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| REGIONAL REPORTS
June 2005
In this report . . . . . .
Energy Bill Heats Up Washington This June SPI's latest phase in a sweeping grassroots campaign to educate and encourage action by U.S. Senators serving on the Energy and Natural Resources Committee yielded desirable results, thanks to plastics companies across the nation blanketing the Senate Committee members with letters, faxes and e-mails. At the end of May, the Committee sent to the full Senate for their consideration a historic, bi-partisan energy bill that will help significantly reduce natural gas, electricity and other energy costs negatively impacting U.S. plastics manufacturers. The important Landrieu-Alexander-Allen provision that would lift the current Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) drilling moratoria will be offered on the Senate floor as an amendment to the bill. We Need The Landrieu-Alexander-Allen Amendment Passed With a full Senate vote expected in mid to late June on the Energy Bill, SPI is stepping up its grassroots efforts by launching another letter-writing campaign and continuing Hill visits with Senators from key plastics states. Everyone in the plastics industry from all states of the Union must get involved to ensure the passage of this bill and the critical provision lifting the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) drilling moratoria. "I don't have to tell my plastics industry colleagues that natural gas is the backbone of the plastics industry or that U.S. resin manufacturers require natural gas to produce the feedstock used to make plastics products, and I certainly don't have to tell them resin prices have skyrocketed due to natural gas prices tripling in recent years," says Rick Sturgis, director of SPI's Southern Regional Office, "But we need to tell our lawmakers in Washington how this supply-chain effect has trickled down to competitively hurt thousands of processors across the country who employ over 1.4 million plastics workers." The Landrieu-Alexander-Allen amendment makes a lot of common sense. It will allow access to the enormous natural gas reserves beneath our offshore waters and supports the rights of states to request moratoria relief and share in the proceeds. The fact is, gas can be efficiently obtained with environmentally friendly technology out of view from the shore and put into existing pipelines along the Gulf Coast, resulting in lower natural gas prices for every state. Don't Put It Off, Email Your Senators Today! SPI has set-up a Web site to make it easy for plastics employers and employees to write their U.S. Senators about our industry's urgent need for affordable energy and feedstock that is derived from natural gas. To email your senators, click here. For more information on SPI's policy position regarding energy, click here. We Know They're Out There, But Need Help Finding Them Since 1998, the SPI Southern Regional Distinguished Service Award has recognized the outstanding dedication and service of the good people that make up this fascinating industry called plastics. Without industry volunteers to serve in leadership roles on SPI and other organization's various boards, committees and task groups, it would be difficult to accomplish our mission. If no plastics industry leaders stepped up to the plate to attend legislative events at their state capitols, visit Members of Congress with SPI staff when called upon or host plant tours for legislators; our efforts in Washington and at the state level may not have been as effective. Then of course there are the men and women who provide technical knowledge and "real-life" industry perspectives that give SPI staff valuable insights on how proposed regulations and legislation could adversely affect the plastics industry or its various segments. SPI staff alone didn't write the Body of Knowledge for the National Certification in Plastics - a task group of plastics industry technicians, safety and training managers and plant managers served as subject matter experts. Each year there are so many dedicated people in our industry that juggle the responsibilities of their "real" jobs and take time away from their companies and families to attend industry meetings to share their expertise. If you know someone who has shown dedication to promoting plastics in a way that benefits the industry, please take a minute today to nominate them for the SPI South Distinguished Service Award. Injection Molding and Extrusion Experts Needed Subject Matter Experts are needed in injection molding and extrusion to give SPI guidance as it updates the Body of Knowledge for the National Certification in Plastics exams for these processes in order for SPI's certification to meet national standards. Individuals, at the technician level or above, involved in injection molding and extrusion and who are knowledgeable in safety practices, processing and quality inspection standards are welcomed to serve on SPI's NCP Workgroup. If you or someone from your company is interested in being a Subject Matter Expert on this important workgroup, please contact SPI's Workforce Development Manager, Barbara Darby at (864) 239-2939, ext. 4; e-mail: bdarby@socplas.org. The first workgroup meeting is scheduled for July 19 & 20, 2005 in New York City at the Professional Examination Service's office. New SPI Publication to Help with Health and Safety Regulations Knowing which Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations are applicable to plastics operations - and how to comply with them - can help a company: Reduce workplace injuries and the associated workers' compensation costs, Avoid fines and penalties for regulatory violations and Avoid becoming a target for safety and health inspections. With this in mind, SPI's Occupational Health and Environmental Issues Committee (OHEIC) is developing an easy to read booklet of key regulations to assist the plastics processing