Singer Presents First Race Restoration For Client

ALL-TERRAIN COMPETITION STUDY (ACS) ENABLES OFF-ROAD RACING

Special Partnership with 911 Rally and Motorsport Specialist Richard Tuthill

– Turbo-charged, AWD, all-terrain capabilities

– First restoration by Singer developed to client’s motorsport specification

LOS ANGELES and OXFORDSHIRE, United Kingdom, Jan. 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — At the request of a long-term client, Singer has looked to a golden…

ALL-TERRAIN COMPETITION STUDY (ACS) ENABLES OFF-ROAD RACING

Special Partnership with 911 Rally and Motorsport Specialist Richard Tuthill

– Turbo-charged, AWD, all-terrain capabilities

– First restoration by Singer developed to client’s motorsport specification

LOS ANGELES and OXFORDSHIRE, United Kingdom, Jan. 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — At the request of a long-term client, Singer has looked to a golden era of Porsche rallying in the 1980s, and to automotive heroes including the 911 SC/RS and 959, to reimagine his air-cooled 911s as World Rally Championship-inspired, all-terrain competition machines.

Singer’s latest services will enable their clients to go off-road racing, with a Porsche 911 modified by Singer for all-terrain use.

FULL PRESS RELEASE (INCLUDING SPECS AND QUOTES), PHOTOS AND VIDEO CAN BE FOUND AT: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/ae157m35eo7y193/AACZK37i8ABXTkcP0LY1QUcba?dl=0 with all photos and video credited to Singer Vehicle Design.

The All-terrain Competition Study has been undertaken by Singer, in partnership with renowned 911 rally specialist Richard Tuthill, in response to the request from their client for modifications to his air-cooled Porsche 911 that would enable the car to compete in off-road racing and to demonstrate extensive all-terrain exploration capabilities. To highlight the broad repertoire of the ACS, the client has commissioned two machines, one – in Singer’s iconic Parallax White – focused on high-speed desert rallying and a second – in Corsica Red – configured for high-speed, high-grip tarmac events and disciplines.

Porsche 911s prepared by UK-based off-road competition specialist Richard Tuthill have dominated rally events for decades, with recent victory in the 2019 East African Safari Classic marking a remarkable 4th win in the grueling 5000km event across Kenya and Tanzania. These successes sit alongside deep expertise from the world of WRC competition and events such as the ParisDakar.

The results of the All-terrain Competition Study (ACS) will be shown on Singer’s Instagram channel @singervehicledesign.

About Singer Group, Inc.

With headquarters in Los Angeles, Calif., the Singer Group was formed a decade ago to pursue the creative possibilities within the vibrant world of iconic automobiles.  Air-cooled Porsche 911s, restored in a bespoke manner by Singer for their owners, have been presented with the world’s finest collectors’ cars at events including The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering and Goodwood Festival of Speed.

Singer Vehicle Design (Singer) restores and reimagines 1989 to 1994 Porsche 911s, based on the 964 chassis for its clients.  Singer does not manufacture or sell automobiles.  Singer’s Global Partner Network represents the brand across North America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia.

Singer is not sponsored, associated, approved, endorsed nor, in any way, affiliated with Porsche Cars North America, Inc., or Dr. Ing. h.c.F. Porsche, AG. The Porsche® name and crest and 911® are trademarks of Dr. Ing. h.c.F. Porsche AG, and any other products mentioned are the trademarks of their respective holders. Any mention of trademarked names or other marks is for purpose of reference only. 

The product of Singer’s painstaking effort is a Porsche 911 restored and reimagined by Singer.  Out of respect for Porsche, and to respect Porsche’s trademark rights, this incredible machine should never under any circumstances be referred to or described as a «Singer,» «Singer 911,» «Singer Porsche 911» or a «Porsche Singer 911,» or in any other manner that suggests that it is anything but a Porsche 911

1990 Porsche 911 Reimagined by Singer - All-terrain Competition Study (ACS) in Parallax White, Singer's first restoration developed to a client's motorsport specification shown at speed on sand.

Video – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1394515/ACSIntroFilm.mp4

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1394525/1990_Porsche_911_Reimagined.jpg

Mazda Reports December and Full Year 2020 Sales Results

IRVINE, Calif., Jan. 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Mazda North American Operations (MNAO) today reported total December sales of 31,308 vehicles, achieving best-ever December results and an increase of 18.2 percent compared to December 2019. Full year sales in 2020 totaled 279,076…

IRVINE, Calif., Jan. 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Mazda North American Operations (MNAO) today reported total December sales of 31,308 vehicles, achieving best-ever December results and an increase of 18.2 percent compared to December 2019. Full year sales in 2020 totaled 279,076 vehicles sold, an increase of 0.2 percent compared to 2019. With 28 selling days in December, compared to 25 in 2019, the company posted an increase of 5.5 percent on a Daily Selling Rate (DSR) basis in December. With 309 selling days in 2020, compared to 307 in 2019, the company posted a decrease of 0.5 percent on a DSR basis for the year.

«Overall, our sales improved in 2020, which is remarkable when you consider the events of the year,» MNAO President Jeff Guyton said. «This isn’t the year anyone expected, and Mazda’s approach to 2020 was informed by 100 years of operations and always finding innovative ways to brighten people’s lives. Our dynamic product lineup, purposeful community programs, enhanced dealership experience, and new financial partner have led to our success.»

Sales Highlights

  • Sales of Mazda’s family of crossovers, including the CX-3, CX-30, CX-5, and CX-9, totaled 220,457 for the year, an increase of 11 percent compared to 2019. December sales of all crossovers increased 20.8 percent with 25,671 vehicles sold.
  • Sales of the CX-9 increased 2.9 percent in 2020 with 27,638 vehicles sold.
  • The CX-5 saw its best month ever in December, with sales increasing 14.1 percent with 17,954 vehicles sold.
  • CX-30 saw its best month in December with 4,408 vehicles sold. Sales of the CX-30 totaled 38,064 in 2020.
  • Sales of the MX-5 Miata increased 13.6 percent in 2020 with 8,807 vehicles sold. December sales totaled 694 vehicles, an increase of 58.1 percent.
  • Full year CPO sales totaled 66,193 vehicles, an increase of 8.4 percent compared to 2019. CPO sales totaled 5,945 vehicles in December, an increase of 23.9 percent compared to December 2019.

Despite its challenges, 2020 was a memorable year for Mazda, as the brand focused on community efforts and achieved many milestones in the US. Major announcements included:  

Mazda Motor de Mexico (MMdM) reported December sales of 4,843 vehicles, a decrease of 18 percent compared to December 2019. Full year sales decreased 23.2 percent, with 46,117 vehicles sold.

Mazda North American Operations is headquartered in Irvine, California, and oversees the sales, marketing, parts and customer service support of Mazda vehicles in the United States and Mexico through approximately 620 dealers. Operations in Mexico are managed by Mazda Motor de Mexico in Mexico City. For more information on Mazda vehicles, including photography and B-roll, please visit the online Mazda media center at InsideMazda.MazdaUSA.com/Newsroom.

Follow MNAO’s social media channels through Twitter and Instagram at @MazdaUSA and Facebook at Facebook.com/MazdaUSA.

 

Month-To-Date

Year-To-Date

December

December

YOY %

% MTD

December

December

YOY %

% MTD

2020

2019

Change

DSR

2020

2019

Change

DSR

Mazda3

3,256

3,175

2.6%

(8.4)%

33,608

50,741

(33.8)%

(34.2)%

Mazda6

1,687

1,630

3.5%

(7.6)%

16,204

21,524

(24.7)%

(25.2)%

MX-5 Miata

694

439

58.1%

41.1%

8,807

7,753

13.6%

12.9%

CX-3

437

1,409

(69.0)%

(72.3)%

8,335

16,229

(48.6)%

(49.0)%

CX-30

4,408

868

38,064

899

CX-5

17,954

15,734

14.1%

1.9%

146,420

154,545

(5.3)%

(5.9)%

CX-9

2,872

3,236

(11.2)%

(20.8)%

27,638

26,861

2.9%

2.2%

CARS

5,637

5,244

7.5%

(4.0)%

58,619

80,018

(26.7)%

(27.2)%

TRUCKS

25,671

21,247

20.8%

7.9%

220,457

198,534

11.0%

10.3%

TOTAL

31,308

26,491

18.2%

5.5%

279,076

278,552

0.2%

(0.5)%

*Selling Days

28

25

309

307

 

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SOURCE Mazda North American Operations

Impact NRS LLC Creates Plantae Biosciences LTD to Develop and Commercialize Highly Impactful Multidisciplinary Discoveries in Plant Sciences in collaboration with Yeda, the commercial arm of the Weizmann Institute of Science

REHEOVOT, Israel and NEW YORK, Jan. 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Impact NRS LLC (NRS), a leading innovation company focused on creating solutions to the health, wellness and sustainable development challenges of our time using its Convergence Innovation® platform, and Yeda the commercial arm of the…

REHEOVOT, Israel and NEW YORK, Jan. 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Impact NRS LLC (NRS), a leading innovation company focused on creating solutions to the health, wellness and sustainable development challenges of our time using its Convergence Innovation® platform, and Yeda the commercial arm of the Weizmann Institute of Science, announce their partnership through the launch of Plantae Biosciences LTD (Plantae).  Plantae will concurrently develop solutions essential in the near term for the global Food & Beverage industry and products to transform global nutrition and environmental security.

The team from the Weizmann Institute of Science that will take part in the project is comprised of four globally renowned scientists: Asaph Aharoni PhD, Sarel J Fleishman PhD, Avraham Levy PhD, and Dan Tawfik PhD. The Weizmann Institute of Science has been ranked eighth globally for research quality in a weighted (proportional) ranking conducted by the Centre for Science and Technology Studies (CWTS) of Leiden University, in the Netherlands. In the sub-ranking for Life and Earth Sciences, the Weizmann Institute of Science was ranked fourth in the world.

