|
What's New This Month
June 17, 2025 | Issue 15
| |
|
|
Organogenesis Open Doors to Public, Showcases Products
Learn More
| | | |
| |
RIMA Webinar Recording:
Navigating Today's Economy.
Stephen Stanley, Santander’s Chief Economist led a dynamic discussion shaped by the latest economic developments. (6/12/2025)
| | | | |
Notable Member Achievements
Congratulations to Our Members
on the Following Achievements
| |
Nterprisers Unveils B2B Platform for Rhode Island Manufacturers | | | |
|
RIMA proudly congratulates the following women on being an honoree at the PBN 2025 Business Women Awards!
Education Woman to Watch
Shelby Perry, New England Institute of Technology
Executive Director
Financial Services Industry Leader
Kimberly Peckham, Webster Bank N.A.
Senior Managing Director
Technical Services Woman to Watch
Erin Read, Polaris MEP
Senior Marketing & Communications Manager
| |
| | |
|
| |
Senesco Marine Endorses Rhode Island’s Green Manufacturing Certification
Senesco Marine is the first company to earn Rhode Island’s new Green Manufacturing Certification through the Department of Environmental Management.
Once introduced to the program during the RIMA-sponsored pilot, President Ted Williams understood that this low-barrier certification was a great way to show support for the kinds of best practices that sustain good business and protect natural resources. Ted recommends self-certification to his peers for the following reasons:
· The certification program does not require a significant investment of resources
· The certification process is a great introduction to the range of topics that underpin environmental sustainability in manufacturing
· The certification recognizes best practices in place and suggests next steps
· Engaging a team in the self-certification activity encourages new insights into sustainability
| | | | Job Postings & Available Talent! | | Skilled Welders Ready for Your Manufacturing Team | | |
Are you a manufacturer seeking qualified welders?
JARC's comprehensive welding training program has prepared a talented pool of certified welders ready to join your workforce immediately.
Our graduates have essential welding techniques including MIG welding along with blueprint reading, safety protocols, and quality control standards. They're equipped with both the technical skills and work-ready mindset that today's manufacturing environment demands.
Ready to connect with skilled welders? We're actively matching our trained professionals with manufacturing partners who value quality craftsmanship and reliability.
Contact Aarin Clemons at aclemons@polarismep.org to discuss your welding staffing needs and learn how our program can help fill your open positions with qualified, job-ready candidates.
Building the skilled workforce your business needs – one welder at a time.
| |
Are you Looking to Hire New Talent?
If you are a RIMA member, you can post open jobs on our website
by following these steps:
-
Go to https://rimanufacturers.com/jobs/
-
Click the "Post a Job" button – you can then get the job details submitted.
- Once you publish it, we will get a notification and we then have to approve the submission. Once we have approved it, it will show on the website.
| | |
August 6, 2025
RIMA Summer Social
~The Overlook at Meehan,
North Providence, RI
September 8, 2025
RIMA Annual Golf Outing
~Kirkbrae Country Club,
Lincoln, RI
| | |
VR Industries Celebrates 40 Years of Excellence in Electronics Manufacturing
Founded in 1985, VR Industries is a second-generation, family-owned contract manufacturer based in Warwick, Rhode Island. For the past 40 years, VR has partnered with customers across the medical, defense, industrial, and blue economy sectors, delivering high-reliability Printed Circuit Board Assembly (PCBA), electromechanical integration, and full system builds.
With a focus on quality, traceability, and responsiveness, VR Industries holds certifications including ISO 9001/13485 certifications and ITAR and FDA registrations. Their capabilities support both new product introduction and full-scale production, with a unique Customer Innovation Center that helps companies refine designs, accelerate timelines, and bring products to market faster.
Today, VR continues to invest in automation, process optimization, and workforce development, all while maintaining the personalized customer care that has defined the company since its founding.
As they celebrate their 40th anniversary this June, VR Industries is proud to be part of Rhode Island’s manufacturing legacy, and its future.
| |
Polaris MEP: Manufacturer Marketing 101: Build Smarter, Sell Stronger
| |
Whether you’re starting from scratch or looking to fine-tune your strategy, this series offers the tools and tactics to level up your digital marketing. Created in partnership with VUP Media, a national B2B marketing powerhouse, this hands-on series is tailored to the unique challenges and opportunities of manufacturing businesses.
Session One: Get Found Fast
Learn what modern marketing means for manufacturers. We’ll cover the basics of digital tools like websites, SEO, email, and social—and how they support your business goals. You’ll walk away knowing where you show up online, where you’re missing out, and how to begin showing up more effectively.
🔹 Perfect for beginners and busy manufacturers
🔹 Includes a buyer persona template, visibility checklist, and group feedback
Date: June 24, 2025
Time: 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Location: 315 Iron Horse Way, Providence, 02908, Rhode Island, United States
| | PBN: Fastest Growing & Innovative Companies Awards Application | | |
Entering its 14th year, the PBN Fastest Growing & Innovative Companies Program is a combination of two award programs. The first highlights the region’s Fastest Growing Companies based on three-year revenue growth. 20 private companies are recognized in 4 revenue categories.
In addition, approximately 10 private, public and nonprofit organizations are recognized via a judging process for their Innovation in a variety of industries including education, health care, manufacturing and technology, among others.
All winners will be celebrated at an awards dinner on September 18th and featured in the Fastest Growing and Innovative Companies Special Section published on September 19th.
| | |
The Global Trade Summit is the leading event in Rhode Island focused on shaping the future of international trade. Held on September 25–26, 2025, this dynamic two-day summit brings together business leaders, government officials, and academic experts to explore the latest trends, challenges, and opportunities in global commerce.
