@Risk

I’ve heard some business leaders say that they think Americans no longer have faith in domestic manufacturing.

However, I’m pleased to say that new survey results suggest that exactly the opposite is true.

The second annual Public Viewpoint on Manufacturing survey, released last week by Deloitte and The Manufacturing Institute, indicates that 78 percent of Americans actually have a strong view of the significance of manufacturing and see it as very important to the country’s economic prosperity. Likewise, 76 percent of those polled said that manufacturing is very important to the standard of living in the United States.

The new research also suggests that the American public believes that the American worker is ready and able to participate in a healthy manufacturing sector. When asked to select from a list of 21 attributes that make American manufacturing globally competitive, respondents identified the top three as: work ethic, skilled workforce and productivity — and all of those were listed well ahead of non-workforce related attributes, such as infrastructure and natural resources.

Interestingly, three-fourths of survey respondents believe that the United States needs a more strategic approach to developing its manufacturing base. In addition, about the same percentage believe the country should invest more in the manufacturing industry, and 68 percent would like to see a strong manufacturing base developed as a national priority.

So, why aren’t American workers going into manufacturing? (more…)

Do you sometimes get the feeling that you’re spending too much for transportation, technology and energy?

You may be right.

According to a mid-year review of supplier pricing and supply chain spending trends, NPI estimates that today’s manufacturers, distributors and retailers will overspend more than $415 billion in 2010.

NPI’s research included an analysis of spending trends for manufacturing, retail, industrial and other supply chain-focused organizations within the S&P 500. In addition, the firm also analyzed pricing data for top suppliers in three specific spend categories: transportation, technology and telecom, and energy.

Here are a few specific results from the research, along with NPI’s recommendations to rein in overspending:

Transportation –NPI estimates that supply chain organizations will overspend $124.5 billion on shipping and logistics services this year. For instance, companies will: (more…)

Global trade activity held steady in July –and that’s certainly good news. But does a “holding steady” trend like this signal a robust recovery? Panjiva doesn’t think so.

The latest report from Panjiva shows that last month there was a 0.2 percent increase in the number of global manufacturers shipping to the US market, and a 0.5 percent increase in the number of US companies receiving waterborne shipments from global manufacturers. In addition, Panjiva found that: (more…)

Most large US employers are moving forward with plans to make changes to their 2011 health care benefit programs in the wake of both health reform and expected large health benefit cost increases next year, according to a new survey by the National Business Group on Health.

The survey–which collected responses from 72 of the nation’s largest corporations representing more than 3.7 million employees –was conducted in May and June, 2010. The results show that: (more…)

Optimists are known for saying, “Every cloud has a silver lining,” and now, new survey results indicate that, at least with regard to the recession, they may be right.

The July 2010 Korn/Ferry Executive Quiz, which polled senior executives and board members from across the world, shows that in the aftermath of the recession and multiple high-profile financial meltdowns, many organizations are approaching risk differently. In fact, they’re now actively identifying and addressing their own risk management issues more than ever before.

For example: (more…)