DisTribute

Mobility: A Hot Technology Trend in Distribution

Modern Distribution Management recently finished up a series of articles on Emerging Technologies in Distribution. Many of the technology solutions covered also fall on the lists around the Web of top technologies for business in 2012.

The emerging technologies MDM identified for distributors going into 2012:

• Mobile Technology
• Business Intelligence
• E-Commerce
• Cloud Computing
• Pricing Analytics & Tools

Mobile technology is one of the top trends under discussion in MDM’s LinkedIn group. More distributors realize the importance of mobility for their management and sales force and are looking for tools to give their sales staff real-time access to pricing, quotes, open orders, credits, A/R and other data on their ERP system.

An MDM survey found that about 45% of readers had implemented mobile tools in their organizations; nearly 20% said they had plans to. That number is sure to rise and may not even be reflective of all the possible uses of mobile technology.

As Brian Kazmierczak of Rubber Tree Systems told MDM last year for their Emerging Technologies in Distribution Special Report: “Everyone has a different idea of what mobile is. What we’ve come up with is mobile is anything that keeps your salespeople out of the office and in front of the customer, and reduces manual communication …”

Deloitte’s 3rd annual “Tech Trends 2012” report, which identifies and predicts the top 10 emerging and disruptive technologies expected to play a crucial role in how businesses are anticipated to operate globally in 2012 and beyond, also lists mobility in the top 10.

Deloitte considers mobility one of the top disruptive technology trends, stating “Mobility is helping many organizations rethink their business models. Consumer-facing mobile applications are only the beginning. With the explosion of mobile use cases, organizations should make sure solutions are enterprise class – secure, reliable, maintainable and integrated to critical back-office systems and data.”

Tribute, Inc. anticipated the need for this technology integration and began a partnership with Rubber Tree Systems in 2007 to provide our customers an intelligent mobile service that uses "push" technology to give sales people and management direct access to orders, quotes, and other mission critical data in their TrulinX and Tribute Software Systems. This critical data is available "real-time" via mobile phone, Blackberry, iPads and Android tablets.

If you have an antiquated ERP system that doesn’t provide an integrated mobile technology, it’s time to take a look at Tribute, Inc.

Common HR Problems Employers Can Avoid

Some of the most critical responsibilities for any business owner fall under human resources. Employee relations can be a big challenge for business owners and potentially lead to a host of legal nightmares.

The rules and regulations governing employers are typically complex and can vary from state to state. Still, the legal problems encountered by most business owners tend to fit into one of five categories, according to this article by J.D. Harrison for The Washington Post On Small Business. To minimize headaches and keep your company running smoothly, avoid these common HR mistakes:

• Worker misclassification: Employee or independent contractor? It can be tricky to make the distinction. Employers who improperly classify workers can run into serious penalties with regards to taxes, withholdings and overtime wages.
• Overtime pay problems: Overtime pay rules vary greatly from state-to-state. In California, for instance, employees must receive overtime pay not only when they work more than 40 hours per week, but also when they work more than eight hours per day. However, most states set their limits solely on a weekly basis.
• Break mistakes: Be sure your employees are taking their proper breaks, so they cannot later claim they were forced to work through them. If your workers are tempted to work during their break times, consider creating break rooms where no work is allowed or requiring employees to leave the premises for their entire break.
• Firing foul-ups: You must have a firing process and you must follow that process equally for all employees.
• Discrimination and harassment unpreparedness: Harassment problems can spring up in just about any workplace, and it's vital that business owners prepare for such situations before they happen, not afterward.

You can read the complete article here.

Wouldn't it be great to have a go-to list of resources to provide answers to common HR questions? Try these seven resources, courtesy of this article by Sharlyn Lauby for the OPEN Forum:

1. Blogs like Ask a Manager and Evil HR Lady
2. The Department of Labor website
3. G.Neil - a one-stop HR supply shop for your small business.
4. Monster.com - for job candidates and specialized community forums
5. Newsletters from SmartBrief
6. The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM)
7. Your local Chamber of Commerce

Have you dealt with any HR nightmares in your company? Feel free to post your story in our comments below.

