Blogs

The fragility of global supply chains was glaringly apparent after the COVID-19 pandemic ground everything to a halt. Inadequate supply chain capacity planning caused sweeping shortages of essential goods for consumers and manufacturers alike—some of which may still stand today. Just-in-time manufacturing may help facilities operate at maximum efficiency by eliminating high inventory costs. Yet the system builds in practically no fail-safe to rapidly respond to anomalies. Without predictive technology guiding production, or any stock to fall back on, there’s no room to adapt to unforeseen or...

The current economic environment is incoherent and unpredictable, and the gap between available labor and expected growth grows wider every day. A pivot in consumer behavior toward eCommerce seems to have led to a noteworthy overhaul of supply chain management processes. The traditional business model—with its focus on shipping bulk to stores and distribution centers—has been disrupted by eCommerce, requiring adjustments in operational structures and labor requirements. Warehousing has taken on a new role with much more expansive and complex operations. The eCommerce market in the United...

Skilled labor plays a critical role in keeping the cogs of the economy running smoothly. The manufacturing industry’s ongoing skilled labor shortage is marked by some concerning trends. While the manufacturing industry, like many others, faces challenges related to economic uncertainty and inflationary spirals, it’s also dealing with global logistics backlogs, supply chain bottlenecks, and cyberattacks. The continued loom of a talent shortage may affect the industry’s growth momentum. Lower productivity in the manufacturing sector and a reduced ability to meet customer demands are both...

The future looks bright for American manufacturing, and this rings especially true for companies planning to reshore or nearshore their manufacturing facilities. Reshoring manufacturing can help rebuild America’s once-buzzing industry. Learn more on what you can expect and what reshoring can do for your bottom line. US manufacturing fell off a cliff between the 60s and 70s. Industry leaders saw the financial benefits of cheap labor in foreign countries and exploited it quickly. Take a quick look around your office. Most of those items likely stem from offshoring practices. Now, in 2023...

Industry 4.0 Manufacturing Investments to Be Fueled by the 2021 Infrastructure Bill? With the inception of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, (IIJA) in November 2021, many manufacturing executives are already taking this opportunity to increase operational efficiency by investing in the industrial Internet of Things (IoT) to connect machinery and automate processes. Find out why now is the time to invest in industry 4.0 manufacturing technologies. Read more here. Back in November, Congress passed and President Biden signed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) . This...