Articles
Supply Chain Improvement: Take It from the Top
March 10, 2006 3:05 am | by By: Colin Snow, Vice President and Research Director, Ventana Research | CommentsEven though the Supply Chain Reference model (SCOR) is widely used as tool to benchmark “best-in-class” management practices and standard metrics, it falls short of providing a performance management framework a company can use to link supply chain improvements to its strategic goals.
International Warehouse Logistics Association and OSHA Renew Alliance
March 10, 2006 2:29 am | by Rich Stevancsecz | CommentsOSHA and the International Warehouse Logistics Association (IWLA) have renewed their alliance for another two years to help improve worker safety and health. These improvements will focus on the areas of forklift operations, materials handling, and hazard communications and chemical safety.
EPA, Industry Launch Initiative to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions
March 10, 2006 2:18 am | by Kevin Cronin | CommentsA public-private partnership will help reduce emissions that deplete the ozone layer and contribute to climate change. EPA and the Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute announced an initiative that promotes the environmentally responsible use of fluorocarbon refrigerants in the annual manufacture of more than 8 million residential and commercial air conditioning units and refrigeration systems.
NAM Releases Statement on Tech Exports and Industry Trade Deficit
March 10, 2006 2:14 am | by Andrea Lyn Van Benschoten | CommentsVice President for International Economic Affairs for the National Association of Manufactures, Frank Vargo, commented that "our manufacturers goods trade deficit also rose to an all-time high of $44 billion, up 11% from $39.5 billion in January 2005" upon the release of the overall trade deficit numbers by the U.S. Commerce Department.
Product Quality Benchmark Report: Achieving Quality across the Global Manufacturing Network
March 9, 2006 7:00 pm | by Jim Brown, Vice President and Service Director, Global Product Innovation and Engineering, Aberdeen Group | CommentsPressure from customers, regulatory agencies, and shareholders is driving manufacturers to produce higher quality products as they continue to strive for additional cost reductions.
Meeting the Employment Needs of Today’s Manufacturers: Why Aren’t We Up to the Job?
March 9, 2006 7:00 pm | by Jeffrey Owens, President, Advanced Technology Services, Inc. | CommentsThere aren’t enough candidates to fill America’s manufacturing jobs and the situation only promises to get worse. In fact, a recent study conducted by the Accelerator Group determined that the state of Michigan alone will experience a shortage of 334,000 skilled workers by 2012.
Measuring a Lean Front-End
March 9, 2006 7:00 pm | by Godard Abel, CEO, Co-Founder, BigMachines, Inc. | CommentsLean manufacturing became an industry standard several years ago as a result of the successful implementation at Toyota and other Japanese manufacturers.
Why Small Businesses Shouldn't Settle for Small IT Solutions
March 9, 2006 7:00 pm | by Dan Kraus, Vice President, SAP Business One, SAP America, Inc. | CommentsMany small and midsize enterprises (SMEs) mistakenly believe that the scale and power of their IT solutions should be in direct proportion to the size of their companies.
Growth Fails to Soothe China Fears
March 9, 2006 2:16 am | by Kevin Cronin | CommentsFor top number-cruncher Qiu Xiaohua, China's biggest economic achievement last year was not its 9.9 percent growth rate but the 9.7 million jobs it created, according to a Reuters report.
Asia Airplane Market Worth $770 Billion
March 8, 2006 3:10 am | by Rich Stevancsecz | CommentsBoeing has reported that the Asia-Pacific region will need approximately 7,200 new commercial airplanes over the next 20 years. Valued at $770 billion, it will become the largest market outside North America.
Manufacturers Overwhelmingly Support Health Care Reform
March 8, 2006 2:36 am | by Anita LaFond | CommentsNew NAM taskforce will focus on reducing health care costs
U.S. Seeks Free Trade Deal with South Korea
March 7, 2006 3:06 am | by Rich Stevancsecz | CommentsThe chief U.S. negotiator in free trade talks with South Korea, Assistant U.S. Trade Representative Wendy Cutler, said she was under orders to conclude an agreement by the end of 2006 good enough for lawmakers in Washington to accept.
Japanese Bank May Join Bid for GMAC
March 7, 2006 2:41 am | by Andrea Lyn Van Benschoten | CommentsJapan's Norinchukin Bank is considering joining a consortium led by U.S. Cerberus Group to acquire General Motors Corp.'s finance division GMAC.
Lord Corp. Agrees to Purchase Business Line of Henkel
March 7, 2006 2:27 am | by Lisa Arrigo | CommentsLord Corp. signs a definitive agreement with Henkel KGaA to purchase certain assets comprising Henkel's rubber-to-substrate bonding and rubber coating business.
General Motors to Sell Most of its Suzuki Stake
March 6, 2006 3:16 am | by Rich Stevancsecz | CommentsIn an effort to help its balance sheet, GM has announced it plans to sell 17.4 percent of its stake in Suzuki Motor Corp. back to the Japanese car maker, raising approximately $2 billion in much-needed cash. The sale would leave the company with a pre-1998 level of 3 percent in Suzuki.
NAM Says ‘Fair Share Health Care’ Bills Deter Health Care Reform
March 3, 2006 8:36 am | CommentsIn response to the escalating AFL-CIO state-based campaign to mandate health insurance coverage, The National Association of Manufacturers today warned that such “back-door policies” only create more dilemmas in an already troubling health care system. “This is the AFL-CIO's attempt to get national health care by t
Ford Motor Co. Says It Expects To Spend $1 Bln On Restructuring
March 3, 2006 3:54 am | by Nancy Syverson | CommentsFord Motor Co. expects to spend $1 billion before taxes this year on restructuring in North America and Europe, according to the company's annual report. Ford plans to cut 30,000 jobs and close 14 facilities by 2012 under its Way Forward plan, announced earlier this year.
More Workers Laid Off at & Roxboro Auto Supplier Plant &
March 3, 2006 2:31 am | by Anita LaFond | CommentsCollins & Aikman has laid off at least 65 workers as a response to downsizing by U.S. car and truck manufacturers.
FDA Issues Guide on How to Minimize Microbial Contamination in Fresh-Cut Produce
March 2, 2006 3:09 am | by Nancy Syverson | CommentsToday, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced the availability of the "Guide to Minimize Microbial Food Safety Hazards of Fresh-Cut Fruits and Vegetables." Directed toward fresh-produce processors, it provides suggestions for implementing best safety practices.
Poll Shows Confidence in Major Corporations Down
March 2, 2006 2:28 am | by Lisa Arrigo | CommentsConfidence falls from 13% to 17%; military receives highest rating of 47%
