A landslide of layoffs is coming—How to do the dreaded deed kindly
As the pandemic continues, so do the job losses. If you’re a leader, you may find yourself having to lay people off or make “temporary” furloughs permanent. Award-winning author Deb Boelkes says how you do it matters—and she offers some guidelines on delivering the bad news with love In March, the world suffered a huge shock. As the economy ground to a halt, layoffs and furloughs reverberated through the labor market. Six months later, the pandemic is still with us. So are the layoffs. Hundreds of thousands of workers—mostly in industries like travel/tourism, entertainment, and cosmetics—have lost their jobs, while others have been warned that “temporary” furloughs will become permanent. In other words, it seems likely that a landslide of layoffs is coming. Obviously, this is a grim prospect for employees. But Deb Boelkes says it’s also hard on leaders who struggle to deliver the news kindly to employees who may be increasingly fragile. “At the start of the pandemic, people believed it would be a short-lived crisis,” says Boelkes, author of Heartfelt Leadership: How to Capture the Top Spot and Keep on Soaring (Business World Rising, 2020, ISBN: 978-1-734-07613-4, $19.95). “Since then it’s become clearer and clearer that there’s no end in sight. This level of uncertainty is really tough on the psyche. When we do have to deliver bad news, it’s even more critical to do so with love.” Boelkes says great leaders let people go in the same way they lead: with compassion, integrity, candor, and the assurance that employees do have what it takes to thrive in the future. In her new book, she explains that heartfelt leaders inspire employees, engage their emotions, and help them pinpoint and pursue their passions. What’s more, she shows exactly what such leadership looks like in action. Full of real stories and lessons from top heartfelt executives, her book teaches you how to transform from a person people follow because they have to, to a person they want to follow. And it doesn’t shy away from talking about what it looks like to fire someone the heartfelt way. Boelkes offers the following tips: Above all, follow the Golden Rule If you must lay somebody off, the best approach to take is: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. The Golden Rule is a guiding principle that leaders should live by every day, but never is it more important than when employees are at their most vulnerable. Imagine how you would want to be treated if you were to lose your job and move forward with that in mind. You would not want to hear bad news via email or a mass Zoom call, or be treated as if you didn’t matter to your supervisor and your company. When you must communicate bad news, consider the following guidelines: Be honest and transparent. Tell them what you know as soon as you know it. If there is something you don’t yet know, tell them that too. Get the bad news upfront. There is no way to do this painlessly, so rip off the Band-Aid. Spell out exactly how you arrived at the decision to lay people off. For example, you might put things in perspective by explaining how COVID is disrupting the industry. Respect them enough to share your strategy and how the company will move forward. Be very clear on what will happen next: what the time frames will be, what severance will look like, etc. Tell them what they will be able to keep. Maybe they’ll be able to keep healthcare coverage for a while. Some companies may let people keep their computer. Assure them that being laid off isn’t their fault. Tell them you love and care about them. Maybe you can’t be by their side, physically—but you can be emotional In her book, Boelkes describes how she had to lay off her team when she worked for AT&T. “When my first team member came into my office, I motioned for him to sit on the sofa instead of in one of the chairs on the opposite side of my desk,” she recalls. “I immediately came out from behind my desk and sat right next to my team member, turning toward him. I was right there next to this employee as I laid out the details of what was going to happen.” Obviously, this physical closeness likely can’t happen now due to social distancing. But Boelkes says leaders can and must find a way to keep that spirit of human connection and caring—even if you must deliver the bad news via video chat. “Schedule a one-on-one meeting when you have a lot of time because you will want to offer plenty of space for the conversation,” she says. “If you keep your message authentic, from the heart, and honest, they are most likely to receive it well.” Spell out their unique strengths—and reassure them that they’ll be able to leverage those strengths again This is a time, in particular, when people need to be reminded of the gifts they bring to the table. Be specific as you recount the many contributions the person has made to the team and the organization. Share how much you honor, respect, and admire them and remind them that other organizations will recognize and value their skills and abilities as well. “Reassure the person that these terrible times won’t last forever,” says Boelkes. “A sense of hope may be the best gift you can give them right now.” Help them brainstorm their next step After you have broken the news, roll up your sleeves, and make yourself an ally to your employee as they begin envisioning their future. Discuss with them what they would really love to be doing going forward. Brainstorm about the type of jobs they would love to have. Review the kind of companies in the local region or elsewhere that might have good opportunities for them to do the things they really want to do. To get the ball rolling, ask, “What
Nine truths that will serve you well in an Ever-More-Woman-Friendly Workplace
It’s time for professional women to suit up and build a great career. Health care executive Jackie Gaines, M.S., R.N., shares powerful truths for women on every rung of the career ladder There’s good news and bad news for women in leadership. First the bad news: We live and work in a world that still tips the advantages toward men. We still face plenty of challenges. But the good news is very good news: Women have never been better positioned to lead the way in the twenty-first-century workplace. We already have the strengths and the (so-called) “soft skills” needed to make organizations thrive, and one by one, we are creating a more diverse and inclusive workplace. To take advantage of this golden opportunity, Jackie Gaines says we need to get proactive about equipping ourselves with the tools and tactics that set us up to shine. “No matter where you are today on the career ladder, the habits you are sharpening right now will determine your success in the future,” says Gaines, M.S., R.N, author of Wearing the Yellow Suit: A Guide for Women in Leadership (Huron|Studer Group Publishing, 2020, ISBN: 978-1-62218-110-0, $24.00). “And they will make a drastic impact on your workplace as well.” Gaines wrote Wearing the Yellow Suit to help women do just that. It’s full of powerful, useful, and candid advice to help women on every rung of the career ladder reach their goals and succeed in their chosen fields. It focuses on topics like developing must-have management skills, breaking out of the standard business uniform, mastering the art of “respectful truth-telling,” harnessing your natural characteristics as a woman and navigating motherhood and menopause. “In the forty years that I have been a leadership executive, I’ve learned the ‘secret sauce’ habits and skills that create exceptional leaders,” says Gaines. “What I have seen over and over again as women take their place in leadership positions is that women bring unique attributes to all organizations. When we lead our way, everyone thrives.” Read on to learn some essential truths Gaines has discovered over the years: TRUTH: You don’t have to abide by the same old gender-biased dress code. Just because men’s workwear consists of muted colors and dark suits doesn’t mean you have to mimic this look. Be professional but stay true to yourself, embracing the colors that reflect the “real you.” Wear that yellow suit! TRUTH: The many roles women playset you up perfectly to be a leader. Women are wives, mothers, teachers, caretakers, disciplinarians, housekeepers, and more, says Gaines. The same skills women have perfected over the years to balance their lives make them excellent leaders. Harness your ability to juggle many tasks at once, your strong organization skills, and your nurturing instinct to help you and your team excel. TRUTH: “Soft skills” are in demand. Purposely develop and hone them. Women are well suited for the skills that are valued in today’s workplace: emotional intelligence, relationship-building, collaboration, and teamwork. We’re good listeners, creative, and empathetic. We’re naturals at multitasking, connecting the dots, and being inclusive. Continue to sharpen these skills throughout your career. TRUTH: You need to deal with your female guilt. “Women were once expected to stay home and care for their spouse and children,” says Gaines. “While times have changed, female-leader guilt is real. To help alleviate it, write down the reasons you work and remind yourself of them often. Trust yourself and the choice you’ve made for your family. And make the most of quality time with those closest to you.” TRUTH: Real strength is in unity! Don’t continually choose business partners who are “like you” simply because it’s comfortable. The secret to creating a high-quality, high-performance work team is the ability to use the strengths of each team member and the blending of their different viewpoints, personalities, cultures, processes, procedures, and operations into a tight, cohesive team that has bonded by overcoming shared adversity. TRUTH: You don’t have to go it alone. Mentors are valuable tools for success. Mentors see your potential, open doors, help you discern what is important to you, and teach you to navigate corporate waters. Every female leader should look for a mentor to offer this kind of guidance. And when you are ready, find someone to mentor. TRUTH: Motherhood doesn’t need to slow you down. If you take time away from your career, absorb as much current information as possible. Schedule a date with yourself at least once a month to review an article, read a book, take a class, or chat with a mentor about hot topics in your field. This approach will keep you sharp until you’re ready to return to work. TRUTH: People love leaders who keep meetings productive but short. “The average person wastes about 250 hours per year in unproductive meetings,” says Gaines. “Use a standardized agenda with a focus on the strategic priorities to stay focused and on topic.” TRUTH: Optimism impacts everything. Negativity breeds more negativity. You could be the source of negative or positive energy in the organizations you lead. It’s your choice. Just remember, leaders, set the tone for an organization or those who work for them. Whether you’re a recent college graduate, a C-suite executive, or anyone in between, you’ll find the guidance and wisdom you need to take your career to the next level and beyond. Go ahead and wear that yellow suit! “It’s time women embrace the traits that make them natural leaders and take their seat at the table,” concludes Gaines. “Believe in yourself, empower yourself and others, and do what it takes to become a leader of excellence today.”