April 1 Deadline for 401(k) Fee Disclosure

If you sponsor a 401(k) plan for your employees, April 1st will be an important date to remember. This is the deadline for plan sponsors to obtain from plan advisors newly required disclosures stating specifically what services they’re providing and the cost of each. Small businesses will get critical information on the true cost of their employee retirement plans — and the unnecessary fees that they are paying.

Quoting an article by Frank Armstrong III for the Washington Post On Small Business: "It isn't unusual to find 401(k) plans with total costs paid by the participant exceeding 3 percent of account total annually, with investment choices limited to subpar proprietary funds, and with payments to the various providers not related to services rendered.

"Confusion about who provides what service, how much is their direct and indirect compensation, and whether the various parties are acting in a fiduciary capacity is the rule. The combined impact on participant accounts and retirement funding is devastating. For instance, a 1 percent unwarranted cost might impact final accumulations over an employee's career by 30 to 50 percent.

"However, without critical information, comparisons and informed decision making are impossible. The new regulation — DOL Reg 408(b)(2) — aims to fix that. By April 1, plan sponsors must disclose their costs. By May 31, according to another new regulation, the same information must be shared with plan participants.

"If you are a plan sponsor each service provider must supply you with a revised service agreement that includes:

• A complete description of the services they provide.
• A full disclosure of the costs of each service.
• A disclosure of any direct or indirect compensation they receive from associated providers.
• Information on whether they assume fiduciary responsibility for each function (Hint: if the service agreement does not specifically assume fiduciary responsibility for a function, they are unable or unwilling to assume that liability.)
• Any potential conflicts of interest and how they are managed and mitigated.

"Red flags might include:

• A total cost for all services including investment advice, recordkeeping/administration, fund fees, transaction costs, custody or trustee fees and any mortality and expense charges that exceed 1.5 percent.
• Any single fee disproportionate to services rendered or economic value.
• Direct or indirect compensation between the parties which might cause conflicts of interest.
• Revenue sharing not fully accounted for and credited back to the plan.
• Failure to specifically assume fiduciary status by investment advisers, consultants and other plan providers.

In addition to obtaining the fee disclosures, the new rules also require sponsors to determine whether plan advisors are fiduciaries — a legal/regulatory status meaning that these advisors always put clients' interests ahead of their own.

This article by Anthony Kippins for Smart Business discusses the fiduciary role in more detail. Under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) of 1974, employers (plan sponsors) are themselves fiduciaries, with all of the accompanying responsibility, accountability and liability. Many plan sponsors have always believed that their long-time advisors are fiduciaries, but this simply isn't true. Typically, the main advisory role in a 401(k) plan is played by a broker. However, few brokers can be considered fiduciaries, as they often have conflicts of interest, such as business relationships with financial institutions that provide investments for the plan. It's important for plan sponsors to understand how the dynamics of the 401(k) disclosures will put an increased regulatory and legal burden on them as fiduciaries.

Want a straightforward guide to your obligations as an employer and how to keep your employees informed of their true retirement plan costs? Try this guide from the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Finally, here is a complete guide to 401(k) plans for small businesses from the U.S. Department of Labor.

The Future of Manufacturer/Distributor Relationships: Industrial Performance Group’s Survey Results

In a previous blog post, Robert Nadeau, managing partner of Industrial Performance Group, Inc., talked about several trends he’s seen emerging in the relationship between distributors and manufacturer.

Nadeau found that prolonged economic uncertainty, intense competition, razor-thin margins and the ever-shifting sand of government regulation are just a few of the challenges faced by manufacturers and distributors. He believes that the actions being taken by manufacturers and distributors in response to these challenges are changing the very nature of their working relationships, and asked for input from both sides in a survey about the changes due to the downturn in the economy.

Industrial Performance Group’s research shows that the cornerstones of a solid manufacturer/distributor working relationship are common goals and two-way communication. They find that when both parties work toward a common goal and communicate on a regular basis, the level of conflict is usually low. And any conflict that does exist is usually positive in nature and can move the relationship forward in a constructive manner.

In their recently completed survey of 375 manufacturers and distributors, they found that the level of destructive conflict between many manufacturers and distributors has increased while the level of communication has declined.

