Manufacturers continue to close facilities in the U.S., but new research suggests that factory closings are not due to a “runaway plant” epidemic. In fact, many companies are outsourcing parts, not labor, and opening new plants overseas to better target foreign markets. Domestically, they are harnessing efficiency methods to produce more from fewer plants. Read more

The transportation and energy networks are the lifelines of the U.S. economy, powering factories, enabling the delivery of goods and materials, and sustaining quality of life. But investment in our nation’s infrastructure has fallen perilously low, and the economic repercussions could be disastrous. Read more

There’s a new business metric we’re hearing more about lately: happiness. Many of the world’s most profitable companies also happen to have very happy employees. What can your firm learn from these joy-filled businesses? Read more

In The Lean Startup, author and entrepreneur Eric Ries explores innovative business principles derived from lean manufacturing, outlining how startups can use capital efficiently, leverage creativity, and implement continuous improvement methods to navigate an uncertain economy. Read more