Status report, please
Well, how is it going out there? You where you think you were going to be? Are customers still buying at your best guess rate considering COVID-19? Even though customers are still buying, how much longer can that go on considering shortages of parts and materials. Are you going to survive the PPP forgiveness test? Did you include the “forgiveness” in your income tax estimate for the current year? Remember you have one last chance to use the Bonus in 2020. And if you decide to purchase equipment towards that end, will it show up by December 31, 2020 to allow the deduction? How is your cash balance holding up? How about where you stand versus your ’20 budget? Are you closely monitoring AR and the approval process for new customers? The latest news is the Fed will hold interest rates low until there is a clear indication of a 2% average increase in inflation which could take two years to get here. Does the bank still love you? Same question regarding your OEM’s and related finance companies. Time to review your bank loan and OEM agreements. On the positive side are you seeing any “opportunities “in terms of new lines, small undercapitalized service providers, poorly operated competitors, or add-on products or services to sell to customers? Are you pursuing technology to make you more efficient, easier to do business with, and at the same time inform customers of “deals” as well as required equipment repairs? Are you in touch with dealers within your network to share ideas and information to help survive this pandemic? If not, you should. Those Currie dealer groups work! And they will put you on a path to improve profits and company value. No matter how you answered any of the questions above every dealer or service provider needs to be cautious when it comes to keeping the company solvent, profitable, and valuable. Personally, I have been updating the budgets every 60 days or so and making department managers explain any pluses and minuses relative to the existing budget in place as well as their support for the adjusted budget going forward. At the same time, I am projecting out a cash balance for the end of each quarter using historical collection results and also taking into account all debt service currently on the books as well as any contemplated for the current quarter. I then extend this review to the end of the year or six months out whichever is longer. Obviously, the key to any budget or cash flow analysis is revenue projection. Needless to say, all departments need to provide reasonable budgets and have a plan to hit the quarterly results projected. Any indication that cash flow is slipping or actual results continuously below budget indicates that certain direct and overhead expenses need to be trimmed to align with revenues. And the longer you wait to make these adjustments the more likely you will not survive the recession. Calculate what it takes to replace $1 of cash flow because I assure you once you do you will never again hesitate to adjust costs in a timely fashion again. As far as I can tell prices are feeling the impact of COVID-19. THEY ARE ALL HIGHER! How will this impact your operating results or sales opportunities? Those fixed maintenance contracts will take a hit should parts and supplies increase in cost by 10% or so. Does it make sense to increase expenses for budget purposes? You can always try to pass on these cost increases at the risk of encouraging customers to shop the market. There is no doubt that dealers with a meaningful “systems” department have an advantage. There seems to be a new warehouse going up on every block where I travel. These systems need to be designed, a budget prepared for approval, financing obtained, employees trained and a maintenance contract agreed to. Since these systems are the bread and butter of efficient warehouse operation the dealers who control these systems have a stronger bond with the warehouse user. Much easier to sell additional products and services. The Bottom Line here is your operation needs constant management with a goal of maintaining positive cash flow. Attain this goal and the rest is downhill. Garry Bartecki is a CPA MBA with GB Financial Services LLC. E-mail editorial@mhwmag.com to contact Garry
20 years Saluting Women in Material Handling- Three leaders with trailblazing careers with the desire to succeed
Lisa Reonegro has heard some cringe-worthy lines while on the job. When she began in the material handling business in the late 1980s, she said the discriminatory treatment of women was more common than it is today. “Back then,” she said, “I met with quite a bit of discrimination. I was at times told on the phone, ‘Give me to a man who knows what they’re talking about.’ “I’ve heard it all,” she said. While such treatment was at first a bit shocking and upsetting to Reonegro, it also helped shape her determination to succeed. “All it did, honestly, was to make me push myself that much harder. I wasn’t going to allow myself to not know as much as the next guy,” she said. Today, Reonegro is managing director of Camso Distribution Canada Inc. This month, Material Handling Wholesaler spotlights the careers of women building their careers in the material handling business. In fact, this marks 20 years of spotlighting women who are making a difference in the industry. You can also click here for the Salute to Women in Material Handling podcast with Kevin Lawton with interviews with Rebecca Butao Snowdon and Emily Soloby. Meet three trailblazing material handling leaders with the desire to succeed in the material handling industry. Rebecca Butao Snowdon Rebecca Butao Snowdon is currently national accounts manager for Hannibal Industries Inc. Her team of five is based in California, working on projects nationwide and on one international project in the Bahamas. Hannibal is a pallet rack and steel tube manufacturer and bills itself as the largest U.S. manufacturer of steel pallet rack west of the Mississippi River. When she started in material handling, Butao Snowdon came with a varied background of experience. “I’ve been with Hannibal for two years and in material handling for about six years. I worked for a small distributor originally, a family-owned business,” she said, noting that prior to her work in the industry, she worked as a real estate agent and in dance instruction. Butao Snowdon has a degree in early childhood development and also spent time home with her children when they were young. But as she sought new career opportunities, Butao Snowdon quickly realized that she had a knack for coordination and realized her skill set would translate well to project management in material handling. She worked diligently to make this career advancement happen. Her current role allows her to interact with both the team at Hannibal and directly on the front end with clients, often on-site. Butao Snowdon described how she appreciates the variety of people and projects she works on through her job. “These are quite large-scale projects,” she said. And Butao Snowdon’s role allows her to stay involved throughout the project, something she appreciates as she can utilize her problem-solving skills. She dubs herself “peacemaker and problem solver” and challenges herself to figure out people’s style of communication. But she also believes there is room for improvement in regards to women’s standing in material handling. “I don’t think women in high school or college may realize what roles we as women can play in a construction-type industry,” she said. “You can be an engineer, can submit permits, design” and more, she said. “This industry is growing by leaps and bounds.” And as the COVID-19 pandemic continues, Butao Snowden predicts more businesses will be expanding their material handling operations to meet the needs of e-commerce. Butao Snowdon also believes there can also be an industry-wide improvement to ensure women are paid equally to their male counterparts. She advises women in the business to know their value on their team and within the operation and encourages asking for opportunities outside of one’s comfort zone. For her part, Butao Snowdon said she was afraid of air travel when she first started in the business but pushed herself to face her fear. “I love getting on the plane now,” she said, describing the feeling of accomplishment in dealing with the uncertainties of business travel. Now, the professional who was at first afraid of flying finds herself missing traveling during the pandemic. Part of the key to her own success, she said, has been the support of her coworkers and bosses who have made her part of the team. “The executives at Hannibal are extremely helpful, even when I’ve stumbled or made a mistake,” she said. Butao Snowdon also said she has learned to check her pride at the door and to embrace the idea that how she views her job drives 70 percent of the outcome. “I choose to see everything as a learning lesson, whether or not the outcome is successful,” she said. Emily Soloby It didn’t take long in the material handling industry before Emily Soloby realized her shoes were not working. “I was showing up at meetings in completely wrong footwear,” she said. Soloby’s career has included work as a courtroom advocate for abused women and worked as a lawyer. She later returned to graduate school, where she met her husband. The pair went to work for and later bought his family’s business, AAA School of Trucking, and grew it to a national company and consulting firm. But on her visits to construction sites, Soloby found herself in need of some properly fitted boots. As a longtime shoe aficionado, she also wished for something fashionable. Soloby had taken shoe-making classes in the past and began thinking about how all of the pieces of her interests and knowledge were coming together into one picture – a company that manufactures strong and fashionable boots for women. “This was an idea I was thinking about for a long time,” she said. “I started talking to women in the trucking industry and everyone was so excited.” Soloby was surprised to find how far her idea traveled. Women in architecture, winemaking, engineering, and a host of other areas also expressed their enthusiasm for the project. “The excitement was so catching and so inspiring,” she said. By 2017, research for Juno Jones Shoes was underway. In
