We use cookies to provide you with a better experience. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies in accordance with our Cookie Policy.
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.
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.
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.
Apple's iPhone is one of the highest profile imports from China: "Designed by Apple in California, assembled in China" as the company announces on the package. President Trump has called on Apple to manufacture iPhones in the U.S., and the escalating trade tensions and imminent imposition of more tariffs are causing many firms to rethink their manufacturing location choices. I have been...
Since 2015, China has been the United States' largest trading partner, representing approximately 15 percent of U.S. trade. Meanwhile, the U.S. became China's top and most important trading partner in 1998. According to a recent analysis by the U.S.-China Business Council...
U.S. manufacturers expanded at a faster pace in November as new orders surged, a positive sign for domestic economic growth heading into 2019. The Institute for Supply Management, an association of purchasing managers, said Monday its manufacturing index rose to 59.3 last month from 57.7 in October. Readings above 50 point to growth and manufacturers have expanded for the past 27 months. New orders jumped in November, while production and employment also saw gains. Out of 18 industries...
The pace of technological innovation in industrial manufacturing has accelerated drastically in recent years-for better and for worse. The Internet of Things (IoT) continues to take hold across industry, and driving the most value from it requires manufacturers to...
The manufacturing industry is facing incredible pressure from every side: customers, suppliers, and competitors. The solution to dealing with all of these factors may well lie in the ability to harness the potential of emerging technologies, such as...
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.
The Association of Equipment Manufacturers is launching a new digital ad campaign to remind Congress and the Trump administration of the bipartisan support for upgrading U.S. public works and urging them to "start with infrastructure" in 2019...
By far the biggest challenge facing today's manufacturing revenue leaders is re-orienting customer-facing resources around better-informed, higher value and increasingly more demanding accounts and customers. That's just one key finding from...
While big numbers of retirees or soon-to-be retirees are helping drive the call for a new influx of manufacturing workers, they aren't the only reason for the urgency. U.S. manufacturers continue to announce expansions or new builds across the country and that growth means more workforce needs. Here is a look at...
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...
General Motors CEO Mary Barra is putting her pedal to the metal in an attempt to keep the automaker ahead of slowing sales and technological disruption. In fact...
The news that Carlos Ghosn is likely to be removed from his post as head of Nissan and Renault over "financial misconduct" completes a stunning trifecta of turnover at the top of some of the most important global automotive companies in just the last several months. Japanese authorities arrested Ghosn in Tokyo on...
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.
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?
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...
Mark Twain allegedly claimed that when the end of the world came, he wanted to be in Cincinnati "because it's always 20 years behind the times." The quip is funny, but his strategy to ride out Armageddon in the Queen City would backfire today. A case in point is...