Goal of the Exchange Process 1. Help each Member professional to expand their business networks in order for you to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of how you tackle you job functions. 2. Provide Members with a dynamic and reliable resource to help you solve problems and find new implementable ideas

Rules of Engagement 1. Do not use your HOLD button on your telephone – hearing elevator music in the next 60 minutes is not good! 2. No body language signs – please be aggressive and speak your mind and thoughts. 3. Please identify yourself with name and company before speaking. 4. Take Notes about who is saying what… 5. Warning: My goal is to facilitate aggressively so we can cover as many topics as possible. 6. Last but not least, I need your feedback on how to make this process better for you and the participants. 7. Keep in mind of Anti-trust laws.

Question: Does anyone put operators as 1099 employees during the probationary period? (Jeff Applegate)  Eddie: We use a temp service  Jim: Temp service: Created videos used by the temp agency.  Broc: Temp  Norm: Temp  James:Temp: Employment agency must show the temp where they will be working.  Mike D.Don’t 1099 for more than 90 days due to audit exposure. Tax Credit: WOTC: Felons, food stamps, vets, disabled vet (11 different target groups. Tops out)

Question: Trends in tooling costs from independent tool makers and in the US and abroad? (James Schneberger)  Broc: Source a great deal of tools overseas. We are seeing that we have to pick and chose the battle with the customer. Seeing a trend in Chinese tool makers with rate increases.  Dean: No real pricing changes with the same tools be made. Quality is a question. Starting to see pricing in the US with QC10 at prices that are equal to the delivered to price from China.  Jim: Have not seen capacity issues.  Michael: 70% of tooling from off shore. China is slow…tools shops in the US seem to be closer to target pricing, but still higher. If you want Speed you do it in the US. No US capacity.  Norm: Pricing seems to be increasing from Asia. Still more expensive in the US.  Eddie: Use in-house  Action: Possibly benchmark tooling sources in China with rankings.

Question: Do you have a set % of profits or % of sale or % improvement over prior year for bonuses? ? (Kelly Goodsel)

Question: How do you keep younger employees focused on the long term view and not instant gratification/reward? (Daryl Lindemann)

Question: How do you get technicians? Invested in Paulson program….(Eddie Knapp)  James: Skilled trades need respect. Materials professionals are truly skilled positions. Identifying loyalty and other factors. Looking for vets, especially in combat arms, because these people are capable. Must have a trainer!!!  Norm: Attendance is the beginning metric. Testing for material handlers. Before we start training, we make sure they have the capacity to move. We haven’t hired a technician for 2 years. (*must make your own!). Using the school systems to the advantage of the company.  Broc: We look for interns…converting to material handlers, set-up, and process techs, Local VA for vets…State funds by county…

Question: What is your method for growing your own Process technicians? (Lou M.)

Question: What do you look for in developing good leaders? What is the success rate in developing Techs vs hiring from outside. (Vern Nightenhelser)

Question: What free resources are there for training in mentoring? (Broc Ungaro)  Denise: Do you get feedback from your employees?  James: Google resources / find a coach and mentor  Dean: Local community college / auditing processes in plant  Norm:Training with employees with different books like the 7 habits; Leadership round tables to help develop the next level leaders;

Question: What methods are being found to be most effective for recruiting talent? Training internal or external? (Gary Heaven)

Question: Is the election year seeming to be an impact on your business? (Norm Forest)  Norm: Recently seen some things that were ready to move but now they are on hold.  Broc: Nothing different…orders are coming in and expecting things to pick up soon.  Dean: Not seeing any changes. Just concerned about raising of min wage.  Denise: Business has been increasing for the last several months. Agree with min wage concern  Eddie: Not seeing any impact….  Jim:Not tying anything to elections.  James: Nothing  Myra:Doing well this quarter  Dennis:Business confidence is weak…  Michael:Niched businesses are doing well. Price based molders are strugglong

Question: Any suggestions on how to get price increases to cover increased wages and benefits? (Charlie Braun)

Question: Project management for complex projects appears to be a challenge. What tools are available to help with this challenge ? (Darren Maydew)

Question: Developing Leadership Talent. How do you grow your own technical talent Maint., Technicians, Tool Makers? (Thomas Hafele)

Question: How is the Clean Power Plan (Green Energy Mandated by the feds) signed into law going to affect or impact your business? (Dave Jentzsch)

Question: I’m an injection molder in TN with 70% automotive sales. I am in a climate of substantial wage inflation, while I watch projections for the 2016 GDP get revised lower month by month. Also, US manufacturing is flat to slightly contracting while I am experience strong automotive demand. With conflicting data, I am not sure whether to adjust my wages upwards or just hold tight and wait for the economy to cool. Any thoughts from the group?(Lawrence Segrest)

Question: What is the best way to alleviate employee fatigue/burn out when they are not being offered the tasks/jobs they desire? (Brandon Brumbaugh)

Question: Are there any benchmarks that would be valuable to your organization that MAPP could help with but doesn't already provide? (Mike Devereux)  James: Annual Salary Survey Position definitions are difficult to map. Customers’ Terms and conditions.

Question: What are your sources for used equipment: injection molding and robots? (Michael Cirone)

Ideas to Grow Networking

Save the Date State of the Industry Webinar: March 3rd Peer-to-Peer Discussion: April 1 st Benchmarking and Best Practices Conference – Oct. 13 th -14 th THANK YOU!