This is not a technical subject but I'm carious to hear from you; overseas.

To what extent have the stock market's free fall, and the consequences like mass-firing of employees in huge organizations, affected your vibration related business?

Two years ago, in the region, most large companies were in shortage of technically qualified manpower. So are they nowadays, but due to production reduction the criticality reduced.

How is the condition over there with you? I was carious especially about vibration jobs in the USA such as Tx.

Rotating equipment do not read newspapers.
Have a good Friday!
Arie

By definition we claim to sell access to production and if the customer/producer don´t sell the product they produce, downtime is suddenly cheap. Luckily those that do produce still try to do that cheaper and rather repair than invest so the consulting is up more and since we now is a lo cost country compared to Euro zone, we have production moving here. It´s a strange world. Also have a nice Saturday. Olov

I was laid-off in November along with several other co-workers from my previous employer that provided vibraiton analysis throught-out the country. Luckily I had another job offer right away. There has definitly been a slow-down. I find I am now getting a lot on calls from customers looking for one time diagnostics on equipment but not interested in monthly routes.

As a one-man operation, I have actually seen an increase in business. My PdM customers are all holding the line, in spite of most of them cutting production way back and even laying off in some cases. But my plants are mostly smaller, with local control of their budgets. And my charges are relatively minor compared to most of their other costs. Since they have more downtime available, I am doing a little more alignment and balancing work. The key for me is diversity since all of my customers are in different industries.

It depends on company. Some companies froze hiring but some are reducing workforce.

We have actually increased our vibration crew since September. double in size in fact.

Because we deal with vibrations, we do not freeze nor does our jobs!!!

A few weeks ago the US president said "the darkest days are behind". People , at least some people, think that the recovery stage started.

How is the demand on vibration works and how is the employment now?

I think what you will see is where the company lies within what state of development or lack thereof.

If ROI has shrunk and it's an investment company (even GE buys company's for speculation or get the source product out and sell) they may opt to invest no money, adopt run-to-fail philosophy and attempt to raise numbers on wall street or make it look good to sell. Or, if they are an entity, then they will roll up their shirt sleeves and management will attempt to make strategies that will pay back and PdM technologies is one proven way; but requires investment. If the losses are such there is no money to invest, then one may surmise that the same dumb management that got them there will hit the next sand bar and sit as an eye sore for all to see or run amuck so it will take sonar to find them.

1. condition monitoring visits reduced to 2 from 4 visits per annum

2. clients are asking discounts because of recession with no compromise on quality of service

3. automotive industries and rotating machine manufactures are not doing well and hence we have less work

4. all trainings on vibrations are on hold

5. Power sector is booming, cement and steel sector are improving

Madhu

Some mfgs. are doing well.... the peanut butter plant where I do PdM can't make enough to meet orders. A plant that makes snack bags is expanding as quickly as possible to meet demand. Try to locate small plants that are in, or just beyond, "start-up" phase. They will have infant mortality problems that will have to be fixed. (Spent all day Saturday helping rebuild, realign, and rebalance a baghouse fan that "blew up.) Newer machinery is not well designed, constructed, or installed and is prone to failure.

You have to think outside your typical box.

Less steak and mo' peanut butter + carry mo' P-butter sandwiches to work - 10 hrs for 8 hrs pay. Or, something like that??????

I suspect that peanut butter & jelly sandwiches are probably THE most common food that is carried to work for lunch because it's good, filling, easy to make, and requires no refrigeration. So when folks are no longer able to afford to eat lunch out every day, demand for peanut butter goes way up. And of course, you need a bag of chips to go with it, right?

Don't forget the crackers and cookies.

Hmmm... Down here in Australia when times get tough BEER sales go up! Go figure.

Hooch

Rusty,

You really surprised me! I've been eating peanut butter sandwich during the lunch breaks over the past few months! (though still I can afford the lunch)
I did not know that my natural response was a consequence of the international financial recession.

Also the cookies and crackers??! It looks these are like international symptoms!