Industrial Trends Report

Tractor Beam Techniques - light in motion in industry

noreply@blogger.com (Scott Randall) — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 17:07:00 +0000

DailyTech - NASA Scientists Awarded $100,000 to Analyze Tractor Beam Techniques

"Though a mainstay in science fiction, and Star Trek in particular, laser-based trapping isn't fanciful or beyond current technological know-how," said Stysley. “Current techniques have proven to be largely successful, but they are limited by high costs and limited range and sample rate. An optical-trapping system, on the other hand, could grab desired molecules from the upper atmosphere on an orbiting spacecraft or trap them from the ground or lower atmosphere from a lander. In other words, they could continuously and remotely capture particles over a longer period of time, which would enhance science goals and reduce mission risk." - excerpt from DailyTech.com article

No - it's not a manufacturing trend today, but it will become one. Using light to move things - the possibilities are endless (once you actual figure out how to do it, that is)!

Read about more manufacturing business news at Industrial Trends Report home.

National Industrial Parks: only you can prevent plant firings!

noreply@blogger.com (Scott Randall) — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 18:30:00 +0000

Business Line : Industry & Economy News : Manufacturing zones will usher in investments, says Muthuraman

Read about this aggressive manufacturing development policy encouraging India's industrial leaders. They recognize that the fastest growing economies in the world depend upon manufacturing sectors that produce over 25% of the country's GDP.

While US government infrastructure funding ideas promote support for temporary construction repair jobs, building infrastructure for manufacturing business may stimulate long-term careers.

Perhaps the US should develop National Industrial Parks like the Forestry Service develops National Parks for recreation. Designate certain areas to build ideal manufacturing conditions - make it within green manufacturing standards, make it environmentally friendly or whatever social agenda necessary to protect legislator's voting base - and provide a manufacturing environment leased to jobs-creating manufacturers that can't invest in the infrastructure required to develop business growth.

Perhaps the government could invest in original facilities construction and sell it off in rent-to-own fashion.

Some will cry that it's the roots of a socialist state, suggesting that this would create and unbalanced advantage for some in the great scheme of Free Trade. Perhaps some guidelines could be established that restrict these industrial renters to export trade only, selling into other world economies that already have skewed "Free Trade" policies.

If the government is going to invest in jobs creation, it may as well be a real investment in real log-term ventures. At least if the government actually builds something with the tax dollars in can avoid fiascos like Solyndra episode that totally wastes the money.

Of course this will be nearly impossible to pass through at a national level because every legislator will insist these National Industrial Parks should be in their own district, but it may be worth discussion.

Read about more manufacturing business news at Industrial Trends Report home.

Sound Economy with Jon Talton | U.S. manufacturing at the turning point | Jon Talton | Seattle Times Newspaper

noreply@blogger.com (Scott Randall) — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 18:23:00 +0000

Sound Economy with Jon Talton U.S. manufacturing at the turning point Jon Talton Seattle Times Newspaper

It's at a turning point and it will be pivoting again soon.

Recent manufacturing data released this week indcates that international industrial sectors are slightly improving following a stronger third quarter - which was preceeded by a sluggish Q1 and Q2...

See the trend here? International manufacturing will continue to ebb and flow up and down while this slow economic recovery drags on. All of this unstable industrial activity points to the need for flexible manufacturing styles.

Strong supply chain management
Outsourced contract manufacturing projects
Effective inventory balancing
Quick response near-sourced manufacturing operations

All of these manufacturing systems should be the current manufacturing norm, not the exception. Since the need for manufactured goods continues to cycle up and down - sometimes with little obvious reason - manufacturers can not commit to long-term production objectives. Manufacturing resources like those listed above are crucial to quick response manufacturing methods required of today's unstable manufacturing economy.

Make hay while the sun shines and get out of production before the sun sets on you. That's the current trend.

Read about more manufacturing business trends and news at Industrial Trends Report home.

MARKET WATCH: Crude oil futures prices increase slightly - Oil & Gas Journal

noreply@blogger.com (Scott Randall) — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 19:11:00 +0000

MARKET WATCH: Crude oil futures prices increase slightly - Oil & Gas Journal

This is the optomistic view of oil markets right now from the Oil & Gas Journal (click on link above for full story). Most have recognized the current DROP in gas value as another sign of a slumping international industrial sector.

The top two manufacturing business economies have clearly experienced signs of slowing in recent months. Oil futures may be up for now, but not for long. The only good rational behind such an increase appears to be heating oil, but even that scenario is hardly justified.

Maybe a drop in oil and petroleum prices will prompt increased manufacturing activity; which will, of course, prompt an oil price increase... Commodities and cycles - can't live with 'em, can't live without 'em.

Read more manufacturing business news at Industrial Trends Report home.

Rally supports USA manufacturers

noreply@blogger.com (Scott Randall) — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 19:27:00 +0000

Make It In Maryland: The Nation’s First Rally for Manufacturing Attracts Top Government and Business Leaders Marlin Steel Announces

Three cheers for manufacturing!

