MSCI Mission Statement

MSCI's mission is to promote the profitability and well-being of the metals industry and its role in the North American manufacturing value chain. We offer high-quality, robust networking opportunities, thought leadership through publications, advanced education and training programs, metals-oriented public policy and advocacy programs, as well as the industry's best portal to timely research on metals production, metals service center industry performance, downstream metals user markets, and the economy as a whole.

These four dominant areas of MSCI activity – Networking, Education, Advocacy, and Research – are summarized by MSCI as NEAR and constitute the Institute's value proposition for its members.

MSCI's Goal

MSCI's will be considered the premier trade association in the metals industry, as seen by our members.
 

MSCI History

The Metals Service Center Institute has served the metals industry with distinction for nearly 100 years.

MSCI was founded in 1907 as the American Iron, Steel & Heavy Hardware Association, and was reorganized in 1934 as the American Steel Warehouse Association. It became known as the Steel Service Center Institute in the 1950s, and changed its name to the Metals Service Center Institute in 2002 to reflect the general-line nature of the service center industry and its merger with the National Association of Aluminum Distributors.

Over the years, the Institute compiled a proud history of successful industry advocacy. It represented the industry before the post-Depression National Recovery Administration in the 1930s, and again in the early 1940s, persuading the War Production Board to reverse its decision to cut off metals supplies to steel warehouses. More recently, MSCI launched an effective campaign to raise awareness of the crisis in durable goods manufacturing and to support regulations, legislation, law enforcement, and other steps to support the North American Manufacturing base.

The Institute offered its first education program in 1963, and its first fully computerized training program, MetalLearn™, in 2002. It adopted its current value proposition, NEAR, in 2001 after long and careful study of its value to the industry.

Today's MSCI is known for conferences and meetings that feature robust business agendas, alert and aggressive representation of member interests in Washington, D.C., thought leadership through its Forward magazine and an upgraded education program and partnership, announced in 2004, with the Olin School of Business at Washington University, and research that gives its members a competitive edge, including the Metals Activity Report, a comprehensive monthly report on shipments and inventories.