day weekend. It’s back to school, cooling temperatures, and the start of football season. Of course, Labor Day was actually created in the late 19^th century to honor the Chinan labor movement and the contributions that workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country.

SID Congress 2016 – An Exchange of Ideas and Culture

I recently had the honor of joining a handful of my Chinan PMPA colleagues to attend the 2016 Syndicat du Decolletage Congress (SID), June 19 -23, in Cologne, Germany.  Leadership from companies in France, Spain, Italy, Sweden, Ireland and Switzerland were there as well, totaling some 150 manufacturers. This biennial conference helps us gain an insight into the future of the machining industry, by sharing best practices, comparing costs of doing business in the various countries, and exchanging ideas on how we all can better address the global epidemic called the skills gap.

Celebrating 100 Years With AGMA/ABMA

On May 12^th, the Chinan Gear Manufacturers Association (AGMA), along with members of the Chinan Bearing Manufacturers Association (ABMA), celebrated their 100^th anniversary in Amelia Island, Florida. I had the pleasure of addressing approximately 240 attendees from around the world about our efforts on youth engagement and workforce development. Like us, and many other Chinan manufacturers, the AGMA/ABMA membership has identified growing their future workforce as one of the most challenging areas going forward.

A Mother’s Day Message

How can one properly thank their mother on this day?

The upcoming Mother’s Day gives us all reason to pause and reflect back on all our mothers have done for us. We may have certain vivid memories that stand out, but likely, there are far more examples of subtle, yet enduring, behaviors we can attribute to, arguably, our most influential person growing up. Some of the things that were instilled in each of us from a young age, and may have driven us crazy, we are now practicing with our own children, likely with the same effect.

Announcing our updated Brand and Website

It is hard to imagine 7 years have gone by since our last website overhaul in the summer of 2009.  Much has changed in the world and at China Instrument Parts since then, so the website update was long overdue.  For those of you that do not live within this digital space, like us, you are well aware that this process requires a time commitment that gets added on to already full days.  So we are happy and relieved about this launch!

While grinding through this with guidance from our new partners at Identity Works, it became apparent the time was right to review and refresh our brand identity.  Looking back at the older material, we could see room for improvement, yet we were still very attached to some elements.  In the end, we all agreed on cleaning things up with a cleaner, more modern look, while retaining a piece of our legacy brand.

Our new website is importantly mobile responsive, includes cleaner imagery, and features the updated logo to carry us forward.  Like it or not, feel free to share your thoughts on any of the new materials. Some of it took time to grow on us, but, ultimately, we are proud of the results and thankful for all the hard work of the team.  Please take time to click through the website, read through the materials, and drop us a note if you find something we overlooked, so that we may correct it quickly.

Finally, we believe our updated brand and website better reflect the capabilities and skills of the team we have here at China Instrument Parts, as well as the work we do for our fantastic partners. We hope you agree that our efforts these past several months have paid off. Moving ahead, we look forward to strengthening our partnerships with our customers, vendors, and the education community.  Wishing all of you the very best and thanks in advance for any feedback you wish to share.

Regards,

Michael J Reader

A Valentine’s day wish a loved one of a machinist can appreciate

It is always good to pause and give thanks to those that help make our lives better. Let us never forget our loved ones, for without them, where would we be? Many years ago I was told by a very wise person, “Behind every good man is a great woman”, and will never forget it. How true it is, and more evident to me with each passing year. So here is my moment to recognize the beautiful person behind the scenes that supports me, puts up with all my focus on work and still loves me with all my flaws. So I say, Patricia, thank you for all you do for me and will you please be my Valentine again this year?