What I learned from 100 Podcasts
The New Warehouse Podcast recently hit its 100th episode mark on August 17th just a year and a few months after its debut in March of 2019. If you did not know, I am the host and founder of The New Warehouse. I have had the pleasure of putting together these 100 episodes to help deliver some additional value to those in the logistics, distribution, transportation, and material handling world by having conversations with others from these industries. When I set out to do The New Warehouse it was because I wanted to learn more about the industry myself and if I could help a few other people along the way that would be great. Not only did I learn more about the industry, but I learned more about life and business as well. I learned how to structure and hold a conversation so that the other party is engaged. Having an everyday casual discussion is something that we typically do all the time with no prompt or set time to talk. When setting up a podcast there is a set amount of time to talk, there are talking points to be discussed prior and there is an overall subject to center the conversation around. When you are the host, there is also an obligation and responsibility to the audience to bring them information from the guest that you believe they want to hear. How do we learn from this and bring it to business? First, we look at a set time to talk. Having a set time to talk about something specific allows for everyone to be in the mindset of that conversation. This is incredibly important when you are going to be in a discussion where a decision needs to be made or critical information needs to be extracted to make a decision. Additionally, everyone needs to come to the conversation knowing what the goal of the conversation is. Reinforcing this by distributing talking points or a meeting agenda helps to keep people from going on tangents. As the host, you need to drive the conversation which means setting up the guest to talk to the points you have in mind and steer them back on track when needed. You also need to recognize when to let someone keep talking. Through the podcast, I have learned that you should always let someone keep talking. Interjecting too much and interrupting can throw them off their thought process and as you allow them to talk you are silently guiding them to the points you were looking for. By letting them continue and listening intently you are able to build on the conversation further. It also allows them to feel more comfortable as they continue to speak longer and get to talk about what they are interested in. I have been told multiple times that I am incredibly easy to talk to on the podcast but the truth is that I just let them talk without interrupting. This can put many individuals at ease because it may be something they are not used to. Being able to connect with so many different people in so little time has allowed me to see from multiple viewpoints and has opened my thinking on how I operate on a daily basis. There are a ton of takeaways you can get from listening to so many different experiences and stories. Whether you want to start a podcast or not I recommend connecting and talking to people about what they do regularly. You will be surprised at what you find out. Coming from an operations background in warehousing, I have also learned that applying some of my skill sets which I had originally thought to only be applicable in that environment to the podcast has proven effective. I have worked to standardize my process and delegate where needed. Much like managing in a warehouse, it has proven to help me focus on the bigger picture and create new opportunities for the podcast. With the help of my interns Eric, Rebecca, and Michelle I could have not made the podcast to what it is today and certainly not at the rate of which I am currently releasing episodes. Building a team and trusting them to do what they are good at has been a great experience and helped me to grow as a leader in my other work arenas as well. The podcast is my passion and I’m happy to share it with you. Now here’s to 100 more! If you are interested in finding out more information about The New Warehouse Podcast search for us on your favorite podcast platform or head to TheNewWarehouse.com.
The Isolation Process, A powerful path to more sales
Psst — hey — c’mere! I’ve got a secret to tell you…Sometimes prospects will stall you, sometimes they will lie to you, sometimes they won’t tell you the real reason why they won’t purchase. When a prospect gives you some lame excuse (stall) about why they won’t buy now, he’s really saying, “not yet.” There are two basic types of stalls: People stalls and Thing stalls. Thing stalls are when prospects say — I’m too busy now, your price is too high, I have too many other obligations. Frustrating, isn’t it? Want to make the stall go away? Simple. Here’s the strategy: Isolate the stall or objection as to the only obstacle, and then eliminate it from the situation by asking, “what if it was gone, or was not the situation…would you buy?” Isolating and eliminating creates a new situation AND a possible sale. You repeat the stall back to the prospect and then take it away. For example — you say, “I understand, Mr. Johnson. So, what you’re telling me is if it wasn’t the fact that you were too busy, this would be a perfect opportunity for you, is that correct? (get the commitment). (then double qualify) In other words, if you had the time, you would get involved? (then say) Well let’s look at the situation closer, you say you have no time, but you also said that you’re not earning all the money you need. Maybe there’s a way to use this opportunity to buy back some of your time with increased earnings.” Another example — The prospect says, “I don’t have the money.” You say, “If you had the money, would you buy it?” The best way to handle a stall or objection is to take it away and consider new options or solutions. You say…If it wasn’t for…then insert the stall — price, the timing of workload, other obligations — would you buy it? People stalls are worse. Does this sound familiar? Sounds good Jeffrey, but I have to talk this over with my wife, husband, boss, accountant, lawyer, the executive committee, the home office, my cat whiskers, my two-year-old son, or my girlfriend. People not being able to decide on their own — Don’t you hate that? Well, here’s how to overcome it. First, isolate the person to a decision that does not include the others. “Bill, if it was only you…what would you decide?” This gives you a chance to find out how they really feel (will they support you). Second, double qualify the commitment. Ask – “Is there anything you would change or object to if it was only you?” Third, secure the prospect’s support when he meets with the third party. “Bill, when you go to the others, will you support the purchase?” And fourth, find other ways to get a decision now. Suggest alternatives that might get Bill to act now without risk. “Bill, since you’re in favor, and we only need your spouse’s approval, how about if we fill out the paperwork — give it to me so you can be in before the end of the month, and when your spouse says OK, we’ll be ready to go (and if your spouse says no, we’ll tear up the papers — no obligation.)” Hard to say no to that. One of the most interesting things about objections is that even though they continue to recur, they continue to stymie or dumbfound salespeople. I don’t get it. You put your hand on the stove once, you get burned, you don’t do it again. You learn the lesson. Salespeople continue to get burned. If you think about it for any length of time, it’s kind of silly. The isolation process is a powerful way of getting to the truth, finding out the real objection, AND in about 30% of the cases actually making the sale. But it’s only one of an arsenal of weapons available to salespeople for stalls and objections. You can prevent them by covering them in your presentation, or you can at least prepare “best responses” for the ones that happen all the time. Most of the time an objection is actually a buying signal. They’re saying, “I’m interested, but you haven’t sold me yet. And the sale is always made. Either you sell them on yes, or they sell you on no. Jeffrey Gitomer is the author of twelve best-selling books including The Sales Bible, The Little Red Book of Selling, and The Little Gold Book of Yes! Attitude. His real-world ideas and content are also available as online courses at www.GitomerLearningAcademy.com. For information about training and seminars visit www.Gitomer.com or email Jeffrey at salesman@gitomer.com or call him at 704 333-1112.
