IndustryNet Blog

COVID-19 has disrupted every industry in the world in just a few short weeks. Quarantines, shipping disruptions and closure of non-essential businesses are just some of the effects, not to mention the shocking loss of life. In the midst of this crisis, certain industries were classified as "critical infrastructure," which indicated their importance in keeping society operational despite widespread restrictions. Some of the categories include health care, shipping and delivery, food and drug stores and certain types of manufacturing.

The concept of reshoring has been around awhile, gaining traction after the Great Recession ended in 2009, but the idea has come into greater focus as the coronavirus pandemic exposed vulnerabilities in the U.S. medical supply chain and upended operations for many U.S. manufacturers with reliance on global suppliers. This article will explore the evolution of the reshoring movement and the greater relevance it has gained amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The impact of the initial COVID-19 outbreak and the subsequent lockdown on the vast Chinese manufacturing network has sent ripples through every industry, including packaging. The nucleus of many supply chains is unfortunately synonymous with the origin of the virus: China. Ships, trucks and aircraft sit idle as quarantines and restrictions limit capacity by as much as 80%. Now, as manufacturers and shippers scramble to find new solutions and supply chains, the wisdom of sourcing locally becomes extremely clear.

As the coronavirus pandemic continues to reshape the U.S. manufacturing sector, new data released by the Federal Reserve is among the first to illuminate the severity of its impact. This article will take a closer look at the latest manufacturing output report and explore losses on an industry-by-industry basis.

Last month, U.S. manufacturers were just beginning to adapt to the coronavirus crisis, retooling to meet demand for the critical supplies needed to protect front line workers. We reported on some of the earlier efforts of industrial companies to produce critical supplies such as hand sanitizer and face masks. Now, several weeks into the crisis, the list of manufacturers jumping into the coronavirus fight has grown significantly.

Envision Plastics and Design utilizes the No Molds Required technology (NMR) to manufacture custom plastic enclosures. While all products we make represent great value to their users (since they do not have to pay for mold tooling), there are certain other ways to keep the piece part price in check as well. Keep these in mind the next time you are designing an enclosure!

While many manufacturers have needed to close their doors due to "stay-at-home" orders, others have been deemed "critical" to the nation's infrastructure and are cranking up production. These manufacturers are in need of new supplies and services to help keep their operations going.

It is no exaggeration to say that supply chains are upended at the moment. As manufacturers focus on retooling, saving money and keeping their employees safe, it can be difficult to see the value in maintaining other business responsibilities like marketing and advertising initiatives. Here' why that's a mistake.

As the coronavirus pandemic intensifies, manufacturers nationwide are stepping up to provide much needed supplies to save patients and help stop the spread of the disease. From automakers making ventilators and distilleries making hand sanitizer, U.S. manufacturing has quickly shifted and evolved in unprecedented ways to meet the demands of this growing crisis.

The risk of interrupted supply chains has always been present when dealing with overseas manufacturing. In a rude awakening for many Americans, the coronavirus (COVID-19) has demonstrated how important domestic manufacturing and sourcing is to our well-being.

In a press briefing today, President Donald Trump announced plans to invoke the Defense Production Act of 1950 to help ramp up production of much needed supplies during the coronavirus pandemic. Surgical and medical instruments are lifesaving devices that have to be manufactured to the highest standards. So who makes this type of equipment? Today, we're going to take look at some of the top medical and surgical equipment manufactures in the U.S.

Coronavirus continues to dominate global headlines, with the prospect of a global pandemic causing a ripple effect across global supply chains and the U.S. manufacturing sector. This article will take a look at the latest impact of coronavirus on the global supply chain and explore some of the U.S. companies that are helping to stop the spread of the disease.

All the pipes in the world would be useless without fittings and valves. These are the parts of pipe systems that allow changes in direction and control of flow. This flow can be liquid, such as water, or gaseous, such as compressed air. As you would expect, fabricated fittings and valves are closely linked with the health of the pipe industry overall.

I have an emotional outlook on business and life. Working in the automation and supply chain industry for several decades has also provided me with an interesting, experienced-based prospective on technology and people. Let's delve into this a little more.

