Leadership

Battery Manufacturer Fined for False ‘Made in USA’ Claims

A Florida battery manufacturer is the first company to be sanctioned under a federal rule aimed at cracking down on products falsely labeled “Made in the USA.” According to this release from the U.S. Department of Justice, the company has been ordered to pay more than $105,000 for violating the new Federal Trade Commission rule. 5/9/2022

Challenges Facing the Transition to EV Technology

As more automobile manufacturers transition production to electric vehicles (EV), OMA Connections Partner Schneider Downs discusses some of the possible challenges and concerns — especially in markets outside those of highly developed nations and population centers. In particular, the firm notes that EV production issues could also arise “as the supply chain of raw materials for batteries is currently controlled by China.” 5/9/2022

OMA Members Save Up to 50% on UPS Shipping

One of the benefits of OMA membership is discounted shipping prices via OMA’s partnership with UPS. Members can now save up to 50% (formerly 40%) on Domestic Next-Day/Deferred, as well as major discounts on other UPS services. Open a new account — or if you’re already taking advantage of our UPS savings program, re-enroll and apply the new discounts to your existing account. Learn more. 5/12/2022

U.S. Commerce Secretary: Chips Funding Delay Could Affect Ohio

Congress’ delay in passing federal legislation aimed at expanding U.S. semiconductor manufacturing is putting thousands of jobs at risk in Ohio and could limit Intel’s investment in the state, U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo says. She recently told reporters that “Ohio will face a very real risk of losing jobs and losing investment” if it takes until the end of the year to pass the bill.

The National Association of Manufacturers is running this campaign, urging manufacturers to weigh in with their federal representatives to advocate for timely passage of the chips funding bill. 5/4/2022

Ohio’s Primary Election Wrap-Up

Ohio’s 2022 primary election was held May 3. Missing from voters’ ballots were the contests for the Ohio House and Senate due to the ongoing redistricting dispute. (A future date for a special primary for state legislative races is expected to be announced soon.) To provide a statewide perspective on the May 3 primary, OMA staff has compiled these highlights. 5/4/2022

OMA Issues Action Alert on Union Hiring Bill

The OMA has issued this action alert, urging members to tell their representatives in the General Assembly to oppose House Bill 235 — legislation that would force private businesses to hire union workers. While HB 235 applies only to refineries as currently drafted, any industry could be impacted if this bill becomes law. Learn more. 5/5/2022

Governor DeWine Tours The Fischer Group

The OMA helped to arrange an April 29 tour for Gov. Mike DeWine and Ohio’s First Lady Fran DeWine at the facilities of The Fischer Group in Fairfield. The innovative company focuses on process automation to solve the needs of manufacturing applications. Owner Al Fischer told the governor about how his company is partnering with Miami University to host students to help attract them to manufacturing careers. 5/2/2022

Gov. Mike DeWine, First Lady Fran DeWine, Rep. Sara Carruthers (R-Hamilton), and Sen. George Lang (R-West Chester) joined the April 29 tour of The Fischer Group in Fairfield.

JobsOhio Receives National Honor

JobsOhio, the state’s private economic development corporation, has received top honors from the Annual American Business Awards, the nation’s premier business awards program. In addition to attracting Intel to the Buckeye State, JobsOhio has spent the last 11 years working on 3,300 projects that have created 243,000 new jobs, $12 billion in new jobs payroll, and $71 billion in capital investment,” said J.P. Nauseef, JobsOhio president and CEO. 5/4/2022

U.S. Manufacturing Index Shows Slower Growth

OMA Connections Partner RSM reports U.S. manufacturing has grown at a slower rate for back-to-back months. For April, the Institute for Supply Management’s manufacturing index registered 55.4%, the slowest growth rate since July 2020, partly due to high quit rates. RSM also says supply chain bottlenecks are expected to worsen. 5/2/2022

Chip Shortage Could Last Into 2024, Experts Say

Some computer chip executives say the global chip shortage will persist into 2024 or even longer. The Wall Street Journal (subscription) reports the worsening problem stems from delays for chip-making machinery, as well as labor shortages, supply-chain disruption in essential chemicals, and a shortage of inputs used to connect chips to circuit boards. 5/4/2022