Competition is a Lot Like New York City

Sep 29, 2014

As I look through my hotel window at the New York traffic, I am reminded that this is indeed the city that never sleeps. The …

Business Ethics – An Oxymoron?

Aug 29, 2014

Business scandals that contradict espoused core values are all too common. Becky highlights a few reasons why that happens, and asks each of us to look in the mirror.

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Manufacturing IS a Desirable Career Path

Aug 27, 2014

Manufacturing suffers from a horrible Public Relations (PR) problem. Over the past 20 years rumors of its demise have been greatly exaggerated, its checkered history …

The Price and Costs of Capacity Decisions

Jan 30, 2014

The recent frozen traffic jam that shut down Atlanta and stranded hundreds of people for hours was frustrating to those caught in it. The complaints …

In Search of the Holy Grail

Dec 22, 2013

The rush to the south, away from labor unions, was followed by the rush to China for its cheap labor. And now that China labor …

Oil, Oil Everywhere But Not A Drop To Share

Sep 13, 2013

In Ohio and Pennsylvania there is great excitement and economic investment in shale oil. The discoveries there have fed debate of ‘a solution to energy …

The Irish Lie

Sep 9, 2013

The stereotypical Irish are drunkards. In the past 6 days driving Dublin – Galway – Dingle – Belfast I’ve experienced nothing but exceptionally kind and …

Counteroffers Are Counterproductive

Jun 9, 2013

When I turned in my resignation to my last employer in 1990, they immediately offered an increase in salary and vacation if I would consider …

Lemings Die, But You Don’t Have To

Jun 3, 2013

Like lemmings, in the past 20 years many manufacturers outsourced their high-labor-content production to Asia, outsourced tooling to Asia, and focused on sourcing in “Low …

The Coming Labor Shortage

May 14, 2013

As Chinese labor rates rise, Chinese pollution thickens, market demands for speed increase, and US energy independence becomes more likely, many companies are bringing work …