SPI to Examine Energy Issues . . . SPI's executive board has made energy issues a high priority for the association and will expand its efforts in this area due to the plastics industry's reliance on energy sources for power and raw materials. SPI's expanded efforts will give the industry a stronger voice in the policy debate on energy and ensure that plastics are well represented. SPI will conduct a thorough review of the issue, along with the Bush Administration's recommendations for a new national energy policy, and its implications for the plastics industry. SPI also will continue to work closely with allied manufacturing groups to oversee a unified effort to develop policy, advocate industry positions and, if necessary, conduct research and gather statistics to support those positions. For information contact Maureen Healey at (202) 974-5219; e-mail mhealey@socplas.org.

OSHA . . . The Occupational Safety and Health Administration published its final rule on record keeping standards that could have significant implications for plastics companies. The rule, Part 1904--Record Keeping and Reporting Occupational Illnesses and Injuries, sets new criteria for reporting work-related illnesses and injuries to the government. The Federal Register notice is available at www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/aces/aces140.html, or visit OSHA's Web site at www.osha.gov. SPI is studying the rule to assess its impact on plastics and to develop compliance assistance materials for members. For information contact Susan Howe at (202) 974-5223; e-mail showe@socplas.org.

Get the Facts on MACT . . . In response to numerous inquiries, SPI has prepared a "MACT Primer" to clarify information about four MACT standards affecting the plastics industry: Printing and Publishing; Paper and Other Web Coating; Surface Coating of Plastic Parts and Products; and Surface Coating of Metal Parts and Products. The summary includes an overview of what a MACT is, what source categories are subject to MACT standards, terminology and guidance to help determine whether your facility is subject to a MACT. The primer includes a table comparing the four MACTs, plus links to various EPA resources. To access the document, visit www.plasticsindustry.org/public/oheic/oheic.htm.

SPI Grassroots Network On Line . . . Making it easier for the plastics industry to establish lines of communications with state lawmakers, SPI has developed a Grassroots Network under the Legislative and Regulatory Affairs section of it Web site at www.plasticsindustry.org/public/legreg/index.htm. The network provides a listings of state legislators and governors for each state and how to contact them. Also included is a Guide for Communicating with Your Legislator to promote plastics or to ask for their assistance on legislative matters important to you and your company. To provide your legislators with economic statistics for the plastics industry in your state, fact sheets for all 50 states are available on SPI's website at www.plasticsindustry.org/industry/states.htm.

Industry Information

Presentations Help Members Spread the Word . . . SPI's Web site has downloadable PowerPoint presentations detailing the plastics industry's economic impact in the top 25 U.S. states for plastics employment. The presentations are intended as a tool for members to use when giving presentations to their employees, schools, local Chambers of Commerce, Rotary Clubs and other audiences. The presentations can be accessed at www.plasticsindustry.org/membersonly/industry/top25.htm. For information contact Risikat Okedeyi at (202) 974-5333; e-mail rokedeyi@socplas.org.

Facts on Plastics . . . Facts on a variety of subjects related to the plastics industry and its products are available at www.plasticsindustry.org/outreach/general.htm. The fact sheets are part of a growing toolkit for members to use in their community outreach activities and provide information that can be used in speeches, discussions with officials and communications with anyone whom you wish to educate about the benefits of plastics. Topics include the role of plastics in energy, the economy, medicine, the waste stream and daily life. SPI also has available a step-by-step Guide to Plant Tours, which provides you with information to ensure maximum benefits from the tour to your potential audiences. For information contact Bonnie Limbach at (202) 974-5210; e-mail blimbach@socplas.org.

On Line SPI Membership Directory & Buyer's Guide . . . The SPI Membership Directory & Buyer's Guide is the most comprehensive database of its kind with a detailed listing of products and services of the U.S. plastics industry. Whether you're looking for resin manufacturers, distributors, machinery manufacturers, plastics processors or moldmakers, the directory provides information on sources for all your needs in an easy-to-use, on line database. The directory is helpful for making purchasing decisions from SPI members as it contains a fully searchable index of products, processes and services in an alphabetical listing of companies as well as a geographical listing by city and state. The on line directory replaces SPI's printed members-only publication, and is available to all by going to www.spidirectory.com.

