COMING UP! Economic Update (8/20), Workforce/HR Meet Up (8/25), and Gov't Relations Meet Up (8/26)! Be sure to scroll down to the Events section to find out more.

MANUFACTURERS: Looking to upskill your employees? Check out these training opportunities, exclusively for DRMA members, presented by Sinclair's Workforce Development Division:

• LAST CALL! There is still space available in the Set-Up Reduction class this Thursday, 8/20. Participants learn the fundamentals of SMED and rapid-changeover and how to successfully implement these techniques on the shop floor. Contact Shay to register.
• Next up in our Lean Manufacturing series is Total Preventative Maintenance on 11/5. Participants learn to identify processes where human error causes mistakes and how to utilize design and engineering methods to eliminate the potential for errors. More information here.

We have some available tee times in the morning for the Fall Golf Outing, presented by the Minco Group, on Monday, 9/28. Fill out your registration form ASAP to reserve your spot. Interested in getting your company name in front of our 200+ attendees? Contact Susan. Even if you don’t golf, you can still attend our dinner after the outing. All dinner attendees will have a chance to win door prizes! Don't forget this golf outing supports the DRMA Foundation and its efforts to grow the manufacturing workforce. Register now!



Supplier members: Purchase an ad in the Wage and Benefit Survey Report! Released in October, the report has a year-long shelf life, and is distributed to 100+ manufacturers, schools, and economic development leaders throughout the Dayton Region. Contact Shay.

Now is the time to join DRMA’s workers comp group! Joining a group rating program is the best way for DRMA members to significantly lower their Ohio workers’ compensation premiums. Contact Julia Bowling to see how our endorsed partner, Sedgwick, can save you money and provide unmatched claims support. 

Safety Alert!Check out this month's tip from our workers comp program administrator, Sedgwick, and other partners:

• REMINDER! Ohio BWC’s True-Up deadline is 8/31. The mandatory true-up is a reconciliation of your BWC estimated payroll versus your actual policy year payroll. Read more on why it’s required and how to do it here.
• OSHA and PERRP are widely known for their detailed safety standards and regulations, but not every workplace risk is specifically addressed by regulation. This is where OSHA and PERRP’s General Duty Clause comes in. Click here to learn more about what’s included and how avoid citations from the general duty clause.
• The Ohio BWC has announced a small change to Group Rating discounts for private employers beginning with the 2027 policy year. Even with the change, group rating programs continue to be one of the best ways for employers to cut costs. Read more here.

Tap into the DRMA “brain trust” by joining the DRMA private LinkedIn Group, exclusively for people at DRMA member companies. The group provides an on-line venue to ask questions, learn from each other, and collaborate on a private platform dedicated to our members. Click here to request to join the group!



DRMA members are invited to an exclusive, half-day tour of Miami University’s Smart Factory Innovation and Technology (SMART-FIT) Lab on 9/25 from 1 -5 p.m.; cost is $20 and includes transportation to the Oxford campus, tour of the SMART lab, and happy hour. Presented in partnership with the Dayton Development Coalition and Miami University’s College of Engineering and Computing, the tour provides a unique opportunity to explore cutting-edge smart manufacturing technology and connect with future talent. Space is limited! Register here.

THANK YOU Cornerstone Research Group for hosting a Breakfast with DRMA last week! Cornerstone Research Group hosted us in their modern office which is located in a beautiful setting. DRMA appreciates and thanks Cornerstone Research Group for their support of our organization – even during a major storm! Did we catch you there? Click here to see photos. 

Join us for the Workforce/HR Meet Up on 8/25, 11 – 12 p.m., virtual! These monthly meet ups are for your team members who are responsible for human resources or upskilling your manufacturing workforce. The kick-off topic this month is 2026 Legal HR Update, but time will be available to bring up other workforce/HR questions for peer-to-peer discussion. Free and for members only! Register here.

Mark your calendars – the Workforce/HR Meet Up is hitting the road! Our 9/22 meet up will be in-person over breakfast at Sinclair College’s Centerville Campus. The topic is Attraction & Retention Strategies presented by Tooling U, and time will be available for peer-to-peer networking. Cost is $15 and for members only! Space will be limited so priority registration will be given to manufacturers; contact Amy today if you’d like added to the list.

