February 28, 2012
Skilled industrial jobs have long been the hardest to fill. Electricians, carpenters and welders are constantly in demand within the industrial workforce, but more and more it seems that the hiring pool is becoming scarce. This could partly be due to the retirement of baby boomers and partly due to the disinterest of today’s youth. A 2010 poll sponsored by Nuts Bolts and Thingamajigs (NBT) and the Fabricators and Manufacturers Association (FMA)...
February 24, 2012
It’s clear that bouncing back from the economic crisis our country faced not too long ago has not been an easy task for many manufacturing businesses. However, one factory is beating the odds. Almost a decade ago, a small steel mill located in central Indiana faced bankruptcy until it was eventually bought out by Steel Dynamics. Today, the plant is successful and plans are in place to invest $76 million towards expansion....
February 21, 2012
The manufacturing industry has long been a challenging and innovative field. The resulting products of the industry have shaped our technology and in many ways the way that our society functions. But now, as baby boomers begin to retire and the next generation is forced to step to the plate the turnout seems a bit scarce. So, who’s to blame? Manufacturers of course. It is the responsibility of industrial leaders to keep...
February 17, 2012
The Federal Reserve reported that manufacturing output increased by 0.7% during the month of January. However, with an increase of 1.5% December of last year has remained the best month in terms of growth since December 2006. As a result manufacturers have been hiring on a more consistent basis compared to other industries. Industrial production output, including utilities and mines, remained unchanged in January. Utility output actually saw a decline during last...
February 15, 2012
The industrial manufacturing industry employs nearly 13.8 million people. With such an immense workforce, an untrained employee can cost a plant millions of dollars whether it is through accidents or inefficiency. Providing an industrial workforce with the proper industrial training is not only an expense but also an investment of resources such as time and money that can potentially either make or break a plants success. During a recent inspection of a...
February 9, 2012
In December U.S. factory orders rose in response to the increased number of investments in capital goods like heavy machinery. The Commerce Department reported that orders rose approximately 1.1 percent in December, down slightly from the 2.2 percent gain in November. 2011 as a whole saw orders go up by 12.1 percent following 2010’s 12.9 percent gain. But in 2009, when the recession is said to have officially ended, factory orders plunged...
February 8, 2012
This past Thursday the United Sates Labor Department stated that worker productivity in the final three months of 2011 rose relatively slowly. During the October to December quarter the annual rate reached only 0.7 percent. This rate was significantly lower than that of the previous quarter which reached nearly 1.9 percent. The recent slow in productivity could potentially mean increased hiring if the economy picks up. Productivity is defined as the amount...
February 3, 2012
On Monday, AGC Glass Company North America announced their plans to restart production in their Greenland Plant. The Church Hill, TN plant production line was idled in 2008 when the company also had to lay off nearly 250 employees. The restart hopes to bring back 100 jobs once the line begins operating again. The G1 production line will manufacture automotive glass and architectural float glass. Production line construction is expected to begin...
February 1, 2012
Industrial training is the heart of every manufacturing business. From safety training to maintenance training to basic boiler and air compressor training, industrial training skills serve as one of the most important building blocks to a successful plant. Just ask durable goods manufacturers around the U.S. who saw a strong 3% increase in December. On January 26th, the U.S. Census Bureau announced that during the final month of 2011 manufactured durable goods...
