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First Up

First Up -- Clash of the Titans
Energy demand and climate change pose powerful challenges for industry and the world.

First Up -- Diamonds in the Rough
A trip to Pennsylvania shows continuous improvement offers much more than just improved efficiency.

First Up -- Get Going
Bold, concerted action is needed to put the manufacturing sector back on track.

First Up -- The Two Sides of Climate Change
While the move to a greener economy offers many exciting opportunities, the transition is also fraught with peril.

First Up -- Designed for Success
Founder and CEO Eric Barnes is betting that careful attention to design and aligning his business with water advocacy will bring success to start-up KOR Water.

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Viewpoint

Viewpoint -- Why Free Trade Is Failing America
The U.S. can't create the 9 million jobs needed to bring unemployment down to pre-recession levels without taking on China's currency manipulation and other unfair trade practices.

Viewpoint -- Stimulus Spending and Lost Hope
The trade gap is mostly imports of oil and Chinese consumer goods, and the Obama jobs strategy ignores those problems.

Viewpoint -- Tips for Manufacturing in the United States
We could easily set up facilities in China or other parts of the world that have cheaper labor, but it wouldn't be best for our company, says Diamond Wipes CEO.

Viewpoint -- A Savvy On-Shore QB: Key to Successful Offshore Product Development
In seeking a leader look for creativity and resourcefulness, and new ways of thinking that match the new rules for working.

Viewpoint -- 'There Is a New Sheriff in Town' -- Get Ready for a More Aggressive OSHA
Some thoughts on getting your house in order for the new management

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Taking The NanoPulse

Taking the NanoPulse -- 2010: Welcome to the Nano Decade
Don't think nano-science. Think nano-economy.

Taking the NanoPulse -- Who's Afraid of the Big, Bad Nano?
Nanotech "tales of terror" need more science, less fiction.

Taking the NanoPulse -- Welcome to the Nano-Nation
Mapping the future of nanotechnology starts here.

Taking the NanoPulse -- Recession Ends. Nano-convergence Begins.
What happens now? The five new rules of nanotechnology.

Taking the NanoPulse -- Put a Nano in Your Tank
Nanotechnology gets energy policy hitting on all cylinders.

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The Competitive Edge

The Competitive Edge -- The Boom in Natural Gas
Abundant domestic supplies and new extraction technology offer competitive advantages for U.S. industry.

The Competitive Edge -- A To-Do List for the Manufacturing Czar
Bloom should avoid protectionist measures and push for policy change that fosters innovation.

The Competitive Edge -- Are We Investing Wisely for Our Economic Future?
The U.S. lags in the global race to invest in production technology and research.

The Competitive Edge -- Cap-and-Trade Would Be a Major Mistake
U.S. manufacturers face significant cost disadvantages if current proposals are enacted.

The Competitive Edge -- The Trillion-Dollar Club and the Health of U.S. Manufacturing
The United States must take steps now to participate in the high-growth promise of these emerging economies.

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Continuous Improvement

Continuous Improvement -- Perfect is the Enemy of Good
In continuous improvement, the goal is to make a process better. And that's good enough.

Continuous Improvement -- Tools are Necessary but Not Sufficient
It is who is choosing and using the tools that makes a lasting difference in your operations.

Continuous Improvement -- What's the Future of U.S. Manufacturing?
Some claim manufacturing is dying here but the numbers tell a different story.

Continuous Improvement -- Are You Focusing on the Trivial?
You could be if your cost-saving efforts are centered on the activities within your facility's four walls.

Continuous Improvement -- It's All About Flow
Speed up the way information and materials are processed to cash in on orders quicker.

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Thought Leaders

Thought Leader -- Help Wanted
With skilled job openings going unfilled, the Society of Manufacturing Engineers' Mark Tomlinson sees workforce development as a top priority for manufacturers.

Thought Leader -- Are We Running Out of Time on Trade Issues?
The manufacturing sector needs to see some relief in the next few years if the U.S. economy is to grow, says Peter Morici.

Thought Leader -- Ambitious Plans for Innovation and Manufacturing
Manufacturing and research expert Aris Melissaratos outlines a vision for America that combines an old-fashioned reverence for science and technology with a 21st century path to prosperity.

Thought Leader -- Health Care Reform's New Deal
Health care policy expert Dr. Pauline Rosenau says expect increased access, quality improvement and cost control to shape health care reform.

Thought Leader -- Reducing the Supply Chain Footprint
HP's Christian Verstraete brings a systems engineer's eye for the big picture to managing the supply chain's "ecosystem."

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Consider This

Consider This -- What Do Manufacturing Supervisors Really Do on the Job?
What you think your supervisors do and the duties listed in their job descriptions may bear little resemblance to how they really spend their time.

Consider This -- Riskiest Place May Be Your Comfort Zone
Contract manufacturers that keep a sharp eye on global sourcing trends can better align their priorities with the marketplace and move effectively on new business opportunities.

Consider This -- Single Energy Projects Don't Maximize Savings
Reducing energy usage and costs gets easier when your energy initiatives work in tandem as part of a comprehensive energy strategy.

Consider This -- Time for America's Second Industrial Revolution
Lean offers the fuel to power a renaissance in American manufacturing.

Consider This -- How Leading Companies Thrive After the Recession
Two key factors help position companies to outperform their competitors.

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Executive View

Executive View -- Building a Green Future -- Brick by Brick
Boral Bricks leads the way in placing the ancient craft of brick making on the cutting edge of sustainability.

Executive View -- Crown Equipment Grows Vertically
Lift truck manufacturer increases global presence with vertically integrated manufacturing processes.

Executive View -- Still Committed to Detroit
Robert Bosch's Peter Marks sees a future for green auto technologies in the U.S., but says hybrids and electric cars are a ways off.

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On The Rise

On the Rise -- First Solar Ramps Up for Large-Scale Projects
The industry leader predicts continued growth in 2010 but market faces overcapacity.

On the Rise -- FLIR Systems Says the Best is Yet to Come
Lower prices and higher volumes spell growth for the manufacturer of thermal imaging infrared cameras.

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The IW 50

IW50 Profile: Steel Dynamics -- Nuggets of Opportunity
Steel Dynamics hopes its Mesabi Nugget project will stabilize raw materials costs and provide the potential for new business.

IW50 Profile: Kinetic Concepts -- How Kinetic Concepts Stays Healthy
Medical products manufacturer has a strategy for thriving during tough economic times.

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