«We are deeply honored to partner with Professors Aharoni, Fleishman, Levy and Tawfik to cultivate an empowering innovation environment based on their extraordinary talents, broad capabilities and insights,» said Sam Salman, Chairman & CEO of Impact NRS LLC, the parent entity of Plantae. «Plants are the true convergence point of food, health and environmental technologies, and with this exceptional team from the Weizmann Institute as well as NRS’s existing platforms and teams in Israel and North America, we are uniquely positioned to realize profound innovations that we hope to bring commercial success whilst measurably contributing to humanity and the planet.»

«We are very happy to establish this cooperation with NRS,» said Dr. Opher Shapira CEO of Yeda.  «The area of food technologies is growing, and we are pleased to be part of this growth.  It is always a pleasure to see technologies that originated from the Weizmann Institute of Science find their way to help industry and we look forward to the success of Plantae and to continue contribute to this emerging field.»

The four teams from the Weizmann Institute of Science are at the forefront of the foundational science for plant research and biotechnology in fields including synthetic and complex systems biology that spans primary and specialized metabolites, genetics, genomics and gene-editing, evolution and design of proteins and enzymes.

About the Weizmann Institute of Science
The Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel is one of the world’s top-ranking multidisciplinary research institutions and offers masters’ and doctoral-level degrees across five faculties. Noted for its wide-ranging exploration of the natural and exact sciences. Institute scientists are advancing research on the human brain, artificial intelligence, computer science and encryption, astrophysics and particle physics, and they are tackling diseases such as cancer, and addressing climate change through environmental, ocean and plant sciences, and more.

About Yeda
Yeda Research and Development Company Ltd. is the commercial arm of the Weizmann Institute of Science. Yeda currently manages approximately 500 unique patent families and has generated the highest income per researcher compared to any other academic technology transfer operation worldwide. Through the years, Yeda has contributed to the commercialization of a number of groundbreaking therapies, such as Copaxone, Rebif, Tookad®, Erbitux®, Vectibix®, Protrazza®, Humira®, and recently the CAR-T cancer therapy Yescarta®.

Impact NRS LLC
Impact NRS LLC is a leading innovation company focused on creating and commercializing transformative solutions to the health, wellness and sustainable development challenges of our time using its novel Convergence Innovation® platform. We collaborate with leading stakeholders worldwide to enable rapid commercialization, and we embed ESG social responsibility as core elements in all of our initiatives.

In addition to its scientific and development capabilities in molecular and data sciences, the Company has developed several strategic collaborations, including a flagship partnership with the Agricultural Research Organization in the State of Israel. Through its operating subsidiaries, Impact NRS is at the forefront of life and earth sciences, including in oncology diagnostics, data science, gene-editing, microbiome and agri-tech. Impact NRS LLC is headquartered in New York, with innovation labs and offices in Rensselaer and Israel.

Weizmann Institute media contact
Amir Huberman
tamir.huberman@weizmann.ac.il 
+972-8-9529282

Impact NRS LLC Media Contact
media@nr-s.net 
+972 54-5607080

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SOURCE Impact NRS LLC

Agilitas Energy’s SMART Solar Project Brings Renewable Energy and Environmental Benefits to Businesses and Rochester, Massachusetts

ROCHESTER, Mass., Jan. 5, 2021 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Agilitas Energy, a leading energy developer with a robust portfolio in the northeast, has acquired an 8.9 megawatt photovoltaic solar plus energy storage project in the Town of Rochester on 38 acres of land. The project is currently…

ROCHESTER, Mass., Jan. 5, 2021 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Agilitas Energy, a leading energy developer with a robust portfolio in the northeast, has acquired an 8.9 megawatt photovoltaic solar plus energy storage project in the Town of Rochester on 38 acres of land. The project is currently under construction.

Agilitas is working in lockstep with the Town of Rochester, including its Planning Board and the Conservation Committee, to sustainably construct the solar project. The project is targeting commercial operations in the first quarter of 2022 and will be able to power more than 1,800 Massachusetts homes. The energy storage component of the project not only will increase the total power output of the array, but also can provide peak-shaving capabilities to stabilize the grid’s power supply.

«This acquisition is the second in a series of substantial Massachusetts SMART program projects we are constructing over the next two years,» said Barrett Bilotta, President of Agilitas Energy. «These SMART projects collectively represent 35MW of solar and 17 MW of energy storage that will be constructed by our internal EPC group. We look forward to working with the Town of Rochester and other townships to build out our new Massachusetts SMART program portfolio.»

As part of the Solar Massachusetts Renewable Target (SMART) Program, this project will also serve as a Community Solar facility. Community solar allows anyone to access clean solar energy, without having to install solar on-site, and provides significant energy savings to subscribers of the facility. The well-known grocery chain Roche Brothers will be the anchor subscriber of the Project, and many small-to-medium-sized local businesses will also take advantage of the cost-saving benefits brought by the project. «It was an easy business decision to sign a long-term agreement for community solar power with Agilitas Energy. There was no investment or risk, and we’ll realize guaranteed savings on our electric bills,» said Mark Sullivan, the Chief Financial Officer of Roche Brothers Supermarkets.

In addition to the economic savings for local businesses, this project permanently protects 221 acres of forest and wetlands in the Town of Rochester. Agilitas Energy is working with the Buzzards Bay Coalition, who now owns the land, to implement a conservation management plan and maintain a conservation restriction on the parcel. «This is an important property to protect for the overall health of the Buzzards Bay Watershed,» said Coalition President Mark Rasmussen. «It’s part of a large tract of wild and natural land that filters water flowing to both the Sippican and Weweantic rivers and then to the Bay and provides habitat for a diversity of wildlife. It’s an irreplaceable resource for the health of our region.» The parcel is critical habitat for many species of plants and animals, including the eastern box turtle. To further protect critical habitats in the Town of Rochester, Agilitas Energy has made a significant contribution to the Town’s arbor fund to invest in the planting of new trees.

Besides this project, Agilitas is currently constructing another SMART project in the Town of Auburn and is actively developing new solar and energy storage projects in Massachusetts and New York to bring cost benefits to the local townships, businesses, and residents.

About Agilitas Energy LLC
Agilitas Energy is a leading commercial solar and energy storage developer and owner / operator in the Northeast. The Company is expert in the full cycle of development, construction, and distribution of utility-scale energy projects. The Agilitas team has developed and/or built over 100 MW of solar PV systems since 2014 and is actively developing multiple solar PV and energy storage projects in the Northeast. Agilitas invests in energy projects at various stages, from inception to full entitlement to commercial operation.
More information can be found at: http://www.agilitasenergy.com

Media Contact

Ken Rubin, Agilitas Energy, 7814864007, contact@agilitasenergy.com

 

SOURCE Agilitas Energy

The Hon. Gordon «Butch» Stewart O.J. 1941-2020: Legendary Jamaican Entrepreneur Redefined ‘All-Inclusive’ and Changed the Way the World Went on Vacation

MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica, Jan. 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Legendary Jamaican entrepreneur Gordon «Butch» Stewart, one of the hospitality industry’s most vibrant personalities and founder of Sandals Resorts International, the world’s leading all-inclusive resort company, has died at the age of 79.  An unstoppable force, who delighted in defying the odds by exceeding expectations, Stewart single-handedly built the world’s most awarded vacation brand from one resort in <span…

MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica, Jan. 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Legendary Jamaican entrepreneur Gordon «Butch» Stewart, one of the hospitality industry’s most vibrant personalities and founder of Sandals Resorts International, the world’s leading all-inclusive resort company, has died at the age of 79.  An unstoppable force, who delighted in defying the odds by exceeding expectations, Stewart single-handedly built the world’s most awarded vacation brand from one resort in Jamaica to over two dozen distinct resorts and villas throughout the Caribbean.

A son of Jamaica, Butch Stewart was born in Kingston on July 6, 1941 and grew up along the island country’s North Coast, a tropical paradise that now boasts several of his Luxury Included® Sandals and Beaches Resorts and where his love of the sea, dominoes and free enterprise were sown.  Certain from the start that he wanted to run his own company, at the tender age of 12, Stewart first stepped into the hospitality industry selling fresh-caught fish to local hotels.  His success got him ‘hooked’ and his enthusiasm for entrepreneurship never waned.

After completing his secondary education abroad, Stewart returned home to Jamaica where he demonstrated his innate talent as master salesman at the renowned Dutch-owned Curaçao Trading Company, quickly rising to the position of sales manager but itching to start his own company.  In 1968, Stewart took his chance.  With no collateral but recognizing the comfort that would make air conditioning an essential service, Stewart convinced American manufacturer Fedders Corporation to allow him to represent their brand in Jamaica.  With that, Stewart’s foundational business – Appliance Traders Limited (ATL), was born and he was on his way.

At ATL, Stewart developed a simple business philosophy he articulated many times: «Find out what people want, give it to them and in doing so – exceed their expectations.»  This would become the standard for every Stewart enterprise and practiced by every employee of the many companies Stewart would go on to found, including and perhaps most importantly, Sandals Resorts International.

Stewart Founds Sandals Resorts
In 1981, with a gift for recognizing opportunity, Stewart found one in Bay Roc: a rundown hotel on a magnificent beach in Montego Bay, Jamaica.  Seven months and $4 million in renovations later, Sandals Montego Bay would open as the flagship of what is today the most popular award-winning, all-inclusive resort chain in the world. 

While Stewart never laid claim to inventing the all-inclusive concept, he is recognized worldwide for his tireless effort to elevate the experience, delivering to his guests an unsurpassed level of luxury, and to share his certainty that a Caribbean company could successfully compete with any organization in the world.  He accomplished both. 

