Manufacturing Savvy

You Mean the US Military Didn't Have to Buy Domestic Steel?

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 18:19:00 +0000

I must not be paying close enough attention. It would seem to me that the U.S. Department of Defense would be required to buy U.S. steel for its projects.

Manufacturing Savvy

Reshoring is Not a Trend

Thu, 28 Mar 2013 22:35:00 +0000

So says Michael Heilala of Accenture at the EM Roundtable in the Rockies. Heilala, who as senior principal of the Global Manufacturing Strategic practice at the consulting firm, pointed out that in a “few short years reshoring has evolved from something companies use to talk about to something they are doing."

He discussed key trends as to why this is happening:

Manufacturing Savvy

Looking for $5.9 Billion in Government Funding to Expand in US?

Fri, 22 Mar 2013 19:13:00 +0000

As part of the Department of Energy’s Advanced Technology Vehicle Manufacturing Loan Program, the government has $25 billion to hand out. Previous awards have ranged from $50 million to $5.9 billion. The program provides loans to auto OEMs and parts manufacturers for the cost of re-equipping, expanding, or establishing manufacturing facilities in the United States to produce advanced technology vehicles or qualified components, and for associated engineering integration costs.

Manufacturing Savvy

Need a Factory in Thailand? It's Already Built

Fri, 08 Mar 2013 13:51:00 +0000

While touring Thailand, I had a close up look at one of their industrial estates. These locations, often offering a free trade zone, are set up specifically to offer manufacturers one-stop amenities. The most interesting amenity is a ready-built factory. can be rented or purchased.

Manufacturing Savvy

Growth is the Name of the Game in Thailand

Thu, 07 Mar 2013 16:26:00 +0000

For this entire week, no matter where I go, all I hear is how this country is growing.

Manufacturing Savvy

Why is Manufacturing So Hot in Thailand?

Thu, 28 Feb 2013 15:15:00 +0000

I leave tomorrow for a weeklong visit to factories, ports and attend meetings, all of which will explain why so many companies have chosen to manufacture in Thailand.

Manufacturing Savvy

The "State of the Union" for Private Manufacturing

Thu, 14 Feb 2013 16:29:00 +0000

Sales growth in 2012 remained strong, although the rate of growth slowed down from 2011.

Manufacturing Savvy

Turns Out US Isn't a 'Better Place' After All

Mon, 11 Feb 2013 20:39:00 +0000

With great sadness, I read last week that the company called Better Place is limiting its operations in the U.S. Better Place develops and sells battery-charging and battery-switching services for electric vehicles.

Manufacturing Savvy

Let's Keep the Promise to Create 1 Million New Manufacturing Jobs, Says Industry Group

Wed, 06 Feb 2013 15:41:00 +0000

In preparation for President Obama’s State of the Union speech on Feb. 12 Scott Paul, president of the Alliance for American Manufacturing (AAM), wants to make sure that the President keeps his promise to create 1 million new manufacturing jobs in his second term.

Manufacturing Savvy

Does the US Need a Manufacturing University?

Tue, 05 Feb 2013 20:41:00 +0000

With India and China pouring money into R&D while simultaneously “adopting mercantilist trade policies that are only enhancing our loss of intellectual property and technical know-how, the US is in serious jeopardy of permanently losing the race for innovation advantage.”

Manufacturing Savvy

Should India Lose Its US Duty-Free Status?

Thu, 24 Jan 2013 19:30:00 +0000

“If India continues to prevent open access to their markets, the United States must take action to address measures that not only harm the U.S. and other foreign enterprises but also damage India’s own economy and the broader global trading system” notes Stephen Ezell, senior policy analyst with ITIF.

Manufacturing Savvy

Plea to President Obama -- Keep Promise of Creating Manufacturing Jobs

Tue, 22 Jan 2013 14:01:00 +0000

By now most of us know the statistics. The US lost 5.5 million manufacturing jobs over the past 10 years.

In the past two and a half years half a million jobs were created, but that’s not enough.

Looking at 2013, one group, Industrial Info Resources, is predicting that 35 more plants are expected to close resulting in a job loss of 14,500.

The President knows the statistics and has pledged to create 1 million new manufacturing jobs by 2016.

Manufacturing Savvy

Will Walmart Be the Ringleader in Bringing More Manufacturing Back to US?

Tue, 15 Jan 2013 18:54:00 +0000

Mark today, Jan. 15, 2013 as a new beginning.

The company announced that it will buy an additional $50 billion in U.S. products over the next 10 years.

That’s big news; not only because of the dollars but mostly because of the trend.

You might remember that RFID technology soared mostly due to Walmart’s insistence that its suppliers used it. The same could be said about the company’s sustainability efforts.

Manufacturing Savvy

Is Canada Getting It Right by Funding Auto Innovation?

Fri, 04 Jan 2013 18:50:00 +0000

Prime Minister Steven Harper;s announcement of a five-year extension of the $250 million Automotive Innovation Fund is a sound economic investment. That's because prior funding yielded a six fold investment return.

Manufacturing Savvy

Apple Better Be True Blue USA Says Industry Group

Thu, 06 Dec 2012 20:11:00 +0000

While Scott Paul, executive director of the Alliance for American Manufacturing (AAM) was very happy to hear that Apple is returning to the US to manufacture its products, he is putting the company on notice.

Manufacturing Savvy