Economy

Ask any entrepreneur and he or she will tell you that getting from concept to reality isn't easy. It almost always requires a hellish amount of work, risks and disappointments.

Chicago wins bid to host digital manufacturing institute.

In 2013, the U.S. passed Russia as the world's leading producer of oil and gas and became a net oil exporter for the first time in decades -- all thanks to shale.

When the world's biggest retailer pledged it would buy an additional $50 billion worth of U.S.-made products over the next decade, Cutting Tool Engineering Editorial Director Alan Rooks questions whether the news is cause for celebration.

Cutting Tool Engineering Editorial Director Alan Rooks ponders the impact additive manufacturing will make on the industry.

As I'm writing this in mid-July, we're experiencing uncomfortably hot and muggy weather in the Chicago area. I worked up a sweat just walking the dogs this morning -- and they walk pretty slowly. It's hard to want to do much of anything. That description seems to fit the U.S. economy in general and manufacturing in particular.

The national conversation about the "skills gap" and its role in manufacturing continues to simmer, writes Alan Rooks of Cutting Tool Engineering magazine, in his Lead Angle column for the July 2013 issue.

The Lead Angle editorial in the May 2013 issue of Cutting Tool Engineering ponders some major developments that are remaking the energy market and, with it, manufacturing.

When I read about The Brookings Institution's proposal to develop 20 U.S. manufacturing universities, my first thought was “what will the mascots be for the football teams?” Purdue already has the time-honored “Boilermakers” moniker but what about the others? Would they be the Michigan Machinists, the Caltech CAD/CAMs, the Lehigh Lasers or, maybe, the Fightin' Facemills?

In early December, two companies announced plans to make substantial investments in U.S. manufacturing. One was Apple Inc. and the other was Detroit Diesel Co. Guess which one got more coverage in the media. I'll help you. Even though Detroit Diesel's investment was more than Apple's and despite President Obama showing up at Detroit Diesel's announcement ceremony, my casual Web review showed Apple beat Detroit Diesel in news references by about 7 to 1.