The good news is that there is a small group of manufacturers and distributors who are doing a very good job of navigating their way through the turbulent waters caused by the current state of the economy. How are they different from the rest? Nadeau lists three key areas in which these manufacturer/distributor partners excelled, allowing them to adapt to our new economic environment. You can view these and the entire article in IPG's current newsletter by clicking here.

Tribute, Inc. facilitates the distributor/manufacturer relationship by partnering with major manufacturers to streamline the supply chain and save their distributors money. Those that carry Bosch Rexroth, Eaton, Gates, Garlock, Parker Hannifin, and Pall, among others will find that Tribute offers time and money saving advantages to their distributors.

Industrial Performance Group
Highland Park, Illinois
800.867.2778
www.indusperfgrp.com

Taking the Plunge into Social Media

Many distributors are upgrading their websites and considering the plunge into social media. The University of Maryland’s Smith School of Business looked at the relationship between social media and small businesses and found that the technology adoption rates in the U.S. have doubled in the past year from 12% to 24%.

The study concludes that nearly 20% of business owners are incorporating social media into their businesses — Facebook and LinkedIn were the most popular sites. In fact, 45% of surveyed respondents even believe their social media initiatives will pay off financially in 12 months or less.

As the graphic below details, the small business owners who are using social media are primarily engaging in social media through company pages (75%) and status updates (69%) on Facebook or LinkedIn. Just 16% are using Twitter as a customer service channel.

To get started, you should have an idea of what you want to accomplish and impart via social media. Tamara Weinberg of Mashable provides a good compilation from industry experts: 13 Essential Social Media Lessons for B2B Marketers from the Masters. Christina Warren of Mashable provides 10 Essential Social Media Tips for B2B Marketers.

LinkedIn is a great way to get started in social media – it surpassed the 100 million user mark last March and continues to be the premier site for Business to Business networking.

To get started, you’ll first want to create your personal profile. Dan Schawbel at Mashable has a good article on how to set up your LinkedIn profile and here's how to Ensure Your LinkedIn Profile is Effective. And don't forget to join the

Once you have your personal profile done, you can create a company profile. Post regular status updates to your company profile and follow the companies you do business with. Here is a previous article we posted on 10 Ways for Small Businesses to Use LinkedIn.

You also have the ability to set up groups within LinkedIn to disseminate information to customers, etc. These can be locked so that the information remains inaccessible to the public domain. Tribute, Inc. has set up groups for our Tribute or TrulinX software users on LinkedIn to network with our staff and their peers.

Tips for Microsoft Word

Many of us are longtime users of Microsoft Word. Each new version of Word introduces new features, especially in Office 2007, where the traditional menus and toolbars were replaced with a new "ribbon" interface. Word 2010 included even more enhancements.

Have you been keeping up-to-date with the new options availabe in each new version of Word, or just sticking to the tasks you know? You may be barely scratching the surface of its potential.

This article by Barry Moltz for The OPEN Forum lists 13 useful features for both beginners and more advanced users of Microsoft Word, including:

• Use the Quick Part Gallery to store content that will be reused repeatedly, such as text snippets, logos and other graphics.
• Save typing. Use this feature for keystroke shortcuts. For example, if your  company name is The Penney Wig Corporation, then you can use a keystroke short cut like "TPWC" and Word will type “The Penney Wig Corporation” every time.
• Convert a document from Word format to PDF to make it more professional and prevent anyone from changing it. No additional software is required.
• If you use an electronic postage program like Stamps.com, Word allows you to print envelopes and shipping labels with USPS-approved postage directly from Word without opening the other program.
• Collaborate on documents using Word's change tracking and commenting features.
• Beef up your spellcheck by using an exclusion dictionary. This causes words like "manger" (instead of "manager") to be flagged as misspelled words.
• Use the built-in Flesch-Kincaid grade level test to keep your correspondence and marketing content simple and readable.
• Use the Forms features to create standardized checklists and store them electronically.
• Use Styles to set up fonts, headings and and colors that stay consistent and give your documents an extra level of professionalism.
• Highlight a word or paragraph and use Ctlr+Shift+ > to make the font larger, or Ctrl+Shift+< to make the font smaller.

Click here to read the entire article.

There are lots of resources for Microsoft Word tips. PC Magazine lists 15 Word 2010 tips for beginners here and 10 tips for advanced users here. Or go straight to Microsoft, who provides many Word 2010 videos here. and free online training courses here.