«I had heard of the concept, yet at the time, the services and rooms were very basic. Contrary to that, I envisioned we could bring forward a luxury resort to offer customers so much more. So, we perfected it. Only the most comfortable king size four poster beds, fine manicured gardens, cozy hammocks and the kind of warm, refined service the Caribbean has become known for. Just as important was to be located on the absolute best beach, because that’s what everyone dreams of.» 

Where other so-called «all-inclusives» offered meals and rooms at a set rate, Sandals Resorts’ prices covered gourmet dining options, premium brand drinks, gratuities, airport transfers, taxes and all land and watersport activities.  The competitors’ meals were buffet-style, so Stewart created on-property specialty restaurants with high culinary standards and white-glove service.  Sandals Resorts also was the first Caribbean hotel company to offer whirlpools and satellite television service, the first with swim-up pool bars and the first to guarantee that every room is fitted with a king-size bed and a hair dryer.  More recent innovations have included a signature spa concept – Red Lane® Spa, signature luxury suites designed for privacy and ultimate pampering, complimentary WiFi, and signature partnerships with iconic organizations such as Microsoft Xbox® Play Lounge, Sesame Workshop, PADI, Mondavi® Wines, Greg Norman Signature Golf courses and the London-based Guild of Professional English Butlers. And in 2017, Stewart introduced the Caribbean’s first over-the-water accommodations, which were quickly expanded to include Over-the-Water bars and Over-the-Water wedding chapels.

By steadfastly adhering to the «we can do it better» principle of pleasing his guests, Stewart fostered a company free to imagine and free to consistently raise the bar.  This ethos earned him the title of «King of All-Inclusives,» changing the face of the all-inclusive format and establishing Sandals Resorts as the most successful brand in the category – boasting year-round occupancy levels of more than 85 percent, an unequaled returning guest factor of 40 percent and demand that has led to unprecedented expansion including the creation of additional concepts such as Beaches Resorts, now the industry standard for excellence in family beach vacations. 

Butch Stewart loved Sandals.  At the time of his passing, he was hard at work on plans for the recently announced expansions to the Dutch island of Curaçao and St. Vincent.  

Stewart As Statesman
Stewart’s leadership helped resurrect Jamaica’s travel industry and earned him the respect of his peers and the admiration of his countrymen.  He was elected President of the Private Sector Organization of Jamaica in 1989 and was inducted into its «Hall of Fame» in 1995. He served as a Director of the Jamaica Tourist Board for a decade and as President of the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association in the mid-80s, ably balancing government and private sector priorities, reconciling the concerns of large and small Jamaican hotels, and raising public understanding of the tourism industry. In 1994, Stewart led a group of investors to take leadership of Air Jamaica, the Caribbean’s largest regionally based carrier.  It was a daunting task – planes were dirty, service was indifferent and on-time schedules were rarely met, causing market share to plummet along with revenues. 

When Stewart stepped in, he insisted on a passenger-friendly approach: on-time service, reduced waiting lines, increased training for all personnel, and signature free champagne on flights to accompany an emphasis on better food.  He also opened new routes in the Caribbean, brought on new Airbus jets and established a Montego Bay hub for flights coming from and returning to the United States. Just as with ATL and Sandals Resorts, Stewart’s formula proved successful and in late 2004, Stewart gave the airline back to the government with an increase in revenue of over US$250 million.

It was not the first time Stewart would come to the aid of his country.  In 1992, he galvanized the admiration of Jamaicans  with the «Butch Stewart Initiative,» pumping US$1 million a week into the official foreign exchange market at below prevailing rates to help halt the slide of the Jamaican dollar.  Dr Henry Lowe, at the time president and CEO of Blue Cross, wrote to Stewart saying: «I write to offer sincere congratulations to you for the tremendous initiative which has done so much, not only for the strengthening of our currency, but more so, for the new feeling of hope and positive outlook which is now being experienced by all of us as Jamaicans.»

Less well-known may be the extent of Stewart’s considerable philanthropy, where for more than 40 years he has helped improve and shape the lives of Caribbean people.  His work, formalized with the creation in 2009 of The Sandals Foundation, offers support ranging from the building of schools and paying of teachers to bringing healthcare to the doorsteps of those who cannot afford it. This in addition to his tireless support of a wide range of environmental initiatives. Beyond the work of the Foundation, Stewart has given millions to charitable causes such as celebrating the bravery of veterans and first responders and helping those in the wake of devastating hurricanes.

In 2012, Stewart founded the Sandals Corporate University, aimed at providing professional development for employees through reputable education and training programs. With access to more than 230 courses and external partnerships with 13 top-ranking local and international universities, every staff member can apply, broaden their knowledge, and advance their career.

Stewart’s successes in business and in life have earned him more than 50 well-deserved local, regional, and international accolades and awards including Jamaica’s highest national distinctions: The Order of Jamaica (O.J.), and Commander of the Order of Distinction (C.D.).  In 2017, Stewart was honored with the inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award at the annual Caribbean Hotel & Resort Investment Summit (CHRIS), hosted by the Burba Hotel Network, marking his significant contribution to the hospitality industry.  «The success of Sandals has helped to power the growth of the tourism industry and economies not only in Jamaica but throughout the Caribbean,» said BHN president Jim Burba.  «The word ‘icon’ certainly applies to Butch Stewart

It delighted Stewart whenever he was dining anywhere in the world and an excited staff member would share with him, «Thank you.  I got my start at Sandals.»

Butch Stewart, The Man
With his easy pace, infectious warmth and trademark striped shirt, Stewart exuded an approachability that belied the complexity of his character.  While he was an acute businessperson, who at the time of his death was responsible for a Jamaican-based empire that includes two dozen diverse companies collectively representing Jamaica’s largest private sector group, the country’s biggest foreign exchange earner and its largest non-government employer, he was an extremely private man whose deepest devotion was to his family.

His greatest test came in 1989 when his beloved 24-year-old son Jonathan was killed in a car accident in Miami.  Stewart recalled the incident in a 2008 interview, «For two months after he died, I was absolutely useless, and after that I was sort of running on remote control. Things were a blur. It’s every parent’s nightmare.  After a year or so, I started to see things in vivid detail. You have to get busy, be close with your family. It did a lot in terms of me getting closer. There’s a lot more satisfaction.»

Stewart was able to return to his relentless pace, and the consensus among those who knew him best is that he did it by leading by example. «If you are going to lead, you have to participate,» Stewart was fond of saying.  He believed that if everyone in the organization recognized that the man in charge was working as hard as they were, they’d have an infinite amount of respect and motivation. «It’s about instilling a spirit of teamwork, defining a purpose and then rolling up your sleeves to get the job done better than anybody else,» Stewart said.

The company Butch Stewart built remains wholly owned by the Stewart family, who, in honor of Mr. Stewart’s long-term succession plans, has named Adam Stewart Chairman of Sandals Resorts International, extending his formidable leadership of the brands he has shepherded since he was appointed CEO in 2007.

Speaking on behalf of his family, Adam Stewart said, «our father was a singular personality; an unstoppable force who delighted in defying the odds by exceeding expectations and whose passion for his family was matched only by the people and possibility of the Caribbean, for whom he was a fierce champion.  Nothing, except maybe a great fishing day, could come before family to my dad.  And while the world understood him to be a phenomenal businessman – which he was, his first and most important devotion was always to us.  We will miss him terribly forever.»

Gordon «Butch» Stewart is survived by his wife, Cheryl, children Brian, Bobby, Adam, Jaime, Sabrina, Gordon, and Kelly; grandchildren Aston, Sloane, Camden, Penelope-Sky, Isla, Finley, Max, Ben, Zak, Sophie, Annie and Emma; and great grandchildren Jackson, Riley, Emmy and Willow.

A private funeral service will be held. Those wishing to share memories, condolences or personal stories may do so at AllThatsGood@sandals.com

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SOURCE Sandals Resorts International

10 Ways Corporate Boards Need to Approach Risk in 2021

NEW YORK, Jan. 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — As the pandemic crisis and lingering economic and political volatility increasingly threaten businesses and recovery globally, WomenCorporateDirectors Foundation (WCD) is seeing many companies consider establishing a stand-alone board Risk…

NEW YORK, Jan. 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — As the pandemic crisis and lingering economic and political volatility increasingly threaten businesses and recovery globally, WomenCorporateDirectors Foundation (WCD) is seeing many companies consider establishing a stand-alone board Risk committee.

This is just one way the best-prepared boards are arming themselves in the current climate and as they look ahead toward 2021, says Susan C. Keating, CEO of WCD.

«2020 has forced companies to look at risk in a completely new way,» Keating says. «2021 will be a time for boards to really integrate risk and strategy on a long-term basis.»

«While risk oversight is the role of the full board, many companies are now opting to form dedicated committees to drill down on new risks and make recommendations to the full board on ways to approach a mitigation strategy,» says Keating. «Risk has become an integral part of strategy development, as companies have seen what happens when threats come to light.»

WCD recently teamed with risk advisors, C-level executives, and board members to offer two programs on risk as part of its virtual WCDirect program series – the first being so popular that members demanded a second.

