time in new england
TRANSCRIPT
tuckerstake
While a series recent trips tothe New England area to
attend a string of various surface fin-ishing events and meetings with cus-tomers didn’t bring me to “long,rocky beaches” (’70s music buffsshould appreciate the lyrical refer-ence), they did provide insights intothe issues finishers, suppliers, anddistributors in the region are facingand how they are coping in thiseconomy.
For example, more than a few fin-ishers I chatted with at the 2011 NewEngland Surface Finishing Regional,held in Hyannis, Mass., indicatedthat—despite challenging economicconditions—they are finding ways toimprove profitability and productivi-ty. Some are weeding out sources ofwaste in their businesses by scruti-nizing virtually every aspect of theiroperations, from resource utilizationto personnel, while others areexpanding into lucrative end-usemarket sectors, particularly aero-space and defense, medical, and spe-cialty applications. While many feltthat we haven’t yet “turned the cor-ner” in terms of the overall economy,I did get the sense that the outlookwas certainly more favorable than itwas heading into 2011.
Industry watchers feel much ofthis has to do with the resiliency ofthe region’s “manufacturing econo-my.” According to the Worcester,Mass.–based ManufacturingAdvancement Center, Massachusettsremains the region’s top industrialstate, accounting for 38% of NewEngland manufacturing plants,while supporting 45.5% of the area’sindustrial employment.1 Meanwhile,Connecticut ranks second with6,203 plants, or 24% of New Englandmanufacturing facilities, and 26.6%
of manufacturing’s employment.Rhode Island is the smallest state inthe New England manufacturingcommunity, accounting for 2,416plants and 78,673 jobs. Providence,Rhode Island, according to thereport, is New England’s top indus-trial city, housing 407 plants or 17%of Rhode Island manufacturers.Boston and Worcester, Mass., ranksecond and third with 300 and 255plants, respectively.
Looking at things from theemployment perspective, you’ll finda mixed bag. Four out of five statesin the region boast unemploymentrates that are lower than the nationalaverage—New Hampshire (5.3%);Vermont (5.6%); and Maine andMassachusetts (7.3%). Only oneNew England state exceeds thenational average: Rhode Island(10.4%). Connecticut, holding at8.7%, is right in line with the average.
Economics isn’t the only meas-urement of how the New Englandarea is faring these days. While sit-ting in on a keynote presentationconducted by Curt Spalding, EPAAdministrator for Region 1, Ilearned of the strides New Englandmanufacturers have made on theenvironmental front. According toMr. Spalding, the region’s pollutionprevention programs are secondonly to those of the state ofCalifornia, which is notorious for itsstringent EPA standards. Prettyimpressive, I’d say.
Now, if only those Patriots canseal the deal.
REFERENCES1. Manufacturers’ News magazine report.
Time in New England
November/December 2011Volume 109 - Number 8
PublisherGreg Valero
EditorReginald Tucker
Publisher EmeritusEugene B. Nadel
Art Director - Production ManagerSusan [email protected]
Advertising Sales ManagersMidwest/West Coast
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