True leaders try to move the needle rather than avoid blame
Companies are consistently looking for new ways to grow Every organization is trying to discover new innovations which will catapult revenue, and build a bigger gap between them and the competition. However, many of these organization’s leaders are making business decisions they can defend, rather than what will truly make an impact. It’s driven by a fundamental psychological bias we all face – loss aversion Loss aversion is the tendency to prefer avoiding losses to acquiring equivalent gains. Loss aversion implies that one who loses $100 will lose more satisfaction than another person will gain satisfaction from a $100 windfall. The problem is, this bias causes leaders to err on the side of caution rather than an opportunity A new, revolutionary idea may be viewed as too far afield from the current norms or internal culture, and therefore dismissed. Or a leader may worry that if the idea fails or is perceived as a failure, it will be their job. So in order to cover our asses, we default to the safe, familiar, and frequently unimpactful decisions. The outcome is neither here nor there – as long as the decision can be justified. We all understand there is a practicality to measuring and managing risk, however, as leaders, we need to examine the opportunity cost of not doing something, as well as the cost of doing it Instead of examining an idea with a balance sheet perspective, we need to look at it through a customer behavior perspective. Yet before this can happen, we need to examine our own leadership mentality and eliminate our own blame avoidance behaviors. The most common behaviors of leaders in a “blame avoidance mindset” include: Doing what you can defend, rather than what works Making decisions least likely to cause personal negative impacts Relying solely on customers to tell you exactly what they want/need Focusing on only things you can measure Focusing on reducing risk instead of creating opportunity What leaders often unconsciously care about is what other people think about our decisions, rather than the quality or outcome of the decision While making decisions out of habit is the safe route, it causes us to reduce our tolerance and openness to new ideas, perspectives, and real growth opportunities. It causes us to overlook the very thing we are seeking – new ideas. Leadership needs a new mindset – taking the path less traveled Sometimes that path is unclear, unknown, and feels unsafe. But it’s taking that risk which separates those that uncover true innovation and those that continue to follow and regurgitate the things that have already been done. Andrea Olson is a speaker, author, behavioral economics, and customer-centricity expert. As the CEO of Pragmadik, she helps organizations of all sizes, from small businesses to Fortune 500, and has served as an outside consultant for EY and McKinsey. Andrea is the author of The Customer Mission: Why it’s time to cut the $*&% and get back to the business of understanding customers and No Disruptions: The future for mid-market manufacturing. She is a 4-time ADDY® award winner and host of the popular Customer Mission podcast. Her thoughts have been featured in news sources such as Chief Executive Magazine, Entrepreneur Magazine, The Financial Brand, Industry Week, and more. Andrea is a sought-after keynote speaker at conferences and corporate events throughout the world. She is a visiting lecturer at the University of Iowa’s Tippie College of Business, a TEDx presenter and TEDx speaker coach. She is also a mentor at the University of Iowa Venture School. More information is also available on www.pragmadik.com and www.thecustomermission.com.
July 2020 U.S. Cutting Tool Orders down 8.5% from June 2020
July 2020 U.S. cutting tool consumption totaled $137.8 million, according to the U.S. Cutting Tool Institute (USCTI) and AMT – The Association For Manufacturing Technology. This total, as reported by companies participating in the Cutting Tool Market Report collaboration, was down 8.5 percent from June’s $150.6 million and down 30.6 percent when compared with the $198.5 million reported for July 2019. With a year-to-date total of $1.1 billion, 2020 is down 21.2 percent when compared with July 2019. These numbers and all data in this report are based on the totals reported by the companies participating in the CTMR program. The totals here represent the majority of the U.S. market for cutting tools. According to Brad Lawton, Chairman of AMT’s Cutting Tool Product Group, “The July data shows a slight decline as the cutting tool industry’s major customers have returned to work from the pandemic shutdown. This is likely due to customers seeking to deplete existing tool inventories and adjust to the uncertainty of domestic and global markets before placing new orders. It is clear that the climb to better sales volumes will be extended and bumpy.” “Given the ongoing disruption to the U.S. economy as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s not surprising that U.S. manufacturing technology orders continue to be battered, with monthly totals for April through July down compared with the total for December 2019,” said Alan Richter, editor-at-large for Cutting Tool Engineering, adding that December typically has the lowest total of any year. “The necessary canceling of major events that generate significant machine tool sales, such as IMTS, only added to the downturn.” The Cutting Tool Market Report is jointly compiled by AMT and USCTI, two trade associations representing the development, production, and distribution of cutting tool technology and products. It provides a monthly statement on U.S. manufacturers’ consumption of the primary consumable in the manufacturing process – the cutting tool. Analysis of cutting tool consumption is a leading indicator of both upturns and downturns in U.S. manufacturing activity, as it is a true measure of actual production levels. Historical data for the Cutting Tool Market Report is available dating back to January 2012. This collaboration of AMT and USCTI is the first step in the two associations working together to promote and support U.S.-based manufacturers of cutting tool technology. The graph below includes the 12-month moving average for the durable goods shipments and cutting tool orders. These values are calculated by taking the average of the most recent 12 months and plotting them over time.
Episode 109 – What’s Up Professor?
