business backgrounder | manufacturing
“ Manufacturers are made for this . We are proud of the response from our manufacturers .”
— Jay Timmons , president of the National Association of Manufacturers
Business is booming for another flavorful Washington company , Talking Rain which is committed to remaining a 100 % made-in-the- USA brand , even as it quickly grows .
“ Outsourcing really just isn ’ t an option for maintaining the level of quality and food safety that our brand demands and stands for ,” said Adam Conway , director of Northwest operations for Talking Rain , “ Talking Rain was born here . We are proudly a positive economic and philanthropic entity in the community .”
International trade was also on the agenda as representatives from the Canadian and Mexican consuls in Seattle discussed the benefits of the new United States-Mexico-Canada agreement , or USMCA .
“ Sometimes it ’ s faster to ship across the border than for West Coast companies to order from the East Coast ,” said Jerome Pischella , Consul and Senior Trade Commissioner for the Canadian Consul in Seattle . “ The USMCA is perfect for that .”
Added Hector Ivan Godoy Priske , Consul General at Mexico ’ s Consul in Seattle , “ The influence of Washington ’ s manufacturing can be felt worldwide . Mexico remains one of Washington manufacturers ’ biggest supporters .”
aerospace , featuring aviation manufacturing
The grand finale of Manufacturing Week was in a grand location indeed — the expansive Aviation Pavilion at the Museum of Flight in Seattle , under the shadow of the world ’ s first 737 and 787 .
Washington ’ s aerospace industry is a pillar of the state ’ s economy , generating $ 71 billion in gross revenues for our state and more than 83,000 workers in 2018 .
Jay Timmons , President of the National Association of Manufacturers , said America ’ s manufacturers have been hit hard by Covid-19 but have also shown their resilience and significance .
“ Manufacturers are made for this ,” Timmons said . “ We are proud of the response from our manufacturers .”
Emily Wittman , president of the Aerospace Futures Alliance , said aerospace manufacturers have been effectively responding to a succession of challenges , but are still struggling .
“ Please do not make it any more difficult for aerospace companies to survive ,” Wittman said , speaking to lawmakers . “ We critically need more assistance from the federal government and supportive policies . We are trying as hard as we can to be creative and resilient .”
In keeping with the week ’ s ongoing theme of training and workforce development , a highlight of the day ’ s segment with a conversation with representatives of Raisbeck Aviation High School , located right next door to the Museum of Flight .
Max Welliver , a senior at the vocational high school , is building a wind tunnel in his basement . He praised the mentorship he ’ s received from a chief flight officer at Boeing . Sen . Bob Hasegawa , D-Seattle , pledged his support for ongoing investment . “ The best thing we can do is build the ecosystem that supports manufacturing ,” Hasegawa said . “ Transportation , education , workforce development are all important .”
Staff writer Lori Maricle contributed to this report . manufacturing excellence awards
AWB honored four employers with the 2020 Manufacturing Excellence Awards during this year ’ s Manufacturing Week tour .
Manufacturer of the Year Hobart Machined Products . Founded in a garage in 1978 by Rosemary and Larry Brester , the company now employs eight people and makes parts for a variety of industries including aerospace and medicine .
Innovation Award Novolex . With Washington facilities in Yakima and Vancouver , Novolex normally produces food packaging and containers . After the pandemic hit , the company quickly pivoted to producing personal protective equipment ( PPE ), particularly plastic isolation gowns .
Green Manufacturing Award Yakima Chief Hops . The company was recognized for its numerous initiatives aimed at reducing waste and shrinking its environmental footprint , from installing 3,700 solar panels at its facilities to building a state-of-the-art CO2 recovery system to recover 99 % of emissions .
Operational Excellence Award : GM Nameplate . Founded in 1954 , GMN has grown from a small facility in Seattle to a company that includes six plants in three countries . During that time , it has evolved from creating nameplates to providing a wide range of customengineered graphic and functional solutions .
check out manufacturing week live :
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