News and Events for Montana Manufacturers

Manufacturing Day is an opportunity for manufacturers to highlight their work and energize a future pipeline of skilled workers. Wouldn’t you like to show your community how hard you’ve been working this year – both at your facility and in extra ways to meet critical community needs?

Manufacturing Day 2020 will officially be observed on Friday, October 2nd, but manufacturing is too big for a single day, so we encourage you to celebrate Manufacturing Month!

We know this year will be different, but there are still many things you can do to engage your communities and future workforce.  Need ideas? Online, the MFGday.com website (now called CreatorsWanted.org)  is an excellent first step. Just register and download materials like planning guides (such as the MFG Day 2020 Host Toolkit) and pre-made promotional items.

At MMEC, we just finished creating a Manufacturing Day 2020 webpage, loaded with additional ideas. Here are some of the resources you’ll find:

• A webpage dedicated to Creative Alternatives to In-Person Activities
• Help with outreach: messaging guides for in-person events, virtual events, and for partner organizations (such as local chambers) that wish to help promote activities in their area.
• Downloadable graphics (like the one at the top of this article) to use for event promotion and educational/social media campaigns

And of course, if you want more help getting started, you can contact MMEC for ideas and help!  Contact your regional Business Advisor to find out what’s going on right in your area.
 
A successful Manufacturing Day may be more important now than ever. It’s a win-win-win for our young people, for your business, and for our state, so let’s all join in.

HCR, Inc uses Lean Strategies to Manage Rapid Growth

HCR, Inc knows a thing or two about maintaining temperatures in big spaces. HCR produces Air Curtain systems that act as an invisible door providing an unmatched thermal barrier keeping warm and cold areas at the desired temperature while allowing efficient movement of people or products through large doorways.  The application of world class thermal airflow analysis and design paired with a keen focus on Lean operational excellence has provided customers like Costco, Amazon, & Walmart an innovative solution at a competitive price. 

Read HCR's Success Story, and how company leaders engaged with MMEC to implement Lean training and processes that led to a record sales year and substantial improvements in profitability.

Are you ready for your next food safety audit? Complete our free gap assessment to check your readiness and identify areas of potential improvement. Contact Dave Allard to walk through the assessment with the assistance and advice of our Food and Process Specialist.

Or, you can take the assessment online (about 30 minutes) at your own convenience through the following link: FSMA Gap Assessment

Governor Announces Working Capital Program.  On September 3, Governor Bullock announced the new Montana Working Capital program, which builds off the Montana Loan Deferment program by allowing Montana businesses to take out a new loan to support economic recovery. To be eligible, borrowers must have experienced a 15 percent reduction in gross revenue attributed to the direct or indirect impacts of COVID-19; funds can be used for payroll, employee benefits, lease or rent, inventory, utilities, and insurance. Read the full news release for additional details.

Montana Economic Update. In August, the Montana Chamber Foundation and the Bureau of Business and Economic Research (BBER) joined forces to present the 15th annual Economic Update Series.  BBER Director Dr. Patrick Barkey discussed the current economic outlook for Montana, and provided his projections for recovery, including mid-year projections for local, state, and national economies.  The seminar is available as a video presentation on the Montana Chamber website.

SBA Loan Applicants: COVID-19 Phishing Attempts on the Rise. In the wake of emergency assistance available to help small businesses in response to the Coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19), the SBA is urging disaster loan applicants seeking federal aid to be alert to phishing campaigns and scams. These malicious actors are impersonating the SBA and its Office of Disaster Assistance to collect personally identifiable information (PII) for fraudulent purposes. Learn more in the SBA news release.

Community College Launches Meat Processing Certificate Program. Starting this fall, Miles Community College (in Miles City, MT) now offers a certificate program in Meat Processing. Students will be able to complete their core classes online or on campus, as well as do rotating internships at different processing plants in Montana. Learn more in the MCC news release.

DON'T MISS THESE EVENTS THIS WEEK!

TODAY! Passenger Rail in Montana.  The Montana High Tech Business Alliance will host a webinar on Wednesday, September 9 on Passenger Rail in Montana: How Trains Could Transform Business Travel to Billings, Bozeman, Helena, Missoula and Beyond, highlighting current opportunities to expand passenger rail. This event will be followed by the Montana Passenger Virtual Rail Summit on Thursday September, 17.  