Catherine Allen, founder and chairman of The Santa Fe Group and a WCD member, led the panel discussions on board Risk committees and best practices in approaching risk. Additional panelists included:

  • Christopher Burt: Co-Founder and Director of the UK Risk Coalition; Principal, Halex Consulting; Director, Risk Coalition Research Company 
  • Jackie Daylor: KPMG Audit Partner who formerly served as National Managing Partner – Audit Quality and Professional Practice
  • Agnes Bundy Scanlan, Esq., CIPP: President, The Cambridge Group LLC; Director, Truist Financial Corporation, NewTower Trust Company, and AppFolio, Inc.; Member, WCD Boston

In their deep dive with the hundreds of WCD member directors who attended each of the programs, key lessons and best practices emerged about how boards should approach risk today:

10 Ways Corporate Boards Need to Approach Risk in 2021

  1. Create a Risk committee separate from the board Audit committee. «While expert with financials and investments, Audit committee members often do not have the deep operational expertise required to evaluate risk in a broader sense,» said Catherine Allen. «A Risk committee needs members with experience in areas such as cybersecurity, IT, compliance, third-party risk management, privacy, and reputational risk.» With this knowledge and expertise, the Risk committee can understand the significance of risk profiles for each business and establish metrics.
  2. Don’t spend too much time on risks you already know. Boards tend to focus too much on known risks that already have mitigations in place. «The real value is focusing on new and emerging risks where you may need to develop a solution or process to reduce or control a potential threat,» said Chris Burt. «An important quality to look for in a board Risk committee member or a Chief Risk Officer is imagination.»
  3. Keep an eye on what can go very wrong, very quickly. The liquidity crisis stemming from the COVID-19 shutdown put many companies in a dangerous financial position virtually overnight. Many of these businesses had seen a liquidity crunch just twelve years earlier during the 2008 financial crisis. These kinds of existential threats are where Risk committees must not get complacent, said Burt. «Pay attention to risks that are currently under control but have the potential to go very wrong, very quickly, when cascading consequences emerge from new risks.»
  4. Reputational risk can stem from multiple other risks. «A Risk committee often has to handle reputational repercussions that happen as a result of other matters under their oversight going awry,» said Agnes Bundy Scanlan. «Everything from regulatory issues, to an ESG failure, to a customer data breach can carry significant reputational consequences, which require a level of risk management beyond the initial incident.» 
  5. Risk management doesn’t mean being afraid to pull the trigger. There can be a tendency when making strategic decisions, especially with certain boards in financial services, to keep asking for more and more data and not move forward. «Don’t paralyze the organization by always asking for more data and refusing to act,» said Burt. «At some point, you have to make a decision.»
  6. Leverage a strong risk culture. «The institutions that have come into the events of 2020 – the pandemic, the economic collapse, the social unrest – with a strong culture are managing better,» said Bundy Scanlan. «Organizations that have addressed risk in the past, in a strategic way, have been able to tap into this culture and adapt. These companies are better at working remotely – they aren’t as disrupted by these kinds of changes that drag down the performance of those who can’t adapt.
  7. Make sure performance isn’t being driven by bad culture. «What are the cultural elements – the tone at the top, the incentives, the pressures – that could create risk in an organization?» asked Jackie Daylor. «It’s important to look at the behaviors that are driving results and the culture that’s developing around the bottom line.»
  8. Don’t devote all attention to today’s headline crisis. «Risk committees tend to focus on the current threat in the news, whether it’s a cyberattack or COVID,» said Burt. «They always need to look at the risks as a whole – the ongoing threats that are always there – and not ignore any of them.»
  9. Keep strategic objectives top of mind. «Risk management isn’t just about preventing bad things from happening, it’s also about analyzing opportunities to help good things happen,» said Burt. Risk committees should be involved closely in strategic decisions, and Burt even predicted that one day these committees will be renamed «Strategy and Risk» committees.
  10. Plan for risk management and review the strategy frequently. «Strategy and risk are intertwined,» said Daylor. «It’s essential to have a strategic approach to risk management. Companies need organizational resilience to withstand black swan events, such as the current pandemic, so that their people and processes are prepared to respond in the right way.»

«Diversity plays a huge part in reducing management’s blind spots when it comes to risk,» says Daylor. «A diversity of experience and social diversity help with problem solving, whether it’s COVID-related health and safety concerns, managing remote workforces or the acceleration of digital transformation that comes along with a remote workforce.

The value of diversity is especially critical as risks grow in complexity, argues Susan Keating. «On your Risk committee and for your board as a whole,» she says, «you want to make sure the diversity of the team is broad enough to address the wide spectrum of risks that are multiplying quickly each day.»

For more information, please contact Suzanne Oaks Brownstein or Trang Mar of Temin and Company at news@teminandco.com or 212.588.8788.

About WomenCorporateDirectors Education and Development Foundation, Inc. 
The WomenCorporateDirectors Education and Development Foundation, Inc. (WCD) is the only global membership organization and community of women corporate directors. WCD members serve on numerous boards of large private and family-run companies globally. A 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization, WCD has 76 chapters around the world. The aggregate market capitalization of public companies on whose boards WCD members serve is over $8 trillion. For more information visit www.womencorporatedirectors.org or follow us on Twitter @WomenCorpDirs, #WCDboards, #WCDGlobal2020.

About KPMG, WCD’s Global Lead Sponsor
KPMG LLP is the U.S. firm of the KPMG global organization of independent professional services firms providing Audit, Tax and Advisory services. The KPMG global organization operates in 147 countries and territories and has more than 219,000 people working in member firms around the world. Each KPMG firm is a legally distinct and separate entity and describes itself as such. KPMG International Limited is a private English company limited by guarantee. KPMG International Limited and its related entities do not provide services to clients.

About The Santa Fe Group
The Santa Fe Group’s risk management experts work collaboratively with organizations worldwide to identify meaningful trends, risks, and vulnerabilities, and to advise, educate, and empower organizations in the areas of cybersecurity, third party risk, privacy and enterprise risk management programs. The Santa Fe Group is the managing agent of the membership-based Shared Assessments Program, which guides many of the world’s leading organizations with the best practices to manage and protect against third party IT security risks. www.sharedassessments.org.

 

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SOURCE WomenCorporateDirectors Education and Development Foundation, Inc.

Making the Impossible Possible: Celebrating Priority Based Budgeting Resource Reallocation as a Strategy for Local Governments to Tackle Society’s Great Challenges

DENVER, Jan. 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Join ResourceX Co-founder and CEO, Chris Fabian, Wednesday, January 6, 2021, for a free zoom webinar presenting <a target="_blank"…

DENVER, Jan. 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Join ResourceX Co-founder and CEO, Chris Fabian, Wednesday, January 6, 2021, for a free zoom webinar presenting the 2020 ResourceX Annual Report and laying out plans for 2021 and beyond.

ResourceX aims to increase the probability that the local government will tackle the massive societal challenges, from climate change to homelessness to equity and beyond, through resource identification and reallocation. The application and integration of Priority Based Budgeting provide the tools and methodology needed to understand the resources required and to align those resources with the community’s priorities. We can no longer afford to continue to do things as they have previously been done. The reallocation of resources to programs with higher alignment to priorities is crucial to combatting resource scarcity and refocusing resources on society’s grand challenges.

If there is one common bond among all of the challenges I’m most interested in solving, it’s that we’re going to need resources available to fund solutions. If we could solve the resource equation, might we substantially improve government’s chances of tackling the world’s most pressing problems?

Chris Fabian, CEO and Co-founder, ResourceX

Through the ResourceX Annual Report, we’ve brought to life stories of communities mastering the skillsets required to bring about service fulfillment, achieve programmatic change, reallocate and maximize resources, and fund outcomes for the future undeterred by resource scarcity. With continued economic implications of the COVID-19 pandemic and no plausible future ahead where local government has all of the resources it needs to fund a better future, resource reallocation is a crucial strategy we need to see mastered.

This Annual Report celebrates, inspires, and empowers all in the ResourceX community. Every organization in this report is proving what’s possible with Priority Based Budgeting. We’ve established the possible; now, we can all work to increase the odds that it becomes probable.

ResourceX’s Priority Based Budgeting (PBB) platform is a leading best practice in local government and is a powerful lever for change in your community. ResourceX provides the software solution and analytic tools to create program based business intelligence and implement a priority based budget to transparently and exponentially improve your community results. ResourceX has partnered with over 200 organizations in the US and Canada to implement and apply PBB data for actionable decision-making.

Contact:
Liz Johnston
Marketing Director
LJohnston@resourcex.net
(817) 676-6830

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SOURCE ResourceX

Introducing ALLY: the online community of the energy workforce

HOUSTON, Jan. 5, 2021 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — People from across the energy industry — from major corporations to startups, consultancies and more — have come together to launch a new online home for the energy community. ALLY Energy, which officially launches this week, is the platform for sharing ideas, expertise, career…

HOUSTON, Jan. 5, 2021 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — People from across the energy industry — from major corporations to startups, consultancies and more — have come together to launch a new online home for the energy community. ALLY Energy, which officially launches this week, is the platform for sharing ideas, expertise, career opportunities and much more.

As the entire world turns to the energy sector to power a financial recovery and lead the way toward a low carbon future, ALLY will serve as an indispensable centerpoint.

«We need ALL forms of energy and ALL people working together for a more diverse, reliable, clean energy ecosystem,» says ALLY CEO Katie Mehnert, who also serves as an ambassador to the U.S. Department of Energy’s Equity in Energy program. «ALLY is the talent hub tackling some of our world’s greatest challenges around energy poverty and climate change.»

The launch comes six years after Mehnert founded Pink Petro and its associated job site, Experience Energy, which have led the fight for diversity and gender equity across the sector. A sexist comment from a fellow passenger on a trans-Atlantic flight inspired her to leave a career as a health and safety executive in the oil industry and create an agency focused on inclusion and culture change. The company grew rapidly and has hosted multiple annual global conferences, putting many women and minority leaders as well as male allies in the spotlight as they provide insight in guiding the energy transition.