community with identifying and understanding important health and safety regulations applicable to their facilities. Other important topics such as Legionnaire's disease and job safety/hazard analysis will also be included. The publication will be helpful to companies developing or revising their health and safety programs and will provide resources for additional information. To obtain a copy, once available, please contact Marie Martinko at (202) 974-5330, e-mail: mmartink@socplas.org. Spotlight on OHEIC If you have experience and expertise to share relative to worker health and safety or environmental and product regulatory issues, or if you need more information in these areas, why not get involved with SPI's OHEIC groups? Because OHEIC participants represent different industry segments and companies of different sizes, the committee exchanges ideas and addresses issues from a range of perspectives. OHEIC provides information and resources to SPI members, helps them stay current and understand regulations, provides input into the rulemaking process, and sponsors an annual Safety Statistics and Awards Program that recognizes plastics facilities' outstanding safety performance. An added benefit of OHEIC involvement is the opportunity to further develop management and leadership experience by chairing the committee or one of its task groups, for which no prior experience is required. OHEIC's next quarterly meeting is July 20-21 at SPI Headquarters in Washington, DC. For more information on:
State Legislators Meet With Plastics Industry at SPI Receptions In keeping with tradition, SPI's North and South Carolina legislative receptions provided an excellent opportunity for plastics industry representatives to have one-on-one conversations with their lawmakers about the needs of their companies and the industry in general. In North and South Carolina combined, a total of 142 state legislators attended the receptions held in Raleigh on March 29, and Columbia on May 4. At the receptions, legislators visited industry exhibits to learn more about those plastics companies and their contributions to the states' economies. An array of food, as well as beer, wine and sodas are served to all attendees in a relaxed business setting. International Trade Focus at Industry Issues Briefings Prior to both the North and South Carolina legislative receptions, SPI and APC staff updated attendees on issues of concern to the plastics industry. SPI's Director of International Trade, Karen Toliver, informed industry attendees on what steps their trade association is taking to help alleviate the affects of unfair trade practices abroad. In order for SPI to better serve the plastics industry in the international trade arena, SPI seeks member input and information on the following issues:
Please email your comments and feedback to Karen Toliver at ktoliver@socplas.org. Preparing Generation Next for Plastics Industry Careers While school is out for the summer, smart plastics companies will be thinking about where to recruit their next generation of plastics workers. Generation Next, children born in the Reagan era, are now beginning to enter the workforce and begin post-secondary education. As far as stereo-types go, this generation is technologically savvy, highly motivated and conservative in nature compared to their Generation X predecessors. As the plastics industry becomes more automated, workers with advanced technical skills will be in great demand. One of the best ways for plastics companies to cultivate their future workforce is to get involved with the schools in their communities by sponsoring PlastiVan visits. PlastiVan, the National Plastics Center's traveling polymeric science lab, visits schools around the country teaching about the science of plastics through fun-filled, hands-on experiments. The PlastiVan lab experience is easily tailored to the appropriate educational level of students and will pique their interest in the science and technology of plastics and polymers. For high school students, the labs delve deeper into the chemistry of plastics and the industry's exciting career opportunities. The PlastiVan program also addresses environmental issues related to plastics and promotes a positive view of this dynamic and diverse industry. Companies that sponsor PlastiVan visits are not limited to schools, as companies have sponsored this excellent program at museums and other venues in their community. Considering the substantial contributions that plastics make to local economies, it makes sense to educate local citizens, both young and old, about the many ways plastics improve our lives. While it might seem expensive to sponsor a PlastiVan visit ($1,500 per visit), the price of a PlastiVan visit can be less for SPI members with financial assistance from your trade association. SPI PlastiVan funding is limited, so don't wait until school starts to sign up for the Fall 2005 Southern Tour. Sponsors are not invoiced until after their PlastiVan visits have taken place.
Plastics Encounter Southeast to be held at the Charlotte Convention Center this fall will bring processors, suppliers and OEMs from the Southern region and around the country together for three days of industry networking. Exhibits represent all plastics processes and afford attendees a great opportunity to see new technology, admire impressive products and do business with industry professionals. Afternoon cocktail parties on the trade show floor give attendees and exhibitors an opportunity to relax and more easily make connections. The Society of the Plastics Industry, Inc., SPI's Molders Division and Plastics News will co-present a Management Conference and an Advanced Automation for Injection Molding seminar on October 18 in conjunction with the Plastics Encounter Southeast trade show. Visit the Plastics Encounter Southeast Web site for more information on the trade show, management conference and automation seminar.