Parker Veriflo Launches Mobile App

Parker Hannifin’s Veriflo Division, a leading manufacturer of precision diaphragm and bulk gas valves, regulators, and flow control components for the control and application of liquids and gases, has launched their new Mobile App. The new app provides easy access to all Veriflo Product Catalogs and specifications "on-the-go" through your mobile browser.

Highlights of the App:

• Can be viewed on iPhone, iPad, iTouch, Android phones and all devices that have Safari or Google Chrome browsers.
• Automated 'Where to Buy' finder based on current location or zip code. Also includes 'Map It' feature to find directions to selected distributor.
• Clean interface for easy navigation to all our products quickly.
• Email product catalogs.
• Configure product model numbers.
• Quick way to find a distributor for a given product.
• All other convenient features of having a mobile device.

Enter http://m.parker.com/veriflo to access this app on your mobile device's web browser.

Are you a Parker distributor looking for upgraded distribution management software? Tribute, Inc. is specifically designed to handle your industry’s unique needs and partners with Parker Hannifin to streamline your supply chain and cut costs. Take a look at what Tribute, Inc. has to offer Parker distributors.

Ten Tips for Better Internet Searches

Searching within Google (or Bing, Yahoo or your favorite search engine) is simple: type your search term into the box and click Search. Many times, you will find exactly what you're looking for. But you can become more efficient at searching if you learn a few tricks.

This article by Alexandra Samuel lists ten tips for using search more effectively, including:

• Learn advanced syntax. Have you ever used a minus sign or an OR in a Google search? Learn about these powerful features and more on Google's Operators and More page. Or, use the Google Advanced Search form if you don't want to memorize all the options yourself.
• Go Boolean on your Inbox. Once you learn the advanced syntax for Google, you can use it to manage your Gmail inbox too. Click here to learn more.
• Add additional search engines to your browser. If you find yourself regularly searching a single site like Wikipedia or the New York Times, you can add it to your browser as a search plugin and choose it from the dropdown menu in your search bar. Use this site to find search plugins for popular web pages.
• Google your error messages. One of the quickest ways to find answers to any tech problem is to Google the specific error message you are seeing. This will almost always lead to a blog post or discussion thread with possible solutions to your problem.

For the complete article, click here.

Google Search has many useful and interesting features you may not be aware of. Did you know you can use it to quickly find the local time in any big city, convert currency, track the arrival and departure of a flight, and more? Find out about all these and more in this article by Gina Trapani for Lifehacker.

Join Tribute, Inc. at the 2012 NAHAD Annual Meeting & Convention

NAHAD hosts the only worldwide event dedicated to serving hose distributors and manufacturers. The annual spring event brings together nearly 900 attendees for four days of business education, networking, product showcases and social events, all designed to build stronger trading partner relationships and deliver new product introductions and hose solutions.

This year the NAHAD 28th Annual Convention will be held April 18 – 22 at the Venetian/Palazzo Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Aside from the numerous opportunities to network with trading partners, industry peers and manufacturers, the convention provides educational workshops and business presentations by leaders in their fields. This year’s keynote speakers:

Jaynie Smith, Founder & CEO of Smart Advantage, Inc., will be talking about Relevant Selling and finding your competitive advantage.

Dr. Bill McLeave, President, W.R. McCleave & Associates, will be speaking on how to avoid the traps most managers fall into and how to build better management teams.

Dr. Al Bates, President, Profit Planning Group, will be discussing Distributor Profitability, How to Triple Your Profit, and Reviewing the NAHAD PAR Report.

Steve McClatchy, President Alleer Training & Consulting, will be going over how to lead your team and addressing Trust, Conflict & Business Relationships.

Michael Schatzki, Principal of Negotiation Dynamics®, will address how to better your negotiation tactics and improving your sales profitability tool.

Scott Tibbitts, Founder eSpace, will discuss his adventures as a space entrepreneur.

And, don’t forget to visit Tribute at our booth. We love to see our customers and have the opportunity to talk to folks about our software specifically designed for hose and accessories distributors. Statistics from previous NAHAD conventions indicate that over 70% of attending member companies attribute earning or saving between $10,000 and $12,000 in the twelve months following the convention, based on business relationships, educational insights and networking conducted at the convention. We hope to see you there!

