SOUTH-TEC to present post-recession opportunities.
Press Release Summary:
Taking place October 6-8, 2009 at the Charlotte Convention Center, SOUTH-TEC Advanced Productivity Exposition will help southern US manufacturers move out of survival mode and into post-recession mode. Attendees can explore 200+ exhibits and evaluate what is new in manufacturing and productivity on the show floor. The exposition will be focused around 3 themes: Lean Tools for Success, Motorsports in Manufacturing, and New Products and Innovations.
Original Press Release:
SOUTH-TEC Expo Offers Southern Manufacturers Opportunities for When the Recession Ends
Exhibition to be Held October 6-8 at the Charlotte Convention Center
DEARBORN, Mich., August 20, 2009 - Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke announced earlier this year that he expected the recession to begin losing some of its strength by the end of 2009. But according to a recent Reuters report, the recession has only recently extended its long arm into several Southern states, including Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas. In particular, the report revealed that North Carolina, which once boasted an "enviable" unemployment rate of 4.7 percent just two years ago, now has a rate in the double digits.
This economic turn of events may have encouraged Southern businesses, such as manufacturers, to go into survival mode by cutting workers, hours and production. But a recent report from News 14 Carolina revealed that manufacturing is expected to "lead the way in North Carolina's recovery." But what will happen to this statewide recovery if manufacturers who made drastic cuts are caught unprepared when orders begin to rise?
"In a way, it's survival of the fittest," said Mark C. Tomlinson, executive director & general manager of the Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME).
"The manufacturer who chooses to cut the pay of employees rather than laying them off, the one who relies on lean rather than drastic cuts and the one who keeps up-to-date with the latest technologies processes and strategies will be better off when the recession finally does end."
To help Southern manufacturers move out of survival mode and into the post-recession mode, SME's SOUTH-TEC Advanced Productivity Exposition is once again setting up shop October 6-8, 2009, at the Charlotte Convention Center. The event draws audiences from throughout the southeast including North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee and Alabama.
For more than 30 years, SOUTH-TEC has been connecting buyers and sellers with the latest technologies that drive manufacturing. Attendees will have the opportunity to explore more than 200 exhibits and evaluate what's new in manufacturing and productivity on the show floor.
Over the course of three days, SOUTH-TEC will be focused around three themes, including "Lean Tools for Success," "Motorsports in Manufacturing" and "New Products and Innovations."
Headlining speakers include John Allen, an internationally known expert in lean systems and change management who will kick off the event with a book signing of "Lean Manufacturing: A Plant Floor Guide"; well-known drag race driver Doug Herbert, who will share his thoughts on how motorsports manufacturing processes can help businesses as well as discuss his Herbert-Evernham Land Speed Project, which will attempt to break the land-speed record; and Andy Papathanassiou, executive director of the North Carolina Motorsports Association, who will give a presentation entitled "Innovating Under Extreme Constraints."
"We're thrilled to have this caliber of guest speakers join us again at the Southeast's flagship manufacturing event," said Kim Farrugia, senior show manager at SME.
On Thursday, seating is available on a first-come, first-serve basis for the "New Products and Innovations" presentations.
"Our exhibitors will be showcasing 75 new products to help manufacturers become better, faster and stronger for when the economy does turn around," added Farrugia.
As an added feature, SOUTH-TEC attendees may also attend the co-located AmCon (American Contract Manufacturers Show), which focuses on suppliers for contract manufacturing and job shop services. AmCon, along with the North Carolina Motorsports Association and the UNC Charlotte's Motorsports Engineering Program, are also SOUTH-TEC advisory partners and helped shape the content of the event.
"SOUTH-TEC is a unique opportunity for Southern manufacturers to see the latest technologies and strategies to help them keep their competitive edge. Now is not the time to fall behind. It's time to find ways to get ahead by looking for new products," said Farrugia.
For details and registration, visit www.southteconline.com.
NOTE TO MEDIA: Working journalists are invited to cover SOUTH-TEC at no charge. By registering to attend, verified press will receive free access to the event and all exhibitor press conferences. Expedite your entry into the show by pre-registering.
Show Sponsors:
SOUTH-TEC is part of the APEX Series of events co-sponsored by SME (www.sme.org), the Association for Manufacturing Technology (www.amtonline.org) and the American Machine Tool Distributors' Association (www.amtda.org).
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About SME:
Founded in 1932, the Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME) is the premier source for manufacturing knowledge, education and networking.Through its many programs, events and activities, SME connects manufacturing practitioners to each other, to the latest technology and the most up-to-date processes spanning all manufacturing industries and disciplines, plus the key areas of aerospace and defense, medical device, motor vehicles, including motorsports, and oil and gas. A 501(c)3 organization, SME has members in more than 70 countries and is supported by a network of technical communities and chapters worldwide.
Contact:
Lori Ann Dick, APR
Senior PR Representative
communications@sme.org
Tel 313.425.3187
