DRMA year in review

2011 has been a very exciting year for the Dayton Region Manufacturers Association (DRMA). Until October of this year we were known as the Dayton Tooling and Manufacturing Association (DTMA). Since the association was founded in 1934 it has changed its name 5 times to continue to grow and strengthen our membership. Our latest change, The Dayton Region Manufacturers Association (DRMA) encompasses all sectors of MANUFACTURING in the DAYTON REGION. But, we will always remember the core of the association, the tooling and machining sector, just as it is the core of the region’s manufacturing industry.

Take a look at some of the highlights of accomplishments made in 2011, supporting the DRMA’s brand promise to strengthen, advocate and educate:

An open letter from the DDC

Dear Friend of Wright‐Patt and Dayton Region Stakeholder:

As part of the Dayton Development Coalition’s efforts, we are sending this memo to convey our point‐of‐view of the Community’s posture relating to recent events and our long‐standing partnership with Wright‐Patterson Air Force Base. Significant national, state and local factors have resulted in an increasing level of uncertainty for our Region, in particular for the Air Force and future of Wright‐Patt. These factors include, but are not limited to the following:

Meeting topic - "Turning Dayton Around"

The Dayton Region Manufacturers Association (DRMA) has announced that the January member meeting will feature speaker David McDonald, president of the McDonald Group, LLC. 

David will discuss a specific vision for turning Dayton around. The city needs to be saved because its decay and bad name is spilling over into the region and affecting the region's ability to attract manufacturing and other businesses.

Another year over… what have you done?

2011 is coming to a close and it certainly has been a wild ride! The question is did you learn anything this year? I am a big believer in continual learning and the past few years sure gave us a lot of opportunities to learn. So, have you taken a hard look at your business, have you made any changes, have you done anything or have you just stuck your head in the sand?

Let’s start this post with a John Lennon song. Now just to set the record straight I never really cared for Mr. Lennon’s politics but I do like the beginning of this song…

“So this is Christmas, and what have you done? Another year over, and a new one just begun.”


Yes it is Christmas, another year is over and I must ask you… what have you done?

Jim McGregor dies at 63

Jim McGregor, 63, vice chairman of McGregor Metalworking Companies, died of an apparent heart attack Tuesday night during a flight from Milwaukee to Chicago on a business trip.

A 1974 graduate of the University of Cincinnati, Jim McGregor joined his brother Dan at Morgal Machine Tool Co., coming on as production manager.

They subsequently opened OSMI stamping and Rose City Machine, then added Carmichael Machine, all in Springfield. The McGregors in 2005 built South Carolina Metal Products to expand its business into the Southeast.

Jim McGregor is survived by his wife, Nancy, of 35 years; two grown children, son, Jamie and daughter, Jennie; and five grandchildren.

Read Full Article Here

Currency Manipulation: What America Needs To Do

I've been thinking about the debate over China’s currency manipulation. Of course they manipulate their currency for the good of their country, we all do. Can we say quantitative easing?

Speaker Boehner is saying that it sets a dangerous precedent when one nation demands another nation change the value of their currency. I do have to say that there’s no way the US would stand for it. Would we change the value of the dollar compared to the Euro for the good of the Euro-zone? I don’t think so.

Product or Promotion?

So you want to grow your business. What should you do you do first? 

A) Beef up your Sales force

B) Start a new Marketing campaign
C) Venture into Social Media
D) Develop Your Product

Too often the typical business growth plan puts the proverbial cart before the horse. The sales team frantically works to peddle the same mediocre product to even more people. But a shiny brochure, a slick website and a smooth presentation only go so far. The truth is that you are no better than your competition and your prospects know it. Frustration and disappointment await

You, too, can be a better critical thinker

Critical thinking is the most important skill you can have if you want to compete in the 21st century business world, says new research by Oklahoma City-based Executive Development Associates.

Want to become a better critical thinker but don’t know how to start? It helps if you’re in the right frame of mind to begin with. Prep your head by saying the following things to yourself:

• I can give my friends (and non-friends) the benefit of the doubt. 
• I can find truth on both sides. 
• I can stop judging myself and others negatively. 
• I don’t have to see ideas and people as right or wrong, good or bad, useful or useless. 

Now, go forth and think critically! For more discussion on the topic of critical thinking, check out, “Uncovering the critical thinker inside.”

Sumbitted by Heather Martin

Dayton Area Manufacturers “Nail It” — Delivering Hope

For the past three years Cedarville students have worked to provide a solution to the problem of high-cost medicine faced by missionary hospitals. Missionary surgeons in third world countries face the challenge of treating many patients with limited equipment. One specific surgery they often perform is an intra medullary (IM) nailing procedure to treat a femoral fracture.

Tenwek Hospital in Kenya, Africa, uses the IM nailing method as its preferred choice for fixing femoral shaft fractures. The hospital treats several of these fractures a week as a major referral center for severe orthopedic injuries.

Hall of Fame Inductee # 1

Wilber & Orville

The Wright brothers:

Wilbur (April 16, 1867 – May 30, 1912)

Orville (August 19, 1871 – January 30, 1948)

The story of the Wright brothers is a story of the true American dream.  The brothers already had a successful bicycle business but they had a dream of flying!  Others had tried, even the United States Army was trying to develop an airplane in 1903 but they could not get it off the ground!  Well just 8 days after the Army failed the Wright brothers were successful with the Wright Flyer!

Orville & Wilbur Wright from Dayton Ohio invented and built the

"I am so busy putting out fires..." A Reflection

When you talk to people in your organization do they pride themselves on being great firefighters? Are they excellent at going into the fire and saving the baby? There is a great sense of accomplishment in this approach to work. Everyone values the performer who can save the ‘baby’ day after day in the organization. When it works, we can rest assured that they’ve made a big difference and saved the day. 

These are challenging times when putting out fires and repairing damage can spell survival. But playing the hero can be seductive and when key people in an organization - especially the leader - get used to spending their time putting out fires - when saving the ‘baby’ becomes the routine rather than the exception, the organization is headed into trouble.

SME to Partner with Local High School

The SME Education Foundation is taking a community-based approach to workforce development by creating strong partnerships between exemplary schools, businesses and organizations. Kettering Fairmont High School, Kettering, Ohio, has been named an exemplary model school by the SME Education Foundation, one of six selected nationally for the first phase of their Partnership Response in Manufacturing Education (PRIME) program launched in the fall of 2011.

Read Full Article Here

Submitted by SME Dayton

The Great Opportunity

For those in manufacturing, 2011 has been a breath of fresh air. With the Great Recession formally behind us, the conversation has shifted from layoffs and survival to growth and capacity.

For some, though, the pain of the past still lingers and today’s market is viewed through a dark lens.  They are shackled by suspicion and apprehension while opportunities pass them by. They are sure the sky is still falling while ignoring the fact that manufacturing in nearing pre-2008 levels.

We can’t change the past or predict the future. We control only our thoughts and actions for today. And our outlook - good or bad - is closely tied to our success. The good news is that you can choose your outlook.

I see a Great Opportunity. You?

Submitted by Gary Weldon