April 21, 2009

Pushing Ahead With a Warehouse Management System

Free, Strategy, Subscriber Only, Technology / Lindsay Young

In a survey for our recent special report, "The State of the Distribution Software Industry," available here, we found that many distributors are continuing to invest in warehouse and inventory management software applications. Particularly now, when efficiency and cost reduction is key, distributors are growing smarter about where they invest to ensure they get a sufficient ROI in a time when ROI is an absolute must.

A recent article in Supply and Demand Chain Executive (sdcexec.com) looked at plumbing, HVAC and PVF distributor Bardon Supplies Limited’s decision to move forward with a WMS implementation in 2007; the new warehouse management system was finally in place earlier this year at one of the …

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Sudden Change Can Drive Insecurity in the Workplace

Free, Human Resources in Wholesale Distribution, Operations, Subscriber Only / Lindsay Young

HR consultant Nancye Combs told me recently that remaining employees actually go through the grieving process when co-workers are laid off unexpectedly. She says that sudden change can create insecurity and fear. Which is why it’s important to carefully plan layoffs and other cost-reduction driven changes, and to constantly communicate with those who are impacted, she says. The long-term viability of the business is at stake.

In the most recent issue of MDM, John Salveson of Salveson Stetson Group says that many companies have the attitude that those employees that remain "ought to be happy to have a job." But that’s a simplistic short-term mentality, he says. He says that many leaders are so relieved to get through layoffs …

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Snap-On Sales Decline 20.6% In 1Q

Building Materials/Construction, Free, News, Subscriber Only, Top Distributor Sectors / MDM Staff

Snap-on Inc., Kenosha, WI, a global manufacturer of tools, diagnostics, equipment, software and service solutions for professional users, reported sales of $572.6 million for the first quarter of 2009, down 20.6% from the prior year. Profit declined 38.5% to $34.8 million.

Commercial & Industrial Group segment sales were $259.8 million, down 27.2% from 2008 levels. Excluding $33.6 million of unfavorable currency translation, year-over-year sales declined 17.7% primarily due to continued lower sales of professional tools in Europe and decreased sales of equipment worldwide.

Snap-on Tools Group segment sales of $242.4 million in the quarter declined 16.2%; organic sales declined 10.7%.

Diagnostics & Information Group segment sales declined …

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Thomas & Betts Profit, Sales Drop In 1Q

Electrical, Free, News, Subscriber Only, Top Distributor Sectors / MDM Staff

Memphis, TN-based Thomas & Betts Corp. reported first quarter sales of $459.8 million, down 22.8% from first quarter 2008. Profit fell 31.9% to $26.1 million.

Weaker demand for electrical products used in construction, industrial maintenance and electrical power distribution were the primary drivers for lower sales.

As expected, the economy has proved to be our biggest challenge in 2009 and we have responded by adjusting production, reducing headcount, tightly managing costs and remaining intensely focused on effectively managing working capital, CEO Dominic J. Pileggi said.

First quarter 2009 total segment earnings declined 30.6% to $77.6 million as a result of lower sales volumes and unfavorable foreign currency. As a percent …

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Carlisle Companies Sales Fall 22% In 1Q

Free, News, Subscriber Only, Top Distributor Sectors / MDM Staff

Carlisle Companies Inc., Charlotte, NC, reported sales from continuing operations of $511.1 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2009, a 22% decline from the first quarter of 2008. Organic sales decreased by 25% from the prior year, with the largest declines in the Construction Materials and Transportation Products segments. Profit from continuing operations declined 65% to $10 million.

Consistent with our initial expectations for 2009, there was weak demand throughout nearly all of our markets in the first quarter. Fortunately, we anticipated the market decline and aggressively reduced costs, including a salary freeze for substantially all employees, David A. Roberts, president and CEO, said. “In addition, over the past twelve months, we reduced our …

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Pentair 1Q Sales Down 24%

Free, Gases & Welding Equipment, News, Subscriber Only, Top Distributor Sectors / MDM Staff

Pentair, Inc., Minneapolis, MN, reported sales of $634 million for the first quarter of 2009, a year-over-year decline of 24%. Profit for the term fell 61% to $17.3 million.

Most of our major markets were dismal throughout the first quarter as many of our customers retrenched in reaction to the global recession. Fortunately, our execution against our aggressive cost reduction plans is yielding solid benefits, said Randall J. Hogan, Pentair chairman and chief executive officer.

The Water Group reported $424 million in sales, a 22% percent decline year-over-year. Sales were down 21% excluding the formation of the Pentair Residential Filtration business with General Electric’s Water and Process Technologies unit.

Technical …

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AMETEK 1Q Sales Down 10%

Electrical, Free, News, Power Transmission/Motion Control/Fluid Power, Subscriber Only, Top Distributor Sectors / MDM Staff

AMETEK, Inc., Paoli, PA, reported sales of $552.9 million for the first quarter 2009, down 10% over the same period of 2008. Profit declined 11% to $59.1 million.

For the 2009 first quarter, EIG segment sales decreased 11% to $302.5 million. Operating income was $69.1 million, compared with $79.2 million in the first quarter of 2008, a decrease of 13%. Declines were driven primarily by weakness in the Process and Industrial businesses.

EMG segment sales for the first quarter were $250.4 million, an 8% decrease over the same period of 2008. Operating income of $46.2 million was down 2%.

AMETEK is a global manufacturer of electronic instruments and electromechanical devices. …

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Slightly Down is the New Up

Economic Trends, Free, Research & Analytics, Subscriber Only, Top Distributor Sectors / Tom Gale

The Industrial Supply Association Conference & Trade Fair took place earlier this week. I moderated a panel session, The View from Wall Street on Industrial Markets, with Walter Liptak, security analyst for Barrington Research Associates, Chicago, IL, and Holden Lewis, Industrial Equipment Analyst for BB&T Capital Markets Equity Research, Richmond, VA. They gave the industry insiders in that room (standing room only) a view from the investment side on strengths, weaknesses and trends.
Sometimes the truth hurts, and their analysis of a range of macro trends, end-use markets and outlook for the near-term was not pretty. That said, some of the data gave a glimmer of hope on top of the recent positive signs that we could near the bottom of this cycle and see a …

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April 21, 2009

Pushing Ahead With a Warehouse Management System

Sudden Change Can Drive Insecurity in the Workplace

Snap-On Sales Decline 20.6% In 1Q

Thomas & Betts Profit, Sales Drop In 1Q

Carlisle Companies Sales Fall 22% In 1Q

Pentair 1Q Sales Down 24%

AMETEK 1Q Sales Down 10%

Slightly Down is the New Up

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