SME's EASTEC Manufacturing Event Provides Business Solutions For Small Manufacturing Companies

DEARBORN, Mich. – May 7, 2002 – Helping job shops and contract manufacturers stay competitive in these challenging times, the Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME) EASTEC Advanced Productivity Exposition and Conference provides resources for small manufacturing companies to find new customers, cut costs, and meet workforce and environmental compliance regulations.

EASTEC 2002, scheduled for May 21-23 at the Eastern States Exposition Grounds in West Springfield, Mass., is the East Coast's largest annual manufacturing event.

Focused to help manufacturing companies become more efficient, along with an exposition of 750 manufacturing technology suppliers, EASTEC offers more than 30 sessions on marketing, selling, workforce development, and key business practices and production processes. Session titles include:

• Proven Selling Strategies for Job Shops & Contract Manufacturers
  
• Stretch Your Training Dollars (free)
  
• Workforce Development: Effectively Using Local Resources (free)
  
• Marketing for Job Shops (free)
  
• Marketing on the Internet (free)
  
• ERP for the Small & Medium Sized Business (free)
  
• Introduction to NIMS Skill Standards: What can they do for you? (free)
  
• A Simplistic and Comprehensive Overview of Business Software for Job Shop Manufacturing (free)
  
• OSHA Training Requirements (free)
  
• Industry Action Alert: International Trade Commission Investigation (free)
  
• NSC Compliance Software: Prevent incidents before they happen! (free)
  
• Geometric Dimensioning & Tolerancing - Level 1
  
• Tolerancing Stacks Using GD&T – Level 2
  
• Lean 101: Basic Lean Manufacturing Principles with Simulation
  
• Lean 201: 5S Training Session with Simulation.

Additional resources for job shops and contract manufacturers include:

• Society of Manufacturing Engineers – Booth 5551: Providing a wide variety of services and educational tools including books for job shops such as Lean Manufacturing for the Small Job Shop.

• Job Shop Network – Booth 5607: A full-service marketing partner for job shops. Producers of Job Shop Shows, Job Shop Technology magazine and jobshop.com, the group also finds reps and has a new, inexpensive CAD file opening service.

• National Tooling & Machining Association (NTMA) – Booth 6446: Provides a wide variety of services including labor relations counseling, OSHA consultation, environment/hazardous material advice, loss control assistance, and skills testing for new employees.

• Safety Council of Western New England (SCWNE) – Booth 6421: Has books, videos and seminars on safeguarding equipment, ergonomics, and OSHA standards.

On the EASTEC exposition floor, leading machine tool builders, regional distributors and accessories manufacturers will showcase the newest products including: machine tools and accessories; cutting tools and inserts; vertical and horizontal machining centers; grinding and deburring; drilling and tapping; EDM; lathes; CAD/CAM; assembly and automation equipment; machine controls; flexible manufacturing systems; waterjet cutting; finishing; laser systems and more.

EASTEC 2002 show hours are: Tuesday, May 21, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.; Wednesday, May 22, 9 a.m. –
6 p.m.; and Thursday, May 23, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. (hours are staggered by building and will vary slightly).

For more EASTEC information, visit the event web site at www.sme.org/eastec; or call the SME Customer Service Department at (800) 733-4763, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., ET, M-F.

EASTEC 2002 is cosponsored by SME, the American Machine Tool Distributors Association (AMTDA), and AMT-The Association For Manufacturing Technology.

Society of Manufacturing Engineers, One SME Drive, P.O. Box 930, Dearborn, MI 48121-0930. Tel: 313-271-1500; Fax: 313-271-2861.