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Imagine one of the biggest U.S. holidays of the summer. Your family, friends, and coworkers have lots of activities planned including picnics, BBQs, games, swimming, and of course, fireworks. Everything is decked out in red, white, and blue ready to celebrate. Even the warm weather signals that the weekend will be something to remember....
Read MoreIn 1899 when pharmacist Jacob Shank created a compound flavoring of vanilla bean to improve the taste of his medicine, he had no idea that this inspiration would turn into a successful business over a century later. Since then, his company—Shank’s Extracts—has steadily grown by doing what it does best: quietly make the best quality products possible while being a reliable partner for its…
Read Morennovation has always been at the heart of manufacturing, propelling the industry and the economy forward. Polamer Precision, an aerospace manufacturer, demonstrates this idea from its state-of-the-art, solar-powered facility in New Britain, CT, to the technology that runs the business. The organization is serious about data-driven innovation, and about changing the perception of manufacturing in…
Read MoreI recently had the privilege of presenting with Plex customer Sandy Kolp, Director of Program Management and Plant Manager, from Firstronic, LLC at IndustryWeek’s Manufacturing & Technology conference in Cleveland, Ohio. Firstronic is on a roll, having recently won IndustryWeek’s 2016 Plant of the Year award, along with four awards for Dependability and Timely Delivery, Responsiveness, Value…
Read MoreRunning a profitable manufacturing business is no easy task. When faced with a decision to either invest, sell, or close up shop, it gets even tougher. Recently, I had the privilege of visiting Accuride Corporation’s Rockford, IL plant named “Gunite” in honor of a specific alloy the founder created back in 1854....
Read MoreWonton Food started from humble beginnings—producing high quality Asian food in Brooklyn, New York—to eventually become the largest manufacturer of noodles, wrappers and fortune cookies in the U.S....
Read MoreIn today’s fast-paced world, manufacturers like Champion Plastics need speed and agility to quickly respond to constant market changes. Champion Plastics, a custom injection molding manufacturer of functional plastics for the automotive industry, was looking to change its Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) system to meet the needs of a large customer....
Read MoreThe challenge of a private label manufacturer is to make the highest quality products—but quietly. Why? Because it’s all about making the customer look good. Shank’s Extracts knows how to make customers look good with its vanilla, other extract, natural and artificial flavors, food colors, and syrups because the company has been doing it since 1899....
Read MoreWhen manufacturers begin their search for the perfect match, what do they really look for in a cloud ERP system? If you’re like most of your peers, you want an ERP system that’s:...
Read MoreSqueezing every dime out of operations in the name of optimal efficiency is a key strategy for today’s manufacturers. But running a bare-bones business makes it difficult to handle the increased demand that comes with growth. So how can manufacturers continue to cut costs without inhibiting their infrastructure’s ability to expand and grow?...
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