In this episode of the podcast I was joined by Aldo McLean, Ph.D. at MODEX 2020. Aldo was walking by our booth at MODEX and stopped by to say hello so we threw him on the microphone and talked to him about what it is like teaching the future of our industry and what the students are interested in these days. Key Takeaways Aldo is an Assistant Professor of Engineering Management at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga where he teaches multiple courses surrounding the topic of logistics. Some of the most interesting classes he mentions are around logistics and specifically on facilities planning. I was surprised to hear this because I do not believe these are widely offered classes at many universities. What I was most curious to hear about from Aldo was what students are interested in when it comes to logistics. As I have heard many times before he explains that students do not start off interested in the logistics aspect of the supply chain so he gets very creative to help them understand exactly what is involved in logistics which results in them increasing their interest level. I believe having individuals like Aldo in the academic environment is very important for the future of our industry. While the supply chain has become more visible with the recent pandemic and shortages, many still view a distribution center as a big concrete box with a bunch of cardboard boxes inside when the reality is there are so many complexities and very innovative things happening inside. It is important that we bring some awareness to that to ensure we continue to have a strong future workforce in our industry. Since Aldo was an attendee I wanted to get his take on what he saw at MODEX and what he thinks is next to come in our industry. He shared an interesting perspective on the idea of stores becoming more like fulfillment centers. In discussing this, he likened the idea of more orders being fulfilled at the store level to how stores used to be a front counter and the clerk would go retrieve the item you want to buy from the back room. As we are moving to more orders being picked and fulfilled within the store there is the idea that the backroom may increase in size and the actual store footprint may reduce. Listen to the episode below and let us know what got you interested in logistics in the comments. The New Warehouse Podcast EP 109: What’s Up Professor?
PTDA’s Industry reports indicate recovery in 2021
The second quarter 2020 Sales History & Outlook Report (SHOR) released by the Power Transmission Distributors Association (PTDA) continues to indicate the PTDA Distributors and Manufacturer SHOR Index annual averages will decline into early 2021 with subsequent rising trends lasting through at least year-end 2022. The COVID-19 pandemic has damaged the U.S. and global industrial sectors, bringing challenging conditions in terms of both supply and demand. However, rising leading indicators and government stimulus bode well for the recovery trend. ITR Economics anticipates that the power transmission industry will be nearly completely recovered from the pandemic’s impact by the end of 2022. The PTDA Business Index for distributors declined in the second quarter of 2020 to 31.3 while the Manufacturer Business Index declined to 25.3. The steep declining trend in the total PTDA Business Index, combined with prior declining trends in US and Canadian leading indicators, suggests business cycle decline is ahead for PTDA members during the coming quarters. However, current trends in the U.S. and Canadian leading indicators suggest recovery will take hold in the industrial sector during 2021. PTDA members participating in SHOR receive the results and forecasts through 2022 at no charge after the close of the calendar quarter. For more specifics on the forecast for power transmission/motion control sales through distribution as well as forecasts for manufacturer sales, purchase the 2Q2020 SHOR at ptda.org/SHOR. The PTDA Business Index is modeled after the widely respected PMI and tracks the change in business activity, new orders, employment, supplier deliveries, inventories, prices, and backlog in the PT/MC industry to arrive at an overall index. The entire 2Q2020 PTDA Business Index report is available through PTDA’s website at ptda.org/Index. The Power Transmission Distributors Association is the leading global association for the industrial power transmission/motion control (PT/MC) distribution channel. Headquartered in Chicago, PTDA represents power transmission/motion control distribution firms that generate more than $16 billion in sales and span over 2,700 locations. PTDA members also include manufacturers that supply the PT/MC industry. PTDA is dedicated to providing exceptional networking, targeted education, relevant information, and leading-edge business tools to help distributors and manufacturers meet marketplace demands competitively and profitably. For more information, call +1.312.516.2100, visit ptda.org or follow on LinkedIn or Twitter at @PTDAorg.
U.S. Rail Traffic for the week ending September 12, 2020
The Association of American Railroads (AAR) has reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending September 12, 2020. For this week, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 474,785 carloads and intermodal units, down 9.9 percent compared with the same week last year. Total carloads for the week ending September 12 were 214,142 carloads, down 15.2 percent compared with the same week in 2019, while U.S. weekly intermodal volume was 260,643 containers and trailers, down 5 percent compared to 2019. One of the 10 carload commodity groups posted an increase compared with the same week in 2019. It was grain, up 3,098 carloads, to 21,550. Commodity groups that posted decreases compared with the same week in 2019 included coal, down 20,518 carloads, to 60,278; nonmetallic minerals, down 9,007 carloads, to 26,760; and metallic ores and metals, down 4,648 carloads, to 18,157. For the first 37 weeks of 2020, U.S. railroads reported a cumulative volume of 7,884,697 carloads, down 15.8 percent from the same point last year; and 9,158,459 intermodal units, down 6.9 percent from last year. Total combined U.S. traffic for the first 37 weeks of 2020 was 17,043,156 carloads and intermodal units, a decrease of 11.2 percent compared to last year. North American rail volume for the week ending September 12, 2020, on 12 reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads totaled 309,596 carloads, down 12.7 percent compared with the same week last year, and 348,700 intermodal units, down 5.9 percent compared with last year. Total combined weekly rail traffic in North America was 658,296 carloads and intermodal units, down 9.2 percent. North American rail volume for the first 37 weeks of 2020 was 23,480,706 carloads and intermodal units, down 10.5 percent compared with 2019. Canadian railroads reported 77,003 carloads for the week, down 5 percent, and 70,777 intermodal units, down 5.5 percent compared with the same week in 2019. For the first 37 weeks of 2020, Canadian railroads reported a cumulative rail traffic volume of 5,159,513 carloads, containers, and trailers, down 8.1 percent. Mexican railroads reported 18,451 carloads for the week, down 11.6 percent compared with the same week last year, and 17,280 intermodal units, down 19.1 percent. Cumulative volume on Mexican railroads for the first 37 weeks of 2020 was 1,278,037 carloads and intermodal containers and trailers, down 9.6 percent from the same point last year. To view the U.S. Weekly Rail traffic charts, click here.
Women In Trucking Association announces U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao as keynote speaker
The Women In Trucking Association (WIT) announces today the full content line-up, with U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao as a keynote speaker of its 2020 Accelerate! Virtual Conference & Expo. The fully virtual event will take place in November. 12-13, 2020. “This event brings together those in the transportation and logistics industry who have a keen interest in how gender diversity can have a positive impact on businesses within our industry,” said Ellen Voie, WIT president and CEO. “It will provide knowledge, new ideas, best practices, and virtual networking that will support the overall industry’s efforts in generating more diversity as well as WIT’s overall mission: To encourage the employment of women in the trucking industry, promote their accomplishments, and minimize the obstacles they face.” The virtual conference will feature more than 40 educational sessions on critical transportation issues and trends, along with insights from women in the industry. The education of the conference focused on five educational tracks: Leadership, Professional Development, HR/Talent Management, Operations, and Sales & Marketing. Along with the keynote by Secretary Chao, other primary sessions include: “Futurenomics: An Economic Snapshot and What to Do Next,” by Dr. Mary Kelly, an internationally renowned author and leader “Strategies to Turn Uncertainty to Competitive Advantage,” by Meredith Elliott Powell, who is regularly featured in Forbes, Fast Company, and Investment News “Voice of the Professional Driver,” a panel to provide unique perspectives and an understanding of life on the road “Becoming a Women of Influence,” a panel to provide insights and life experiences from six finalists of the 2020 WIT Influential Woman In Trucking award “Successful Careers through Productivity and Performance” from a panel of women who have established successful careers and have been named the 2020 “Top Women To Watch in Transportation” “Inclusive Leadership: How to Mitigate Unconscious Bias” by Melanie Miller, a professional speaker on women’s issues “Taking Transportation Forward: The WIT Diversity and Inclusion Index,” a conversation led by Mark Murrell and Jane Jazrawy, co-founders of CarriersEdge The event also will highlight a virtual expo that will feature hundreds of well-known brands, products, and services; and a technology tour that will enable participants to be on a video tour of emerging technologies that have an impact on over-the-road trucking. The conference is available at two primary levels: premium access that gives attendees unlimited access to all educational sessions and virtual networking, and standard access that gives access to all educational sessions. There are special opportunities for professional drivers and students also to participate. For full details and to register, visit https://www.womenintrucking.org/accelerate-conference.
