Manufacture Smarter Blog

5/3/2013 - THE CENTER
Training provided by experts ensures that you are using proven systems to accomplish your goals of eliminating waste, reducing costs and increasing customer satisfaction. It’s also beneficial from a marketing standpoint.

4/26/2013 - SOFTWARE ADVICE
Industrial buying activity is moving online. A Thomas Industrial Network survey of more than 3,000 industrial executives and managers found that 90 percent of industrial purchases are now researched, evaluated and selected online. The uptick in online activity means that manufacturers need to step up their online game.

4/19/2013 - THE CENTER
If you’re a manufacturer in Michigan, there’s a pretty good chance you’re looking for ways to appeal to new customers and increase sales. A lot of this has to do with your position in the market and your audience’s perception of your credibility. You need to demonstrate that your company is reliable and manufactures products in an efficient and safe way.

4/12/2013 - THE CENTER
On Monday, April 15th, as many scramble to finalize last minute tax returns, manufacturers from across North America will be gathering in San Antonio for the “Revitalization of North American Manufacturing Conference,” sponsored by the Association for Manufacturing Excellence. AME’s literature indicates that manufacturing is ‘facing a critical period in domestic history’.

4/5/2013 - THE CENTER
If you’re a manufacturer in Michigan, you’ve probably heard the phrase “going green.” Going green used to be a trendy thing for celebrities to talk about, but this is more than a trend for the manufacturing community.

3/29/2013 - THE CENTER
​Family-owned businesses are a hot topic in our offices right now. A conservative estimate of 22,800,000 (or 95% of the 24 million small businesses in the U.S. today) are family-owned and they provide employment for at least 60% of all workforce. According to the Small Business Administration, Family-owned businesses are also responsible for 78% of all new jobs created. That’s a chunk of workforce. And

3/22/2013 - THE CENTER
Both Lean and Six Sigma are powerful tools, but when combined, they have the ability to transform a process and company culture, and catapult your company into a better way of doing business. As Michigan’s manufacturers see a “comeback” in American manufacturing, it’s crucial to implement initiatives that increase efficiencies.

3/15/2013 - THE CENTER
Manufacturing is a key industry in the revitalization of the U.S. economy and job creation. Something we have long said and believed and the Department of Commerce agrees. The United States is the world’s largest manufacturing economy, employing nearly 12 million Americans in 2012.

3/8/2013 - THE CENTER
We’ve been hearing a lot lately about how American manufacturing is making a comeback. Last year was particularly hailed as a “manufacturing renaissance,” as the sector led the way for economic improvement and consistently racked up positive industry stats. Manufacturing has been roaring back… but will it continue on this path?

3/1/2013 - THE CENTER
Most of the time implementing a growth strategy feels like trying to sail upwind.  You try growing in your current market and the gale forces are strong competition – often your salespeople say “The only way we can win more business is to get more aggressive on quoting.”  So you aim instead for new markets.