The Future by Fluid Power

Many advances in technology make our lives easier, but some are just downright cool. Check out a few we think are leading us into the future.

A Real World Iron Man

In the Iron Man movie, the hero flew and fought in a robotics suit. The real world version is not as advanced, but the Raytheon exoskeleton robotics suit, the XOS 2, features redesigned servo valves that force more hydraulic fluid through the valves to produce up to 200 kg/cm of force. A tethered version is an estimated five years from deployment; longer still for a free-range version.

One Step Closer to the Jetsons

A 21-year-old Chinese designer has plans for a vehicle called the Volkswagen Aqua that can hover and thereby negotiate all kinds of terrain, including road, sand, ice, snow and water! The design for the invention has been shortlisted in the annual Car Design Awards competition, sponsored in part by Volkswagen. The design calls for four powerful fans in conjunction with airbags to give the vehicle its hover power. The ultra-smooth and futuristic design also includes an expansive panoramic windshield and a hatch entrance from the back.

Dragonfly Spy Drone

The Air Force Research Lab has built a “Micro-Aviary” at Wright Patterson AFB in Ohio where tiny flying robots are the central focus. The Micro-Aviary will specialize in what the DoD has deemed the next generation of intelligence and military robot capabilities: tiny drones that are largely indistinguishable from insects or birds that can surreptitiously move about undetected, performing surveillance and intelligence gathering missions or even delivering payloads like tracking devices or even weapons.

Waves to Power Sensors

Like most renewable energy sources, ocean waves cannot compete with the low costs of fossil fuels. It’s expensive to get wave-generated electricity ashore and add it to a local grid. But what if wave-energy conversion could be used where it’s generated?

A few weeks ago the U.S. Navy installed a system of what are called PowerBuoys, made by Ocean Power Technology. Each buoy contains hydraulic fluid and a generator. Rather than transmitting that electricity to shore over a submerged fiber-optic line, the juice will power the ocean-based sensors that detect and track vessels. The system is part of the Navy's near-coast anti-terrorism and maritime surveillance program.

Happy Holidays!

Click on the photo to see a bigger version!

Top Frames: Tim S., Matt, Tami, Nina, Tim M., Kellie, Alan, Sue, Ken, Bill, Ming, and Carol.  

Back Row: John, Lance, Tim R., Shawanda, Kristi, Nancy, Kristy, David S., Tom, Tracy, Julie, Gilbert, and Byron.

Front Row: Steve, Susie, Dawn, David P., and Don.

Wishing our customers and partners

a Happy Holiday Season!

The gang at Tribute, Inc.

Gates® PT Toolkit™: A Mobile App for Gates Power Transmission Distributors

Are you a distributor of Gates power transmission products? Gates Corporation has come out with a free mobile app that bundles together some of the most commonly-referenced power transmission calculations for quick and easy access. The Gates® PT Toolkit™ mobile application for iPhone® and Android® devices is free and available for download from the Android Market and Apple App Store by clicking here.

All four calculators are accessible 24/7 in the office, during remote field visits, and anywhere in-between. In offline mode, calculator results can be generated and saved. When wireless service is restored, email calculations directly to customers, colleagues, or yourself. Anywhere it’s used, the Gates PT Toolkit mobile app will help continue powering progress.

The Features:

1) Energy Savings Calculator
As first seen on gates.com/ptsavings, enter some basic facts about your motor to get instant estimated annual savings when converting to a Gates synchronous belt drive.

2) Center Distance Calculator
Calculate approximate belt length and center distance for both synchronous and V-belt drives. (Note: For exact center distance calculations, please contact the Product Application Engineering team at PTPAsupport@gates.com or by calling the hotline at 303-744-5800 opt.2).

3) Belt Tension Calculator
Quickly calculate ideal belt tension or belt length for Gates V-belt drives or Poly Chain® GT® Carbon™ belt drives. (Note: this feature does not include belt drive ratings and should only be used to calculate tension on existing drives. Software for new belt drive designs can be found at www.gates.com/drivedesign.)

4) Conversions Tool
Effortlessly convert fractions into decimals or millimeter equivalents and paste results into the app’s other calculators if needed. Additional conversion formulas offered include “Inches to Millimeters”, “Watt to Horsepower” and many more.

