Efficiency is crucial in most business operations and, in particular, manufacturing. Like judges in a footrace, consumers usually only care about the result of a production “run”—the product itself. They don’t want to know how many working hours it took to assemble it; they could care less about...

China will bar government authorities from demanding overseas companies hand over technology secrets in exchange for market share, a top economic official said Wednesday, addressing a key complaint at the heart of the China-U.S. trade dispute.

The provision is contained in...

Manufacturing orders posted $443 million in December 2018, according to the U.S. Manufacturing Technology Orders Report from...

It’s getting more difficult for Donald Trump to effectively jawbone automotive CEOs these days, as the industry’s competitive environment and companies’ own situations dictate oblique and complex – and sometimes silent – responses from his targets. Meanwhile...

The outlines of the future of the auto industry are becoming clearer as recent news developments underscore determinative trends that finally are reaching critical mass. These trends include...

Despite anxieties being cause by tariffs, higher interest rates and gyrating stock markets, U.S. manufacturers still can’t find enough workers amid record-high employment levels in most places in America...

GE Chairman and CEO H. Lawrence Culp Jr. hosted an outlook meeting with analysts and investors today. He walked them through the company’s plans to deliver on its strategic priorities of improving its financial position and strengthening its businesses in 2019 and beyond.

As part of the guidance for 2019...

Recognizing which way the wind is blowing in the energy business, American brewer Anheuser-Busch used a high-profile spot during last night’s big game to highlight the fact that its most iconic brand is brewed using wind energy: The ad showed...

Imagine that you’re assigned a dull, repetitive task at work: moving inventory by forklift, say, or organizing files by date. Now imagine there’s a robot next to you with the same assignment, who’s much better and faster at doing what you’re supposed to be doing. How would that make you feel?...

The U.S. trade deficit widened in 2018 to a 10-year high of $621 billion, bucking President Donald Trump’s pledges to reduce it, as tax cuts boosted domestic demand for imports while the strong dollar and retaliatory tariffs weighed on exports.

The annual deficit in goods and services increased by...

When economists and editorialists speak in worried tones about America’s “skills gap,” they’re referring to the mounting number of jobs that require some degree of technical know-how and the relative dearth of qualified candidates to fill them.

For Traci Tapani...

In 2017, former Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker gave away $4 billion in precious taxpayer dollars to the multi-billion dollar Taiwanese electronics manufacturer Foxconn in exchange for little more than a handshake commitment to create 13,000 good Wisconsin jobs making subcomponents for Apple and other electronics producers.

In the business world...

The trade war between the U.S. and China is on every manufacturer’s mind. With the ongoing negotiations in mind, it is useful to remember some of the economic forces that brought us to where we are today. Then we can assess the potential impact of any new agreement, if we reach one.

The first concept is...

Several high-profile plant closing announcements have taken attention away from U.S. manufacturing expansions that continue across the U.S. We're bringing that attention back.

General Motors' recent announcement...

The chemical compounds are all around you. They’re on many fabrics, rugs and carpets, cooking pots and pans, outdoor gear, shampoo, shaving cream, makeup and even dental floss. Increasing numbers of states have found them seeping into water supplies.

There’s growing evidence that...

Good, bad or otherwise, disruption is inevitable. At least, that is what we’ve come to expect. In the modern age, we’ve experienced three industrial revolutions to date — steam and water power, electricity and assembly lines, and computerization. Yet, another is coming. Are you ready for what’s next?

The Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) will be...