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MINNEAPOLIS, MN – The SMTA has elected members of the board of directors: Michelle Ogihara, Seika Machinery; David Steele, Da-Tech Corp.; and Brian Toleno, Ph.D, Henkel Corp. were elected to the planning committee.
Marie Cole, IBM, was reelected and now serves as vice president of technical programs.
Those remaining on the board include president, Dan Baldwin, Engent; VP technical programs, Marie Cole, IBM; VP communications, Tom Forsythe, Kyzen Corp.; VP membership, Roy Starks, Libra Industries; treasurer, Hal Hendrickson, Nordson Dage; and secretary, Dr. Kola Akinade, Cisco Systems.
Planning Committee members include chair, Jeff Kennedy, Celestica; Dr. Denis Barbini, Universal Instruments Corp.; and Dr. Ning-Cheng Lee, Indium Corp.
Departing directors include Bill Barthel, Plexus Corp.; Joe Belmonte, ITM Consulting; and Dr. Laura Turbini, Research in Motion.
The new term began at SMTAI in late October.
TULSA, OK – EMS provider LaBarge Inc. has been awarded $4 million in contracts from Atlantic Inertial Systems, part of Goodrich Corp.
SAN JOSE -- The 90-day moving average of worldwide semiconductor sales in October was flat sequentially but rose nearly 20% year-over-year, the Semiconductor Industry Association today reported.
ARLINGTON, VA -- The National Association of Manufacturers took issue with a tax bill being voted on by the US Congress, claiming it would cost businesses money and jobs.
NAM executive vice president Jay Timmons said in a statement: “Manufacturers oppose the Middle Class Tax Relief Act of 2010 because it would result in a tax increase for many manufacturers. The tax relief enacted in 2001 and 2003 played a key role in stimulating our economy as it repealed the estate tax and lowered both the individual tax rates and tax rates on investment.
"Unfortunately, the House bill being voted on today does not include this critical relief. As a result, in January 2011 many manufacturers will see a top tax rate of nearly 40%, a 164% increase in the dividend tax and the return of a 55% estate tax on family-held companies.
"Over 70% of American manufacturers file as S-corporations or some other pass thru [sic] entity and will be significantly impacted by these higher rates. Americans want jobs, and this bill will only hinder job creation and economic growth.
Timmons said the trade group supports an extension to the 2001 and 2003 tax rates, which are set to expire next year. "Manufacturers strongly support extending the 2001 and 2003 tax rates for all taxpayers. According to the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office, fully extending the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts would add between 600,000 and 1.4 million jobs in 2011 and between 900,000 and 2.7 million jobs in 2012."
ERLANGER, KY ― Seho Systems will launch a US version of its solder training academy in 2011, the company said.
TEMPE, AZ – Economic activity in the manufacturing sector expanded in November for the 16th consecutive month, says the Institute for Supply Management. The PMI dropped 0.3 percentage points to 56.6%.
A reading above 50% indicates the manufacturing economy is generally expanding.
New orders fell 2.3 points to 56.6%, while production decreased 7.7 points to 55%. Inventories were up 2.8 percentage points to 56.7%, and customer inventories grew 1.5 points to 45.5%. Backlogs were 46%, flat with October.
“The manufacturing sector grew during November, with both new orders and production continuing to expand. With the PMI at 56.6%, November's rate of growth is the second fastest in the last six months. Exports and imports continue to support expansion in the sector. Prices moderated slightly during the month, but comments from the respondents express concerns with regard to pricing pressures. The list of commodities in short supply increased, though short supply items are not yet posing significant problems. Manufacturing continues to benefit from the recovery in autos, but those industries reliant upon housing continue to struggle,” said ISM spokesperson Norbert J. Ore.
The overall economy grew for the 19th consecutive month, says the firm.
STAMFORD, CT — Worldwide PC shipments are on pace to rise 14.3% increase year-over-year, according a revised forecast by Gartner.
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MUNICH - The market for SMT placement equipment is booming again, propelled by the electronics production market, Siemens' component placement business unit said today.
VELDHOVEN, NETHERLANDS -- Pick-and-place OEM Assembléon will be bought by a private equity firm.
ARAB, ALABAMA – EMS firm Current Circuits has merged with metal fab company Patterson Machines.
MILWAUKEE – The overall average salary for US full-time quality professionals is now $85,289, up 2.2% year-over-year and 5.2% compared to 2008, according to an ASQ survey.
Demand for quality management is surging, the firm says. Survey results show respondents’ salaries increase as their experience in the quality field increases. Quality professionals with more than 20 years of experience earned an average of $94,756. Professionals with 10 to 20 years of experience earned an average $86,993. Those with 10 or fewer years of experience earned an average $71,129.
Quality managers with more than 20 years of quality experience earn, on average, $4,000 more than managers with 10 to 20 years experience, says ASQ. These managers (20+ years) also earn over $12,000 more than managers with 10 or fewer years of quality experience.
Only 3.1% of respondents said they were unemployed, retired or laid off compared to 4.9% in 2009. More 2010 respondents also reported their companies didn’t have to make moves such as furloughs, layoffs or hiring freezes to weather the sputtering economy.
This year, 59% of survey respondents reported they have one or more ASQ certifications, and 25% said they hold two or more ASQ certifications.
Managers who are ASQ Certified Managers of Quality/Organizational Excellence reported they earn a higher average salary than their counterparts without this certification. In the US, the difference is $7,938. In Canada, the difference is $3,274.
Those in the US with Master Black Belt training earned a premium of more than $20,000 compared to those who stopped at Black Belt training.
A total of 5,348 responses were received this year, with the vast majority coming from the US and Canada.
DARMSTADT, GERMANY -- Plexus will set up a design and engineering center here as part of the EMS company's expansion into the EMEA region.
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