ALAN Alert: Sally
In an ideal world, the American Logistics Aid Network or ALAN would have plenty of time to focus all of our efforts on Hurricane Laura clean-up and recovery – and assisting with ongoing disasters like the West Coast fires and COVID-19. But in the real world, disasters aren’t always willing to wait for their turn. As a result, ALAN is officially activated for Hurricane Sally. Here’s what you need to know: Yesterday ALAN has expanded its Disaster Micro-site to feature helpful Gulf Coast information resources. In addition, they are monitoring and sharing information about Sally and its potential supply chain impacts via our Supply Chain Intelligence Center and encourage you to access it frequently. Most important of all, ALAN has already begun working closely with many of the non-profit organizations that are preparing to deliver post-storm relief. They know they’ll need logistics help, and they’re turning to us for that support. The National Hurricane Center advisory points to Sally as being a very dangerous hurricane, bringing potentially “historic flooding” and “life-threatening flash flooding… along portions of the Northern Gulf Coast”. ALAN hopes that those who are in its projected path will take its threat seriously. Just as important, they hope that members of the logistics community who have already helped with previous 2020 disasters will be willing to do so again – and that some businesses that weren’t in a position to help earlier this year might be willing to help with relief efforts now. Because take it from us, your help is going to be needed. ALAN understands that transportation markets are tight and that many of you are already starting your holiday response/build. They also aware that with the crazy year we’ve already had, there’s probably a fair amount of donor fatigue. However we also know that donated logistics services are such a difference-maker after disasters hit. And ALAN ever-thankful that our industry is such a generous one with such a huge capacity to care. Along these lines, please visit our Disaster Micro-site frequently in the weeks ahead, because that’s where we’ll be posting active Sally relief requests as they come in. And while you’re there, please consider helping out with the many Hurricane Laura and COVID-19 logistics needs that are already showcased there; there are now nearly two dozen of them. On a final note, please resist the temptation to send unsolicited products, trucks, or personnel directly to impacted areas. Many of these well-intended charitable efforts actually get in the way of what relief organizations are already there to do, so the best way that our industry can be of help is by responding to specific needs – or by making a cash donation to the relief organization of their choice.
IMHX gets back to business following Government’s events announcement
The British Industrial Truck Association (BITA) and Informa Markets – joint owners of IMHX, the UK’s largest logistics and supply chain event – have welcomed the Government’s decision to allow business events and exhibitions to recommence in England from October 2020. The UK Government has also endorsed the “All Secure Standard” – a risk assessment framework for the safe delivery of live events, produced in cooperation with Informa Markets, other leading organizers, and the event industry’s trade bodies. The framework highlights the practical steps that should be taken to ensure exhibitions can operate safely and efficiently. IMHX Director, Rob Fisher, commented: “The fact that exhibitions and events are returning to the business landscape is very exciting news. Now just over a year away, IMHX 2021 will provide a welcome opportunity for exhibitors to showcase their new products and services to professionals working in the vitally important and rapidly expanding logistics and supply chain sectors. The show is perfectly timed to help the UK logistics community get back to business-as-usual.” James Clarke, Secretary-General of BITA, added: “During the Covid-19 emergency, many live events have been canceled or postponed. But trade shows will always play a vital role in connecting business communities and once this crisis passes, major events such as IMHX will be one of the catalysts to reinvigorate the economy.” The venue for IMHX 2021 – Birmingham’s NEC – has also announced details of a set of measures that it is taking to ensure the safety of exhibitors and visitors alike. These include enhanced venue sanitization, the introduction of social distancing measures throughout the facility as well as test and trace technology using up-to-the-minute data. Ian Taylor, Acting Managing Director of NEC Group Conventions & Exhibitions, said: “We are extremely excited to be hosting events again at the NEC. There is pent up an appetite from buyers and suppliers to meet face to face and there is no better place than an exhibition to do this.” Rob Fisher added: “We are optimistic that following this October’s return of live exhibitions and the safety measures implemented by venues such as the NEC, the public will feel increasingly reassured about attending live events and confidence will be fully restored long before IMHX 2021 opens its doors.” IMHX 2021 is the UK’s largest logistics exhibition and takes place at the NEC, Birmingham from September 14 – 16, 2021.
EP 107: Veryable On Demand Staffing
In this episode, I was joined by Mike Kinder who is the Co-Founder and CEO at Veryable. At Veryable they are looking at the future of on-demand labor. Mike and I discuss the Veryable model, the labor market during COVID-19, and how Industry 4.0 will impact the labor market. Key Takeaways Veryable helps to solve an operational problem of a need for flexibility on staffing. They are able to cut out the middle person in a way by giving operations direct access to candidates so they can bring them in as needed and reduce on lag time with administrative tasks in between. On their platform, you can go on and see who is available right at that moment. On the worker’s side, it also allows them to go on and adjust their availability or what their qualifications are to give them flexibility on picking up work. As we look at the labor market during the pandemic, we have to look back at how tight the labor market was going into the pandemic. What Mike discusses is how the goal was to find out how to bring in more people into the manufacturing and operations space. However, as the pandemic started to develop he has seen a lot of companies cutting back but also figuring out how to consolidate to reduce the number of resources needed. As we have gone further through the pandemic there has been a need for on-demand workers as companies experience spikes of business for short periods of time. Mike has an extensive background in manufacturing and operations so I asked him his thoughts on Industry 4.0 and its role in labor. I think this is an interesting discussion because much of Industry 4.0 is designed to move away from the dependency of workers. However, Mike raises some interesting points on how there are things happening or things that need to happen to help enable workers and potentially increase jobs for them. He also helps to give a better perspective on what Industry 4.0 is and how too many things are getting put under this umbrella. EP 107: Veryable On-Demand Staffing
Women In Trucking announces finalists for 2020 Influential Woman in Trucking Award