«Pink Petro humanized energy,» Mehnert posted recently on LinkedIn. «It encouraged voices, faces and channels to emerge to share stories we needed to hear and see. It encouraged hard truths and dispelled myths. It recognized the many women and men in an industry so misunderstood and unfairly vilified»

«Microcommunities like ours are the future. It’s time now to retire Pink Petro and launch ALLY,» Mehnert says. The name is inspired in part by Mehnert’s daughter Ally. «ALLY is about bringing everyone together to be a part of something bigger than themselves.»

Mehnert is also the founder of Lean In Energy and author of Grow With The Flow: Embrace Difference, Overcome Fear And Progress With Purpose.

ALLY Energy works with oil and gas, power and utilities, renewables, and associated service companies. Professionals can sign up here. Employers, schools and groups can sign up here.

Media Contact

Leigh Anne Kelly, ALLY Energy, 281-741-5482, membership@allyenergy.com

 

SOURCE ALLY Energy

World Navigator To Feature First-At-Sea Luxury SeaSpa By L’OCCITANE

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., Jan. 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Atlas Ocean Voyages and L’OCCITANE en Provence are proud to announce the launch of the first-at-sea Luxury SeaSpa by L’OCCITANE. Guests on a World Navigator luxe-adventure expedition will be able to opt from a holistic and sensorial menu in the new luxury SeaSpa by L’OCCITANE to perfectly complement their exciting and awe-inspiring shoreside experiences. The new SeaSpa by L’OCCITANE will be featured aboard World Navigator when she launches her inaugural Holy…

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., Jan. 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Atlas Ocean Voyages and L’OCCITANE en Provence are proud to announce the launch of the first-at-sea Luxury SeaSpa by L’OCCITANE. Guests on a World Navigator luxe-adventure expedition will be able to opt from a holistic and sensorial menu in the new luxury SeaSpa by L’OCCITANE to perfectly complement their exciting and awe-inspiring shoreside experiences. The new SeaSpa by L’OCCITANE will be featured aboard World Navigator when she launches her inaugural Holy Land and Black & Mediterranean Seas season in July 2021.

«We are glad to partner with L’OCCITANE to bring their signature treatments to the open seas,» said Mário Ferreira, Chairman of Mystic Invest, parent company of Atlas Ocean Voyages. «World Navigator’s SeaSpa by L’OCCITANE will offer experienced, inquisitive and fun-seeking guests the luxury brand’s Mediterranean art-de-vivre with the same top-quality service and ingredients for which L’OCCITANE is world-renowned. Our two companies have already been working well together for Mystic Invest’s hotel brands and river vessels, and this is a positive, organic next step.»

«We are delighted to go further in our partnership with Mystic Invest and bring Spa L’OCCITANE unique experience to sea with Atlas Ocean Voyages,» said Frederic Darque, L’OCCITANE Global B2B & Spa General Manager. «Travelers at sea can enjoy the same high-quality treatments as they do on land, a fully integrated wellbeing journey to the sunny soils of the South of France

SeaSpa by L’OCCITANE treatments combine exclusive sequences, all hand-performed, with authentic ingredients from Provence, certified in origin and proven effectiveness. Guests can choose among L’OCCITANE exhaustive spa treatments menu, which features the Destination Deluxe 2020 award-winning treatment «Sleep & Reset Massage,» an innovative 90-minute massage with proven* effectiveness on sleep quality.
(*Tests and results accredited by European Sleep Center in Paris)

Located on the main deck, Deck 4, the new 947 sq. ft. (88 m2) SeaSpa by L’OCCITANE welcomes guests in a soothing reception room, featuring the Relaxing Pillow Mist, L’OCCITANE’s signature scent. Therapists invite guests into one of two treatment rooms for their SeaSpa by L’OCCITANE experience. Afterwards, guests can bask in their post-treatment glow and detox in SeaSpa’s infrared sauna or relax on plush loungers in the spa’s serenity lounge and enjoy soothing vistas of the passing oceanscape through expansive windows.

Additionally, all staterooms and suites will also include complimentary L’OCCITANE shampoo, hair conditioner, body wash, and handwash for guests to enjoy in their en-suite spa bathrooms.

ABOUT ATLAS OCEAN VOYAGES
Atlas Ocean Voyages is a luxe-adventure cruise brand designed for seasoned and fun-seeking travelers to immerse in once-in-a-lifetime and awe-inspiring experiences in less-trodden, bucket-list destinations. At 9,930 GRTs, World Navigator fosters a refined and convivial ambience for up to 196 guests and features the most-modern hygiene and cleanliness measures incorporated into her state-of-the-art design.

Atlas’ signature All Inclusive All the Way provides guests one of the industry’s most-inclusive luxury product and includes emergency medical evacuation insurance for all guests, as well as complimentary round-trip air travel, polar parkas, prepaid gratuities, premium wine and spirits and international craft beers, coffees and smoothies, Wi-Fi, L’OCCITANE bath amenities, shore excursions at every port, and locally inspired gourmet dining. In every stateroom, guests enjoy binoculars to use on board, coffee, tea and personalized bar service, and butler service in suites.

For her inaugural season, World Navigator will embark on seven- to 24-night itineraries in The Holy Land, Black and Mediterranean Seas in summer 2021, followed by nine- to 13-night itineraries in the Caribbean, South America and Antarctic for winter 2021/22. World Navigator’s construction is on schedule and launches in July 2021, followed by World Traveller and World Seeker in 2022 and World Adventurer and World Discoverer in 2023. Travel Advisors can call 1-844-44-ATLAS (1-844-442-8527) to book their clients on an unforgettable luxe-adventure journey.  

ABOUT L’OCCITANE GROUP
The L’OCCITANE Group is an international group that manufactures and retails beauty and well-being products that are rich in natural and organic ingredients. As a global leader in the premium beauty market, the Group has more than 3,000 retail outlets, including over 1,600 owned stores, and is present in 90 countries. Through its six brands – L’OCCITANE en Provence, Melvita, Erborian, L’OCCITANE au Brésil, LimeLife and ELEMIS – the Group offers new and extraordinary beauty experiences, using high-quality products that respect nature, the environment and the people in it.

ABOUT SPA L’OCCITANE
With over 100 spas in 30 countries, Spa L’OCCITANE is a natural extension of the L’OCCITANE Brand. Spa L’OCCITANE combines authentic ingredients from Provence, with certified origin and proven effectiveness, with the best of traditional massage therapies from all around the world. Fused in exclusive sequences, all hand-performed, all of our rituals offer an unforgettable well-being escape to the sunny soils of the South of France. Treat yourself to a one-way sensorial trip to Provence with our Spa L’OCCITANE, and experience the brand through a holistic journey inspired by the Mediterranean art-de-vivre.

 

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SOURCE Atlas Ocean Voyages

Manufacturing PMI® at 60.7%; December 2020 Manufacturing ISM® Report On Business®

New Orders, Production, and Employment Growing; Supplier Deliveries Slowing at Faster Rate; Backlog Growing; Raw Materials Inventories Growing; Customers’ Inventories Too Low; Prices Increasing; Exports and Imports Growing

TEMPE, Ariz., Jan. 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Economic activity in the manufacturing sector grew in December, with the overall economy notching an eighth consecutive month of growth, say the nation’s supply executives in the latest Manufacturing…

New Orders, Production, and Employment Growing; Supplier Deliveries Slowing at Faster Rate; Backlog Growing; Raw Materials Inventories Growing; Customers’ Inventories Too Low; Prices Increasing; Exports and Imports Growing

TEMPE, Ariz., Jan. 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Economic activity in the manufacturing sector grew in December, with the overall economy notching an eighth consecutive month of growth, say the nation’s supply executives in the latest Manufacturing ISM® Report On Business®.

The report was issued today by Timothy R. Fiore, CPSM, C.P.M., Chair of the Institute for Supply Management® (ISM®) Manufacturing Business Survey Committee:

«The December Manufacturing PMI® registered 60.7 percent, up 3.2 percentage points from the November reading of 57.5 percent. This figure indicates expansion in the overall economy for the eighth month in a row after contracting in March, April, and May, which ended a period of 131 consecutive months of growth. The New Orders Index registered 67.9 percent, up 2.8 percentage points from the November reading of 65.1 percent. The Production Index registered 64.8 percent, an increase of 4 percentage points compared to the November reading of 60.8 percent. The Backlog of Orders Index registered 59.1 percent, 2.2 percentage points higher compared to the November reading of 56.9 percent. The Employment Index returned to expansion territory at 51.5 percent, 3.1 percentage points higher from the November reading of 48.4 percent. The Supplier Deliveries Index registered 67.6 percent, up 5.9 percentage points from the November figure of 61.7 percent. The Inventories Index registered 51.6 percent, 0.4 percentage point higher than the November reading of 51.2 percent. The Prices Index registered 77.6 percent, up 12.2 percentage points compared to the November reading of 65.4 percent. The New Export Orders Index registered 57.5 percent, a decrease of 0.3 percentage point compared to the November reading of 57.8 percent. The Imports Index registered 54.6 percent, a 0.5-percentage point decrease from the November reading of 55.1 percent.»

Fiore continues, «The manufacturing economy continued its recovery in December. Survey Committee members reported that their companies and suppliers continue to operate in reconfigured factories, but absenteeism, short-term shutdowns to sanitize facilities and difficulties in returning and hiring workers are causing strains that are limiting manufacturing growth potential. However, panel sentiment remains optimistic (three positive comments for every cautious comment), an improvement compared to November. Demand expanded, with the (1) New Orders Index growing at a strong level, supported by the New Export Orders Index expanding, (2) Customers’ Inventories Index remaining in ‘too low’ territory and at a level considered a positive for future production, and the (3) Backlog of Orders Index achieving a 2½-year high. Consumption (measured by the Production and Employment indexes) contributed positively (a combined 7.1-percentage point increase) to the Manufacturing PMI® calculation. The Production Index hit a 10-year high, as the last reading above 64.8 percent was in January 2011 (65.3 percent), with five of the top six industries reporting moderate to strong expansion. The Employment Index moved into expansion after a single month of contraction, due to the inability to attract and retain direct labor. Inputs — expressed as supplier deliveries, inventories and imports — continued to indicate input-driven constraints to production expansion, at higher rates compared to November, as indicated by minimal gains in inventory levels and difficulties in expanding imports. Supply chains continue to struggle compared to November, contributing moderately to the Manufacturing PMI® calculation. (The Supplier Deliveries and Inventories indexes directly factor into the Manufacturing PMI®; the Imports Index does not.) The Prices Index jumped dramatically in December, to a level last reached in the summer of 2018, the peak of the last manufacturing expansion cycle.

