Wedged between distressed members, such as the embattled automakers and a declining construction industry, aluminum manufacturers are seeing the global economic downturn firsthand. Aluminum Association members are idling factories, cutting production and trimming costs at outposts around the world. It’s a scenario that Stephen Larkin, association CEO, has been anticipating since 1998 when he took the helm. Like many manufacturing trade groups in Washington, he’s trimmed staff and operations to reflect the heavy toll that global competition and production has taken on his industry. But those cuts have also come at a price. Larkin acknowledges that downsizing has affected… Read More