SPI's On Line Literature Catalog . . . By going to the Business Development category of SPI's Web site at www.plasticsindustry.org you can access the complete listing of over 200 technical bulletins, market research reports, directories, safety bulletins and brochures that SPI publishes covering virtually the entire spectrum of the plastics industry. You'll find information on everything from plastic containers to epoxy resins; from safety guidelines to the contributions plastics make to the U.S. economy. The following are frequently requested publications.

• 1999 Labor Survey (No. 61) for Plastic Processing Companies - Labor rate data from 124 companies by region on plant statistics, overtime, paid break policies, hourly rates for 61 job classifications in injection molding, blow molding, compression molding, thermoforming, reinforced and extrusion, and average monthly base salaries for 13 front-line supervisors.
• Standards & Practices of Plastics Molders (Updated in 1998) - Provides advice on successful design of molded plastic parts, threads, inserts, fillets and radii, plus a mold tolerance specification sheets for 27 plastic resins in both English and Metric units. Includes guidelines for commercial and administrative practices such as contractual obligations, production and handling of tooling, charges and costs, inserts, component parts and materials, packing and shipping, limitations on inspection, claims for defects, patents, and product design.
• 1998 Salary & Sales Policy Survey (No. 21) for Plastic Processing Companies - Job descriptions and average salaries for 39 positions in manufacturing, marketing, finance, engineering, personnel and purchasing. Results broken out by sales volume and regions. Includes data on sales policies for direct sales force vs. manufacturers' reps.
• 1999 Financial and Operating Ratios Survey (No. 38) for Plastic Processing Companies - This annual survey of SPI member companies measures F&O ratios such as assets and liabilities, net sales, pretax and after-tax income, cost of sales, overhead, depreciation, inventory and administrative expenses as well as sales volume, processing methods. Results are presented as balance sheets, income statements and statistics.

Workforce Development

PLN Registration Now Online . . . Registration for SPI's Plastics Learning Network (PLN) courses can be done on line at www.plasticslearning.org. The PLN delivers live, interactive televised training for injection molding and extrusion operators via a satellite link to a local community college or plastics facility. The new system also allows Florida companies to apply on line for the free training and certification for skilled machine operators and process technicians in that state. For information contact Barbara Darby at (864) 239-2939; e-mail bdarby@socplas.org.

Get Involved with Local Workforce Investment Boards . . . SPI encourages the plastics industry to be active with their local Workforce Investment Boards, as many of the boards are responsible for allocating state and federal funds to work- force training initiatives in their communities. If plastics specific training programs are to be developed in your community, these boards must be aware of the plastics industry and its needs. A video on forming plastics industry/workforce board partnership is available to assist you in working with your local board. To learn how you can get involved call the SPI Workforce Answerline at 1-800-993-9415 or contact Gary Moore at (202) 974-5246; e-mail gmoore@socplas.org.

New Plastics Worker Selection Service . . . SPI and Spherion Assessment Group make screening applicants easier, more reliable and saves plastics companies time and money with an inexpensive and automated service to screen production and technical workers for employment. To use the system applicants are given an "800" number to call and are asked to answer a series of carefully validated questions based on specific plastics job profiles to determine if they are a "best fit." The questions are answered by touching numbers on the telephone keypad. The service costs SPI members $500 to set up and between $2.00 and $11.25 per applicant. For information contact Gary Moore at (202) 974-5246; e-mail gmoore@socplas.org.

SPI Member Services Guide Now On Line . . . Do you have questions about an SPI program? Need to locate an SPI staff member for assistance? SPI's updated Member Services Guide has the answers. The on line guide includes a comprehensive listing of SPI programs, committees and business units with links to detailed information about each and direct e-mail access to SPI staff. To access it, go to www.plasticsindustry.org/about/services/index.htm.