2008 ILMA Management Forum Exceeds Expectations

"I've heard a lot of favorable comments about this Management Forum," ILMA President Anwer Hussain said. "Many members say the Management Forum provides more one-on-one opportunities with their customers and suppliers. They appreciated the opportunity to network, as well as learning about the industry during the educational sessions."

Key educational sessions during the Management Forum allowed participants to learn about trends in all segments of the lubricants industry; gain insights on teamwork from a former astronaut; learn from a futurist how to profit from major trends; get an update on progress with ILMA's product testing program under its Ethics Initiative; and better understand the avenues to compliance and export growth under Europe's new REACH regulations. Participants were also treated to a Cultural Welcome and blessing from members of the Pueblo of Santa Ana, and spent a day in committee meetings discussing specialized industry concerns and plans for future educational programs.

Former Space Shuttle astronaut Col. Mike Mullane presented "Countdown to Teamwork". His message focused on the practice of several fundamentals of teamwork: guarding against a "normalization of deviance," responsibility, trust, courageous self-leadership, and courageous team leadership.

Glen Hiemstra, founder of Futurist.com and Compoundings author, provided attendees with four dynamic trends that could impact their businesses: demographics, technology, the new economy, and the next energy revolution, and how to become a more successful strategic leader.

Infineum's Industry Liaison Advisor, Glen "Pat" Fetterman, presented Infineum Trends 2008 - an overview on all of the sectors of the lubricants industry, including the heavy duty diesel and the automotive markets, and concluded with the ever-popular footage from recent automotive shows in Detroit.

ILMA Past President Jim Taglia presented results from ILMA's Ethics and Testing Program. ILMA will separately provide more information about this important session at a later date.

Concluding the Management Forum was a panel discussion on "REACH and its Impact." Moderator Richard Kraska, along with AJ Guikema, TetraTech; Mick Wragg, Lubrizol; and John Phyper, Atrion International discussed the global reaching impact of this legislation and how ILMA members should prepare for compliance. Attendees took advantage of this session as the questions and answers lasted for almost an hour after the session was scheduled to conclude. ILMA has dedicated a page of its Web site to REACH resources, which can be found online at www.ilma.org.

On the first day of the Management Forum, ILMA committee chairs and members discussed industry trends in their respective committees, as well as provided suggestions for Annual Meeting speakers and topics. ILMA's Committees include:

• Safety, Health, Environmental & Regulatory Affairs
• Industrial Lubricants
• Metalworking Lubricants
• Engine & Transmission Lubricants
• Grease
• Packaging
• Young Executives Council
• Family Business Council

Each of the committees will have a session at the ILMA Annual Meeting, October 11-14, 2008, at the Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort and Spa at Gainey Ranch, in Scottsdale, Ariz. More information about the Committee Meetings is being published in the May issue of ILMA's magazine, Compoundings.

The Independent Lubricant Manufacturers Association (ILMA) was founded in 1948. ILMA's 292 members include independent lubricant companies that produce more than 25% of all lubricants and 80% or more of the metalworking fluids and other specialty industrial lubricants sold in the U.S., and key suppliers of raw materials and services to independent lubricant manufacturers.