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A Message from our Founder
CTindustry.com was founded with the belief that more can be done to get more in-state manufacturers to work with one another. This local interaction creates a technological synergy, as well as an economic momentum, spawning activity requiring more human talent to support.
Connecticut is geographically small, but densely populated with many small manufacturers (as well as some larger ones: the seven companies of United Technologies, Gerber Scientific, General Electric, just to name a few). Yet it’s not always easy finding a local supplier - I know this firsthand as a practicing engineer. Logistically, especially in today’s manufacturing climate where the customer’s lead-time keeps getting shorter and shorter, it’s much easier to do business with someone 30 miles away than it is with someone 2000 miles away. CTindustry.com’s partnership with Manufacturers’ News, Inc. (MNI) gives our users access to the nation’s largest database of manufacturers. Our hope is that in using this extensive listing, you will first consider an in-state supplier. But if you can’t find a suitable one, you have the option of expanding your search outside on Connecticut.
I invite you to visit us often, as we will be adding additional tools and features to help make you a more effective industry professional. CTindustry.com is also the ideal place to share your company news, such as new product launches, technical papers or promotion announcements.
For the marketing or sales force: there isn’t a more cost-effective way to get your message in front of thousands of technical professionals, than to advertise online with us. In a recent article in the Hartford Business Journal, staff writer Christina Davis wrote, “advertisers are coming around and accepting online advertising as an important part of a marketing strategy.” Your market can be reading this same message. Target your marketing to those who use your products.
“Manufacturing is the largest contributor to economic growth and spawns more additional economic activity and related jobs than any other sector.” This quote is attributed to the National Association of Manufacturers. It goes on to say, “…manufacturing serves as the arsenal for democracy, playing an integral role in national defense and advancing the cause of freedom.” Bringing that closer to you and me, the same can be said about manufacturing in Connecticut. The state defense industry alone is to receive over $4.8 billion under President Bush’s 2003 U.S. defense budget.
I believe the sourcing pendulum is starting to swing the other direction. The overseas outsourcing pundits were wrong – the huge savings have not materialized. To be sure, many companies have succeeded in reducing labor costs simply by shifting production to far away, low-cost regions. But that alone doesn’t solve their problem. In-fact, it creates a whole new set of issues that are little understood. Among them is an over extended supply chain, requiring constant attention and an expertise to manage. Then there are trade regulations, protection of intellectual property, culture differences and currency fluctuations that make outsourcing not exactly nirvana.
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In-state suppliers have an overwhelming advantage: the ability to respond more quickly to serve a need or solve a problem.
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So what is the solution to the ever increasing costs in producing goods? We begin by understanding the customer’s needs and understanding your supplier’s capabilities. You can’t possibly understand your supplier’s capabilities if they reside in Guangzhou, China and you’re in Newington, CT. What about response time? Under normal conditions, it takes several weeks to receive goods from abroad. Not much help when we operate under customer lead times measured in days, sometimes hours. In-state suppliers have an overwhelming advantage: the ability to respond more quickly to serve a need or solve a problem.
On-time delivery is one reason why having local suppliers is good business practice. The other has to do with our quality of life. Let’s say Bob’s AeroSpace does more work with Pete’s Fabrication across town, not only do both companies benefit, but so do the two communities in which they’re located. Furthermore, the communities where the employees live in also benefit. The proximity of all three, the two companies and the employees, is the key to a technological synergy and economic momentum.
CTindustry.com is the only local free-market online community devoted exclusively to providing the technology professional with all the news, information and products you will need to be more productive and informed. You will frequently find stories featuring yours or your neighbor’s company, or even your competitor’s. Change is constant - and accelerating - so stay abreast of all that is happening in your industry - and in your state.
Manuel A. Santos
Founder
msantos@ctindustry.com
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