Are you a Gates distributor looking for upgraded distribution management software? Tribute, Inc. is specifically designed to handle your industry’s unique needs and partners with Gates Corporation, including integration with Gates PowerPro, to easily streamline your supply chain. Take a look at what Tribute, Inc. has to offer Gates distributors.

Eaton’s PowerSource: Changing the way (and where) you work!

Heard the buzz about Eaton’s new Hydraulic app, PowerSource? This industry leading app is available exclusively to Eaton customers and will change the way (and where) you work! You'll be able to Search, Spec and Sell easier than ever before.

PowerSource takes everything you need to know about more than 200,000 hydraulic products and puts it at your fingertips so you're always prepared in the field.

Updated weekly, PowerSource provides:

• Crimp specifications and technical specifications
• Competitor cross references
• Comprehensive catalog access
• Lead time
• Model code builders
• Hose assembly builders
• Eaton Sales Resource and Distributor Locator
• Pricing

PowerSource is exclusive for Eaton customers. Contact your Eaton representative for more information.

Are you an Eaton distributor looking for new distribution management software? Tribute, Inc. partners with Eaton Corporation to streamline your supply chain, easily build and manage your hose assemblies, and lower operating costs. Take a look at what Tribute has to offer Eaton distributors.

18 Financial Moves to Make by Year-End

It's important to take certain financial actions before the end of the year if you want to maximize their impact on your 2011 statements and taxes. In this article for the OPEN Forum, Kate Lister offers 18 tasks to review and act on by year-end.

If 2011 was a down year for your business, try these strategies to make things look a little better:

• Make one last effort to collect from delinquent accounts, even if you have to negotiate on the amount.
• Ask for progress payments on ongoing projects, and try to secure downpayments on upcoming projects.
• Delay paying certain bills until 2012.
• Try to sell slow-moving inventory or unneeded property or equipment that is fully depreciated.

If 2011 was a good year, you might consider:

• Waiting to deposit new checks until after the new year.
• Purchasing qualifying property or equipment under Section 179, if you can put it into service by year-end.
• Paying employees a bonus, or making a charitable contribution.

And no matter how business was in 2011, you should always:

• Download and/or print copies of year-end statements.
• Try to pay down lines of credit.
• Examine your inventory and write off any obsolete items (and perhaps consider joining an inventory-sharing service like WarehouseTWO to reduce your unwanted inventory).
• If your personal income will be relatively low this year, consider converting your traditional IRA to a Roth IRA. Fidelity has a calculator here to help you decide if this is a wise move.
• Take a look at your investments to determine whether it’s time to cash out.

Most experts agree that tax rates will increase after 2012 and tax breaks will be harder to come by. Be sure to consult a professional about whether these strategies are right for you.

You can read the full article here.

VMA: A Valuable Resource to the Valve Industry

Are you a supplier, distributor or systems integrator of valves, actuators or controls? The Valve Manufacturers Association of America is a valuable resource for the industry. Not only is it a source for buyers, the organization provides educational programs and timely news articles in their publication, Valve Magazine, on the fluid power and fluid handling industry.

The Valve Manufacturers Association of America represents the interests of nearly 100 North American manufacturers of valves and actuators. Collectively, members account for approximately 80% of the total industrial valve shipments out of U.S. and Canadian facilities.

The North American valve industry supplies approximately 35% of worldwide valve demand, and VMA member companies employ 20,000 men and women directly in supporting jobs. VMA is the only organization exclusively serving U.S. and Canadian manufacturers of industrial valves, actuators and controls. Founded in 1938, VMA is headquartered in Washington, DC.

If you repair and rebuild valves and actuators... if you believe that safety, quality and good service go hand-in-hand... then you'll want to be a part of the Valve Repair Council, which advocates the OEM (original equipment manufacturer) approach to repair.

Have an employee new to the industry that needs training? VMA's Valves & Actuators 101, a course created specifically for newcomers to the industry, is ideally suited for recent graduates and engineers in the early stages of their careers. The next Valve Basics Seminar & Exhibition will be in Houston, March 6-7, 2012, and will include 10 hours of education, lessons on all major valve and actuator types, an interactive panel discussion on how to specify valves and actuators, a comprehensive take-home manual for reference.

