Inside CI: The Business of Ceramics

Manufacturing ceramics is about more than discovering the latest raw material mix or the newest, most innovative piece of equipment. It’s also about understanding the business—knowing which markets are poised for growth and success, which companies are successful and why, and what organizations are dedicated to helping manufacturers succeed.

For this reason, Ceramic Industry is proud to introduce our new Executive Overview, which will be published quarterly beginning with this issue (see pp. 17-20). Geared toward presidents, CEOs, CFOs, plant managers and other key decision-makers in the ceramic industry, the Executive Overview will feature information on business trends, industry performance, government regulations and association activities. CEO profiles in our new “Behind the Scenes” column will give you a glimpse of what’s happening inside some of the most profitable ceramic companies. And our new “Business Watch” department will help you track the financial performance of key industry segments through the quarterly and annual statements of manufacturers.

In this issue, Dick Rosen, chairman and CEO of AVX Corp., shares his views on how far the electronic ceramics industry has come in the past several decades. He explains how AVX’s business philosophy has contributed to the company’s success, and discusses some of the challenges the company has had to overcome. He also shares his insights into where the markets for electronic ceramics are headed in the next several years. “Business Watch” presents the results of several advanced ceramic manufacturers in 2000. And “Association Update” profiles the Abrasives Engineering Society, an organization dedicated to furthering abrasives technology for the benefit of ceramics and other manufacturers. Be sure to check out this special section for information you can use to strengthen your business. Future Executive Overviews will be published in June, September and December.

Publisher’s Note

Now that we’re officially in the new millennium, Ceramic Industry is taking a step to bring us all closer to the age of electronic information gathering. It’s become pretty apparent that we’ve “rung out the old and rung in the new” when it comes to how we request more information on products. Readers are now using 800 numbers, fax machines, e-mail and supplier websites to get timely purchasing information on products of interest advertised in CI. Recognizing that increasing trend, CI has decided to discontinue our printed reader action card as of this issue.

In addition to contacting companies directly, you can also search for manufacturers in our online Data Book & Buyers’ Guide at www.ceramicindustry.com, where you will find complete contact information, as well as direct hotlinks to advertiser websites. And, as always, CI is happy to help connect buyers to sellers, so feel free to contact us if you have any problems getting in touch with manufacturers. We also encourage you to identify yourself as a CI reader when you contact suppliers for product information.

—Susan Love