Process improvement alone is not enough to build and maintain an innovative and competitive facility. More and more businesses are embracing an ever-changing work environment that focuses on empowering employees, and the manufacturing industry has not kept pace. A 2017 State of the American Workplace report by Gallup found 75% of manufacturing workers aren't engaged at work, making manufacturing the least engaged occupation in the U.S. Businesses with higher engagement not only outperformed less engaged businesses, but they also saw a decrease in absenteeism and turnover, which are major factors common in manufacturing. Here are four things you can do to reinvest in your plant to boost engagement and improve operations:

Even compared to just a decade ago, restaurants and the concept of dining have changed drastically. People now demand more options for convenience, sustainability, unique flavors and experiences. This has led to the rise of many new trends including pop-ups, experience-based dining, visual menu items and food trucks. Buyers need to be aware of these trends when purchasing food service equipment so they can stay relevant to the modernizing atmosphere around them. Regardless of the type or size of restaurant, owners need to make a significant investment in industrial food service equipment. Simply buying consumer-grade appliances quickly results in a failed kitchen. Manufacturers design industrial food service equipment for the rigors of preparing thousands of meals per month while satisfying all health and food safety guidelines.

The service industry is generally described as the sector that provides intangible help rather than products. These services companies may give directly to customers, to a business or a combination of both. The industry can be divided into four segments; physical, intellectual, aesthetic and experiential. Each of these segments requires different types of equipment based on the service provided. What follows is an overview of the service industry jobs that require the use of equipment.

The number of supply chains in China has been trending downward since the Trump administration's trade war began. The latest impact to Chinese supply chains is the coronavirus. If it continues at its current pace, companies sourcing materials or products from China should expect some effects during the coming months.

The United States is one of the largest oil and gas producing nations in the world. Accessing these vast reserves requires millions of dollars in specialized equipment. Fortunately for exploration companies, there are plenty of choices when it comes to finding the right machines, equipment and supplies domestically.

I have written, called, sent emails, given presentations, and have had plenty of good conversations with many buyers and design engineers educating them (and answering their questions) as to why Envision's No Molds Required Technology is a great asset. The NMR Technology is primarily applied to new custom project applications that have not hit the market or with existing products that need to be redesigned due to an unforeseen issue.

Industrial machines enable large- and small-scale manufacturing. They can be found in tens of thousands of facilities across the United States. Without hyperbole, it's quite appropriate to say that millions of jobs exist because of industrial machines. This article will take a look at some key facts about this industry, based on data collected by MNI.

U.S. manufacturers continued to scale back hiring in December, overall shedding 12,000 jobs in the last month of the year, according to a report issued by the U.S. Department of Labor. This article will take a look at gains and losses in specific industries and explore the latest data on unfilled manufacturing positions.

A dizzying number of factors are impacting U.S. manufacturing companies right now. From tariffs and USMCA, to a persistent skills gap and the rapid advancements of manufacturing technology, it is a particularly challenging time for American manufacturers. Given so many new developments in the sector, we were curious to hear perspectives from manufacturing companies on outlook, new technology, tariffs and the future of U.S. manufacturing. MNI invited industrial companies across the U.S. to take part in an in-depth survey on business conditions and outlook. Today, we are pleased to share the results of the survey and bring you some key takeaways.

Bell Flavors & Fragrances is excited to begin the sixth year of its Spark trends program and has unveiled key trends that will lead the way to new innovations within the flavor and fragrance industry, while also looking at the past five year's trends. Spark is Bell's insider resource for new and emerging consumer trends as well as flavor and fragrance inspirations. The Spark trends platform at Bell is the origin of imagination.

U.S. manufacturing activity contracted for a fifth straight month in December, according to the Institute for Supply Management's December survey of manufacturing executives. The ISM's report, released Friday, January 3rd, finds last month's gauge of U.S. manufacturing activity edged down 0.9% to 47.2%. This is the lowest the index has been since June of 2009. Since August 2019, manufacturing activity in the U.S. has been hovering below the 50% mark that is indicative of contraction, according to the ISM.

2019 was a busy year for U.S. manufacturers This article will take a look back at the most popular manufacturing stories of the year, including our most popular industries, top ten lists, special features, and buyer resources.

New data released December 17th by the Federal Reserve finds U.S. industrial production rebounded in November following two straight months of declines. The Federal Reserve's latest release on U.S. industrial production and capacity found industrial output surged 1.1% in November, following a 0.8% decline in October and a 0.3% decline in September.

This post on pumping high viscosity liquids provides expert advice on how to ensure you get the right pump for each application; maximize the life of each pump and minimize operating costs -- while avoiding the traps associated with just "keeping the line running."

Unlike other sectors of manufacturing, packaging of food, medicine and other consumables has not been affected as severely by tariffs and global trade instabilities. Today we're going to take a look at key growth trends in this all-important industry.

U.S. manufacturing activity was little changed in November and remains mired in contraction territory, according to the Institute for Supply Management's November survey of manufacturing executives. The ISM's report, released Monday, December 2nd, finds last month's gauge of U.S. manufacturing activity barely budged, edging down 0.2% in November to a current reading of 48.1%.