The Women In Trucking Association (WIT) and Freightliner Trucks have announced the six finalists for the 2020 Influential Woman in Trucking award. This is the tenth year for the award which was developed in 2010 as a way to honor female leaders and to attract and advance women in the trucking industry. The award highlights the achievements of female role models and trailblazers in the trucking industry. The 2020 Influential Woman in Trucking award finalists are: Crystal Anderson, owner, Donald D. Anderson Jr. Trucking Kristy Knichel, CEO, Knichel Logistics Katrina Liddell, president of global forwarding and expedite operations in North America, XPO Logistics Vana Matte, senior vice president of engineering & technology, J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. Jodie Teuton, vice president, Kenworth of Louisiana/ Hino of Baton Rouge and Monroe Michal Yariv, vice president and general manager of strategic initiatives, Omnitracs, LLC Crystal Anderson is the co-owner/partner of Donald D. Anderson Jr. Trucking. She continues to actively work the many roles within her trucking company alongside her husband who also drives for the company. Anderson has over 40 years of experience in the transportation industry. She is the daughter of a truck driver, the wife of a truck driver, the mother of a truck driver, and a driver herself. Anderson attended Buena Visa College where she obtained her B.A. degree in Business and Finance. She also holds an Associates degree in Risk Management and Certified Director of Safety and still maintains her commercial driver’s license. As an active member of the Nebraska Trucking Association, Anderson currently serves as the Executive Chairman. She is also a member of the Nebraska Trucking Association’s Logistic Council and Nebraska Trucking Association’s newly formed Women’s Council where she actively participates in mentoring youth. Kristy Knichel, a lifelong Pittsburgh native, is a second-generation logistics executive. Since taking over as president of Knichel Logistics in 2007, Knichel has been the driving force behind their yearly growth and reputation as one of the top service providers within the IMC community. As of 2019, Knichel Logistics has grown to $83 million in revenue. Knichel’s proudest accomplishments are winning the inaugural Distinguished Woman in Logistics Award from WIT and her appointment as the Intermodal Logistics Conference Chair on the TIA Board of Directors. She has recently been featured in Pittsburgh Magazine for Women in Business. For the second year in a row, she has received an award for the top 50 fastest growing companies in Pittsburgh. Today, her focus is on expanding Knichel Logistics’ footprint via strategic development and continuing to offer her team members the opportunity for growth and self-improvement. Katrina Liddell is president of the global forwarding and expedite operations of XPO Logistics in North America, and is the first woman president within the North American transportation group. Prior to her current role, she led XPO’s sales organization for North American transportation, including the national account management team. Liddell made the transition to the supply chain industry from the industrial technology sector, where she was initially one of the few woman executives with an engineering background. During her 14-year tenure with Johnson Controls International, her positions included general manager of the global building automation systems business and senior roles in enterprise account management, vertical market development, operations and customer relations. She earned a juris master degree from Emory University School of Law and a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology. Vana Matte, senior vice president of engineering & technology at J.B. Hunt, is a global technology and digital transformation executive who leverages business-centric technology leadership to scale growth while safeguarding the business through cybersecurity expertise. Vana is a strategic, innovative leader with over 20 years of experience delivering competitive edge solutions on a global scale. Vana leads the J.B. Hunt 360 digital freight matching platform infrastructure and operations, cyber security, cloud, network, business continuity, databases, unified communications engineering, digital workplace solutions, enterprise information management, software development and IT operations (DevOps) continuous integration and continuous delivery (CI/CD), quality assurance, and performance and tuning. Vana ensures J.B. Hunt driver technologies and shipper integration technologies are running effectively. Vana was instrumental in enabling J.B. Hunt employees to work remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic. Jodie Teuton is the co-founder of Kenworth of Louisiana, a heavy-duty truck dealership group representing both Kenworth and Hino truck brands with seven Louisiana locations. Before devoting her professional career to the retail auto and truck business in 1997, she practiced law locally in South Louisiana. Teuton is a native of Terrebonne Parish where she currently lives with her husband and business partner, Scott Oliphant. She is also “Wonder Woman” to their daughter, Victoria, a Junior at Millsaps College in Jackson, Mississippi. Teuton received her B.S. in Business from Nicholls State University in 1987 and her J.D. from Loyola University in 1990. She is passionate about business and proud to carry on her family’s legacy. She is a past President of American Truck Dealers – ATD (a division of the National Auto Dealers Association) and currently represents Kenworth Dealers on the Board of Directors at ATD. Michal Yariv serves as vice president and general manager of strategic initiatives for Omnitracs. In this role, Yariv focuses on the development and implementation of value-added services and applications that can be deployed on top of the core Omnitracs products. Her teams utilize Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), and data capabilities to explore new avenues that continue to drive efficiency for Omnitracs customers in addition to top-line revenue growth. Yariv brings a wealth of market knowledge, product strategy, and leadership to the team. Yariv has over 20 years of experience in transportation and technology. Prior to joining Omnitracs, she held leadership roles at Coyote Logistics (acquired by UPS) and Expedia. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Master of Science in IT, both from Northwestern University. The judges for the 2020 award are Ellen Voie, WIT president and CEO; Deborah Lockridge, editor in chief, Heavy Duty Trucking; and Ruth Lopez, director of TMC North/ OMC Operations, Ryder Supply Chain and 2019 Influential Woman
NAW announces Eric Hoplin as new CEO
Today, the National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors (NAW), the largest distribution public policy association in the United States that represents wholesaler-distributors and a federation of international, national, regional, state and local associations and their member firms, announces the appointment of Eric Hoplin as Chief Executive Officer, effective October 19, 2020. As announced in February, current CEO Dirk Van Dongen will retire after a 41-year tenure leading the organization. “Throughout the pandemic and recession, wholesaler-distributors have kept America’s supply-chain running, ensuring businesses have the goods they need to serve their customers,” Hoplin said. “I am honored and excited to join NAW and to advocate on some of the most important issues facing this critical industry. I look forward to continuing the tradition of excellence that has been the hallmark under Dirk Van Dongen’s leadership at NAW.” “I am delighted to welcome Eric to NAW, and I am confident he is the right person to lead the organization forward,” said Van Dongen. “Eric is an incredibly talented executive and demonstrated leader who understands the real challenges facing American workers and businesses in the current crisis and beyond.” Doug York, Chairman of the NAW Board and CEO of Ewing Irrigation & Landscape Supply said, “Eric is the right leader for NAW. He has a compelling vision to guide the organization and our industry into the future, standing on the shoulders of Dirk and the incredible NAW team.” Hoplin currently serves as Head of External Relations for Wells Fargo & Company in Washington, D.C. In this role, Hoplin has served as an ambassador for Wells Fargo, leading a team that drives the company’s reputation and policy priorities by partnering with NGOs, think tanks, trade associations, advocacy groups, academic institutions, and charitable organizations. Before joining Wells Fargo, Hoplin served as the executive director at the Financial Services Roundtable (now BPI), a trade association representing the CEOs of the nation’s largest financial services companies. Prior to that, Hoplin worked in management consulting at Booz Allen Hamilton where he helped senior leaders across the government solve their most vexing challenges. Earlier in his career, Hoplin worked in politics, supporting a number of congressional, gubernatorial, and Presidential campaigns. A Minnesota native, Hoplin holds a Master of International Affairs degree from Columbia University, an M.B.A. from Augsburg College, a B.A. in political science and communications from St. Olaf College, and a certificate in Change Management from Georgetown University McDonough School of Business. He serves on the boards of the Trust for the National Mall and the Reagan Ranch.
