The Survey Says . . .

Readers Confirm Relevance of Material Handling BIZ
Since it’s inception in May of 2004, Material Handling BIZ has focused on meeting the needs of material handling industry professionals. With the two-year anniversary passing recently, a survey was sent asking for feedback.

Here is what was reported. Decision-makers are reading this online publication. 94% of readers are in either senior management or staff manager positions. As such guiding the direction of their department or company takes much of their attention. When asked what the single biggest change was occurring in their business in the past year, 47% indicated increased competition. Surprisingly the second most common answer (20%) was difficulty finding qualified people. Even in a competitive environment, companies are still growing and looking for the right person to fill out their team.

Not surprising as well was Material Handling BIZ readers’ have purchase authority. 73% of respondents indicated they recommend or authorize purchase decisions. Their experience level within the material handling industry varies. Although 70% of respondents have 20 or more years’ experience, 18% have less than 10 years experience.

When asked what topics are of most interest, 29% indicated most important was keeping aware of trends in the material handling industry; 27% said learning about a Morrison Company capability through a case study; and 25% reported learning about a Morrison Company product or service was critical. Using these findings, more future articles will focus on those topics as well as ways to justify a project with ROI tools.

Is all of your team receiving Material Handling BIZ? Adding a team member or colleague is simple. Click here and enroll then now or forward this newsletter to them and have them complete the form. Not convenient enough? Send and email to news@morrisoncompany.com with their name, company name, and email address. Thousands of industry professionals are taking the relevant information found in Material Handling BIZ and using it to better run their companies. Overall 40% of survey respondents said they found this publication very valuable. An additional 60% indicated it was somewhat valuable. No respondents said Material Handling BIZ had little or no value. Until next month . . .

Obtain a copy of the 2006 Survey Results

US Chamber of Commerce Lobbying Efforts

SAFETEA-LU: Surface Transportation
Congress approved and the President signed H.R. 3, the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) on August 10, 2005. SAFETEA-LU is a $286.5 billion highway and mass transit bill that that aims to enhance safety, economic productivity, economic growth, and help reduce traffic congestion and pollution.

U.S. Chamber Position

A major focus of the Chamber -- along with our coalition Americans for Transportation Mobility -- this year will be the implementation of SAFETEA-LU and the continuation of stressing the importance of maintaining and improving our nation's infrastructure. We will continue to mobilize our grassroots to ensure that the nation's transportation system is fully funded and meets the business community's needs. The Chamber continues to work on measures to reduce unnecessary government red tape that delays the completion of transportation projects.

In response to the recent increase in the price of motor fuel, some legislators are proposing to suspend federal motor fuel excises. This proposal would have little or no immediate impact on the price consumers pay for motor fuel. It could, however, jeopardize states’ federal transportation funds. Since 1956 the federal gasoline tax has served as a user fee that generates revenue for the Highway Trust Fund to support federal investments in state and local highway and public transportation projects.

SAFETEA-LU utilizes all available revenues projected to be collected by the Highway Trust Fund through fiscal year 2009 for surface transportation improvements. Reducing or suspending the federal motor fuel excises could threaten the federal highway and public transportation program investments promised under SAFETEA-LU. The Highway Trust Fund should not be used for “political expediency.” Suspending or repealing fuel taxes in response to market forces would set a dangerous precedent and would be poor public policy.

You Do That?

Crown Mats and Matting
Whether your business has a manufacturing or warehousing operation, chances are that you've got workers that spend hours each day standing on hard surfaces like concrete. No doubt you've heard of the productivity gains that can be acheived by providing the right ergonomic protection for them.

We've highlighted four types of operations that can be positively impacted by a Crown Matting product. Zedlan™, is now available in many product variations, and has amazing durability. You’ll find it in many of Crown's anti-fatigue mats. With three-times more resilience than regular vinyl foam mats, it greatly reduces strain on feet, ankles, legs and lower back.

Finishing and Assembly. By permanently fusing Crown's patented Zedlan in two layers, they double its exceptional anti-fatigue characteristics. For positions that require long hours of standing, specify new Wear-Bonded Comfort-King.

Machine Operation. This Wear-Bonded™ Tuff-Spun® PVC vinyl sponge has a durable rib or pebble surface and safety borders. Machine operators will thank you for heavy-duty relief in a mat that holds up to the rigorous environment of a manufacturing plant.

Process Control - Welding. Pain and fatigue reduce workers’ concentration, accuracy and productivity. Attack them at the source with Crown’s superior anti-fatigue mats. Even in harsh industrial environments, these Nyra-Cord Counter Tred mats stand up to sparks and hot metal shards, while providing essential anti-fatigue relief.

Warehousing. Provide anti-slip and floor protection with economical, light-weight vinyl Pro-Tekt™ Runner. Ideal for aisles, walkways and storage areas.

Questions about these and other applications for matting products can be answered by your Morrison Company representative. Select contact us.

Operations Manager Issues

Compensation Plans
How can you compare your firm’s occupational wage patterns with National wage patterns?

The National Compensation Survey (NCS) publishes a wide variety of occupational wage data for selected metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas, for broad geographic regions known as census divisions, and for the Nation. Occupational wage estimates also are presented by selected worker and establishment characteristics such as the following:

• Full- or part-time status
  
  
• Union or nonunion status
  
  
• Paid on a time or incentive basis, and
  
  
• Establishment employment size.
  
  

When comparing the earnings at an individual firm with those at the national level, users should consider such factors as employees’ length of service and special skills. For example, a particular firm might find it worthwhile to pay its data entry keyers more than its payroll clerks, although the latter earn more, on average, at the national level. In addition, as part of the decision-making process, users should consider the precision of a published estimate, as measured by its relative error.

Business School Book Review

Southern Methodist University
Are you a reader? If so this article will feature book reviews by some the county’s best and brightest business school professors. While they’re recommendations may not always be about business, the books do have something to say about perseverance and integrity. This month’s featured professor is Dr. Amit Basu a Charles Wyly Professor of Information Systems at Southern Methodist University.

Professor Basu’s favorite books are:

THE ECONOMICS OF COMPUTERS by William Sharpe

"The first book I read that seriously examined the problem of economic modeling of computer and information systems. Greatly influenced managerial thinking about computers and information management."

INFORMATION RULES by Al Varian and Carl Shapiro

"A fascinating contemporary book on the economics of information, that presents insights into the role of information and digital products in the networked economy."

THE WAR IN EUROPE by William L. Shirer

"My favorite account of a fascinating part of World War II,and the strategic and tactical decisions that were instrumental in the war's outcome."

Industry Trends

Outlook for 2007
A series of surprisingly weak reports has prompted fresh debate on whether the US economic expansion can continue through 2007 or succumb to a housing-led downturn.

Most economists see the economy muddling though at a sub-par growth pace, but soft data in recent weeks has sparked more talk about a recession instead of a so-called soft landing.

Raising concerns is an apparent spillover from a weak housing market to other sectors of the economy, notably manufacturing.

Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke remained upbeat in a speech Tuesday, saying he believes the US economic expansion is likely to remain on track through 2007, weathering a slowdown largely confined to the housing sector.

Other economists are less gloomy.

Dana Johnson, chief economist at Comerica Bank, said the economy is being underpinned by income gains and strong job growth.

"I think what we're looking at is a soft landing and we're in the most sluggish part of that now," he said.

"We have a downshift in auto production reinforcing the considerable drag from housing. It wouldn't shock me if the current quarter came in negative but we will not have a string of those."

Others point out that the Federal Reserve is likely to cut interest rates to counter the gathering risk to the economic outlook.