Words from Ron Hollis

Design & Manufacturing Midwest was this week in Chicago. Actually it was in Rosemont but close enough. This was part of the National Manufacturing Week, I think . There seems to be some confusion by me as the name of the shows, weeks and purposes. However this was a manufacturing show that covered all areas from design to assembly.

I had the honor of speaking during an Innovations Briefings session on the Power of Online Manufacturing. It’s a powerful concept that can transform the manufacturing industry in the US, however, it is also a concept that is much easier to ignore and refute. It’s kinda like the late 80’s when I would argue with folks about the future of computers in our lives and the naysayer would say “we don’t need no stinkin’ computer, it’s only good to play games”. Well, they may have been off base a bit during that time, and many US manufacturers are off base again.

As for the show….well, it was mostly a typical, dull manufacturing show. The energy that is injected into the show has to come from within because walking past the many booths filled with parts where a guy is sitting there reading a paper and looking bored out of his mind is addictive. Of course, at Quickparts we see this as an opportunity to share the gospel of rapid prototyping, injection molding, sheet metal, instant quoting, outstanding customer service, rubik’s cubes and t-shirts. So, our team is standing in the aisle and begging you to come and talk to them. Ask us questions, look at our parts, challenge the system and walk away with something new in your mind or your hands or both.

While I thought tradeshows would have died a few years ago, they are still around and don’t seem to be going anywhere soon. So, we need to figure a way to increase the value and shake up the industry.