The InnoVision Technology Awards are accepting entries for its 2005 celebration of technological innovation and excellence in the South Carolina Upstate region. The InnoVision Awards recognize companies that have distinguished themselves in six categories: Technology Development, Technology Application, Small Enterprise, Innovation in Education, Community Service, and the Charles Townes Individual Achievement Award. The InnoVision awards experience provides an opportunity for high visibility and exposure as finalists are celebrated at a finalist reception in September and are featured in videos at the November 9, 2005, InnoVision Technology Awards Dinner, where the winners are announced. Companies from the ten counties of South Carolina's Upstate are eligible for nomination or to submit entries. Those counties include: Abbeville, Anderson, Cherokee, Greenville, Greenwood, Laurens, Oconee, Pickens, Spartanburg and Union. To submit a nomination, sign up as a sponsor or receive more information about the Awards Dinner or Technology Forum Series, visit www.InnoVisionAward.org or send e-mail to info@InnoVisionAward.org. The deadline for entries is July 11, 2005. Peter Bemis Shares Thoughts On Leader Development at SPI Seminar As part of SPI South's Workforce Management seminar, Peter Bemis, president and CEO of Bemis Contract Group - a worldwide manufacturer of toilet seats and custom injection molder, shared his philosophy on leader development and succession planning. Bemis started off by candidly saying, "A Company without a succession plan in place, could be heading for a train wreck that disrupts operations and profitability. Having a succession plan in place that others in the company buy into can be the difference when it's time for a major leadership transition." Promoting from within for its leadership positions is Bemis' preference as it gives the company intimate knowledge of a candidate's work habits and ethics, not to mention an insider will also have an experienced understanding of the company as well. As far as executive recruitment firms go, Bemis finds that process to be a 50/50 shot that is disruptive, expensive, and may even result in other high-quality employees quitting. In order to develop his company's future leaders, Bemis shared in detail with attendees a succession-planning matrix that his company uses to evaluate candidates' command of fundamentals, advanced skills/attributes and areas in which they have distinguished themselves. Bemis cautioned against telling individuals that they are incumbent leaders prior to their actual promotion, recommending instead that you ask the top 10-15% to participate in a management development program to broaden their understanding of multiple disciplines throughout the company. Because most first-line supervisors at plastics companies are promoted from within based on their high performance as operators and have only informal leadership training or none at all, the seminar also focused on their development. Managing people and production involve skill sets beyond technical competence that need to be systematically nurtured to ensure new supervisors are successful and operations run smoothly. Unfortunately, many companies wait until they lose a supervisor or plant manager before thinking about who can fill those roles. The lack of advance training or mentoring leaves many first time leaders to learn by trial and error on the job. "When supervisors are not properly cultivated and lack skills such as motivating people, effectively communicating with subordinates and management, solving problems and understanding production's link to the bottom line; problems will surface as poor leadership can manifest itself into high employee turnover, increased down-time, customer orders not being met on time, projects coming in over budget," explained seminar speaker and human capital management and training expert, Joe Barto of Training Modernization Group. In order to properly prepare employees for leadership roles, a company should map its leader development path by outlining essential skills and tasks for its leadership positions and identify the leadership traits needed for each. The best ways to do this is to identify the current high performers at each supervisory/management level and ask each of them what they do and don't do on a daily basis. Once the mission essential tasks, high performance behaviors and leadership traits are documented, a company is in a better position to identify and develop future leaders. Otherwise, it's hit or miss getting the right people in or ready for leadership. For more information on how your company can get the most out of its human capital, visit Training Modernization Group's Web site or call them at (757) 373-5557. Planning A Company Picnic This Summer? Why Not Invite Local Officials? As the summer heats up, your U.S. and state lawmakers will be heading back to their home districts for summer break. Dedicated politicians are always looking for ways to stay connected to their constituents while they are home, and accepting an invitation to a company picnic is a great way for them to do just that - especially if you give them a moment to address the gathering. It also gives you and your company an opportunity to build a more personal relationship in a fun and relaxed setting with your elected officials whether it's the town's mayor, city council or your state representatives. If they can't make it to the picnic this summer, there is always the holiday party next winter |
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