Data and Trends

Manufacturers Identify Top Challenges They Expect to Face

October 14, 2022

When Nico asked me if I wanted to collaborate on this year’s challenges blog, my second thought after agreeing to the idea was a scene from the 2007 film “Music

MEP National Network by the Numbers: Industry Highlights

August 10, 2021

This is the first in a series of blogs examining the sectoral composition of the MEP National NetworkTM client project activity. The MEP National Network has

Where Manufacturing Is Growing (and Where It Is Not)

November 19, 2020

Over the past few years, I have written more than a few blogs and papers looking at manufacturing productivity across the 50 states. I wanted to update some of

Thinking Anew about Manufacturing

October 1, 2020

The last couple of months have caused manufacturers and MEP Centers to think anew about many things — supplier, customer and workforce relationships; the

Managing Productivity

June 12, 2020

I’ve made it my personal crusade to keep a focus on the fundamental importance of productivity to manufacturers, to the MEP Program, to the MEP Centers that do

Preparing for a New Decade of U.S. Manufacturing

February 5, 2020

Each new year brings about a period of reflection, where one can think back on the path that the previous year took us on. The coming year represents an even

The Manufacturing Landscape: Looking Back and Looking Forward

January 28, 2020

I find that every so often it is good to step back and think about the current state of manufacturing in the broadest sense. We all see bits and pieces as part

The Importance of Productivity

November 1, 2019

Productivity matters. It matters a lot. Yet it often seems that folks talk about productivity, but don’t do anything about it. At least, it feels that way to me

5 Manufacturing Technology Trends to Watch in 2019

February 7, 2019

Steady industry growth was a trend for manufacturers in 2018. According to a recent Forbes report, U.S. manufacturing has rebounded since the Great Recession

Understanding Manufacturer’s Challenges Entering the New Year

December 19, 2018

Over the last few months, the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) Program has been commemorating our 30th anniversary. The Program has enjoyed taking a

30 Years of Advancing U.S. Manufacturing: An MEP National Network Infographic

December 10, 2018

As you may have heard, the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) Program is commemorating its 30th anniversary this year. It’s got me thinking about that

What Happens in Georgia...

November 19, 2018

…Should not stay in Georgia. Every two years, the Georgia Institute of Technology’s Science, Technology, and Innovation Policy (STIP) program and Kennesaw State

Building Strong Relationships to Face Challenges, Make the Most of Opportunities

July 12, 2018

The coming decade offers a host of challenges and opportunities for both large and small manufacturers alike, and forging the right partnerships — whether

50 Shades of Productivity Performance

June 7, 2018

In some earlier posts, I wrote about the variation across states and industries in terms of productivity at a particular point in time. I like to think about

Craft Beer is Everywhere, Man

March 6, 2018

“...Pittsburgh, Parkersburg, Gravelbourg, Colorado, Ellensburg, Rexburg, Vicksburg, Eldorado, Larimore, Atmore, Haverstraw, Chatanika, Chaska, Nebraska

INFOGRAPHIC: The Facts About Manufacturing

March 1, 2018

There’s a very old parable, thought to have originated in the Indian subcontinent, of six blind (or blind-folded) men asked to describe an elephant.1 They reach

Fueling Growth and Advancing U.S. Manufacturing Through Tangible Results

February 5, 2018

As the former owner of a small manufacturing company, I know how important the manufacturing industry is to the local and national economy. Manufacturing is the

The Geography of Manufacturing: The Case of MEP and Rural Manufacturers

January 31, 2018

There’s an apocryphal conversation between Hemingway and Fitzgerald where Hemingway observes that the difference between the rich and others is that they have

Cheers to the Holidays

December 29, 2017

Greetings of the season to you and yours! It’s time to offer a toast — and wish you good health, good fortune, and prosperity in the year to come. Perhaps

Ho, Ho, Ho… An Early Holiday Present

December 12, 2017

Every year, I take some time to look at what manufacturing clients across the MEP National NetworkTM are saying about the future and the challenges they face

What Industry is in Your Wallet?

November 2, 2017

Previously I wrote a blog about the differences across the 50 states as measured by manufacturing value added per employee. The differences across the states

Who is #1?: Measuring Manufacturing Value Added per Employee Across the Nation

August 16, 2017

I’ve been on a long-term quest to convince folks that productivity is important and not just something economists are concerned about. I’ve written about

Tier One Corporate Trends

March 6, 2017

Recently, I read the annual PriceCoopersWaterhouse CEO survey of leading multinational companies. It includes two short videos with manufacturing CEOs offering

The More Things Change, The More They Stay The Same

February 3, 2017

Every January, I take some time to look at what our MEP clients are saying about the future and the challenges they face. It’s usually part of my New Year’s

A Virtual Visit to the Birthplace of Ty Cobb

September 29, 2016

I am a baseball fan and just finished reading a new biography about Ty Cobb. I think he shares my bubbly and effervescent personality and anyone with the

Puzzling Over Performance

June 17, 2016

In a recent post, I examined the differences in productivity across small and large manufacturing firms and noted that there were differences across

Only You Can Control Your Future

January 29, 2016

Or so Dr. Seuss was once quoted as saying. I don’t read Dr. Seuss as often I should, but it is not always good to put away childish things despite the

Challenge Forecasting for Very Small Manufacturers

November 19, 2015

Recently there has been an increasing appetite for information and results around working with the smallest manufacturers. Not just the generally defined small

Learning to Change

October 6, 2015

A few days ago I went back and re-read the book, Learning to Change, which I do every few years. It helps contribute to my sunny disposition and keeps me

Manufacturing Supply Chains

July 15, 2015

The future success of any manufacturing company relies upon its ability to deliver the right product at the right time with the right quantity at the right

Manufacturing Innovation Blog