«All six of the biggest manufacturing industries — Fabricated Metal Products; Computer & Electronic Products; Transportation Equipment; Chemical Products; Petroleum & Coal Products; and Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products — registered moderate to strong growth in December.

«Manufacturing performed well for the seventh straight month, with demand, consumption and inputs registering strong growth compared to November. Labor market difficulties at panelists’ companies and their suppliers will continue to restrict the manufacturing economy expansion until the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis ends,» says Fiore.

Of the 18 manufacturing industries, 16 reported growth in December, in the following order: Apparel, Leather & Allied Products; Furniture & Related Products; Wood Products; Fabricated Metal Products; Machinery; Computer & Electronic Products; Transportation Equipment; Plastics & Rubber Products; Paper Products; Chemical Products; Petroleum & Coal Products; Primary Metals; Textile Mills; Electrical Equipment, Appliances & Components; Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products; and Miscellaneous Manufacturing. The two industries reporting contraction in December are: Printing & Related Support Activities; and Nonmetallic Mineral Products.

WHAT RESPONDENTS ARE SAYING

  • «Our company and industry are continuing to have tailwinds from the COVID-19 pandemic research support for vaccines and treatments. While our services are delayed, many customers are not cancelling outright, and business picked up for us in the last month — especially in China, where business growth is back on track.» (Computer & Electronic Products)
  • «Continued to survive COVID-19 shutdowns, customer restrictions and personnel issues (work from home and COVID-19 outbreaks) and managed to maintain slight growth over 2019.» (Chemical Products)
  • «COVID-19 outbreaks are causing supply chain issues for Tier-1 and Tier-2 suppliers. More work needs to ensure suppliers keep us in the loop with any problem in their supply chain. But end-customer demand for products is keeping production and future outlook positive.» (Transportation Equipment)
  • «COVID-19 is affecting us more strongly now than back in March. Vendors/service suppliers unable to maintain levels of service due to employee shortages. Logistic issues also hurting us due to coronavirus-related problems.» (Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products)
  • «Current business outlook is strong through the first quarter of 2021. We are anticipating 20 percent growth in sales for 2021.» (Fabricated Metal Products)
  • «Sales are now slightly above pre-COVID-19 sales.» (Machinery)
  • «Sales are now exceeding pre-COVID-19 levels, but uncertainty remains through the winter months while COVID-19 is still rampant.» (Miscellaneous Manufacturing)
  • «Business is stronger than expected, with higher demand for many products. Volatility continues due to the very persistent pandemic and associated risks.» (Electrical Equipment, Appliances & Components)
  • «Suppliers are having difficulty finding and retaining labor leading to supply constraints.» (Plastics & Rubber Products)
  • «Fourth-quarter production improved more than anticipated, both against the rolling forecast and compared to typical Q4 business.» (Primary Metals)

 

MANUFACTURING AT A GLANCE

December 2020

Index

Series Index

Dec

Series Index

Nov

Percentage

Point

Change

Direction

Rate of Change

Trend* (Months)

Manufacturing PMI®

60.7

57.5

+3.2

Growing

Faster

7

New Orders

67.9

65.1

+2.8

Growing

Faster

7

Production

64.8

60.8

+4.0

Growing

Faster

7

Employment

51.5

48.4

+3.1

Growing

From Contracting

1

Supplier Deliveries

67.6

61.7

+5.9

Slowing

Faster

14

Inventories

51.6

51.2

+0.4

Growing

Faster

3

Customers’ Inventories

37.9

36.3

+1.6

Too Low

Slower

51

Prices

77.6

65.4

+12.2

Increasing

Faster

7

Backlog of Orders

59.1

56.9

+2.2

Growing

Faster

6

New Export Orders

57.5

57.8

-0.3

Growing

Slower

6

Imports

54.6

55.1

-0.5

Growing

Slower

6

OVERALL ECONOMY

Growing

Faster

8

Manufacturing Sector

Growing

Faster

7

Manufacturing ISM® Report On Business® data is seasonally adjusted for the New Orders, Production, Employment and Inventories indexes.
*Number of months moving in current direction.

COMMODITIES REPORTED UP/DOWN IN PRICE AND IN SHORT SUPPLY

Commodities Up in Price
Aluminum (7); Aluminum Products (3); Brass Products (2); Copper (7); Corrugate (3); Corrugate Boxes (2); Crude Oil; Electrical Components; Electronic Components; Freight (2); Isocyanates; Labor — Temporary; Linerboard; Lumber (6); Ocean Freight; Oil-Base Lubricants; Packaging Supplies; Paper Products; Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) — Gloves; Phosphates; Plastic Resins (4); Polyethylene Resins (3); Polyurethane; Polypropylene (6); Polyvinyl Chloride (3);  Solvents; Soybean Products (3); Steel (5); Steel — High Carbon; Steel — Cold Rolled (4); Steel — Hot Rolled (4); Steel Products (4); Steel — Scrap; Steel — Stainless (2); and Wood — Pallets.

Commodities Down in Price
None.

Commodities in Short Supply
Aluminum; Aluminum Cans; Corrugate Boxes (2); Electrical Components (3); Electronic Components; Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) — Gloves (10); PPE — Masks (2); Semiconductors; Steel; Steel — Galvanized; and Steel — Hot Rolled (2).

Note: The number of consecutive months the commodity is listed is indicated after each item.

DECEMBER 2020 MANUFACTURING INDEX SUMMARIES

Manufacturing PMI®
Manufacturing grew in December, as the Manufacturing PMI® registered 60.7 percent, 3.2 percentage points higher than the November reading of 57.5 percent. «The Manufacturing PMI® signaled a continued rebuilding of economic activity in December, with four of five contributing subindexes in strong growth territory. All six of the biggest manufacturing industries — Fabricated Metal Products; Computer & Electronic Products; Transportation Equipment; Chemical Products; Petroleum & Coal Products; and Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products — expanded. The New Orders and Production indexes continued to expand strongly. The Supplier Deliveries Index continued to reflect suppliers’ difficulties in maintaining delivery rates, due to factory labor-safety issues and transportation challenges. All 10 subindexes were positive for the period; a reading of ‘too low’ for Customers’ Inventories is considered a positive for future production,» says Fiore. A reading above 50 percent indicates that the manufacturing economy is generally expanding; below 50 percent indicates that it is generally contracting.

A Manufacturing PMI® above 42.8 percent, over a period of time, generally indicates an expansion of the overall economy. Therefore, the December Manufacturing PMI® indicates the overall economy grew in December for the eighth consecutive month following contractions in March, April, and May. «The past relationship between the Manufacturing PMI® and the overall economy indicates that the Manufacturing PMI® for December (60.7 percent) corresponds to a 5.2-percent increase in real gross domestic product (GDP) on an annualized basis,» says Fiore.

THE LAST 12 MONTHS

Month

Manufacturing
PMI®

Month

Manufacturing
PMI®

Dec 2020

60.7

Jun 2020

52.6

Nov 2020

57.5

May 2020

43.1

Oct 2020

59.3

Apr 2020

41.5

Sep 2020

55.4

Mar 2020

49.1

Aug 2020

56.0

Feb 2020

50.1

Jul 2020

54.2

Jan 2020

50.9

Average for 12 months – 52.5

High – 60.7

Low – 41.5

New Orders
ISM®‘s New Orders Index registered 67.9 percent in December, an increase of 2.8 percentage points compared to the 65.1 percent reported in November. This indicates that new orders grew for the seventh consecutive month and the sixth consecutive month above 60 percent. «All six of the largest manufacturing sectors — Petroleum & Coal Products; Computer & Electronic Products; Fabricated Metal Products; Transportation Equipment; Chemical Products; and Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products — expanded,» says Fiore. A New Orders Index above 52.5 percent, over time, is generally consistent with an increase in the Census Bureau’s series on manufacturing orders (in constant 2000 dollars).

Of the 18 manufacturing industries, the 13 that reported growth in new orders in December — in the following order — are: Apparel, Leather & Allied Products; Wood Products; Furniture & Related Products; Petroleum & Coal Products; Machinery; Computer & Electronic Products; Fabricated Metal Products; Transportation Equipment; Plastics & Rubber Products; Primary Metals; Chemical Products; Electrical Equipment, Appliances & Components; and Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products. The three industries reporting a decline in new orders in December are: Nonmetallic Mineral Products; Textile Mills; and Miscellaneous Manufacturing.

New Orders

%Higher

%Same

%Lower

Net

Index

Dec 2020

40.3

45.1

14.6

+25.7

67.9

Nov 2020

35.9

50.1

14.0

+21.9

65.1

Oct 2020

40.3

49.2

10.5

+29.8

67.9

Sep 2020

35.2

45.9

18.9

+16.3

60.2

Production
The Production Index registered 64.8 percent in December, 4 percentage points above the November reading of 60.8 percent, indicating growth for the seventh consecutive month and the sixth straight month above 60 percent. This is the highest reading since January 2011, when the index registered 65.3 percent. «Five (Fabricated Metal Products; Computer & Electronic Products; Petroleum & Coal Products; Transportation Equipment; and Chemical Products) of the top six industries expanded moderately to strongly,» says Fiore. An index above 51.7 percent, over time, is generally consistent with an increase in the Federal Reserve Board’s Industrial Production figures.

