It's always good to know who your friends are. For American manufacturers, it's particularly good to know who in the federal government are your friends. Let's start with Albert Frink, assistant secretary of commerce for manufacturing and services. In September, we suggested that it's about time manufacturers had a real advocate at this level in Washington, and wished Mr. Frink a speedy confirmation of his nomination.
Frink's nomination was confirmed recently and he took the opportunity afforded by the International Manufacturing Technology Show to hit the ground running. The day after Frink took the oath of office in Washington, he was on the floor at IMTS 2004 in Chicago, meeting with representatives of the machine tool industry. "I'm here to be an advocate for manufacturing," he said. "Manufacturing is not getting the respect it deserves and that's a tragedy." Frink believes a strong manufacturing sector is vital to the nation and we have every confidence that he will be a staunch advocate for manufacturing in Washington.