EXIM Annual Conference. The Export-Import Bank of the U.S. (EXIM) is hosting its Virtual Annual Conference from September 9 – 11.  Businesses will have the opportunity to better understand the dynamic global trade environment as well as the resources available to expand export opportunities. Events will include keynote speakers, panel discussions, and networking opportunities with a complementary mobile app to connect directly with key contacts.

B2B Supply Chain Webinar. On Thursday, September 10, Euromonitor International will be host a free, public webinar called B2B Supply Chain: Best Practices to Navigate through the Pandemic. Topics include expanded partnerships, new business models, and strategies to engage customers.

MMEC Events

Other Upcoming Events

NIST Workshop on PNT Profile Development. NIST is hosting a virtual workshop on September 15-16, 2020 to support its work on Responsible Use of Positioning, Navigation and Timing (PNT) services.  The webinar will provide an update on NIST’s latest efforts to develop a Profile for the systems that form or use PNT data and solicit feedback from participants.

Grow with Exports. The Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) will host a free webinar on Supporting Montana Exports in Challenging Times on September 16 at 11:00 am in collaboration with MMEC, the Montana World Trade Center, and the Montana Department of Commerce. 

Careers in Cybersecurity.  The National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education (NICE) will host a webinar on September 16, 2020, on Educating Youth for a Cybersecurity Future, focused on approaches to attract students to careers in technology and cybersecurity.

MSU Lecture: Fiscal Policy and the Pandemic. Christina Romer, Professor of Economics at the University of California, Berkeley and former chair of the Council of Economic Advisers, will present a distinguished lecture at Montana State University on “Fiscal Policy and the Pandemic: Unprecedented Action and Missed Opportunities,” on September 17, 2020 at 6 p.m. The lecture is open to the public and will be live-streamed.

Women’s Global Trade Empowerment Forum.  The International Trade Administration is sponsoring the Inaugural Women’s Global Trade Empowerment Forum, with the theme “Expanding Trade in North America and Beyond.”  It is offered as a six-part virtual series, with two sessions remaining in September.

SBDC Trainings and Webinars.  The Small Business Development Center has a packed schedule of training events for September.  View the SBDC Training page for more details and registration information on these events:

• Business Start-up Workshop – September 14
• Customer Service During Challenging Times – September 14 and 21
• Cash Flow Management: Dealing with COVID-19 – September 15
• Leadership: Navigating the Unknown – September 15
• Social Media: Converting Followers into Customers – September 15
• Website Bootcamp – September 15
• Intellectual Property – September 16
• Legal and Tax Do’s and Don’ts for Businesses – September 22
• And more!

Governor’s Conference on Workers’ Compensation. The 2020 Governor’s Conference on Workers’ Compensation will be held (via Zoom) from September 29 – October 2. A few of the topics to be addressed this year include communication, physical therapy, medical marijuana, and injuries and illness associated with aging.

Contracting your Goods and Services with the State of Montana.  Montana PTAC will host introductory webinars on contracting opportunities with Montana state agencies. The free, live webinars will be held on six different dates through October. Pick a date and register on the PTAC events webpage.

Discover Global Markets. The International Trade Administration hosts the Discover Global Markets Business Development Forum, where business owners can learn about new trade opportunities and network with foreign buyers, commercial diplomats and trade officials.  The next event will be October 7-9 in Indianapolis, IN.

National Cybersecurity Career Awareness Week. The National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education (NICE) is spearheading National Cybersecurity Career Awareness Week (NCCAW), from November 9-14, 2020.  The week-long campaign provides an opportunity to learn about the contributions and innovations of cybersecurity practitioners and the range of job opportunities that can be found when exploring cybersecurity as a career choice.  Find events and resources, and learn how to get involved on the NCCAW webpage on the NIST website.

Manufacturing & Technology Virtual Conference. Industry Week will hold its annual Manufacturing & Technology Conference as a virtual event, December 1-3, 2020. The three-day conference will feature five content tracks—Automation, Continuous Improvement, Leadership, Smart Manufacturing, and Talent Management—with an opportunity to learn best practices from and interact with manufacturing leaders.

Associated Employers.  Associated Employers offers a downloadable Fall 2020 Training Catalog, which includes a variety of HR, leadership and customer service courses.

Partner Event Calendars and Recordings:

COVID-19 Resources

• Remote Work Security for Employees
• Remote Work Security for Managers
• BYOD Checklist for Employees

General Manufacturing and Funding Resources