The 13 industries reporting growth in production during the month of December — listed in order — are: Apparel, Leather & Allied Products; Printing & Related Support Activities; Wood Products; Furniture & Related Products; Fabricated Metal Products; Primary Metals; Computer & Electronic Products; Plastics & Rubber Products; Petroleum & Coal Products; Machinery; Transportation Equipment; Electrical Equipment, Appliances & Components; and Chemical Products. The two industries reporting decreased production in December are: Nonmetallic Mineral Products; and Miscellaneous Manufacturing.

Production

%Higher

%Same

%Lower

Net

Index

Dec 2020

32.3

54.6

13.1

+19.2

64.8

Nov 2020

33.7

52.0

14.3

+19.4

60.8

Oct 2020

37.4

51.0

11.7

+25.7

63.0

Sep 2020

34.3

50.9

14.8

+19.5

61.0

Employment
ISM®‘s Employment Index registered 51.5 percent in December, 3.1 percentage points higher than the November reading of 48.4 percent. «Following one month of contraction, the Employment Index moved back into expansion territory. The December figure is 24 percentage points above the index’s low of 27.5 percent registered in April. Only three (Fabricated Metal Products; Computer & Electronic Products; and Chemical Products) of the six big industry sectors expanded. Continued strong new-order levels and an expanding backlog indicate potential employment strength for the first quarter of 2021. For the fourth straight month, survey panelists’ comments indicate that significantly more companies are hiring or attempting to hire than those reducing labor forces,» says Fiore. An Employment Index above 50.8 percent, over time, is generally consistent with an increase in the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data on manufacturing employment.

Of the 18 manufacturing industries, the eight industries to report employment growth in December — in the following order — are: Apparel, Leather & Allied Products; Furniture & Related Products; Primary Metals; Miscellaneous Manufacturing; Fabricated Metal Products; Computer & Electronic Products; Chemical Products; and Machinery. The five industries reporting a decrease in employment in December are: Printing & Related Support Activities; Petroleum & Coal Products; Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products; Plastics & Rubber Products; and Electrical Equipment, Appliances & Components.

Employment

%Higher

%Same

%Lower

Net

Index

Dec 2020

14.9

68.8

16.3

-1.4

51.5

Nov 2020

14.8

66.4

18.9

-4.1

48.4

Oct 2020

23.1

59.3

17.7

+5.4

53.2

Sep 2020

19.4

58.9

21.7

-2.3

49.6

Supplier Deliveries
The delivery performance of suppliers to manufacturing organizations was slower in December, as the Supplier Deliveries Index registered 67.6 percent. This is 5.9 percentage points higher than the 61.7 percent reported in November. «Suppliers continue to struggle to deliver, with deliveries slowing at a faster rate compared to November. Transportation challenges and challenges in supplier-labor markets are still constraining production growth — and to a greater extent compared to the previous month. The Supplier Deliveries Index reflects the difficulties suppliers continue to experience due to COVID-19 impacts. Supplier labor and transportation constraints are not expected to diminish in the near-to-moderate term due to COVID-19,» says Fiore. A reading below 50 percent indicates faster deliveries, while a reading above 50 percent indicates slower deliveries.

Sixteen industries reported slower supplier deliveries in December, listed in the following order: Fabricated Metal Products; Paper Products; Plastics & Rubber Products; Printing & Related Support Activities; Furniture & Related Products; Textile Mills; Electrical Equipment, Appliances & Components; Machinery; Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products; Miscellaneous Manufacturing; Chemical Products; Transportation Equipment; Wood Products; Computer & Electronic Products; Nonmetallic Mineral Products; and Primary Metals. No industries reported faster supplier deliveries in December.

Supplier Deliveries

%Slower

%Same

%Faster

Net

Index

Dec 2020

39.5

56.3

4.2

+35.3

67.6

Nov 2020

27.5

68.4

4.1

+23.4

61.7

Oct 2020

24.7

71.5

3.8

+20.9

60.5

Sep 2020

24.0

70.0

6.1

+17.9

59.0

Inventories
The Inventories Index registered 51.6 percent in December, 0.4 percentage point higher than the 51.2 percent reported for November. Inventories grew for a third consecutive month after three months of contraction. «Inventory growth stability in light of ongoing supplier constraints indicates that supply chains are meeting near-term production demand, in spite of transportation and COVID-19 headwinds,» says Fiore. An Inventories Index greater than 44.3 percent, over time, is generally consistent with expansion in the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) figures on overall manufacturing inventories (in chained 2000 dollars).

The eight industries reporting higher inventories in December — listed in order — are: Apparel, Leather & Allied Products; Wood Products; Textile Mills; Paper Products; Machinery; Chemical Products; Fabricated Metal Products; and Transportation Equipment. The seven industries reporting a decrease in inventories in December — listed in order — are: Printing & Related Support Activities; Primary Metals; Furniture & Related Products; Plastics & Rubber Products; Electrical Equipment, Appliances & Components; Computer & Electronic Products; and Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products.

Inventories

%Higher

%Same

%Lower

Net

Index

Dec 2020

22.1

53.5

24.4

-2.3

51.6

Nov 2020

18.1

62.4

19.4

-1.3

51.2

Oct 2020

21.3

59.9

18.8

+2.5

51.9

Sep 2020

16.9

61.6

21.5

-4.6

47.1

Customers’ Inventories
ISM®‘s Customers’ Inventories Index registered 37.9 percent in December, 1.6 percentage points higher than the 36.3 percent reported for November, indicating that customers’ inventory levels were considered too low. «Customers’ inventories are too low for the 51st consecutive month, a positive for future production growth. For five months in a row, the index has been at its lowest levels in more than a decade (a reading of 35.8 percent in June 2010). However, the drop into ‘too low’ territory slowed in December,» says Fiore.

Of the 18 industries, the only one reporting higher customers’ inventories in December is Printing & Related Support Activities. The 14 industries reporting customers’ inventories as too low during December — listed in order — are: Wood Products; Primary Metals; Textile Mills; Plastics & Rubber Products; Furniture & Related Products; Fabricated Metal Products; Machinery; Electrical Equipment, Appliances & Components; Transportation Equipment; Nonmetallic Mineral Products; Computer & Electronic Products; Chemical Products; Miscellaneous Manufacturing; and Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products.

Customers’ Inventories

% Reporting

%Too High

%About Right

%Too Low

Net

Index

Dec 2020

75

7.2

61.4

31.4

-24.2

37.9

Nov 2020

78

6.7

59.3

34.0

-27.3

36.3

Oct 2020

77

6.8

59.7

33.5

-26.7

36.7

Sep 2020

76

10.2

55.4

34.5

-24.3

37.9

Prices
The ISM® Prices Index registered 77.6 percent, an increase of 12.2 percentage points compared to the November reading of 65.4 percent, indicating raw materials prices increased for the seventh consecutive month. The index achieved its highest reading since May 2018, when it registered 79.5 points. «Aluminum, copper, steel, petroleum-based products including plastics, transportation costs, electronic components, corrugate, temporary labor, wood and lumber products all continued to record price increases,» says Fiore. A Prices Index above 52.5 percent, over time, is generally consistent with an increase in the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Producer Price Index for Intermediate Materials.

All 18 industries reported paying increased prices for raw materials in December, in the following order: Apparel, Leather & Allied Products; Petroleum & Coal Products; Wood Products; Paper Products; Fabricated Metal Products; Furniture & Related Products; Plastics & Rubber Products; Nonmetallic Mineral Products; Primary Metals; Machinery; Printing & Related Support Activities; Miscellaneous Manufacturing; Chemical Products; Transportation Equipment; Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products; Electrical Equipment, Appliances & Components; Computer & Electronic Products; and Textile Mills.

Prices

%Higher

%Same

%Lower

Net

Index

Dec 2020

57.8

39.7

2.6

+55.2

77.6

Nov 2020

36.7

57.3

6.0

+30.7

65.4

Oct 2020

35.4

60.1

4.5

+30.9

65.5

Sep 2020

32.3

60.9

6.8

+25.5

62.8

Backlog of Orders
ISM®‘s Backlog of Orders Index registered 59.1 percent in December, a 2.2-percentage point increase compared to the 56.9 percent reported in November, indicating order backlogs expanded for the sixth consecutive month. «Backlogs expanded at faster rates in December, indicating that new-order intakes more than fully offset production outputs. Four (Fabricated Metal Products; Transportation Equipment; Chemical Products; and Computer & Electronic Products) of the six big industry sectors’ backlogs expanded with significant strength. Backlogs achieved their highest expansion levels since June 2018, when the index registered 60.1 percent,» says Fiore.

The 12 industries reporting growth in order backlogs in December, in the following order, are: Apparel, Leather & Allied Products; Printing & Related Support Activities; Wood Products; Primary Metals; Fabricated Metal Products; Electrical Equipment, Appliances & Components; Machinery; Furniture & Related Products; Transportation Equipment; Chemical Products; Computer & Electronic Products; and Plastics & Rubber Products. In December, three industries reported lower backlogs: Paper Products; Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products; and Miscellaneous Manufacturing.

