October Digital Whistle

Upcoming Events:

• NEXT MCIE EVENT: On November 9 at 3:50 on Zoom, come hear about “Energy Prices – How High Can They Go and How to Survive,” with a panel of experts on the Southern California energy market and industrial applications of energy systems designed to mitigate pricing unpredictability on your bottom lines. For more details and to register, visit this link.
• CALIFORNIA MANUFACTURING NETWORK WEBINAR: For MCIE Members on November 1 at 11am, come hear about “Productivity & Cost Reduction Technology Solutions for California Manufacturers.” For more details and to register, visit this link.
• Make a donation! The MCIE is a 501-c3 and your donations are deductible. For information on how you can be a part of the Manufacturers’ Council, click here.

October Activities:

• A tour was held at BlueScope Coated Products for National Manufacturing Day on October 6, 2023. MCIE President Wallace Brithinee, shown here, said, “We saw various processes from cleaning, to priming, to finish-coat. We were taken to lab areas, where tests of quality assurance were completed.” BlueScope Coated Products coats aluminum, steel, and stainless steel rolled sheet material, from .016” to .060” thickness. Rolls of metal are furnished by their customers, sent to the plant, then painted and baked, and sometimes slit. Thanks to BlueScope for opening their doors on MFG Day!

• On October 18, MCIE members received an essential Legislative Update for Manufacturers via Zoom, featuring guest presenters Robert Spiegel and Lawrence Gayden from the California Manufacturer & Technology Association (CMTA). In addition, Rebecca Eusey, Senior Economic Development Analyst with the Employment Training Panel (ETP), kicked off the event with a brief presentation on a funding source available to manufacturers for employee training and upskilling.

• MADE IN CALIFORNIA PROGRAM: CMTC’s Made in California Program is dedicated to highlighting the contributions of California’s manufacturers and raising awareness of the products made in the Golden State. Each month, Made in CA members are featured on CMTC’s website, social media accounts, and newsletter. Today’s consumers associate “American-made” products with quality. 60% of Americans are willing to pay more for products made locally. The Made in California Program already has over 2000 listees, plus there is no cost to join. For more information or to join, visit this link.

Economic Update

• (Oct 6) – Unemployment rate remained at 3.8% in September as payrolls increased by 336K. California has the third highest unemployment in the nation after the District of Columbia and Nevada. (Bureau of Labor Statistics)
• (Oct 20) – California’s August 2023 Unemployment Rate rose from 4.6% to 4.7%, with hiring in Professional & Business Services hiring less than expected. Manufacturing was down 4,600 jobs from August to September and 12,600 year-to-date. (State of California EDD)

General News

• (Oct 7) – Vital Link, an Orange County nonprofit brought about 25 students from Buena Park High School and Middle College to the Johnson & Johnson Med Tech campus to honor National Manufacturing Day. The tour began with an interactive project, placing the students in small groups to develop and market a medical tech product. Jasmina Brooks, the President of Biosense Webster, a J&J product, spoke with the students at the end of the tour. Vital Link partners with all 25 school districts of Orange County and select schools in LA County and the Inland Empire. (Los Angeles Times)

Politics & Policy

• (Oct 24) – SB 244, the “Right to Repair Bill” received approval from Governor Newsom this month. It aims to “provide a fair marketplace for the repair of electronics and appliance products and to prohibit intentional barriers and limitations to third-party repair.” It mandates manufacturers to keep repair materials (parts, tools, software, and documentation) available for up to 7 years, according to a sliding scale depending on retail pricing. The bill is not comprehensive in its reach, so manufacturers should diligence their potential exposures to this law accordingly. (Perkins Coie)
• (Oct 10) – AB 496, a bill drafted to ban the use of 26 chemicals in cosmetics products, is under consideration in Sacramento. One of the named chemicals is borax, which has the potential to impact the single largest mining operation in California that draws from sources in Kern and San Bernardino Counties, supplying nearly 1/3 of global demand for the mineral. Borax is used in cosmetics including creams, shampoos, gels, lotions, bath bombs, and bath salts. (Cal Matters)
• (Oct 10) – US Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo announced $13.5MM in Economic Development Administration grands to support 11 Trade Adjustment Assistance Centers to help manufacturers affected by import/export in supply chain or customer base respond to global competition. The University of Southern California (USC) received $1.6MM of grant funding for the “Western Trade Adjustment Center.” The centers support technical, planning, and business recovery projects. Funding for the program began in 2016 and under its current approval will extend to 2024. (Cal Matters)

• Featured Manufacturer. Want to be featured on our social media and in our monthly newsletter? Contact [email protected]. For all our social media links, visit: https://linktr.ee/iemanufacturing.