VMA's valve and actuator training program, "Valve Ed”, is tailored to the educational needs of the next generation. You can also obtain a quick Introduction to the Valve Industry through the VMA Store. The electronic presentation has more than 100 slides and 16 additional pages of notes, and provides a simple way for new employees or students to learn about the industry.

U.S. or Canadian valve manufacturers and suppliers looking for personnel with experience in the industry, can utilize VMA’s online Career Center to post a job listing and those searching for a job can search the Jobs Database. And you can keep up on the latest news in the industry by checking out the Valve Industry Blog.

The Valve Industry Buyers Guide, a convenient online resource, features hundreds of listings and is organized to help you easily locate U.S. and Canadian valve, actuator and control manufacturers, as well as suppliers to the valve industry. You’ll find Tribute, Inc., a provider of distribution management software specifically designed for valve and fluid handling distributors, on this list as well.

 

Got-Autism: A Success Story

In May 2009, Rodney Landers of Hydrotech, a fluid power/motion control distributor and solutions provider based in Cincinnati, wrote an article for our blog about their new venture that had nothing to do with fluid power - Got-Autism.

Hydrotech employee, Tammy Andersson, the mother of a son with Asperger’s Syndrome (a high functioning form of autism), along with the staff of Hydrotech, created an organization that utilized their experience as distributors to provide educational, therapeutic, and practical life products for children and teens living with autism.

Since their founding in the fall of 2008, Got-Autism has grown significantly and now provides a wealth of resources in addition to educational and therapeutic products. Got-Autism’s mission is to create awareness and help the autism community become more recognized for their exceptional differences and abilities.

As an advocate for autism, they provide on-going financial support to the ASD community through charity fundraisers and by donating 5% of the sale of each product to fund autism treatment, therapies, as well as promoting outreach programs to increase understanding and compassion for those living with autism.

In fact, these days you’ll find Got-Autism founder and president, Tammy Andersson, on Facebook and YouTube talking about the founding of the organization and giving helpful advice to parents dealing with the diagnosis on her blog. Thanks to the help of her family, employer and colleagues at Hydrotech, Tammy is busy helping those with autism achieve satisfying and productive lives.

Know someone with a form of autism? Check out the Got-Autism website for resources, educational products and holiday gift ideas.

12 Costly Conveyor Maintenance Mistakes

It is easy to overlook the importance of a well-functioning conveyor - until you experience a breakdown. Luckily, there are simple preventitive measures you can take now to avoid a costly problem in the future. This article by John T. Phelan, Jr for InTech lists 12 of the most common material-handling system conveyor maintenance mistakes and how to avoid them, including:

• Overlooking regular inspections. In most manufacturing operations, it is the production equipment that receives the attention; however, the conveyor should receive regular inspection and maintenance as well.
• Disregarding OSHA standards. A safe workplace indicates a commitment to employees and customers, and often serves as a competitive advantage. But, because of the constant pressure in a production environment, it is easy to neglect equipment safety. Be sure to reinstall safety equipment after it has been removed, and train all workers on the meanings of conveyor warning labels.
• Keeping an inadequate parts inventory. Certain conveyor parts may not be readily available when you need them. Key components such as motors, couplings for line shafts, bearings, and photo eyes should be kept on hand in case of a breakdown.
• Ignoring the warnings given by repeated breakdowns. A continuing pattern of breakdowns is a message that something is wrong. But, again, production demands often require quick fixes to get the line moving. By disregarding a problem or not finding its root cause, your company may suffer more down time incidents, additional costs, and employee frustration.
• Misusing a conveyor. One common example is placing larger, heavier cartons on a narrow conveyor. When this happens, there is stress and wear on the entire conveyor, which will eventually result in a breakdown. Consider the conveyor’s belt pull rating before increasing its workload or using it in ways it was not intended.

To read the complete article, click here.

For more information regarding the belting industry, visit NIBA (The Belting Association). They have a great resources page and offer training through a variety of formats and the University of Industrial Distribution. You can find NIBA members on LinkedIn and Facebook as well. If you're a belting distributor looking for business and inventory management software, check out Tribute, Inc. We specialize in belting distributors.

