Manufacturing has started to become a driving issue for the future of the country, state and county. Creating an ever better product is seen as the road to continuing the now upward curve of manufacturing development.
The Institute of Supply Management, the largest supply management association in the world, released in early September a manufacturing index rise to 56.3 percent in August from 55.5 percent in July. Economists had predicted 52.9 percent. A reading above 50 percent indicates expansion in manufacturing and a reading below 50 indicates contraction in the industry.
“August represents the 13th consecutive month of growth in U.S. manufacturing,” said Norbert Ore, chairman of The Institute of Supply Management.
Last month, a federal bill was proposed by U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-3, that would allow manufacturers to save up to $250,000 a year in what would be called a manufacturing reinvestment account at community banks. Under the Manufacturing Reinvestment Act of 2010, companies would be able to invest that savings into capital purchases, infrastructure or job training and work force development-related activities.
Continuing the strong push, Gov. M. Jodi Rell announced manufacturers would be eligibility for $500,000 in grants to participate in a green manufacturing pilot program to help them implement energy efficiency programs, eliminate waste and create value.
HJ Hoffman, a large scale T-shirt printer and manufacturer, doing mostly event and business-to-business promotional work in Norwalk, has over the past 10 years been one of the few thriving manufacturers to be found in the area. The 100-year-old family business evolved from a uniform supply company.
David Hoffman, owner and president of HJ Hoffman, said his success and longevity is due to adaptability and awareness of the market; that includes being involved in new technologies.
Hoffman built the business into the T-shirt industry through the ”™90s by investing in advancements in printing. “Our job is to make these things look good,” Hoffman said. “But there are some challenges to being here.”
Hoffman said real estate space and price are major challenges to manufacturing operations in the area. HJ Hoffman has 25 employees.
“You need to be able to respond to changes in the market and what”™s the newest,” he said.
Hoffman said for him that means being on top of the style and materials of his product as well as technology and the newest marketing systems. HJ Hoffman has recently invested in integrating a Microsoft software and physical recognition product, GetTag.mobi, that directs Smartphone users directly to a desired website through a specific coded graphic.
“It is the fastest direct advertisement to web presence path I have seen,” Hoffman said.
He has tested the product for his business and is beginning to apply it for clients.
“You have to be on top of these things, you can”™t be carpe-tomorrow,” he said. He added that there is starting to be a trend of more and more businesses liking doing business with other businesses in the area.
“Right here it makes sense,” Hoffman said. “Fairfield County is a New York City market and has that caliber of businesses, but if you want to do business with these major names you have to be performing.”
