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June 30, 2009

U.S. Manufacturers Face Critical Threats to Competitiveness

Two new reports identify significant threats that could impede the ability of U.S. manufacturers to successfully compete in the global economy, including the public perception of pursuing a career in manufacturing.

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June 29, 2009

Weekly Industry Crib Sheet: Boeing Delays Dreamliner's First Flight (Again)

Plus: Automakers Receive Fuel-Efficiency Loans, Durable Goods Orders Rise, Unemployment Rate Persists and MORE.

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June 26, 2009

Light Friday: Unusual Economic Indicators

Plus: Quarter-Shrinking Machines, Carnivorous Furniture, Gravity-Defying Shoes and MORE.

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June 25, 2009

U.S. and E.U. File Trade Complaints Against China Over Exports

In a coordinated filing this week, the U.S. and the E.U. complained to the WTO that China's export duties on raw materials were distorting the global market and hurting their manufacturers of steel and other products.

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June 24, 2009

How New Gas Mandates Can Fuel Detroit Three Rebound

U.S. automakers have a chance to increase profits and gain market share due to President Obama's fuel efficiency mandate, according to a new report.

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June 23, 2009

What's Your Corporate Culture?

From Enron to Google, corporate culture says a lot about an organization's character, influencing how it's perceived by customers, employees and competitors.

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Benefits à la Carte

To compensate for cutbacks in employee benefits programs, increasingly more companies are offering voluntary benefits plans that allow workers to pick the perks that fulfill their needs.

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13 Types of Irritating Coworkers

Whenever you isolate many different types of people into one workspace, chances are you'll have some personality clashes. Some behaviors, such as those listed here, are annoying but not necessarily toxic.

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Changing Jobs, Not Employers

As companies reorganize to cut costs and minimize layoffs, some employees' roles may be redefined to fit the new structure. Here are some ideas for adapting to a new post at the same place.

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Tips: When Home is Your Workplace

Whether telecommuting or running a home-based business, distinguishing "home life" from "work life" can be a struggle. Here are some tips to separate personal and professional tasks — even when they occur in the same space.

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Inspired Design Tools to Come

One of the most drastic changes over the last eight decades has been in the tools engineers use. The future promises another wave of technological innovation.

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Couples Split on Retirement Planning

A new study shows that many married couples aren't on the same page when it comes to retirement finances. These days, it's more important than ever to have a unified plan for retirement.

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The Future of U.S. Space Flight

The people of NASA have the privilege of doing things that have never been done before. What will the space agency's visionary scientists, engineers and, of course, astronauts pursue next?

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Recommended Reading

Who's Got Your Back reminds people to skip the lone professional "superman" mentality and focus on building close relationships with trusted individuals to reach their full potential.

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June 22, 2009

Weekly Industry Crib Sheet: Thousands Return to Workforce...

Plus: Economic Indicators Surge, Bill Financially Supports Clean Energy Transition, Toyota Grows U.S. Market Share, Dreamliner Readies for First Flight and MORE.

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June 19, 2009

Who's Your Daddy: Father's Day Facts and Figures

The idea of Father's Day was conceived exactly one century ago, when the daughter of a widowed Civil War veteran — who was left to raise his six children on a farm — wanted a special day to honor her father. The first Father's Day was observed on June 19, 1910, in Spokane, Washington.

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June 18, 2009

Beefing Up Food Industry Regulations

Food safety is back in the spotlight with a new bill that gives the FDA more authority to inspect food processing plants, institute recalls and impose penalties.

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June 17, 2009

Industry Leaders Address Protectionism at National Summit

As the three-day National Summit winds down, business and industry leaders attending the economic forum claim that maintaining or increasing trade barriers will only further damage the U.S. economy.

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June 16, 2009

Despite Optimistic Indicators, Industry Remains Weak

Economists are now saying it's too early to tell if the economic contraction is truly slowing, following a dip in industrial production and little change in producer prices last month.

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June 15, 2009

Weekly Industry Crib Sheet: Redefining Manufacturing through Cultural Changes

Plus: China Auto Sales Up, Tech Consumption and Wholesale Inventories Down, Chrysler Officially Out of Bankruptcy and Peter Bernstein Remembered.

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June 12, 2009

Light Friday: Solving Financial Follies with Science

Plus: Mini-Microwaves for Your Desk, Cooking for Engineers, Five-Year Paid Leave for Bank Workers and More.

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June 11, 2009

Global Jobs Outlook: Cautious Hiring Despite "Talent Shortage"

A sluggish hiring pace is expected to continue globally in the third quarter of the year, but more employers say they will be holding on to the workers they have, according to the latest quarterly survey by Manpower Inc.

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June 10, 2009

Handling Market Fluctuations through Inventory Management

By having a properly managed inventory, coupled with effective business cycle forecasting, companies are better poised to handle economy-driven inventory fluctuations.

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June 9, 2009

Where to Go When Banks Say No

It's been increasingly difficult to find funding, whether from banks or private investors. If your business is short on capital, consider these alternative funding sources.

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How to Pitch to Investors

Venture capitalists often listen to many bad pitches before hearing a winner. Entrepreneurs wooing potential investors can get an edge by following certain presentation guidelines.

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Modify the Fine Print: Contract Renegotiations

Whether asking your supplier to revisit a contract or reviewing your customer agreements, renegotiation should be approached with a mutually beneficial goal in mind.

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6 Ideas for Curbing Workers' Comp Costs

On-the-job injuries cause headaches for all levels of organizations, affecting production, costs and morale. Yet opportunities exist for businesses to contain workers' compensation costs.

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Fun Facts about Money

We spend it all the time, but just how much do we actually know about the pieces of paper and metal that help make the world turn? Here are some interesting facts about money.

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Nuclear Power: Prospects and Problems

Amid the current drive to develop sustainable and efficient energy sources, nuclear power is experiencing renewed attention. Here we revisit the outlook for a nuclear power infrastructure.

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When Should You Launch Your Product?

Many companies focus almost entirely on the concept, design and distribution of a new product, but the timing of a product launch can be just as important to its success.

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Study Undertakes Psychology of Superstition

People trying to find security in unpredictable situations - such as in the stock market or a business meeting - often see patterns where none exist, a recent study suggests.

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Recommended Reading

Learning from your failure, rather than letting it defeat you, requires very specific emotional and rational skills. From Lemons to Lemonade provides examples of how companies learned from their mistakes to build great products that sell.

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June 8, 2009

Weekly Industry Crib Sheet: Government Aid Goes to 'Rust Belt'...

Plus: Ford Boosts Production, Payroll Cuts Ease, China Investigates Steel Dumping and MORE.

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June 5, 2009

Light Friday: Creative Bar Codes

This week marks the 35th anniversary of the UPC bar code, one of the most recognized symbols in the world. Here are some creative designs that turn the ubiquitous technology into something fun and unexpected.

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June 4, 2009

Reducing Energy Consumption and Cost

Companies can reap significant savings by implementing energy management programs at their plants. Here are a few tips on managing energy use.

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June 3, 2009

Ideas for Finding Hidden Warehouse Space

With sales volumes at their lowest levels in years, many businesses are dealing with excess inventory. One way to keep costs down is through better usage of warehouse space.

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June 2, 2009

On the Slow Road to Recovery

The larger-than-expected increase in new orders for durable goods has economists believing the worst is over even though the recovery will be slow.

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June 1, 2009

Weekly Industry Crib Sheet: Bankruptcy Toward a "New GM"...

Plus: Suppliers Struggling, Chrysler Emerging, Consumers Brightening, Orders Rising and MORE.

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