Simple Solutions That Work! Issue 5

On the way into CastExpo, I ran into a woman I have known in this industry for over 30 years. She said something that I thought was astute. She said “I walked the floor for a couple hours yesterday and came away with the feeling that the foundry industry is on the cusp of something – I don’t know what it is, but this show feels different from any of the last 8 I’ve attended. For starters, I’ve never seen so much technology! There are robots and companies that use robots in many booths. There are 3D sand printers, scanners along with virtual reality – some of this stuff I don’t even know what it is!” After I walked the floor, it really became obvious. If you compare even just the last foundry show to say nothing of the last couple, there has been a huge increase in technological leaps forward. Another buddy I ran into said another thing that stuck with me; “the rate of change is changing – it’s getting faster every day.” I heard this and immediately thought that was pretty perceptive. Essentially you have to keep up or you will surely get left behind. But the most perceptive statement I heard was from a very sharp young man from the Pacific Northwest. We were discussing change in general and what he has seen in the recent past from both a controls and manufacturing standpoint. He said that on his wall he has these three words: MUTATEMIGRATE PERISH . Which of course means either change or go out of business. This issue is all about change and not only what’s new, but what where industry leaders think we are headed in this 3,000 year old industry we love. Regards, Jack Palmer jack@palmer mfg .com President, Palmer Manufacturing & Supply, Inc. A NOTE TO OUR READERS