News

The 10 Biggest Business Trends For 2024 Everyone Must Be Ready For Now

It is time once again to look into the crystal ball and predict the direction that business and industry will take in the coming year. With the general global economic downturn predicted to get worse before it gets better, companies are likely to remain cautious when it comes to spending and... Continue Reading

Reconciling Economic Forecasts: Moutray Comes Out Positively

NAM economist tells Smart Manufacturing Summit that soft landing is possible, but don’t expect labor supply to improve. Forgive manufacturing chiefs for feeling whipsawed by economic reports over the last year that have told a tale of a gradual slowdown while also chronicling the... Continue Reading

AI: The Next Frontier of Performance in Industrial Processing Plants

AI is more accessible than ever. With a wealth of historical data and existing subject matter expertise, processing plants are well positioned to create new opportunities. The successful application of AI across various industries has created a renewed focus on the robust economic value that AI... Continue Reading

6 Steps to Leverage Sensor Technology and Improve Manufacturing Safety

Sensor technology is an invaluable asset for manufacturing safety. Safety is a non-negotiable aspect of any manufacturing environment. Whether it's an assembly line or a chemical processing unit, there’s always the potential for accidents. Sensor technology plays a pivotal role in... Continue Reading

Reshoring and Automation: Where Do Cobots Fit in?

A look at how smaller manufacturers are using the technology to grow their businesses. For North American businesses of all types, especially those in the manufacturing sector, 2022 was anything but typical. Or boring. Or easy. “Labor shortages” and “supply chain issues”... Continue Reading

Let Your Voice be Heard...Join the Conversation

Each week MTI sends Members a weekly business operational check-in. The check-in is one question on a key issue, providing some great insight into how Members are handling key issues, impacting their daily operations and overall strategy. The following are some key results over the last several... Continue Reading

Choppy Waters

Summer has been one for the history books as the market wrestled with UPS’ labor negotiations, FedEx’s restructuring, downshifting consumer spending, and slackening parcel demand. As the parcel express market moves from summer into fall, a perfect storm of carrier challenges, market... Continue Reading

How Industrial Workers Can Drill Down on Safety This Summer with Wearables

Wearable technology is revolutionizing workplace safety with real-time, personalized insights mitigating the increasing risks of heat stress. The escalating climate crisis continues to take a toll, and industrial workers are at the frontline, grappling with a multi-record-breaking summer of heat... Continue Reading

Machine Learning for Machine Tools

With computers beating both chess grand masters and world-class Go players, plus ChatGPT writing everything from college term papers to love poems, artificial intelligence (AI) is arguably the hottest topic in tech today. But what about in manufacturing? Theoretically, with enough data and... Continue Reading

Prioritizing Reskilling, Reentry, and Rebuilding the US Workforce

Labor Day reminds us of the enduring spirit of the American workforce. This day isn’t just about barbecues and the unofficial end of summer; it’s a celebration of the tenacity and resilience of workers everywhere. Yet, amid this celebration, an overshadowed segment of our population... Continue Reading

Leadership on Point: Managing through the Generational Divide

The principles for managing multiple generations are really the same principles of good leadership. It’s hard to keep them all straight – the Silent Generation, Baby Boomers, Gen Xers, GenZers, Baby Busters, Millennials, iGen, Gen Alpha. Regardless of what you call them, or who... Continue Reading

Monday Economic Report

Housing Growth at Risk: Mortgage Rates Soar to 22-Year High The average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage reached 7.23% last week, the highest since the week of June 1, 2001, according to Freddie Mac. Higher borrowing costs and issues of affordability risk slowing... Continue Reading