Are You Measuring Your Marketing?

The Fed Finally Is Facing Up to Congestion
Norman Y. Mineta, U.S. Secretary of Transportation, has announced a national initiative to ease congestion in freight, aviation and on the highways. "Congestion kills time, wastes fuel and costs money," Mineta observed in remarks to the National Retail Federation. Read more

Canadian Loonie Levels Profits
Bombardier Inc., the US$3.5 billion Canada-based manufacturer of regional aircraft, business jets and rail transportation equipment, explained to its shareholders the impact the Canadian dollar is having on profits. In a speech given May 30, Laurent Beaudoin, chairman and CEO, noted that much of the efforts by company employees are offset by "current dramatic and rapid rise of the Canadian dollar." Read more

Watchdog Group Slams Treasury Over Chinese Currency Ruling
The China Currency Coalition -- an ad hoc lobbying group formed in 2003 by U.S. industrial, service, agricultural, and labor organizations -- on Tuesday challenged last week's U.S. Treasury Department decision that concluded China has not manipulated its currency in order to undercut the dollar. Read more

UGS Leads CAM Markets
UGS was the largest supplier of computer-aided manufacturing software in 2005, and is likely to continue to lead the market in 2006, according to a market study released by CIMdata Inc. Read more

Practical Machinist Forum

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General -- Where can I find a good manufacturing consultant?
"I'm going to strike out on my own in the fall, and start manufacturing the product I've been developing... I need to hire a consultant who can advise me on how to make the most of my equipment and time. Where do I find that kind of consultant?"
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Manufacturing in America and Europe -- Honda has every car in Indianapolis 500
"I seem to recall that the Indianapolis event is heavily used in company R&D to test new designs and materials for future products. The creation of a successful engine has been used in industry for many years to gauge how a company's R&D efforts are faring... What is this telling us of the R&D effort of the domestic car manufacturers?"
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CAD/CAM -- CAD for sheetmetal fabrication?
"I just started a new job as a draftsman in a sheetmetal company... I just wonder if there is any suitable CAD package for sheetmetal fabrication, which can unfold a part from 3D automatically."
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