Manufacture Smarter Blog

1/3/2014 - THE CENTER
Our industry is gaining some great momentum, providing new opportunities for businesses to develop and grow. The Institute for Supply Management’s monthly PMI index is widely regarded as the key economic indictor for growth in our field and the last reading for 2013 was 57%. Readings over 50% indicate industry expansion, so this was a great reading.

12/27/2013 - THE CENTER
Happy Holidays from the Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center!

12/20/2013 - THE CENTER
​Can you believe it’s already the end of 2013? It seemed like just yesterday that we were making resolutions for this year. You know them…lose some weight…take up a new hobby… waste less time at work…spend some more time with family and friends...

12/6/2013 - THE CENTER
Every year around this time, you probably see messages from the media and pundits about shopping and buying from local businesses. And that message is correct – it’s important to purchase from local organizations during the holiday season. It’s a great boost to the local economy.

11/28/2013 - THE CENTER
Happy Thanksgiving from the Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center!

11/22/2013 - THE CENTER
Traditions are pretty important. They dictate family gatherings, create sports rivalries, inform manufacturing practices, and influence behaviors, likes and dislikes, all sorts of things. Michigan has some pretty fun Thanksgiving traditions and if you are new to the area, aren’t familiar with them or just want a nice refresher, below are some great traditions from the wealth of Michigan history.

11/15/2013 - THE CENTER
In the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics monthly jobs report, American manufacturers added 19,000 new workers in the month of October, with job growth primarily in motor vehicles and parts, wood products, and furniture and related products. As we all look to see if manufacturing continues its much hailed comeback, economists, business leaders, politicians, pundits and the general public alike, are all closely monitoring trends and data from the manufacturing industry. 

11/8/2013 - THE CENTER
Manufacturing is critical to Michigan's economy. It represents the single largest private sector component of Michigan's GDP, employs about 13.4% of total jobs (roughly 554,000 people), accounts for over 85% of exports, and on average, pays 36.7% higher then the State's average paid wage.

11/1/2013 - THE CENTER
In Part 1 of this series, we discussed the importance of growth. In 2014, it will be critical for Michigan’s manufacturers to focus on growth initiatives… developing or improving products, increasing productivity and competing in new markets.

10/18/2013 - THE CENTER
​Can you believe it’s already fourth business quarter? The year has flown by quicker than a witch on her broomstick. (Wow, we’re at that point of the year where Halloween puns are timely.) Anyway, the point I’m making is that the end of 2013 is rapidly approaching and 2014 will be here before you’re done saying “Trick or Treat.”