Backlog of Orders

% Reporting

%Higher

%Same

%Lower

Net

Index

Dec 2020

90

31.4

55.4

13.2

+18.2

59.1

Nov 2020

89

28.9

56.1

15.0

+13.9

56.9

Oct 2020

91

27.1

57.2

15.7

+11.4

55.7

Sep 2020

87

26.1

58.3

15.7

+10.4

55.2

New Export Orders
ISM®‘s New Export Orders Index registered 57.5 percent in December, a decrease of 0.3 percentage point compared to the November reading of 57.8 percent. «The New Export Orders Index grew for the sixth consecutive month, but at a slightly slower rate. Five (Fabricated Metal Products; Chemical Products; Computer and Electronic Products; Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products; and Transportation Equipment) of the six big industry sectors expanded with strength. New export orders were again a positive factor to the growth in new-order levels,» says Fiore.

The nine industries reporting growth in new export orders in December — in the following order — are: Wood Products; Electrical Equipment, Appliances & Components; Machinery; Fabricated Metal Products; Chemical Products; Computer & Electronic Products; Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products; Primary Metals; and Transportation Equipment. Two industries reported a decrease in new export orders: Plastics & Rubber Products; and Paper Products. Six industries reported no change in exports in December.

New Export Orders

% Reporting

%Higher

%Same

%Lower

Net

Index

Dec 2020

72

20.1

74.8

5.1

+15.0

57.5

Nov 2020

73

22.3

70.9

6.8

+15.5

57.8

Oct 2020

76

18.5

74.5

7.0

+11.5

55.7

Sep 2020

72

19.7

69.2

11.1

+8.6

54.3

Imports
ISM®‘s Imports Index registered 54.6 percent in December, a decline of 0.5 percentage point compared to the 55.1 percent reported for November. «Imports expanded for the sixth consecutive month, at a slightly slower rate, reflecting continued increases in U.S. factory demand. Panelists continued to note record breaking backlogs in ports of entry, as well as difficulty in arranging drayage and operating within the domestic transportation market,» says Fiore.

The 12 industries reporting growth in imports in December — in the following order — are: Wood Products; Printing & Related Support Activities; Paper Products; Transportation Equipment; Electrical Equipment, Appliances & Components; Machinery; Primary Metals; Miscellaneous Manufacturing; Plastics & Rubber Products; Computer & Electronic Products; Chemical Products; and Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products. Four industries reported a decrease in imports in December: Textile Mills; Furniture & Related Products; Nonmetallic Mineral Products; and Fabricated Metal Products.

Imports

% Reporting

%Higher

%Same

%Lower

Net

Index

Dec 2020

85

19.2

70.8

10.0

+9.2

54.6

Nov 2020

85

17.1

76.0

6.9

+10.2

55.1

Oct 2020

87

20.7

74.8

4.5

+16.2

58.1

Sep 2020

86

17.1

73.9

9.0

+8.1

54.0

The Supplier Deliveries, Customers’ Inventories, Prices, Backlog of Orders, New Export Orders and Imports indexes do not meet the accepted criteria for seasonal adjustments.

Buying Policy
Average commitment lead time for Capital Expenditures decreased in December by eight days to 132 days. Average lead time for Production Materials increased in December by two days to 69 days. Average lead time for Maintenance, Repair and Operating (MRO) Supplies decreased in December by three days to 37 days.

Percent Reporting

Capital Expenditures

Hand-to-
Mouth

30 Days

60 Days

90 Days

6 Months

1 Year+

Average
Days

Dec 2020

24

5

10

17

28

16

132

Nov 2020

22

6

10

16

27

19

140

Oct 2020

23

5

8

17

29

18

140

Sep 2020

25

6

9

15

27

18

135

Percent Reporting

Production Materials

Hand-to-
Mouth

30 Days

60 Days

90 Days

6 Months

1 Year+

Average
Days

Dec 2020

9

33

27

21

7

3

69

Nov 2020

10

35

24

22

6

3

67

Oct 2020

10

38

25

19

6

2

62

Sep 2020

10

36

27

18

7

2

64

Percent Reporting

MRO Supplies

Hand-to-
Mouth

30 Days

60 Days

90 Days

6 Months

1 Year+

Average
Days

Dec 2020

32

37

17

12

2

0

37

Nov 2020

34

36

16

10

3

1

40

Oct 2020

34

39

17

8

2

0

34

Sep 2020

35

39

15

8

3

0

35

About This Report
DO NOT CONFUSE THIS NATIONAL REPORT with the various regional purchasing reports released across the country. The national report’s information reflects the entire U.S., while the regional reports contain primarily regional data from their local vicinities. Also, the information in the regional reports is not used in calculating the results of the national report. The information compiled in this report is for the month of December 2020.

The data presented herein is obtained from a survey of manufacturing supply executives based on information they have collected within their respective organizations. ISM® makes no representation, other than that stated within this release, regarding the individual company data collection procedures. The data should be compared to all other economic data sources when used in decision-making.

Data and Method of Presentation
The Manufacturing ISM®Report On Business® is based on data compiled from purchasing and supply executives nationwide. The composition of the Manufacturing Business Survey Committee is stratified according to the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) and each of the following NAICS-based industry’s contribution to gross domestic product (GDP): Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products; Textile Mills; Apparel, Leather & Allied Products; Wood Products; Paper Products; Printing & Related Support Activities; Petroleum & Coal Products; Chemical Products; Plastics & Rubber Products; Nonmetallic Mineral Products; Primary Metals; Fabricated Metal Products; Machinery; Computer & Electronic Products; Electrical Equipment, Appliances & Components; Transportation Equipment; Furniture & Related Products; and Miscellaneous Manufacturing (products such as medical equipment and supplies, jewelry, sporting goods, toys and office supplies). The data are weighted based on each industry’s contribution to GDP. According to the BEA estimates for 2018 GDP (released October 29, 2019), the six largest manufacturing subsectors are: Computer & Electronic Products; Chemical Products; Transportation Equipment Manufacturing; Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products; Petroleum & Coal Products; and Fabricated Metal Products. Beginning in February 2018 with January 2018 data, computation of the indexes is accomplished utilizing unrounded numbers.

Survey responses reflect the change, if any, in the current month compared to the previous month. For each of the indicators measured (New Orders, Backlog of Orders, New Export Orders, Imports, Production, Supplier Deliveries, Inventories, Customers’ Inventories, Employment and Prices), this report shows the percentage reporting each response, the net difference between the number of responses in the positive economic direction (higher, better and slower for Supplier Deliveries) and the negative economic direction (lower, worse and faster for Supplier Deliveries), and the diffusion index. Responses are raw data and are never changed. The diffusion index includes the percent of positive responses plus one-half of those responding the same (considered positive).

The resulting single index number for those meeting the criteria for seasonal adjustments (Manufacturing PMI®, New Orders, Production, Employment and Inventories) is then seasonally adjusted to allow for the effects of repetitive intra-year variations resulting primarily from normal differences in weather conditions, various institutional arrangements, and differences attributable to non-moveable holidays. All seasonal adjustment factors are subject annually to relatively minor changes when conditions warrant them. The Manufacturing PMI® is a composite index based on the diffusion indexes of five of the indexes with equal weights: New Orders (seasonally adjusted), Production (seasonally adjusted), Employment (seasonally adjusted), Supplier Deliveries (seasonally adjusted), and Inventories.

Diffusion indexes have the properties of leading indicators and are convenient summary measures showing the prevailing direction of change and the scope of change. A Manufacturing PMI® reading above 50 percent indicates that the manufacturing economy is generally expanding; below 50 percent indicates that it is generally declining. A Manufacturing PMI® above 42.8 percent, over a period of time, indicates that the overall economy, or gross domestic product (GDP), is generally expanding; below 42.8 percent, it is generally declining. The distance from 50 percent or 42.8 percent is indicative of the extent of the expansion or decline. With some of the indicators within this report, ISM® has indicated the departure point between expansion and decline of comparable government series, as determined by regression analysis. The Manufacturing ISM® Report On Business® survey is sent out to Manufacturing Business Survey Committee respondents the first part of each month. Respondents are asked to report on information for the current month for U.S. operations only. ISM® receives survey responses throughout most of any given month, with the majority of respondents generally waiting until late in the month to submit responses to give the most accurate picture of current business activity. ISM® then compiles the report for release on the first business day of the following month.

The industries reporting growth, as indicated in the Manufacturing ISM® Report On Business® monthly report, are listed in the order of most growth to least growth. For the industries reporting contraction or decreases, those are listed in the order of the highest level of contraction/decrease to the least level of contraction/decrease.

Responses to Buying Policy reflect the percent reporting the current month’s lead time, the approximate weighted number of days ahead for which commitments are made for Capital Expenditures; Production Materials; and Maintenance, Repair and Operating (MRO) Supplies, expressed as hand-to-mouth (five days), 30 days, 60 days, 90 days, six months (180 days), a year or more (360 days), and the weighted average number of days. These responses are raw data, never revised, and not seasonally adjusted since there is no significant seasonal pattern.

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About Institute for Supply Management®
Institute for Supply Management® (ISM®) serves supply management professionals in more than 90 countries. Its 50,000 members around the world manage about US$1 trillion in corporate and government supply chain procurement annually. Founded in 1915 as the first supply management institute in the world, ISM is committed to advancing the practice of supply management to drive value and competitive advantage for its members, contributing to a prosperous and sustainable world. ISM leads the profession through the ISM Report On Business®, its highly regarded certification programs and the ISM Mastery Model®. This report has been issued by the association since 1931, except for a four-year interruption during World War II.

The full text version of the Manufacturing ISM® Report On Business® is posted on ISM®‘s website at www.ismrob.org on the first business day* of every month after 10:00 a.m. ET.

The next Manufacturing ISM® Report On Business® featuring January 2021 data will be released at 10:00 a.m. ET on Monday, February 1, 2021.

*Unless the New York Stock Exchange is closed.

Contact:       

Kristina Cahill

Report On Business® Analyst

ISM®, ROB/Research Manager

Tempe, Arizona

+1 480.455.5910

Email: kcahill@ismworld.org

 

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SOURCE Institute for Supply Management