News and Analysis
Pandemic Halts Ohio Ballot Initiatives
May 8, 2020Referenda on recreational marijuana, voting rights, a minimum wage hike and more have fallen victim to the pandemic. It was reported this week that because the COVID-19 crisis has made it almost impossible to collect ballot initiatives, these campaigns have effectively ended. However, some campaigns are appealing to federal courts in a final effort to get their issues on the November ballot. 5/6/2020
Invent Here, Manufacture There
May 8, 2020“The U.S. has lost its capacity to innovate and mass produce emerging hardware technologies.”
That’s the conclusion of a white paper by a leading professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Michigan and the executive director of a manufacturing think tank. The white paper concludes that “after five decades of offshoring production,” the U.S. “may still be one of the most inventive countries,” but it is “no longer the most innovative, at least in hardware.” 5/4/2020
Ohio’s Notable Commencement Speakers
May 8, 2020Even as COVID-19 restrictions force college graduations to be conducted online, Ohio graduates are at least receiving some memorable advice from notable figures. Last weekend, Apple CEO Tim Cook delivered a virtual commencement address to thousands of graduates of The Ohio State University, while Tom Hanks shared an inspiring video message with the graduating class of Wright State University. 5/4/2020
Ohio a Top 5 State for Economic Development Offices
May 8, 2020This week, Site Selection magazine reported that Ohio is ranked fifth in the publication’s 2020 Prosperity Cup state rankings, which recognizes the state and regional offices that were the most successful in attracting capital investment projects in 2019. This is a two-spot improvement for Ohio — and it comes shortly after the Buckeye State was ranked No. 1 in Site Selection’s annual Governor’s Cup rankings for projects per capita. JobsOhio, the state’s private economic development arm, welcomed the news. 5/4/2020
Ohio’s Unofficial Primary Election Results Available
May 1, 2020Ohio’s delayed primary election was completed Tuesday night, April 28. You can see the unofficial results here, including results for Ohio’s House and Senate districts. (Keep in mind the official canvas will be completed three weeks after the conclusion of the election.)
Special congratulations to OMA PAC-endorsed candidates Rep. Mark Romanchuk, who is running for Ohio Senate, and Larry Holmes — the longtime chair of the OMA’s Safety & Workers’ Compensation Committee — who is running for Darke County commissioner.
With the COVID-19 stay-at-home order in place and non-competitive presidential contests, this year’s primary election saw low voter turnout, with 1.7 million Ohioans casting their ballots — about 22% of the state’s 7.7 million registered voters. That’s roughly half the number of voters who participated in the 2016 primary election.
All eyes are now on the Nov. 3 general election. 4/29/2020
Ohio Manufacturers Keep Innovating to Fight COVID-19
May 1, 2020In recent weeks, the OMA has devoted much of its social media activity to sharing positive news about Ohio manufacturers that are helping their communities by donating protective gear or by repurposing to manufacture products that will help win the fight against COVID-19. Here is an updated compilation of some of these uplifting stories. 4/30/2020
Roman: Crisis Creates Greater Appreciation for Cleveland-Area Manufacturing
May 1, 2020In a recent editorial, Joe Roman, the president and CEO of the Greater Cleveland Partnership, talks about the “post-coronavirus to-do list.” The first item on the list, Roman says, is to gain a greater appreciation for Northeast Ohio’s manufacturing capabilities, he says.
Cuyahoga (1,680 establishments), Lake (569) and Summit (777) counties are among the most manufacturing-dense counties in the state. 4/27/2020
Managing a Manufacturing Plant Through the Coronavirus Crisis
May 1, 2020According to McKinsey & Company, there are three core principles manufacturers should follow during this time of uncertainty:
- Protect the workforce.
- Manage risks to ensure business continuity.
- Drive productivity at a distance.
The firm says the adoption of new digital technologies, along with flexibility and creativity of front-line staff, will help companies emerge from the COVID-19 crisis with manufacturing operations that are safer, more productive, and more resilient. 4/27/2020
Report: 95% of Surgical Masks Made Overseas
May 1, 2020“You can be sure to expect probing questions, from boards of directors to their CEOs, around what they will be doing to ensure that there is minimal disruption the next time a major global pandemic or any catastrophe happens.”
That comment comes from Rich Thompson with Chicago-based investment firm Jones Lang LaSalle. In an article addressing supply chain concerns, Thompson points to U.S. vulnerabilities related to drug and medical equipment supplies, citing a federal report that 95% of surgical masks and 70% of tighter-fitting respirators, such as N95 masks, are currently made overseas. 4/28/2020
Professor: Bringing Manufacturing Back to the U.S. Is Easier Said Than Done
May 1, 2020While political leaders call for U.S. manufacturers to start producing more critical supplies domestically, Willy C. Shih, a professor of management practice at Harvard Business School, has written this article in the Harvard Business Review to point out the complexities of bringing back certain segments of manufacturing.
Shih lists key steps that managers should take now to assess their supply strategies and improve their resilience. 4/27/2020