{"id":1662,"date":"2019-02-07T13:43:30","date_gmt":"2019-02-07T13:43:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mrpeasy.com\/blog\/?p=1662"},"modified":"2024-02-06T13:32:46","modified_gmt":"2024-02-06T13:32:46","slug":"week-6-in-manufacturing-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mrpeasy.com\/blog\/week-6-in-manufacturing-news\/","title":{"rendered":"Week 6 in Manufacturing News"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

January U.S. Manufacturing Activity Bounces Back While China and Europe Struggle<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

While U.S. manufacturing activity appears to be humming along, elsewhere in the world, it is slowing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

IHS Markit\u2019s monthly index showed manufacturing in Germany shrank for the first time in four years. France also reported disappointing January figures while the U.K. reported a three month low as its manufacturing index slipped to 52.8. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

U.S. manufacturing bounced back in January with the ISM Index rising 2.3 percentage points from the December reading of 54.3 percent to 56.6 percent for January. New Orders Index registered 58.2 percent, an increase of 6.9 percentage points from December despite New Export Orders slipping 1.0 percent. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is suspected that U.S. import tariffs and to a lesser degree Brexit concerns are playing a role in slowing manufacturing activity outside of the U.S. Inventory build ups<\/g> ahead of additional tariff increases and Brexit have led to full warehouses. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Full article on Forbes.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A robot in every factory: The $230-million bid to help automate Ontario\u2019s manufacturing sector<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The centrepiece of Canada\u2019s innovation strategy is the $950-million \u201csupercluster\u201d initiative. The goal, according to the federal government, is for companies of all sizes, academia and the non-profit sector to collaborate on new technologies, to spur economic growth and create jobs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

An overview of developments and commentary’s can be found on the Financial Post.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Makes a Great Manufacturing Leader?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

\u201cTimes have changed,\u201d says Stephen Gold, president and CEO of MAPI, the nonprofit Manufacturers Alliance for Productivity and Innovation. \u201cStrong leaders for the coming decades see human growth as essential to business growth.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A great manufacturing leader:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  1. Builds trust<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Has high expectations for their people (and gives them the tools to meet those expectations)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Inspires passion<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Has a strong entrepreneurial spirit<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. Is a change agent<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  6. Tells it like it is<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  7. Encourages cross-functional teams<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  8. \u2018Gets\u2019 millennials and creates culture<\/g> around them<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  9. Sees the competitive advantage in tech<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  10. Is still an old-school, big-picture person<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    Full article on IndustryWeek.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    How technology is changing the manufacturing industry<\/h3>\n\n\n\n