World’s largest Virtual Robotics Show and Conference runs September 8-11
The industry’s top experts and leading companies to participate RIA Robotics Week, the world’s largest virtual robotics show and conference, opens on Tuesday morning, September 8 and continues through Friday afternoon, September 11. The event features more than 75 leading industry experts talking about how to successfully apply robotics, the latest industry trends, promising technology breakthroughs, and more. The accompanying exhibitor showcase features 80 world-class companies including robot manufacturers, accessory equipment suppliers, and system integrators. The platform allows attendees to learn about leading products, engage in one to one discussions with company leaders, and connect in live Zoom groups with exhibitors. “We’re thrilled with the level of participation from industry leaders and experts, and believe that Robotics Week will play a major role in helping companies learn how robotics can help them solve their challenges,” said Jeff Burnstein, President of the Association for Advancing Automation (A3) and Robotic Industries Association (RIA), the organizational sponsors of Robotics Week. “One of the things I’m most excited about is that current users such as 3M, Amazon, FedEx, General Motors, and Tyson Foods will speak at the conference, sharing strategies with companies who are just beginning to explore robotics. Most current studies indicate that the global adoption of robotics will greatly accelerate when the pandemic is over, so now is the perfect time for small, medium and large companies to get ready to automate.” Among the highlights of the week are: · How Robotics & Automation are Transforming Industries roundtable discussion featuring leaders from FedEx, Tyson Foods, Wavemaker Labs, and Badger Technologies (September 8) · CEO Roundtable on the State of the Global Robotics Industry featuring CEOs from ATI, Fanuc, Harmonic Drive, KUKA, and Schunk (September 9) · A sneak-peek at the new US Robotics Roadmap from Dr. Henrik Christensen of the University of California at San Diego (September 9) · Presentations from leading robotics start-ups such as GrayMatter Robotics, Hello Robot, Elementary Robotics,, Flexiv, Freedom Robotics and Miso Robotics (September 9) and a keynote from Damion Shelton of Agility Robotics (September 10) · Keynotes from Tim Salaba of 3M (September 8) and Roger Phillips of General Motors (September 11) offering insights on how their companies have applied robotics and automation. · A panel discussion on the Future of Robotics featuring executives from Sarcos Robotics, Boston Dynamics, REInvest Robotics, and Hello Robot (September 10) · A panel discussion on Employability –How to Harness Robotic Competency for Industry 4.0 featuring leaders from the ARM Institute, NIMS, Festo Didactic, Georgia Tech, and the Miller Resource Group (September 10) · How AI-Powered Robotics Will Change Automation featuring leaders from Amazon, Honeywell, NVIDIA and Siemens (September 11) Registration for Robotics Week is free. All live presentations will be archived for later viewing until September 30, 2020. For complete details visit the Robotics Week website. Platinum Sponsors of Robotics Week include ABB Inc., ATI Industrial Automation, AutoGuide Mobile Robots, Calvary Robotics, FANUC America, Fictiv, Harmonic Drive, Honeywell Intelligrated, JR Automation, Kawasaki Robotics USA, KUKA, Miller Resource Group, OnRobot, SCHUNK, and Universal Robots.
MHI officials look forward to ProMat 2021
There is a lot of uncertainty in the world today due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The team at MHI wants to assure all ProMat 2021 exhibitors and attendees that plans are fully underway to hold a safe and productive event in April 2021 in Chicago. Know that MHI is committed to making ProMat 2021 an exceptional event for both exhibitors and attendees. ProMat 2021 will be a combination of a live, face-to-face event: as well as, a digital platform to supplement the in-person event. Safety First ProMat 2021 will be operated with best practices for social distancing and taking into account all current sanitation recommendations to offer a safe environment for all participants. MHI officials are closely monitoring developments and mandates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the World Health Organization (WHO), local public health officials, and venue partners in Chicago for guidance on how best to ensure the well-being of all attendees, exhibitors, partners and staff on-site at ProMat 2021. Potentially, regulations in place next April may require face masks for all individuals upon entry into McCormick Place. Masks will be available on-site to all individuals who need one. Comprehensive distancing measures and thorough hygiene reminders will be in place throughout the entire campus. McCormick Place has achieved the GBAC Star™ Facility Accreditation. GBAC Star™ includes adhering to protocols in place for disinfection and cleaning of all public spaces, restrooms, meeting rooms, and high touch areas. The GBAC Star™ program is the gold standard for cleaning, disinfection, and infectious disease prevention for prepared facilities. Foodservice processes and options have been updated to ensure the health and safety of all participants. You will notice updated seating arrangements, pre-packaged food options as well as masked and gloved service by trained servers throughout the dining spaces. New layouts have been implemented for the keynote ballroom, theaters, and lounges that will allow for sufficient space between attendees. Sanitizing stations will be set up throughout McCormick Place. MHI will create an independent ‘safety team’ to ensure that discipline around these new protocols and guidelines is diligently observed. ProMat 365 Digital Platform MHI is planning ProMat 365 digital experience to complement the live event. One exciting new opportunity is AI matchmaking utilizing a state-of-the-art tool — GRIP. This tool will provide exhibitors and attendees to connect digitally during the event based on their demographics and activity and set up online meetings and demonstrations. All exhibitors that are contracted for the in-person event can be included in this opportunity and will be provided with means to connect digitally with attendees through their online exhibitor listing or showcase during the event. ProMat 365 digital elements are an exclusive upgrade for exhibitors that contracted and on-site for the live event. ProMat 365 offerings include: —live meetings – both 1:1 and group —product demonstrations via video —enhanced AI driven matchmaking and lead generation —comprehensive showcase listing with images & videos —streamed keynote sessions —targeted streaming of educational content More information on this exciting opportunity will be coming soon. If Uncertainty Continues In the unlikely situation that a physical event in Chicago next April is not possible, MHI will convert our current event to a fully digital ProMat 365 format that will allow exhibitors and attendees the choice to participate in live interaction and solution sourcing online. If this path is taken, current exhibitors will be given the option to participate and apply a portion of their payment from the physical event to the digital event or choose not to exhibit in the digital event and cancel their participation and receive a full refund as part of MHI’s No Risk, Big Reward Program.
AAR commends new SERTC Online Training Program, first of its kind in response to COVID-19
The Security and Emergency Response Training Center (SERTC), an initiative of Transportation Technology Center, Inc. (TTCI) a subsidiary of the Association of American Railroads (AAR), announced the launch of its first-ever online training academy, which kicks off tomorrow with a Highway Emergency Response Class. The new platform allows SERTC to advance its mission of providing quality, essential training to the nation’s first responders despite ongoing challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. Over the last 35 years, SERTC has trained more than 70,000 first responders and emergency responders worldwide on safely managing a rail incident involving hazardous material (hazmat) shipments. The online, interactive classes will fulfill the classroom component of the training and give participants a leg-up when they can safely travel to Pueblo for the hands-on portion of the class. “Railroads’ commitment to the safety and the communities we serve runs deep, which is why we make every effort to ensure first responders are prepared to safely respond to a potential rail incident,” said Lisa Stabler, President, Transportation Technology Center, Inc. “This innovative new training model adapts to today’s challenges and meets first responders where they are despite the ongoing pandemic.” “We’ve pivoted to meet the needs of the industry as well as the needs of emergency responders as times have changed,” said Forrest Wieder, Director of SERTC. “With SERTC’s customized online platform, the course will enable first responders and trainees to participate with greater flexibility. COVID-19 taught us many things—including that the way we need to teach our nation’s first responders is to come up with diverse options to get them the information they need to stay safe.” Through railroad and government-sponsored initiatives, financial assistance is available for firefighters and first responders interested in enrolling in SERTC training programs. As a part of the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) National Domestic Preparedness Consortium (NDPC), qualifying SERTC participants can receive full funding for the new online training module as well as future in-person components.