Metals Service Center Institute

The Metals Service Center Institute (MSCI) is a trade association and nonprofit organization based in Rolling Meadows, Illinois, in the United States. It was established as the American Horseshoe and Heavy Hardware Association in 1909 and was subsequently known as the American Steel Warehouse Association, then the Steel Service Center Institute. The organization's members are primarily metal service centers that inventory and distribute metals for industrial customers and perform first-stage processing. MSCI has approximately 400 members operating from 1,500 locations primarily in North America.[1] MSCI members purchase about 75 million tons of steel, aluminum and other metals from metals producers, with 300,000 customers, primarily businesses in manufacturing and fabrication.[2] The organization formerly produced the trade publication Forward Magazine and issues a monthly "Metals Activity Report".

Not to be confused with MSCI.
Metals Service Center Institute
AbbreviationMSCI
PredecessorAmerican Horseshoe and Heavy Hardware Association, American Steel Warehouse Association, Steel Service Center Institute
Merger ofNational Association of Aluminum Distributors
Headquarters4201 Euclid Avenue
Location
Websitewww.msci.org

History

The organization was originally called the American Horseshoe and Heavy Hardware Association[3] when it was founded in 1909.[1] In 1936, the name was changed to the American Steel Warehouse Association. In 1952 it was changed again, to the Steel Service Center Institute, and in 2002 — reflecting that year's merger with the National Association of Aluminum Distributors — the word "steel" was changed to "metals".[3]

Illinois governor Bruce Rauner and former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney were featured speakers at the organization's annual meeting in 2015.[1]

Mission

The mission of MSCI is promoting the profitability and health of the metals industry and its role in the North American value chain. The organization delivers information, conferences[4][5] and professional development,[1] including a series of courses in cooperation with Washington University in St. Louis;[3][6] safety practices studies and guidelines,[7][8] a safety helpline,[9] and industry benchmarking, and is a voice for the manufacturing industry.[10] In October 2015, MSCI partnered with the National Safety Council as part of the effort to improve safety in the metals industry.[11]

MSCI produces the monthly "Metals Activity Report", which tracks aggregate service center shipments and inventory levels for steel, aluminum, stainless, copper and brass in the United States and Canada.[12] In addition to being used by MSCI members, this report is frequently referenced by market analysts and investors,[13][14] economists,[15][16] and the media,[17] and is even cited in U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filings.[18][19]

MSCI lobbies governmental bodies on behalf of the metals industry.[20] MSCI sometimes also involves itself in legal proceedings on behalf of member businesses or the industry in general, as when it filed an amicus brief in a Clean Air Act case in 2014,[21] or when it filed another amicus brief in a lawsuit involving auto manufacturer Volvo in 2015.[22]

In 2010, MSCI asked American scientist and award-winning science fiction author David Brin "to create a comic book set 20 years from now that discusses the many reasons for US industrial decline... and how it might come back."[23] The resulting graphic novel, with art by Jan Feindt, is called Tinkerers.[24]

Leadership

MSCI's Chief Executive Officer and President is Robert "Bob" Weidner.[10][25] Ann D'Orazio is Vice President of Marketing and Growth; Rose Manfredini is Vice President of Membership and Events;[26] Chris Marti is Vice President of Research and Technology;[2][7] and Ashley DeVecht is Director of Communications.[26]

