The Industrial Fasteners Institute (IFI) is pleased to announce the appointment of Kenneth J. McCreight as the association’s new Managing Director. The IFI Board of Directors announced the selection following a considered and comprehensive search for a leader who understands the invaluable contributions the fastener industry makes to North American economy, and who can provide direction, motivation and new energy to the mission of the fastener industry association.

Ken McCreight, is coming to IFI from the Cleveland-based Manufacturing Advocacy and Growth Network (MAGNET), and previously served as an industry advocate for manufacturing organizations as Vice President of the National Tooling and Machining Association. Before entering the association world, he was involved in developing Workforce & Economic Development initiatives at both Cuyahoga Community College and North Central State College in Ohio. He has a bachelor’s degree in Applied Technology Education and a master’s degree in Technology from Bowling Green State University.

Paris Expo Porte de Versailles will host Fastener Fair France from 28-29 November 2018. The exhibition is the latest in the world’s leading series of trade shows specialising in fastener and fixing technologies.

Locating the exhibition in Paris will bring the very latest in fastener and fixing products and solutions to one of the major manufacturing regions in France, against the background of a favourable economic environment; France’s national GDP registered a 0.5% increase for the third quarter in a row.  Companies exhibiting at Fastener Fair France will feature products and services in the following sectors:

A Message From Sherex

Sherex was recently selected as a Fast Track Company by Buffalo Business First! This award recognizes Western New York businesses that have achieved significant revenue growth over a three year period of time.This is the 10th time we've received this award – and we attribute it to our mission of providing our customers with high quality lowest-total-installed cost solutions with world-class customer service. A sincere thanks to our customers for their continued support; we look forward to growing our businesses together!   

The Advance Team is proud to announce the launch of our new company logo as part of the ongoing evolution of our brand. Our business has grown and developed during the last 45 years, and while times have changed, our commitment to our customers has not. Our team is fresh-faced, but experienced. Our distribution strategy is new and improved. And our supplier/customer base is continuing to grow and demand new things from us.

We believe the new look matches what we’ve become since 1972: a valued supplier of quality fastening solutions for customers who want superior service and products to help them succeed. It also points to where we’re going with a future-forward plan to provide our clients with custom products, analytics and solutions to maximize their profitability.

A Message from NAW:

As you know, in 2011 the Obama Labor Department promulgated a new rule dramatically changing the “advice exemption” from the disclosure requirements under the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act – the so-called Persuader Rule.  The Persuader Rule would have made it extremely difficult for companies, especially smaller companies without in-house labor counsel, to obtain legal advice during a union organizing campaign. 

Rotor Clip is expanding the availability of DIN standard parts for the European market using US PH 15-7 stainless steel. Whereas previously, wire-formed DIN parts were only available in the DIN grade of stainless steel, DIN 1.4122, Rotor Clip now offers both stamped and wire-formed parts for DIN sizes in PH 15-7. The DIN equivalent to PH 15-7 is DIN 1.4532.

Source: Inc.

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Are you stuck on the “When” of ERP implementation? If you’ve figured out the Who, What, Why, and How but are having difficulty selecting the timing, here’s a secret: you’re not alone. 

Many distributors postpone ERP hoping that some sign will reveal the perfect time to implement. Yet, without a glowing bat signal or the piercing eye of Sauron, companies pursue a wait-and-see method of decision-making. Why? The justifications are fairly common:

• We’ll wait until the new fiscal year
• We’ll schedule it for our slow period
• We’ll do it after we finish hiring
• Maybe after the holidays

Rationalizations like these drive delays, yet time is not on your side. Without the essential improvements of interconnected ERP software, days, weeks, and months equate to lost opportunities for compounding savings, productivity, and growth.

So, when is the right time to implement ERP software? In short, the answer is “Now.” Remember that the longer implementation is put off, the longer your company will be mired in redundant, inefficient processes. Honestly ask yourself these questions:

Researching business software options can seem like a daunting process, and you may have a thousand questions relating to ERP. I thought it would be helpful to share some of the answers for common questions. For instance, have you ever wondered: