ThomasNet Industrial Newsroom - Industrial Market Trends

Weekly Industry Crib Sheet: Leading Economic Indicators on the Rise

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 12:54:05 -0500

Plus: Debate Over Senate Health Care Bill to Begin, Steel Shipments Climb and GM Vows to Pay Off Debts Early.

Light Friday: Bikini Fridays and other Odd Office-Related Requests

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:13:13 -0500

Plus: Geek Laws that Should Exist, Tech Support Cheat Sheet (Flowchart) and Santas Want their Flu Vaccines.

Industrial Production Slows in October

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 13:39:09 -0500

Following several consecutive months of promising growth, manufacturing production began to slow in October, signaling a recovery in the industrial sector that will likely be slower and more fragile than many expected.

How Union Membership Has Changed Over 25 Years

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:32:38 -0500

Unions today are composed of a greater share of women, Hispanics, Asian Pacific Americans and more-educated workers, according to new data that also indicate a shift in unionized labor away from manufacturing toward services.

Job Opportunities for Military Veterans

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 12:58:25 -0500

Military veterans returning to the workforce do so at a difficult time, with unemployment still high and rising competition for fewer openings in the U.S. However, the private sector still offers job opportunities specifically for the nation's vets.

Weekly Industry Crib Sheet: U.S. Trade Deficit Widens

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 13:42:54 -0500

Plus: Asian Manufacturers Post Stronger Growth, European Recovery Remains Mixed, New Jobless Claims Drop and MORE.

Light Friday: The Fun Theory Effect

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 14:42:20 -0500

Plus: A Spa Car, Images of the Galaxy's Center, Telepathic Computers and Robotic Vacuum Pac-Man.

A Look at Chrysler's Ambitious New 5-Year Plan

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 14:15:13 -0500

Chrysler, under the aegis of Fiat since early this year, has unveiled an ambitious five-year plan aimed at reaching long-term profitability following its bankruptcy and the sale of a controlling share in the firm to Fiat.

Does Multitasking Make Us Less Productive?

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 13:44:18 -0500

With an ever-rising number of demands on our daily attention, most of us are performing several tasks at once. But does multitasking improve our productivity, or does it actually get in the way of accomplishing tasks?

Rules to Work By: A Culture of Compliance

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 08:15:46 -0500

Rules and guidelines may not be enough to instill a sense of regulatory duty in every employee. Building a culture of compliance better ensures that workers at every level will abide by ethical standards and hold themselves and each other accountable. Corporate compliance means not only following a set of external requirements, but also adhering to a company's internal rules, expectations, policies and best practices.

The Quality Imperative

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 08:13:07 -0500

Product safety and quality in manufacturing have come under increased scrutiny in recent years. Organizations that skimp on quality control programs designed to maintain product and service standards are taking an unnecessary (and potentially costly) risk.

Technology's Role in Lean Today

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 08:12:11 -0500

Early adopters of lean methodologies were satisfied with the flexibility provided by manual solutions. Today, technological advances and external pressures are making technology less likely to go head-to-head with lean.

Steps Toward a More Integrated Supply Chain

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 08:11:49 -0500

In many respects, the practice of supply chain management has made great progress in recent years. However, few companies have yet reached high levels of integration between planning and execution, a recent report says.

Then and Now: 1999 and 2009

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 08:10:28 -0500

IMT is celebrating its 10th anniversary. In commemoration of our first decade down, we look back at where industry was 10 years ago versus where it is today - by the numbers.

Building a Better Sales Team

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 08:09:24 -0500

Even before the downturn, a shifting business landscape made competitive sales teams a driving factor behind success. An increasingly shrinking customer base in today's cautious buying environment makes it even more critical for an organization to have an effective sales team.