References
  1. "Governors Address MSCI". Fabricating & Metalworking. Alliance Communications, Inc. May 7, 2015. Retrieved December 16, 2015.
  2. "Company Overview of Metals Service Center Institute". Bloomberg Business. Retrieved December 16, 2015.
  3. Kahan, Seth (November 10, 2010). "Turnaround Built on Nonstop Unrelenting Change". Fast Company. Mansueto Ventures. ISSN 1085-9241. Retrieved December 16, 2015.
  4. Cowden, Michael (October 28, 2013). "Aluminum's prospects bright for 2014: execs". American Metal Market. Retrieved December 16, 2015.
  5. Olsen, Katie Benchina (April 16, 2015). "Specialty Metals Division Conference: Innovate or Die". MetalMiner. Retrieved December 16, 2015.
  6. "Olympic Steel Names Andrew Wolfort General Manager of Schaumburg Operation" (Press release). MarketWatch. Olympic Steel. April 9, 2015. Retrieved December 16, 2015.
  7. Vasquez, Emily (April 14, 2015). "Safety First". Modern Metals. Retrieved December 16, 2015.
  8. "Metal safety levels improving: survey". Today's Motor Vehicles. GIE Media, Inc. December 8, 2014. Retrieved December 16, 2015.
  9. "MSCI safety survey shows safety levels improving". Aerospace Manufacturing and Design. GIE Media, Inc. December 6, 2014. Retrieved December 16, 2015.
  10. Weidner, Bob (May 13, 2015). "Reformers must preserve LIFO". The Hill. Washington, D.C.: Capitol Hill Publishing Corp. Retrieved December 16, 2015.
  11. "NSC partners with Metals Service Center Institute on Journey to Safety Excellence". Safety+Health. National Safety Council. October 14, 2015. Retrieved December 16, 2015.
  12. Brooks, Robert (September 18, 2013). "August Shipments Solid for Metals Service Centers". IndustryWeek. Cleveland, Ohio: Penton. ISSN 0039-0895. Retrieved December 16, 2015.
  13. "Research and Markets: Canada Metals Report Q4 2010 – Finished Steel Consumption to Reach 12.50mn Tonnes in 2010". Financial.de. EQS Financial Markets & Media GmbH. November 24, 2010. Retrieved December 16, 2015.
  14. O'Hara, Mark (June 24, 2015). "Why the May Inventory Report Should Bother Steel Investors". Market Realist. Retrieved December 16, 2015.
  15. Glader, Paul (June 20, 2005). "Steel-Sector Middlemen Caught in Meltdown". The Wall Street Journal. News Corp. ISSN 0099-9660. OCLC 781541372. Retrieved December 16, 2015.(subscription required)
  16. Elmquist, Sonja (April 30, 2013). "U.S. Steel Earnings Miss Estimates After Prices Drop". Bloomberg Business. Retrieved December 16, 2015.
  17. Boselovic, Len (November 4, 2006). "Steel industry weathers downturn through its consolidation moves". The Gettysburg Times. Gettysburg Times Publishing. OCLC 12443209. Retrieved December 16, 2015.
  18. "Russel Metals Inc. Management's Discussion and Analysis for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2004". U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Retrieved December 16, 2015.
  19. "Russel Metals Inc. management's discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations for the six months ended June 30, 2005". U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. July 27, 2005. Retrieved December 16, 2015.
  20. David, Emilia (May 29, 2015). "US steel industry may see banner second half". American Metal Market. Retrieved December 16, 2015.
  21. McLernon, Sean (October 17, 2014). "Groups Tell Supreme Court to Ban Pollution Nuisance Claims". Law360.com. Retrieved September 16, 2015.(subscription required)
  22. Britton, Khadijah M. (June 15, 2015). "High Court Won't Hear EPA's $62M Volvo Engine Fine Appeal". Law360.com. Retrieved September 16, 2015. [...] and the Metals Service Center Institute had also filed friend of the court briefs on Volvo's behalf.(subscription required)
  23. Brin, David (June 29, 2011). "Milestones leading up to the Good Singularity?". Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies. Retrieved December 16, 2015.
  24. "The Tinkerers — Unknown Binding — 2010". Amazon.com. Retrieved 16 September 2015.
  25. "Executive Profile: M. Robert Weidner III". Bloomberg Business. Retrieved December 16, 2015.
  26. Kukec, Anna Marie (July 9, 2012). "Bloomingdale CEO gives old practice new tech twist". Daily Herald (Arlington Heights). Arlington Heights, Illinois: Paddock Publications. OCLC 18030507. Retrieved December 16, 2015.
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