Welcome to e-Connections, the weekly AFS email newsletter. In this Sept. 23, 2008, edition:
Maximum Productivity, Labor Issues Highlighted at HR Conference
The Labor Relations and Human Resources Conference will be held Oct. 29-31 at the Omni La Mansion del Rio Hotel, San Antonio. The focus of this conference is to educate management personnel on current human resources and labor relations trends in the metalcasting industry.
Several important labor and human resources issues will be highlighted at this event including:
- Labor Issues After the November Elections: The Employee Free Choice Act, Steve Warren, Constangy, Brooks & Smith;
- FMLA and Military Family Leave, Joel Aziere, Davis & Kuelthau, s.c.;
- How ADEPT Leaders Manage Talent for Maximum Productivity; John Ward, Business Works;
- The Importance of Knowing How to Manage Generation Y, Chris Norch, Denison Industries;
- ICE: Building Partnerships with Industry Through IMAGE, Joe Martinez, Jr., the Dept. of Homeland Security Immigration and Custom Enforcement;
Make your hotel reservations before the cut off date of Oct. 7. To download a brochure for this event, click here. For more information, or to register for this conference, contact AFS customer service, at 800/537-4237.
Best of CastExpo Webinar to Focus on CGI Applications
AFS's new webinar series, the Best of CastExpo, is intended to recap the most important technical sessions of the event held this year in Atlanta.
The first webinar, scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 25, at 11:00 AM EST, will focus on production applications of compacted graphite iron (CGI). Presenters include Bryan Burton, ThyssenKrupp-Waupaca, Steve Dawson, SinterCast and Leonard Lamb, Motor Castings Co. The hour and a half session also will cover:
- CGI processing;
- sample weight;
- furnace chemical control;
- pouring temperature control;
- thermal analysis and trim wire feeding.
The cost to attend this and future Best of CastExpo webinars is $50 for AFS members, $100 for non-members. For more information on the Best of CastExpo webinar series, or to register for this webinar, contact Rebecca Erickson, AFS technical assistant, at rebecca@afsinc.org or 800/537-4237 x246.
How Competitive Are Your Wages? Find Out with AFS Survey
The challenge for companies in this decade is to find ways to create a workplace culture that attracts, retains and develops effective employees. Employers must stay competitive and offer salaries and benefits in-line not only with competitors, but all metalcasters.
Is your labor agreement due to expire soon? The 2008 AFS Survey of Wages and Economic Benefits can assist you with your contract negotiations, and provide you with details on the current status of wages and benefits for the metalcasting industry in North America by a metalcasting facility's size, union status and type of metal poured. See how your metalcasting facility measures up.
For more information, contact AFS customer service, at 800/534-4237 or visit the AFS E-Store.
Seminar Brings Together Metalcasters, Customers
The AFS Metalcasting Solutions Seminar will be held Wednesday. Oct. 1, in conjunction with the East Coast Regional Conference at the Heritage Hills Golf Resort, York, Pa. In this seminar, casting buyers and designers will:
- discuss the casting processes;
- review the various alloy families;
- see casting design successes;
- learn about technological advancements in metalcasting.
If you are a buyer, attend this workshop to learn more about what metalcasting can do for you. If you are a metalcaster, show buyers what you can do by exhibiting with a table top.
For more information on the Metalcasting Solutions Seminar, contact Leo Baran, AFS director of membership services, at lbaran@afsinc.org or 800/537-4237 x201. To download a registration form in .pdf format, click here.
CMI Offers Foundry Leadership Skills Workshop
CMI will be offering a Foundry Leadership Skills workshop Nov. 17-18 at the Eagle's Nest Convention Center, Columbia City, Ind. This discussion-oriented course explores and highlights the skills and tools needed for leadership and management in the metalcasting facility. Leadership, responsibilities, communications, motivation, handling complaints, safety and discipline are among the topics discussed.
For more information or to attend this course, contact AFS customer service at 800/537-4237, or click here to register.
