ITR Economics Portal – A Great Benefit for Members
The Manufacturers Association for Plastics Processors (MAPP) membership offers access to economic intelligence from ITR Economics to help reduce risk and drive practical, profitable and informed business decisions. Through this new program, MAPP members gain access to quarterly economic reports and more.

These resources are of great monetary value and MAPP members receive them for free.

About ITR Economics
With a long-term accuracy rating of 94.7%, ITR Economics has forecasted major economic events, such as the Great Recession of 2008, years in advance. ITR provides reliable industry and company forecasts tailored to its clients’ needs and offers economic webinars, subscription periodicals, consultative reports and data-collection services.

Quarterly Reports
The quarterly Forecast Reports cover a comprehensive overview of the economy and an in-depth look at key industry sectors:

  • North America Light-Vehicle Production
  • US Total Retail Sales
  • US Medical Equipment and Supplies Production
  • US Private Nonresidential Construction
  • US Agriculture, Construction and Mining Machinery Production Index

The report also conveys the current and shifting phases of the business cycle (accelerating growth, recovery, slow growth or recession) for each industry sector.

MAPP Members can access the quarterly reports and economic tools through the ITR Member Portal at www.mappinc.com/resources/itr-economic-program.

Automation Wednesday Webinar Series
MAPP is pleased to announce the new Automation Wednesday Webinar Series.

Beginning August 14, 2024, join MAPP for a series of webinars featuring experts in automation who will cover various topics. The first webinar will cover the topic, “How to Calculate ROI of Automation When the Investment is Zero with Robots-as-a-Service.”

As a zero CapEx and pay-as-you-go model, the automation approach known as “Robots-as-a-Service” (RaaS) disrupts the conventional way of justifying automation investment. With RaaS, how do operations and engineering managers then calculate the business value of automation when it is rented instead of purchased? In this case, the best calculation approach uses a different comparison to the current operation financials, and it can be summarized into a single net present value for comparison against capital purchases, if desired.

For more information and to register, visit www.mappinc.com/events.

Automation Portal
MAPP is thrilled to unveil the latest advancement in its member offerings – the MAPP Automation Portal. Designed with members’ convenience in mind, this new portal via the MAPP website promises to revolutionize how processors interact with and learn from fellow members who work in automation.

Picture a vibrant platform where engineers, technicians and automation professionals unite to unravel obstacles, share insights and cultivate mutual advancement.

This isn’t merely a vision; it’s reality – Introducing MAPP’s FORCES of Automation.

         Find best practices
O         Observe methods and processes of others
        Raise awareness of automation enabling resources
        Connect engineers, technicians and leaders
E         Educate
S         Share and support each other

For more information and to explore the FORCES of Automation tab, visit
www.mappinc.com/automation.

Finance Forum – November 13-14, 2024
Join other finance and accounting colleagues and leaders at this unique virtual event designed to help address current benchmarks, best practices and current challenges facing the manufacturing industry today. This event will include presentations by experienced industry professionals, facilitated panels and peer-to-peer networking opportunities with other manufacturing finance professionals to help deliver answers and solutions to some of the biggest questions and challenges in the industry.

A Zoom link will be provided to attendees before the event. In addition, the virtual event will be recorded and made available to registrants regardless of attendance.

Interested in sharing a best practice? Contact Letha Keslar at lkeslar@mappinc.com.

Benchmarking Update: 2024 Wage and Salary Report
For over 20 years, MAPP’s Wage and Salary Report has become one of the most widely recognized industry benchmarks on compensation in the US plastics industry. The 2024 report will provide information on over 60 different job titles in the plastics industry and include benchmarks on starting and average wages, wage ranges for each job category, average tenure, salary trends and statistical analysis of specific job titles.

MAPP members who completed this survey will receive the report via email free of charge. For questions, email info@mappinc.com. To view and purchase the 2024 Wage and Salary Report, visit www.mappinc.com/resources/benchmarking.

MAPP Welcomes New Members
MAPP is proud to welcome the following plastics organizations:

  • Advantage Manufacturing Corp.,
  • Friendship, Tennessee
  • AGS Technology, Inc., Batavia, Illinois
  • DWE, Inc., Belcamp, Maryland
  • Houston Plastic Products, Houston, Texas
  • Intouch Monitoring Limited, Rosemont, Illinois
  • IPEX, Inc., Pineville, North Carolina
  • Petmate, Arlington, Texas
  • RD Industries, Omaha, Nebraska
  • Skudo USA, Dallas, Texas
  • Specialty Plastics, St. Peters, Missouri
  • Thermal Plastic Design, St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin
  • Zero Tolerance, LLC, Clinton Township, Michigan