Robots Are Ready to Rumble: Next Week's NTMA National Robotics Championship

More than 20 high school teams armed with 30 robots have signed up for NTMA's National Robotics League (NRL) championships scheduled to take place in Indianapolis, IN on May 4-4.  NTMA created this program to get kids interested in manufacturing.   NRL partners NTMA member companies with local schools to encourage students to develop high-tech skills and cultivate an interest in manufacturing by the next generation in our country who will determine the future of our industry.  Learn more about the competition at http://www.gonrl.org/.  Read our latest press release here.  And DEFINITELY check out the video to see true robot carnage!

NTMA Members Featured in USA Today

NTMA member and former Chairman Ron Overton, President of Overton Industries in Mooresville, Indiiana and NTMA President Dave Tilstone are featured today in a USA Today story on the challenges that manufacturers' are facing in finding skilled workers.  NTMA has been a leader on this issue, bringing this problem to the attention of policymakers and the national media.  Read thes story here.

Congratulations to NTMA Member Roy Sweatman!

NTMA congratulates long time member and former NTMA Chairman Roy Sweatman for being named to the U.S. Commerce's Department Manufacturing Council.  The Council provides advice to U.S. Commerce Secretary John Bryson on issues related to manufacturing sector competitiveness, as well as government policies and programs that affect the industry.

We have benefited greatly from Roy's leadership and commitment to strengthening manufacturing in America and are pleased that our country's leaders will have benefit from Roy's knowledge and ideas.  Roy's presence on the Council helps ensure that small and medium-sized manufacturers have a voice in the design of national manufacturing policies.  Read the Commerce Department's press release on the Council's new members here.  NTMA's press release on Roy can be found here.  Congratulations Roy!

NTMA Member Keeps Skilled Workforce Issue in the News

Congratulations to NTMA member Dieter Weissenriider of Weiss-Aug, Inc in East Hanover, NJ for his recent letter to the editor published in the Daily Record.  Dieter writes that the skills shortage needs to be addressed by the industry refocusing on apprenticeships, the government supporting apprenticeships through tax breaks and/or grants, academic institutions providing students with appropriate math, science and other tools needed for manufacturing jobs and companies and government helping students with tuition-free opportunites to pursue engineering degrees.  Read Dieter's letter here.