Production

The regularity of the growth cycles of living organisms has always fascinated thoughtful he observers regularity and of has the invited growth a cycles variety of living attempts to apply the same principles—of a predictable sequence of rapid growth followed by maturation, decline, and death—to companies and selected industries. One such concept, known as the […]

Even in this contentious election year, all sides agree on one issue: The loss of American manufacturing jobs over the past decade has been a disaster...

A strong supply base will help U.S.-based manufacturers as well as the economies of Central and South America.

The past several years have witnessed a growing awareness among American managers of the central importance to competitive success of first-rate competence in the work of production. At the top of many corporate agendas now rests the determination to boost productivity, product quality, and new product innovation. This is all to the good. What managers […]

Three capabilities the consumer health company invested in after demand surged during the pandemic.

Years ago, while visiting friends in the United States, I happened to see the classic children’s film The Wizard of Oz. Near the end, Dorothy at last appears before the all-powerful wizard—a terrifying image of smoke and light. Only when her dog, Toto, tugs at a curtain over to one side does she see a […]

American industry is beginning to put its manufacturing house in order. Companies building high-volume standardized products like copiers, appliances, and automobiles are learning from their foreign rivals and emulating their commitment to ongoing product and process innovation. But one important segment of U.S. industry—job shop manufacturers—continues to postpone needed reforms. Many of these companies have […]

The authors have seen North American and European companies make improvements by implementing lean production techniques. The authors now argue that linking...

Overreliance on foreign suppliers is leading to domestic drug shortages.

Strategies for reducing excess inventory, stemming the rate of inventory change, and preventing the situation from happening in the future.

How Chinese investment is reshaping Africa

In the wake of Covid-19's disruptions, Kshore, a Chinese appliance maker, is thinking of realigning its supply chain. Like many other global manufacturers,...

Having a strong domestic manufacturing base is vital to the United States maintaining its world leadership in innovation. That is because advanced manufacturing...

Consumers’ tastes are changing fast, but one things remains: they value quality, value, and inspiration in their products.

How the industry is changing in the U.S., China, and Africa.

A resurgence of U.S. manufacturing seems to be in the offing. With production costs rising in China, some companies are bringing their manufacturing back to the U.S. While it still makes sense to manufacture in China for the booming local market, producing goods in China for the U.S. market is no longer a no-brainer. Made […]

Demand and supply are both shifting.

A growing number of executives of U.S.-based companies are repatriating their manufacturing capabilities - moving some production operations back from...

A new study shows that global trade doesn’t always mean poor working conditions.

In the quest to reduce waste on production lines, managers often find that the harder they work at improving their manufacturing processes, the more elusive...