December 11, 2009, edition of APICS Operations Management Now

APICS CEO
Abe Eshkenazi
CSCP, CPA, CAE

Last week, the Associated Press (AP) offered some interesting economic recovery news. The provocative headline, “Manufacturing counties lead surprise job comeback, outperforming rest of nation,” got my attention.

“Counties with the heaviest reliance on manufacturing income are posting some of the biggest employment gains of the nation’s early economic recovery, writes AP Writer Mike Baker. “This is a big change from just half a year ago, when some economists worried that widespread layoffs by U.S. manufacturers might be part of an irreversible trend in that sector.” Baker interviewed furniture manufacturers in North Carolina and recreational vehicle (RV) makers in Elkhart County, Indiana.

AP conducts a monthly analysis called the Economic Stress Index, which measures unemployment, foreclosure, and bankruptcy rates to monitor the economic climate of more than 3,100 counties in the United States. Counties with a high saturation of manufacturing jobs have measured lower stress than the national average since March 2009.

Experts are citing multiple explanations for manufacturing’s strength early in the recovery-”Cash for Clunkers,” the weak U.S. dollar, the need to replace exhausted inventories and meet pent-up demand, and more.

The AP story quoted Derald Bontrager, the president and chief operating officer of Indiana RV manufacturer, Jayco. “Manufacturing jobs are here to stay, and they’re coming back,” Bontrager said. This summer, Jayco decision makers recalled or hired 200 previously laid-off workers. The company experienced an unexpected sales boom, and is still working to meet demand.

Preparing for your future

If early signs show manufacturing will play a role in leading the United States out of recession, how should you prepare to maximize your opportunities? The APICS Certified in Production and Inventory Management (CPIM) is a great place to start. The APICS CPIM program educates students in the concepts, tools, topics, terminology, and integration of topics within operations.

The APICS CPIM Courseware Modules, Detailed Scheduling and Planning, and Strategic Management of Resources have been entirely rewritten, and the design of the course materials has been updated. As part of the process, feedback from instructors was solicited and incorporated as appropriate. Plus, the new content was reviewed by a team of domestic and international subject matter experts.

This rigorous process ensures that operations management professionals all over the world can benefit from APICS CPIM classes and improve their companies’ overall operations. The new APICS CPIM program materials now are available for pre-order from the APICS Bookstore and will begin shipping on December 14, 2009.

If you’ve been thinking about starting the APICS CPIM process, I urge you to do so. Now is the time to take control of your professional well being and arm yourself with the tools to be a leader in your field.

In other news

• Economy poised for steady but slow recovery: New unemployment claims fallen for 5th straight week—The Associated Press
• Manufacturing counties lead surprise job comeback, outperforming rest of nation—The Chicago Tribune
• You better understand me: Customer Relationship Management (CRM) and hospitality—Hotel Interactive

Related APICS Education

• Common Cultures
  By Terry Finefrock, CPIM
  APICS magazine, September/October 2008
• Can Western Manufacturers Beat the Competition?
  By David Jacoby
  APICS magazine, May/June 2008
• Energizing Your Business
  By Charles Harthan, CPIM, CSCP
  APICS magazine, March/April 2008

Related APICS Resources

• Order Newly-Updated APICS CPIM materials
• Learn more about the APICS CPIM designation
• APICS Members: Download the APICS OMBOK Framework

How Operations Management Now Relates to You

Operations management is everywhere. Today, operations management professionals have unprecedented impacts on the global economy. Consider these questions and how today’s edition of APICS Operations Management Now relates to you and your career.

• What predictions do you have about manufacturing job comebacks in your community? How will it affect your job position?
• More job availability means more competition within the workplace and, consequently, more room for promotion. What professional assets can you strengthen to remain competitive?
• Counties with a high level of manufacturing jobs have displayed lower stress than the national average. What insights can you glean from this statistic in relation to your organization?

Not an APICS member? Join today.

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