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July 31, 2008

China Trade Gap's Impact on American Jobs

The increasing U.S. trade deficit with China resulted in the loss of 2.3 million American jobs between 2001 and 2007, including 366,000 last year, according to a new study by the Economic Policy Institute. Manufacturing lost 200,000 scientist and engineer jobs, a 10.7 percent drop.

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July 30, 2008

Manufacturers to Compete in the 2008 Summer Games

With the 2008 Olympic Games around the corner, manufacturers are making sure their products also have what it takes to compete.

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July 29, 2008

Pay Raises Remain Steady as Economy Drops

A new survey finds U.S. employers keeping pay raises steady for the coming year. Of course, it's probably too soon for American workers to rejoice.

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July 28, 2008

Weekly Industry Crib Sheet: Housing Bailout Awaits President's Signature...

...Plus a whole lot more this week, including Metals Production and Shipments, U.S. and UK Factory Orders, Global Automobile and Aircraft Sales, Railroad Earnings and MORE.

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July 25, 2008

Light Friday: The Upside of High Gas Prices and Celebrating 40 Years of the Cubicle...

...Plus the Space Elevator Conference, Futuristic Windshields and MORE.

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July 24, 2008

Overhyped Nanotech Set to Fulfill Potential

We've all heard the hype and the incredible predictions over the past decade, but some high-profile failures have left manufacturers and investors skeptical of nanotechnology. A new report now contends that the growth of nanotech is turning the once-overhyped industry into reality.

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July 23, 2008

China's Machine Tool Industry Coming of Age

China's machine tool industry seems to be coming of age globally, driven in large part by the country's rapidly rising machine tool investment, output and export.

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July 22, 2008

Sweepstakes Science: Prizes for Breakthroughs

The prize-inspired breakthrough is a concept that goes back hundreds of years. Yet this notion of using prize money to spur innovation has become a particularly booming trend in recent years.

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9 Oddities in Discovery and Invention

While necessity may be the mother of invention, its paternal roots can be traced to accidents and eccentricity. IMT contributor Ilya Leybovich looks at the unexpected sources of some of today's most common inventions, plus some unusual proposals for products yet to find a niche.

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Ridiculous Government Purchases

Gambling, iPods, lingerie, Internet dating sites - if you've ever filled out an expense report, you know these just won't fly as "business transactions." Shouldn't the government be held to the same standards?

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Transportation: Did You Know?

Ever wondered when the first auto race was? Wish you had your own submarine? Here IMT contributor Susannah Nevison offers some offbeat auto facts and a few just-for-fun vehicles.

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The State of Machines Talking to Machines

Although M2M technology has seen steady growth in recent years, it hasn't been an easy journey. As more businesses look to design wireless into their processes, perhaps M2M technology will be reevaluated.

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Whatever Happened to. . . ?

In what could be called "The Future of the Past," IMT contributor Brian Lane looks into the future that never was and asks, "Whatever happened to all the cool stuff promised to us?"

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Minneapolis' New I-35 Bridge Nearly Complete

Though it won't be open by the first anniversary of the tragic collapse of the I-35W Mississippi River Bridge in Minneapolis, Minn., a new $234 million bridge is on track to open in its predecessor's place as early as September.

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How Prepared is Your Supply Chain?

Recent studies uncover how some companies are struggling to configure their supply chains to meet and exceed global goals in the near and long term.

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Recommended Reading

Wikinomics: How Mass Collaboration Changes Everything examines the possibilities of mass collaboration and evolutionary business practices. It's no longer up to the elite thinkers to tackle today's global challenges.

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July 21, 2008

Weekly Industry Crib Sheet: Eurozone Trade, Global Air Freight and Orders for U.S. Jets...

... The WTO Rules Against China and MORE.

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July 18, 2008

Light Friday: Indignation Within Organizations and the Next Big Bubble Burst...

...."Flat is the New Up," a "Ramen Moment" and MORE.

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July 17, 2008

U.S. Industrial Output Rebounds in June

Production at U.S. factories, mines and utilities rose in June after two straight monthly declines, according to the Federal Reserve's latest data.

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July 16, 2008

Manufacturing Tech Consumption Remains Healthy

Energy prices and commodities costs, not to mention an overall uninspiring economy, have many businesses cutting back on spending. Nonetheless, a new report suggests manufacturing industries are investing in capital metalworking equipment to increase capacity and improve productivity.

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July 15, 2008

Are TVs the Real Environmental Threat?

As the manufacture of flat-screen televisions to meet consumer demand continues to rise, so too does the threat to our environment, according to a new study.

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July 14, 2008

Weekly Industry Crib Sheet: French Manufacturing Falls and Aluminum Hits Record High...

... GE's Spinoff Move and Quarterly Profit, China's Trade Surplus, India's Industrial Output and MORE.

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July 11, 2008

Light Friday: Petroleum, Packaging and Spirits...

...Why Spain may take France's wine-producing crown, how tequila can make diamonds, and inkjet-printing the world's largest beer can.

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July 10, 2008

Global Energy Demand to Grow by 50 Percent

Worldwide energy consumption will grow by 50 percent between 2005 and 2030, the U.S. Energy Information Administration projects. Herewith are highlights from the latest international energy outlook.

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July 9, 2008

Why (and How) to Vacation

With each passing year, more working professionals are seeing something that used to be an entitlement - vacation time - as an increasingly unavailable luxury.

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The State of the Summer Schedule

Current gas prices are prompting a number of workplaces to revisit flexible workweeks during the summer. Who doesn't love a long weekend?

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Wildfire Season: Longer and Stronger in '08

Last week, nationwide wildfire preparedness was designated the highest possible level. The challenge is much bigger than simply funding fire engines.

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Make or Buy Hot Talent?

Employers are realizing how hard it is to attract and retain the best employees. Now they're reassessing their options: promote from within or hire from outside.

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Beach Reading for Business

IMT contributor Brian Lane provides a roundup of new books that promise to offer a balanced amount of invaluable ideas and geeky fluff.

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Summer Science Camps

School is out, which means plenty of free time for kids. One way to get them away from the TV is a summer science camp, where they can have fun and maybe spark an interest in engineering.

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Grim Outlook for Steel Buyers

A number of experts have recently declared that, because steel production has not kept up with demand, steel is in short supply and will continue to drive up prices for quite some time.

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Eating Healthy on the Road

Long hours of sitting in the car, snacking on fast food and junk food can kill good nutrition faster than you can say "summer road trip." Here are a few ideas to help break the cycle.

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July 8, 2008

Concentrated Declines in U.S. Jobs Continue

Jobs in the construction industry have been hit hard recently by a lengthy slump in the housing market. They're not the only ones.

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July 7, 2008

Weekly Industry Crib Sheet: The Chinese Currency Saga Continues. . .

... No Joy in June Jobs, British and German Manufacturing Output, the World's First Global Union and MORE.

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July 2, 2008

Flags and Franks: Independence Day by the Numbers

This Friday commemorates the day when, in 1776, the Continental Congress approved the Declaration of Independence, setting the 13 colonies on the road to freedom as a sovereign nation. As always across the U.S., this most American of holidays will be marked by family and friends, fireworks and flags and, in a relatively new development, unfavorable food and fuel prices.

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July 1, 2008

2008 Priorities in Global Trade Compliance

A new study shows how global trade compliance is now being transformed from a back-office function to the focus area of strategic corporate-wide initiatives. The report highlights key challenges, improvement strategies, capabilities and technologies used to support global trade compliance processes.

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