NTMA Member Roy Sweatman Appointed to U.S. Commerce Department Manufacturing Council

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Roy Sweatman, President of Southern Manufacturing Technologies (SMT) in Tampa, FL, was appointed today to serve on the Manufacturing Council. Sweatman, a member and former Chairman of the National Tooling and Machining Association (NTMA), joins 24 other U.S. manufacturing leaders as Council members. The Council provides advice to U.S. Commerce Secretary John Bryson on issues related to manufacturing sector competitiveness, as well as government policies and programs that affect the industry. Sweatman will help emphasize the necessity of designing policies that help small and medium U.S. manufacturing companies, which play a critical role in the industry.

“Small and medium manufacturers are this country's job creators and the backbone of our communities,” said Sweatman. “As a Council member, my goal is to support policies that help small manufacturing businesses to flourish in the United States. Policymakers and business leaders must work together on issues ranging from the shortage of skilled manufacturing workers to tax reform to ensure that small businesses are able to continue to invest in the new technologies and hire the workers that allow us to stay competitive with businesses overseas.”

Sweatman is also Vice Chairman of the National Institute for Metalworking Skills, Inc. (NIMS), an organization founded by metalworking trade associations to develop and maintain a globally competitive workforce. NIMS sets skills standards for the industry, certifies individual skills against the standards and accredits training programs that meet NIMS quality requirements. Sweatman's company, SMT, founded in 1983, specializes in precision machined components and assemblies primarily for the aircraft, aerospace, defense industries. SMT was honored as the Tampa Small Business of the Year and in 2009 won the Business Excellence Award from the Tampa Bay Workforce Alliance.

“NTMA congratulates Roy for this tremendous honor,” said NTMA Chairman Roger Atkins. “Roy has been a leader in NTMA and in our industry for years. We have benefited from his leadership, ideas and commitment to strengthening manufacturing in America, qualities that he will now be able to share with policymakers in Washington, DC.”

About NTMA: NTMA's over 1,300 member companies design and manufacture special tools, dies, jigs, fixtures, gages, special machines and precision-machined parts. Some firms specialize in experimental research and development work as well as rapid prototyping. Many NTMA members are privately owned small businesses, yet the industry generates sales in excess of $40 billion a year. NTMA's mission is to help members of the U.S. precision custom manufacturing industry achieve business success in a global economy through advocacy, advice, networking, information, programs and services.

NTMA and the Precision Metalforming Association (PMA) formed the "One Voice" partnership to advocate for the interests of small and medium manufacturers throughout the U.S. Visit www.metalworkingadvocate.org for additional information on PMA and NTMA.