Designed for professionals seeking to strengthen their global strategy, the Trade Summit offers actionable insights, valuable networking opportunities, and access to tools that help organizations compete on the world stage.
Whether you’re looking to expand internationally, build strategic partnerships, or stay ahead of market changes, the Global Trade Summit is your gateway to global growth.
Date: September 25-26, 2025
Location: Bryant University, The Chaffee Center
| | |
Experience Stratasys with AVAST
| | |
Date: Friday, August 29th 2025
Time: 2:30 PM - 6:30 PM
Location: David Center of Ocean Innovation – 360 Woods Hole Road Falmouth, MA
| | Upcoming Webinars & Workshops | | |
Date: June 18th, 2025
Time: 12:00 PM
Location: Webinar
| |
Supply Chain Outlook
Trends and Risks To Watch in 2025
| | |
A new tariff regime has upended global supply chains, and the upheaval has brought myriad new risks to the forefront of executives' minds.
What new trade rules will be in place by July, and what will happen to the economy in the second half of the year? How are commodity markets and logistics networks responding? And what strategies are retailers and manufacturers using to mitigate the effects of tariffs?
Date: July 23, 2025
Time: 12:00 PM
Location: Webinar
| | Supporting Manufacturing Operations with AI: From the Shop Floor to the C-Suite | | |
AI is transforming manufacturing—from the shop floor to the boardroom. Join our webinar to see how real-time data, automation and system integration are driving ROI across roles, from front-line teams to finance and plant managers.
Date: June 24, 2025
Time: 12:00 PM
Location: Webinar
| | |
Manufacturing in the United States
Key Facts
Federal and State Data
NAM Research
New Orders: Decreased by $22.8 billion (3.7%) to $594.6 billion in April, following four consecutive monthly increases.
Shipments: Declined for the second month in a row, down $1.8 billion (0.3%) to $598.9 billion.
Unfilled Orders: Slightly increased by $0.7 billion to $1,408.5 billion, marking an increase in 11 of the last 12 months.
Learn More
| |
Programs & Resources for Members! | | Addressing the Needs of Industry 4.0 | | |
On May 28, Polaris MEP hosted "Modernizing Maritime and Defense Manufacturing" at the Wyndham Hotel Newport. Amy Grzybowski, Ph.D., vice president of Workforce Development & Community Relations at New England Institute of Technology, discussed Automation and Workforce Trends, Industry 4.0 and how the Center for Technology and Industry (CTI) at NEIT is shaping the next generation of Rhode Island’s manufacturing workforce by delivering industry-responsive curriculum aligned with employer needs.
In addition to customized training for employees, CTI regularly offers the following courses focused on the industry’s top in-demand skills:
• CNC Machining • Robotics • Automation Systems • Cybersecurity & AI for Manufacturing • Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) Training, and more.
| | Integrated Tariff Solutions | | |
Tariffs are raising costs and exposing supply chains to risk. CBIZ brings tax, pricing, and sourcing strategy together so you can respond decisively and protect profitability.
CBIZ helps you assess where tariffs are affecting your business—and what you can do about it. Get a custom review across tax, sourcing, and pricing strategies to reduce exposure now.
| | |
Modified Duty & Early Return to Work Can Save Your Business Thousands!
Your bottom line is affected the longer your injured employee is out of work and receiving workers’ compensation. As an employer, you can impact the number of disability days by providing modified duty work.
Learn More
| |
Manufacturers’ Optimism Drops, Signaling Need for Tax Reform
Only 55.4% of respondents report a positive outlook for their companies—a nearly 15-percentage-point drop from Q1 and the lowest level since the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in Q2 of 2020.
Learn More
| |  | |
Business Owner Benchmark Report
In this year’s Business Owner Benchmark report, Northern Trust talked to owners of businesses with an average annual revenue of $50m+. Read the report to find out their plans for the year ahead — from investing in AI to planning for sale and succession — and what strategies they’re implementing.
Learn More
| | |
Packaging Manufacturers Worried by 50% Tariffs on Steel, Aluminum
Doubling tariffs on metals imports risks unintended consequences throughout the packaging supply chain, according to the Can Manufacturers Institute and the Aluminum Association
Learn More
| | |
Tariffs, De Minimis Changes Spark Air Cargo Capacity Shifts
The countries of origin on Transpacific routes are changing as shippers move production out of China.
Learn More
| | |
White House Extends Exclusions for Section 301 China Tariffs
Exemptions to the duties installed during previous administrations will remain until Aug. 31, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative announced last week.
Learn More
| | |
Build or Buy Your MES? Lessons from Hexagon Manufacturing Intelligence
If off-the-shelf manufacturing execution systems don't fit the bill, developing your own MES provides real advantages.
| | |
To Drive Domestic Growth, Manufacturers Propose U.S. Manufacturing Investment Accelerator Program to Boost Access to Manufacturing Inputs
The National Association of Manufacturers unveiled the U.S. Manufacturing Investment Accelerator Program, a programmatic proposal designed to help manufacturers deliver on President Trump’s vision of America as a global manufacturing powerhouse.
Learn More
| | |
Cost‑Effective AI Vision Systems
Adoption in the food industry could be what pushes the use of RFID on packaging into the mainstream in the coming years.
| | | Thank You to our 2025 Sponsors! | | |
Annual Breakfast & Meeting Presenting Sponsor
| | | | |