Tribute Customer Spotlight: Seals Unlimited

Seals Unlimited, located in Mississauga, Ontario, has over 40 years of sealing experience and expertise. Owned and operated by Rob and Sybille Hamilton, Seals Unlimited has an extensive knowledge of applications and engineering design which has allowed them to become the foremost supplier of seals and gaskets for a wide range of industries and solutions.

Providing seal design, complex chemical compatibility analysis, as well as fugitive emission challenges, Seals Unlimited utilizes the latest technology and adheres to the highest ISO 9001:2008 quality control standards. A broad inventory of nearly 20,000 items makes Seals Unlimited a true 'One Stop Partner'.

Seals Unlimited represents only the top names in seal manufacturing, and along with their unique customer support services and education department, Seals Unlimited is the "Sealing Expert". As a registered QMI company, the entire operation adheres to the strict ISO 9001 standards set out by the Quality Management Institute.

Seals Unlimited utilizes Electronic Data Interchange (EDI), a time-saving link from your computer to their network, to enable the easy transfer of quotes, purchase orders, confirmations, invoicing and payments. And they, in turn, have on-line access to their major suppliers.

The efficiencies of EDI combined with computerized tracking of all their customer’s seal inventory enables them to offer a "Downtime Protection Plan" - a program that utilizes usage monitoring and rapid express delivery, to assure customers of worry-free inventory control with minimal staff involvement. It's their guarantee that the seal you need, at the time you need it, will be ready and waiting for your call.

Some say that the company you keep is a reflection on character. Rob and Sybille Hamilton believe that the "Companies" you keep is an even better indicator. That's why Seals Unlimited works with only the finest manufacturers and service providers in the industry, such as: Parker Hannifin, Presray, ProTech, Flexitallic, IDI (Independent Distributors, Inc. – Canada’s Largest Industrial Distribution Network), SKF Sealing Solutions (Chicago Rawhide), and JM Clipper.

As with many businesses, Seals Unlimited believes that their best client is an informed client. In the ever-changing world of industrial sealing they endeavor to keep their customers current on today’s needs. That's why their education department offers a fully equipped in-house classroom environment for hands-on training in all areas of sealing technology. Seals University™ includes comprehensive sessions that can be customized to your unique needs, at their facilities or at the customer site.

With today's emphasis on "Zero Emission Sealing Technology", training is imperative and their Seals U™ can keep you at the leading edge. A Tribute customer since 1994, Seals Unlimited has used Tribute Software to run their business and manage inventory efficiently. An active member of the Tribute Program Review Board, Sybille Hamilton has helped set the direction of Tribute Software, ensuring that, as their industry changes, Seals Unlimited will remain the foremost supplier of seal and gasket solutions.

Seals Unlimited (1976) Inc.
58 Oakwood Ave N.
Mississauga, ON L5G 3L8 Canada
Phone: 905-278-1326
Toll Free: 800-268-5228
Fax: 905-278-2548
http://www.sealsunlimited.ca/

UPS and FedEx Roll Out 2012 Rate Hikes

UPS announced that new rates will kick in, effective January 2, 2012.

Company officials said that 2011 rates will include a net increase of 4.9 percent for UPS ground packages and a net increase of 4.9 percent on all UPS air services and U.S. origin international shipments. This increase is identical to the one for 2011.

UPS Next Day Air Freight and UPS 2nd Day Air Freight rates for shipments within and between the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico will increase 5.9 percent. UPS 3 Day Freight rates will remain unchanged.

In July, UPS Freight, the company’s less-than-truckload subsidiary rolled out a general rate increase covering non-contractual LTL shipments in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico of 6.9 percent, which took effect on July 25.

UPS’s biggest competitor, FedEx, announced in September that it plans to increase shipping rates by a net average of 3.9 percent for U.S. domestic, U.S. export and U.S. import services, effective January 2, 2012. They added that FedEx Ground and FedEx SmartPost pricing changes for 2012 will be rolled out by the end of 2011.

Read the full article by Jeff Berman in Logisitics Management.

Happy Thanksgiving!

All of us at Tribute would like to wish a Happy Thanksgiving to our customers, partners and supporters! You inspire us every day to provide the best distribution management software, support and services in our industry. We hope you have a relaxing and thankful day!