June 13, 2008 Scheduled for June 24-25, Open Forum for Standards Developers will foster open exchange between standards developing organizations, consortia, stakeholders in standards industry, consumers, and policy makers. Agenda will focus on pros and cons of collaboration with other standard-setting organizations, emerging technologies, and emerging industry sector trends, as well as intersection of standards and public policy, and updates on IP Rights.

June 13, 2008 Held May 5-8, Pan American Standards Commission Assembly 2008 was hosted by Instituto Argentino de Normalizacion y Certificacion, Argentina's national standards body, and included representatives from North, Central, and South America. Meetings provided forum to advance standardization activities in Americas, and offered opportunities for U.S. interests to share information and network with standards and conformance bodies of region.

June 13, 2008 Making formal commitment to cooperation in standardization activities, ANSI and Egyptian Organization for Standardization and Quality signed Memorandum of Understanding. Agreement recognizes important role that standards and conformity assessment activities play in safeguarding consumer health and safety, protecting environment, and ensuring fair trade, economic growth, and innovation. Dialogue between countries will be encouraged, and informational materials will be shared.

June 13, 2008 Commissioned by Deloitte and sponsored by NAM, The Manufacturing Institute, and Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters, survey findings reveal unforeseen attitudes and expectations from North American manufacturers in wide range of industries. It addresses topics such as expansion over next 3 years, expectations and attitudes regarding future global manufacturing competitiveness, and why production is being deemed "Achilles' heel" of manufacturing.

June 12, 2008 Containing 48 chapters, ASHRAE's 2008 Handbook helps system designers and building operators select and use HVAC equipment. Chapter on ultraviolet lamp systems addresses use of such systems to improve indoor air quality. Combustion turbine inlet cooling chapter was added to address use of such cooling to improve environmental and economic performance of combustion turbine installations, typically used for electric power generation.

June 12, 2008 According to trade data released by U.S. Department of Commerce, U.S. exports of manufacturing goods continued double-digit growth for first 4 months of this year. U.S. exports of capital goods performed particularly well, up 15% from comparable period of 2007. However, petroleum accounted for nearly 60% of entire deficit in goods and services in April. Rising petroleum deficit underscores need for more domestic production of oil and natural gas in U.S.

June 12, 2008 Held May 20-22, 2008, SME's RAPID 2008 took place in Lake Buena Vista, FL with more than 1,500 attendees. New focus areas included Rapid Manufacturing, Rapid Prototyping, Medical Applications, Castings, 3D Scanning, and What's Cool. In addition to keynote speakers, event also included Workforce Development Center, which provided location for engineers and other manufacturing practitioners to network, search for training, enhance job skills, or even change careers.

June 12, 2008 Recently, 3E Company® joined SOCMA in expanded strategic partnership aimed at promoting best practices in Material Safety Data Sheet and regulatory data management. Alliance plans to address key environmental, health, safety, and security concerns facing batch, custom, and specialty chemical industry. It builds upon partnership begun last year, to further support and promote best practices in compliance information management for product stewardship throughout product life cycle.

June 12, 2008 Sponsored by AAA, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and AASHTO, competition honored state department of transportation projects from Northeastern Association of State Transportation Officials region. Projects were judged according to their size in 3 categories, including Innovative Management, On Time, and On Budget construction. Award gives worthy recognition to those professionals and projects that are making nation's transportation system safer and better.

June 12, 2008 In response to APPA report by NEU Professor John Kwoka, EPSA agrees that unpredictable changes in future regulatory policy add to uncertainty about prospects for covering projects' initial costs. EPSA also agrees with report's comments on adverse impact of bid caps in organized markets and that environmental uncertainty stems from lack of final federal climate change legislation. Report mistakenly asserts that competitive suppliers are unable or unwilling to invest in new generation.

June 12, 2008 National Transportation Safety Board recommends that FAA revise Advisory Circular AC-27 Certification of Normal Category Rotorcraft and AC-29 Certification of Transport Category Rotorcraft, to include long-term durability testing of adhesive bond joints for helicopter blades to ensure safe operation. It also recommends that FAA require Robinson Helicopter Corporation to develop nondestructive inspection technique capable of consistently detecting bonding defects.

June 12, 2008 Held at AWWA's Annual Conference and Exposition in Atlanta, Best of the Best Water Taste Test was comprised of North American winners of regional water-tasting competitions. Louisville Water Company won first place, while second place went to Mal Paso Filtration Plant in Puerto Rico, and water utility of Blythe, Georgia earned third place. ACE08 Exposition also featured more than 500 manufacturers and consultants showcasing latest products and services to help ensure safe water.

June 11, 2008 For first time, DMAI welcomes European CDME candidate, Heike Mahmoud, CMP, director of conventions at Berlin Convention Bureau in Germany. Heike serves on DMAI European Advisory Council and European Cities Marketing Convention Forum. Offering advanced educational system for veteran and career-minded DMO executives, Certified Destination Management Executive program focuses on vision, leadership, productivity, and implementation of business strategies.

June 11, 2008 Scheduled for July 28-30, DMAI Annual Convention will include Niche Roundtable Sessions, which will take place before official convention starts and focus on specialized destination markets of university towns and gaming destinations. Interactive Learning Shirtsleeve Sessions will allow colleagues to meet in smaller groups to discuss contemporary issues and topics of specific interest in their areas of expertise.

June 11, 2008 Offered in conjunction with Purdue University, DMAI's Certified Destination Management Executive Program consists of intensive, results-oriented program that assists DMO executives in achieving their strategic goals, and prepares them for increasing change and competition. Focus is on vision, leadership, productivity, and implementation of business strategies. Participants receive CDME designation by completing 3 core courses and associated papers, 2 electives, and final exam.

June 11, 2008 Offered at AMA Executive Conference Centers in several cities, AMA's Green Leadership: Implementing Sustainable Strategies seminar was developed to help companies better understand sustainability issues and transform them into improvements to impact economic, social, and environmental bottom lines. Program will be facilitated by Jeana Wirtenberg, Ph.D., co-founder and director of external relations and services at Institute for Sustainable Enterprise.

June 11, 2008 Members of AIA's Supplier Management Council are urging lawmakers to raise SDB personal net worth limitation to $1.5 million from $750,000, and to adjust figure annually to allow for inflation and to eliminate personal financial resources such as retirement savings from net worth calculation. Other issues being addressed include passage of Association Health Plan legislation, permanent renewal of R and D tax credit, and modernization of export control system.

June 11, 2008 In March, aerospace employment increased to 651,700 from 2007 year-end average of 645,600. Employment is tied closely to record industry sales, which reached $198.8 billion in 2007 and are expected to eclipse $210 billion in 2008. Industry is facing potential workforce crisis as scores of employees reach retirement age. According to AIA statistics, almost 60% of U.S. aerospace workforce was age 45 or older in 2007.

June 11, 2008 In response to Travel Industry Association's study, ATA President and CEO, James C. May stated that survey reveals what ATA has been saying for years, that aging air traffic control system is in desperate need of replacement. May urges TIA to join ATA in asking for immediate action on key initiatives including implementing NowGen technologies to provide immediate system efficiency gains, resolving New York region airspace issues, and urging Congress to fight oil prices.

June 11, 2008 According to James C. May, ATA President and CEO, Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008 contains strong commitment to research and development of advanced renewable fuels and its report language expressly recognizes potential that exists for renewable aviation fuel. Airline industry is anxious to work with federal government to promote rapid development of these new fuel sources.