AEM’s CE Sector Board of Directors met in-person on July 26 at AEM’s headquarters in Milwaukee to discuss a number of key sector initiatives. The agenda also featured updates from AEM staff regarding the association’s service areas, including advocacy, regulatory and trade shows.
CE Sector Board Chair Stephen Roy, President, Region North America, Volvo Construction Equipment, called the meeting to order and welcomed Directors to the second meeting of 2023.
Roy provided an update on several key sector initiatives, including the release of the Benefits of Construction Equipment Technologies and their Impact on Society. This study highlights four key construction equipment technologies that have advanced the construction industry: machine and grade control, engines and drivetrains, digital control systems and machine telematics. These technologies have impacted a wide variety of stakeholders, leading to benefits in productivity and job performance, planet and environment, as well as people and safety.
Sustainability and ESG Reporting
Directors engaged in a discussion with representatives from the Association of Equipment Management Professionals (AEMP), Bechtel Corporation and Brasfield & Gorrie, as they provided an overview of their recent sustainability efforts. Their primary concern is Scope 1 reporting, which is Scope 3 Category 11 for AEM members, or direct use phase emissions. Equipment managers have expressed a need for an Environmental Social Governance (ESG) reporting tool representing the lifecycle carbon footprint for heavy equipment and for a standard and well-defined “idle” definition for various equipment classes.
To address the growing need for more streamlined ESG reporting, AEM Senior Vice President of Industry Sectors & Product Leadership Curt Blades provided an overview of an ESG reporting tool, which provides a snapshot of the sustainability and social responsibility of a company’s operations and supply chain practices. Both AEM’s Ag and CE Sector Boards were supportive of the project and approved moving forward with developing a formal proposal for ESG supply chain reporting for review in November.
Trade Shows
AEM Senior Vice President of Exhibitions and Marketing Nicole Hallada provided an update on exhibitions, including The Utility Expo 2023 and World of Asphalt 2024, both of which are on pace to be the largest respective shows to date. AEM also has increased marketing tactics for The Utility Expo to drive overall attendance, which is currently ahead of previous shows.
Hallada and AEM Vice President of Exhibitions and Event Services and CONEXPO-CON/AGG Show Director Dana Wuesthoff shared metrics and key performance indicators (KPIs) from CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2023. AEM continues to deliver not just return on investment (ROI) but also return on experience (ROE) for both exhibitors and attendees. Various tactical enhancements throughout the show increased attendee satisfaction, while new vendors reduced costs and increased exhibitor satisfaction and net promotor scores.
Regulatory
AEM Senior Director of Regulatory Affairs and Ag Policy Nick Tindall provided an overview of AEM’s regulatory engagement efforts, including the Celebration of Construction on the National Mall. The three-day event highlighted advancements in construction equipment technologies and their impact on society for over 24,000 visitors, including administration officials, lawmakers, regulators and the general public. AEM member companies and partnering organizations educated regulatory agencies and elected officials on issues impacting the construction industry, including staff from the Department of Energy (DOE), the Department of Commerce (DOC), the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
The Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) Safe Trenching & Excavation Alliance was signed on June 22 alongside industry partners. This alliance allows AEM to more formally establish a collaborative relationship to foster safety and health practices and programs to improve workplaces and jobsites.
Advocacy
AEM Senior Vice President of Government and Industry Relations Kip Eideberg and AEM Vice President of Federal Affairs Kate Fox Wood provided an update on AEM’s advocacy efforts and policy priorities at both the state and federal levels, while AEM Senior Advisor of Global Public Policy Alex Russ provided an update on AEM’s efforts in Canada. AEM continues to engage with state representatives and members of Congress to drive meaningful legislation for manufacturers in infrastructure, tax, tariffs, trade, workforce and immigration.
Right to Repair
Eideberg and Blades discussed Right to Repair which AEM continues to see at the state level. Directors discussed how legislation may affect the CE Sector.
CE Sector Board Priorities
Additionally, the CE Sector Board reviewed their priorities for 2022-2023 and began discussing how these priorities may or may not change for 2024-2025. Directors will approve these priorities and discuss objectives for each of these priorities during their next meeting.
The next meeting of the CE Sector Board is scheduled for Nov. 29 during AEM’s Annual Conference in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. For more information about the CE Sector Board, contact AEM’s John Somers at jsomers@aem.org.
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