b'Lead AnglePANDEMIC RESPONSE UNIFYINGW hen I joined Cutting Tool Engineeringhelp battle COVID-19. Thats an uplifting, in 2007, I immediately noticed theunifying response.lack of controversy in our coverage of the manufacturing industryan aspect ICOVID-19 Survey Addendumwelcomed. Id had enough after spendingTo gauge the economic impact that the nearly two decades writing about dentistrypandemic is having on the industry, CTE prior to joining CTE. added four optional questions to our biennial Right about now you might be wondering,benefits and salary survey. While youll have Dentistry? Controversial? Yes. Just tryto wait until our August issue for the results of writing about mercury in dental amalgamthe benefits and salary portion, I want to share fillings or the fluoride in our drinking water. early results from the COVID-19 addendum.CTE covers practical information aboutOf the nearly 100 respondents who new products, technologies and machiningcompleted the addendum, 83% said their operations, to put it succinctly. Sure, therescompany remains open, and 57% have not usually more than one way to get a job donelaid off or furloughed employees. Of the when it comes to metalcutting, but you dontcompanies that remain open, CTE asked, see machinists protesting about it, at least notWhich of the following bestdescribes your in public. situation?Even with the current political divide in thenThe company is considered an essential United States, theres been little worry thatbusiness and therefore remains fully open.the us versus them fervor somehow wouldnThe company is considered an essential spill over into our coverage. business and therefore remains open on a Then came COVID-19, sheltering in place,limited basis.working from home, essential businesses,Almost 70% responded that they remain nonessential businesses, layoffs, furloughsfully open. Slightly over 30% of respondents and, perhaps inevitably, protests to reopensaid they are open on a limited basis.the economy. I suddenly found myselfOf the companies that remain open, worrying that the controversy surroundingCTE asked respondents to indicate how the pandemic would cast a shadow over thetheir current production compares with industry. their workload prior to the pandemic. Their But that hasnt happened, at least notresponses follow:yet. In fact, the opposite has occurred asn21% said their workload is about the same evidenced from the flurry of news posted toor up.our website in the past couple of months.n22% said their workload is down 20%.Heres a tiny sampling: n21% said their workload is down 40%.nMonaghan Tooling Group rushes customn19% said their workload is down 60%.ventilator tooling project. n16% said their workload is down 80%.nBantam Tools gives milling machinesOverall, this isnt great of course, but its to companies working on COVID-19 reliefa sign that the industry is weathering the efforts. pandemic.CTEnCrafts Technology Inc. provides tooling in COVID-19 test kit production.nBoyce Technologies Inc. produces 3,000about the author bridge ventilators. Dennis Spaeth is CEO and nForest City Gear Co. donates $3,100 topublisher of CTE. Contact Rockford Rescue Mission. him at 847-714-0176 or In short, the industry has stepped up [email protected] 2020LeadAngle.indd 8 5/15/20 10:01 AM'