Over the past 6 months, I've had the privilege of engaging with SOCMA members, the Board of Governors, and industry partners. Together, we've explored the trends shaping the specialty chemical sector and brainstormed innovative ways for SOCMA to enhance its support for companies.
It's been fascinating how those discussions consistently center around a particular service or product that embodies the essence of SOCMA, highlighting the organization's vital role for the sector. However, through those conversations I picked up that there was still a need for greater awareness of our members' advancements and to emphasize the importance that Membership Matters.
I am thrilled to announce the upcoming launch of our focused Membership Matters campaign. This campaign is designed for you and aims to reinforce the scope of services that SOCMA offers and showcase the impactful contributions you are making every day.
Month by month, the campaign will cover four key themes. Through newsletters, webinars, social media, and more, we aim to increase awareness and engagement.
Advocacy Matters - Amplifying the voice of SOCMA member companies and highlighting our collective advocacy impact.
Connections Matter - Emphasizing how SOCMA fosters and strengthens connections across the specialty chemical industry.
Safety Matters - Showcasing our members' commitment to safety and how their practices set them apart.
Insights Matters - Providing intelligence to keep the sector abreast of the latest industry developments.
Thank you for being an integral part of SOCMA. Together, we are driving the specialty chemical sector forward.
Kind Regards,
Jennifer
Jennifer Abril
SOCMA President & CEO
jabril@socma.org
Membership Matters
Membership Matters: Trends & Insights on Communication, Staffing and Regulatory Changes in the Specialty Chemical Industry
Join us tomorrow, June 19 at 1:00 p.m. EST, for a webinar featuring Rachel Coffman, President of Coffman Collaborative, and Jenny Gaines, Vice President of Membership at SOCMA. Rachel draws from more than a decade of experience as a public relations & policy strategist in manufacturing.
Learn how she creatively navigates her clients to tackle communication challenges, operational transitions, and regulatory obstacles. In addition, Rachel and Jenny will highlight key SOCMA member programs.
Key Takeaways:
Prioritize effective safety communication strategies by monitoring internal, contractor, and community communications to mitigate risks and foster a proactive safety culture.
Facilitate seamless leadership transitions and knowledge transfer by fostering open communication between legacy staff and new management and implementing knowledge-capturing processes.
Hear the latest about critical regulations like the Risk Management Plan Rule and utilize the advocacy support provided by SOCMA to navigate the regulatory landscape.
Leverage SOCMA's comprehensive resources, including training programs, industry expertise, advocacy support, commercial services, and up-to-date intelligence.
Last Chance to Register! SOCMA Workshop: Developing a Workplace Chemical Protection Plan
In compliance with the final rule on Methylene Chloride, it is imperative to establish a Workplace Chemical Protection Program (WCPP) to safeguard both the workplace and employees.
Join us today June 18 at 11:00am EST where Williams Mullen, a SOCMA member, will guide you through the essential components of creating a comprehensive WCPP. This knowledge will not only be valuable for complying with the new Methylene Chloride Risk Management Rule but also for meeting other regulatory requirements mandating the development of a WCPP.
SOCMA's Board of Governors Kickoff Strategic Planning to Define the Vision for 2030
SOCMA's Board of Governors met in early June to launch a strategic planning process to shape the organization's future leading up to 2030.
The Board of Governors highlighted SOCMA's pivotal role as a relevant resource center, a staunch industry advocate, and a catalyst for knowledge sharing.
Key themes included:
- Realigning supply chains and trading partners
- Tackling the challenge of capturing the attention of key audiences
- Harnessing technology platforms for increasing efficiencies
- Addressing workforce labor pressures
- Ensuring trust and reliability in information sources
Stay tuned for the next phase, which involves a comprehensive membership-wide survey to be sent in late summer that will delve deeper into these critical areas.
Q2 2024 Pulse Poll Reveals Continued Optimism Despite a Soft Q2
Despite a soft Q2 across the sector, SOCMA's recent pulse poll revealed continued optimism driven by ongoing market expansions and onshoring efforts. Both contract manufacturers and proprietary producers alike, showed strong early-year performance and anticipated continued growth, especially in contract manufacturing. Capacity constraints and workforce shortages remain challenges, yet companies are diversifying and increasing market share through both organic growth and acquisitions.
Active market segments, including energy/electronics, pharma, agro, and CASE, are crucial for sustainability and supply chain security, particularly in response to pandemic-induced gaps. Despite regulatory concerns, there is a notable rise in onshoring projects to strengthen the domestic supply chain. The 2024 outlook highlights the importance of reliability, quality, and technical expertise for U.S. suppliers, reinforcing industry optimism for continued growth in U.S. manufacturing.
Stay Up to Date on the Defense Critical Chemicals Call Through SOCMA
SOCMA recently hosted an informational webinar to share updates on the Defense Critical Chemicals Call (DC3). With DC3 set to be released towards the end of the U.S. Government fiscal year (September 30), it's crucial to proactively prepare for the upcoming call:
Make the most of SOCMA's resources to gear up for U.S. Government manufacturing opportunities.
Refresh Your Staff Knowledge with a Summer of Safety!
Join SOCMA for a Summer of Safety, an initiative designed to promote safety awareness. Our objective is to equip members with essential knowledge and resources to prioritize safety, particularly as the summer season introduces increased risks of heat-related illnesses.
Throughout the campaign, members will receive weekly safety tips via emails in addition to biweekly safety moment one-pagers. A series of webinars will provide focused guidance on relevant summer safety topics.
Contact Emylyn Noma Reyes at enoma@socma.org to sign-up for more information.
Attend the Virtual Roundtable on June 27 to Learn How to Integrate ChemOps into Your Facility
In this 30-minute presentation, discover how MFG Chemical, LLC and Polysciences, Inc have successfully upgraded their training programs leveraging ChemOps.
We’ll share details on how to successfully implement ChemOps through:
Registration Now Open for the SOCMA Summit & Annual Meeting
The 2024 SOCMA Summit & Annual Meeting, the premier event for decision-makers in the specialty and batch chemical sector, has a new location! Join us in Charleston, SC from October 29-30, 2024.
Designed for senior leadership at SOCMA member companies, this peer-to-peer event explores the future of chemical innovation in North America, along with emerging regulatory and business trends, through an engaging lineup of speakers and interactive discussions. We will also honor SOCMA member achievements during the annual Awards Dinner.