Member exclusive! WorkAdvance, a proven initiative to supplement your recruitment strategies, will bring you quality candidates to fill your manufacturing entry-level positions. Candidates are ready now to interview! Contact Amy to learn more.

Hosting a student tour to grow your future worker pipeline? Click here to let us know and make sure you Join the Movement! Registering your event on MFGDay’s website puts it on the national MFG Day map which will showcase your outreach efforts nationwide. And, remember to let us know your results here.

The Montgomery County Workforce Investment Board is seeking input from Montgomery County employers to better understand whether workforce programs and funding are meeting your needs and where improvements can be made. If your business has utilized workforce funding, training grants, or other services, or if you have perspectives on workforce challenges, your feedback is appreciated. Just complete the brief survey here. 



Supplement your recruiting strategy by attending the following career and internship fair:

• Fall Career & Internship Fair at Wright State University (Dayton), 9/30. Click here for more details.

DATE AND TIME CHANGE! DRMA Government Relations Meet Ups give you the unique opportunity to discuss important policy issues with government officials in a small, focused setting. DRMA welcomes US Congressman Mike Carey to our next Meet Up on 8/26 at 8:30 a.m. at Level MB Construction’s office at 226 S Market St. in Troy. Free and for members only! Register here.

8/20, 2:15 - 6 p.m., Economic Update: Setting Expectations for 2027 and Beyond, Sinclair College, Dayton. Register now to take advantage of the early bird discount – you don’t want to miss our largest event of the year! Presented by KeyBank, listen to an engaging update from one of the country's premier economists, Connor Lokar of ITR Economics. Register here. Contact Susan for sponsorship opportunities.

9/28, 7:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., Fall Golf Outing at Miami Valley Golf Club, Dayton. Registration is open and only a handful of spots remain! Join us for this AM and PM shotgun scramble play! You can also sponsor the event and get your company name in front of our 200+ attendees! More details and registration form here.

10/15, 2:30 - 4 p.m., Trap Shoot; & 4 - 5:30 p.m., Happy Hour, Wright-Patt Rod and Gun Club, Fairborn. Presented by Bruns General Contracting and Back to Business I.T., save the date to join your DRMA peers for an afternoon of fun! Registration opens on 8/24 - no experience required! Sponsorships are also available; with only 105 spots, a sponsorship can lock your participation in before registration opens. Contact Susan! Not a trap shooter but want to attend happy hour? Register here.

Meet-Ups - FREE and for members only. Join the conversation!

• 8/25, 11 - 12 p.m., Workforce/HR, virtual. Register here.
• 8/26, 8:30 - 9:30 a.m., Government Relations, Harmony Systems & Service. Register here.
• 9/22, 8 - 9:30 a.m., Workforce/HR, Sinclair College's Centerville Campus. Registration coming soon; Nominal fee to cover breakfast

DRMA 101 - Whether you are a new member or a seasoned member, kickstart your membership ROI and learn what DRMA does to help you strengthen your business. Contact Shay to sign up!

• 8/26, 12 - 1 p.m., Business Furniture, Dayton (lunch provided).
• 10/8, 8 - 9 a.m., Benjamin Steel Co., Springfield (breakfast provided)

For more information on any of our events, visit our website.

Save the Date - Upcoming DRMA Events

12/2/2026 Annual Meeting - NCR Country Club

Community Events

• 8/20, 7:30 - 9 a.m., Miami Valley Safety Council Breakfast, Dayton. More information/registration here. 
• 9/16, 11:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. (11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. employer setup), Hobart Institute of Welding Job Fair, Troy. More Information and employer registration here.
• 9/24, 12 - 4 p.m., Montgomery County Workforce Development Fall Job Fair, Dayton. More information/registration here.
• 9/24, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., Material Handling & Safety Expo, hosted by Conveyer & Caster Corp. More information/registration here.
• 9/25, 8 - 9 a.m., Ferguson Manufacturing Day, Beavercreek. More information/registration email Chad Mason.