Drop was driven by dimmer views of future business conditions and incomes, says The Conference Board. On December 23, The Conference Board reported that its Consumer Confidence Index declined by 8.1 points in December to 104.7 (1985=100). This is its lowest reading since September. Drop... Continue Reading
As 2025 approaches, the Metal Treating Institute (MTI) is preparing its Members for a year of growth, as forecasted by ITR Economics. To capitalize on these opportunities, MTI’s Board of Trustees, volunteer committees, and task forces are diving into critical industry issues and... Continue Reading
The technologies that made the greatest impacts and the leaders who implemented the tech. While failure instructs, when it comes to manufacturing technology, what matters is what actually works. Every new technology starts on the hype end of the Gartner cycle. Manufacturers have to wait... Continue Reading
In today’s evolving workplace, organizations are striving not only for operational excellence, but also for fostering an environment that promotes safety, civility, and respect. Two foundational pillars to achieving this are Human Factors Training and Sexual Harassment Training. These... Continue Reading
Employee onboarding is a critical process for organizations because it directly influences an employee's ability to integrate into the company, perform effectively, and remain engaged over the long term. The challenge is that employee onboarding takes an investment of time, training, and... Continue Reading
The 2024 IndustryWeek Salary Survey showed a massive decline in average wages, but that reflects more young people working, not wage cuts at the top end. In an ambiguous result for the manufacturing industry, average salaries reported by readers in our 2024 IndustryWeek Salary Survey fell... Continue Reading
Consumer prices rose at a faster annual pace in November, a reminder that inflation remains an issue both for households and policymakers. The consumer price index showed a 12-month inflation rate of 2.7% after increasing 0.3% on the month, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Wednesday.... Continue Reading
Phenom releases its State of High-Volume Hiring: 2025 Benchmarks Report, which analyzed 101 companies on their maturity and use of artificial intelligence (AI) and automation technology to hire frontline, hourly, seasonal and high-turnover roles. Phenom releases its State of High-Volume... Continue Reading
The shift from offshoring to nearshoring continues, driven by resilience, flexibility and proximity to core markets. In an era of constant threat of disruption, nearshoring has moved from a “nice-to-have” to a strategic imperative for global manufacturers. For decades, offshoring... Continue Reading
One of the most exciting reasons companies join the Metal Treating Institute (MTI) is the unparalleled opportunity to network and build meaningful connections with top executives and business owners in the industry. MTI’s highly anticipated national meetings are the ultimate gateway to these... Continue Reading
Two of the biggest challenges for heat treat plants and suppliers are navigating economic uncertainty and keeping up with constant changes to audit compliance checklists and specifications. With ongoing political headwinds, recession predictions in the news, and continuous updates from Nadcap,... Continue Reading
When British fashion designer Ozwald Boateng was tasked with creating new uniforms for British Airlines, he didn’t sequester himself in his studio and invent designs out of thin air. Instead, he began by meeting with employees—baggage handlers, engineers, flight captains, and more.... Continue Reading
