Industry Trends & Analysis

News • January 5, 2016

Purchasing managers index down for 2nd straight month

Economic activity in the manufacturing sector contracted in December for the second consecutive month, while the overall economy grew for the 79th consecutive month, according to the nation's supply executives in the latest Manufacturing ISM® Report On Business®. The report, issued Jan. 4 by Bradley J. Holcomb, chair of the Institute for Supply Management (ISM) Manufacturing Business Survey Committee.

Articles • January 1, 2016 • Michael Deren

Are You Just Another Resume?

I typically keep my resume online at all times on the major job search engines and update it annually to keep recruiters I've worked with in the past abreast of what is happening with my career. The drawback is, after I update my resume, I am inundated with email from recruiters and job placement companies that want to place me in a new position. If you've ever posted your resume to an online job search engines, I'm sure you're familiar with this scenario.

News • December 29, 2015

USCTI launches careers website

The United States Cutting Tool Institute (USCTI), a leading trade association for the North American cutting tool industry, recently launched Careers In Manufacturing, a website that promotes careers in manufacturing and provides resources for students, educators, parents and manufacturers.

Articles • December 1, 2015

Go with the flow

Productive Times challenge: Ensure there are no machining issues with a flexible manufacturing system. The solution: Machine simulation and optimization software.

Articles • December 1, 2015 • Keith Jennings

Recognizing all that is good

Addressing weighty issues is an important part of the Manager's Desk column, and there will be no shortage of them to debate and discuss in 2016.

News • November 17, 2015 • Dennis Spaeth

Report: Slowdown continues, but reason for hope

While the October 2015 Manufacturing ISM Report on Business showed continued growth, the report's overall PMI registered 50.1 percent, a slowdown from September's reading of 50.2 percent, reported the Institute for Supply Management (ISM).

News • November 11, 2015

Trumpf announces 2016 expansion

In October 2015, TRUMPF purchased approximately five acres of land adjacent to Interstate Highway 90 in Hoffman Estates, Ill., a northwestern suburb of Chicago. Located within one of the core zones of the sheet metal business in North America, this site will serve as the future home of the TRUMPF Technology Center and the center of excellence for Industry 4.0, according to the company.

News • October 6, 2015

Stratasys publishes 3D printing forecast

Direct manufacturer Stratasys Direct Manufacturing published the results of a trend forecast on 3D printing's place in the manufacturing world. "To get a more complete sense of 3D printing's imminent impact on manufacturing we needed to look beyond our factory walls," explained Stratasys CEO Joe Allison in the study's forward. "So we sponsored an independent survey of serious, professional users of 3D printing, many of them working for companies with over $50 million in revenue."

Articles • October 1, 2015 • Keith Jennings

Offshoring again

Even with a good fourth quarter and my natural optimism, reports from contacts at some of our larger customers concern me, reports the Manager's Desk columnist in the October issue of Cutting Tool Engineering magazine.

Articles • October 1, 2015 • Alan Richter

Future of manufacturing

CTE Editor Alan Richter visited the Digital Manufacturing and Design Innovation Institute at Chicago's Goose Island in September for a peek into the future of manufacturing at an event coordinated by Blaser Swisslube Inc.

Articles • October 1, 2015 • Alan Richter

Private equity funds, venture capitalists partner with precision parts manufacturers poised for growth

Running a successful machine shop takes more than having advanced machine tools, high-performance cutting tools and machinists that boost productivity. A manufacturer of precision metal parts might also need a strategic partner that has the network, expertise and — last but not least — capital to penetrate new markets, overcome capacity constraints and make investments to help the business grow.

News • September 11, 2015

Manufacturing workforce pipeline ‘on track’ in Ky.

Bowling Green, Kentucky, Sept. 11, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce on Sept. 11 launched the On Track motorsports education initiative in conjunction with the Warren County Area Technology Center, Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College, Western Kentucky University and Holley Performance Products.