A Dozen Reasons For Membership

AMERICAN EDGED PRODUCTS MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION

AEPMA has over half a century of providing essential benefits to its members. Its stated mission “To Assist Our Members in Pursuit of Profitability and Growth within Their Respective World-Wide Markets” is ac-complished through the following twelve programs and activities:

Networking Opportunities to provide members with a forum to meet with peers.
Industry executives, management staff and plant personnel gather to learn and share ideas at the Annual Meeting, Technical Seminar and other industry events.

Annual Meeting (management sessions) to help us connect.
The yearly convention is held at a premier resort location. Presentations are given by economists, management and marketing experts, industry leaders and general business speakers. Recent programs featured speakers on branding, lean manufacturing, marketing strategies (including NY Times #1 best selling business author Harvey Mackay), the China challenge, competing in a global economy, Blue Ocean Strategy, and more.

Certification Program (technical seminars) to enhance the capability of members to manu-facture, market and distribute products more efficiently and profitably.

The new five-year industry certification program of semi-annual, stand-alone sessions include technical instruction and plant tours on the following subjects:

Year 1:
Session 1 Steel
Session 2 Lean Manufacturing

Year 2:
Session 1 Blanking
Session 2 Supply Chain Management

Year 3:
Session 1 Grinding
Session 2 Financial Management

Year 4:
Session 1 Finishing
Session 2 Sustainability (Green) Management

Year 5:
Session 1 Heat Treating
Session 2 Leadership Development

Industry Advisories & Updates to stay in touch with members and other industry representatives.
The AEPMA newsletter contains association, member and industry news and photos, and offers advertising opportunities for suppliers (previous newsletters are available online at www.aepma.org).

Advisories on new technology and regulations are issued as they occur.

Statistics to provide industry specific data.
AEPMA has issued statistical information such as a business barometer (an online survey of industry trends), reports on imports of edged products, and other useful data.

Trade Missions to broaden our understanding of the marketplace.
Trade missions have included tours of Sheffield, England; Soligen, Germany, and Maniago, Italy. Excursions incorporated tours of manufacturing operations and supplier companies with visits to trade shows, industry museums and additional sites of interest (such as Cutler’s Hall in Sheffield).

Central Resource / Database to enhance communication.
Contact information for all company personnel is maintained on a central database. Communiqués for general or targeted distribution are issued via continued mail, fax and e-mail. AEPMA also has a trademark database to avoid duplication issues or trademark infringement problems.

Exhibits / Company Presentations to foster relationships with our key suppliers.
Supplier exhibits and product presentations are encouraged at each Technical Seminar and Annual Meeting.

Membership Directory a who’s who in our industry.
The online directory lists member companies with full contact information. It also provides details on products and services for each member firm.

Website provides an electronic window to the North American edged products industry.
Accessible to members and the general public, www.aepma.org posts information on member benefit programs, upcoming events, board of directors, committees, association bylaws, etc. The online directory of companies is also a resource for customers and end users (most members include a link to their website).

Press Releases to communicate to end users and the edged products community at large.
Releases of member, association and industry news are routinely distributed to help promote the North American edged products industry.

Administration & Planning to make our life easier and keep the association on course.
Our experienced headquarters staff and volunteer leadership establish long range plans and focus on organization and industry initiatives that benefit all those involved in the North American edged products industry.