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BUFFALO NIAGARA PARTNERSHIP
2009/10 Advanced Manufacturing Action Agenda

The manufacturing industry in Buffalo Niagara has seen more than $500 million in major investments since 1995 by America's top companies. Companies have updated their manufacturing facilities here, in large part, because our region boasts a manufacturing workforce of nearly 100,000 skilled workers. As the national and regional economy moves through the current downturn, local manufacturers are exploring new markets, diversifying and focusing on efficiency and productivity improvements.

Advocacy on behalf of the Advanced Manufacturing Industry

Opposition to the federal “Employee Free Choice Amendment” or “Card Check” legislation which would revoke an employee's right to a secret ballot election in union organization efforts, and impose binding arbitration on employers once their employees were successful in forming a union

Support of the Unshackle Upstate agenda, which seeks to create a better business climate in NYS
Support of the Partnership’s energy policy agenda, aimed at making more low-cost power available and repealing 18A assessments

Market Diversification
Implement programs to assist manufacturing firms to access opportunities for entry into new markets. Specifically:

Integrate education about “diversification” into Innovate Buffalo Niagara 2010, an event focused on successes occurring in regional industry sectors
Offer a full year of educational seminars to assist local manufacturers’ entry into the Renewable Energy sector; sessions will be in-depth follow up to the July 2009 Wind Symposium on topics selected by symposium attendees

Benchmarking Metrics
Coordinate a volunteer effort to assist individual manufacturing companies with benchmarking data; develop a set of measurements of both regional and individual manufacturing data, standards, and industry guidelines based upon a representative group of companies from the region. Metrics will benefit local companies and in addition (and as relevant) will be used to help promote Buffalo Niagara’s regional manufacturing assets locally and via regional business attraction efforts.

Employer Outreach
Engage in regular outreach visits with manufacturing employers in coordination with the efforts of other strategic partners, including BNE, ECIDA, Erie County, City of Buffalo and ESD to ensure Partnership activities are aligned with the needs and opportunities of the Buffalo Niagara employer community.

Best Practices
Execute a quarterly best practice tour series that highlights the successful “green” and sustainable models being implemented at local companies, including process improvements, entering new green markets, or reducing waste. Klein Steel: October 1; Sorrento: December; Luvata: March 5; FMC: May 6

Create forums to bring together operations personnel, plant managers, engineers, etc. as needed (and as identified by industry advisors and Partnership staff) to share best practices

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The agenda is available as a .PDF

The Council is headed by a group of dedicated volunteers from companies around the community who are interested in supporting manufacturing.

Nicholas S. Adams

Buffalo Games, Inc

nadams@buffalogames.com

Dave Fijas

Moog Inc.

dfijas@moog.com

Kenneth C. Gaines

Gaines Kriner Elliott LLP

kgaines@gkecpa.com

David Griggs