I like this; a grass-roots movement for manufacturing rather than superficial Capitol Hill rhetoric. It would be nice for Lawmakers in every manufacturing community to be involved with a rally like this. It's good to see a public embrace of manufacturing rather than the typical shunning industrial jobs usually receive.

A new trend may be on the horizon for American manufacturers: "near-purchasing." Like the increasingly popular idea of near-sourcing (bringing industrial work back to North America), near-purchasing will be an appealing demand for Made In America products.

As American consumer consumption habits retract during this difficult economic era, the American public has more power to demand this of retailers than ever before. Recent economic reports indicate consumer confidence is at a 30-year low. Retail purchasing is in decline and Americans are learning to carry less debt. American consumers should send a signal to retailers that if they want US citizens to buy, make it quality American-made products.

USA... USA... USA...

Read more manufacturing business news at Industrial Trends Report home.

Wall Street finally covets manufacturing news reports

noreply@blogger.com (Scott Randall) — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 15:51:00 +0000

Industrial reports analyzing manufacturing data is more relevant than ever before. With industrial sectors being so crucial to the US economic recovery, news like the following have become extremely valuable to economists on a nearly daily basis.

Automakers rebound in July to lift factory output

Employers added more than twice the number of jobs in July than in each of the previous two months. The number of people applying for unemployment benefits this month fell below 400,000 for the first time since early April. And consumers spent more on retail goods in July than in any month since March.

Manufacturing had been one of the strongest sectors of the U.S. economy in the two years since the recession officially ended. It has weakened in in recent months, rising strongly only once since February. - excerpt from Associated Press article

During more robust economic times industrial reports like this may have simply garnered a polite smile from Wall Street. Today they will be giving high-fives and chest-bumps.

Read more manufacturing business news at Industrial Trends Report home.

Near-sourcing is not the near-term reality yet

noreply@blogger.com (Scott Randall) — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 14:04:00 +0000

Near-source advocates: don't be mistaken by the following Rueters headline...

Analysis: China costs start to worry U.S. multinationals

(Reuters) - For years, low prices on China-sourced goods helped dampen inflation in the United States. Now China's efforts to boost domestic consumer spending, reducing reliance on exports, are leading to higher costs for multinationals that manufacture goods there. - excerpt from Rueters article

Near-sourcing, bringing outsourced labor back to North America, seems like a happy ending to this story, but the truth is; US manufacturers working abroad will seek out other low-cost regions rather than return to the US.

The only US manufacturers bringing industrial operations back to the US (or Latin America) are those who struggle with quality and long distance management issues. The cost of labor, which this article indicates is rising in China's most popular manufacturing hubs, will not reach US standards for decades.

Some manufacturing labor may return with near-sourcing, but the largest producers working in China have quality management staffing in place to ensure low-cost workers are found elsewhere.

Read more manufacturing business news at Industrial Trends Report home.

Manufacturers: Just say NO-zone

noreply@blogger.com (Scott Randall) — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 19:37:00 +0000

State Manufacturing Associations Urge Administration to Stop New Ozone Standards
- Manufacturing.net

This should be a no-brainer. At a time when voters need jobs like never before, there is no reason to place further restraints on manufacturers. It is really appalling that manufacturers and politicians must be distracted by this matter when now is a time to focus solely on gaining new manufacturing business and putting people back to work.

Several recent state US Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) reports have indicated that many of the income increases in 2010 were due to increased manufacturing work. When the only good news during a struggling economy is marginal manufacturing jobs improvement, there should be no discussions of potential job-killing mandates.

Read more manufacturing business trends at Industrial Trends Report home.

5 Strategies for Growing as a Domestic Manufacturer | Product Design and Development

noreply@blogger.com (Scott Randall) — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 18:17:00 +0000

5 Strategies for Growing as a Domestic Manufacturer Product Design and Development

This recent article reflects a phenomenon that is a growing trend for some manufacturers in the US. Reeling in offshore manufacturing will be dependent on the manufacturing process involved. Those with commodity style products being produced in China may bring manufacturing back to the US if logistics costs begin to eat up too much of the shrinking margins of their particular market.

More advanced products and systems that are simple to costly to produce in volume in the US will continue to migrate overseas.

Governor's sound bites don't save manufacturing jobs, real world industries do

noreply@blogger.com (Scott Randall) — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 22:59:00 +0000

Critics blast Patrick after Evergreen Solar announces plans to shut Devens plant - The Angle - Boston.com

After getting nearly $60 Million from the state and suggesting that 350 jobs would be created, Evergreen pulls out.

The plant, which produces solar panels, has been one of the centerpieces of Patrick's effort to lure green industries to the state. When it opened two years ago, the company promised to create 350 jobs there over seven years, but yesterday said it would relocate manufacturing to China instead. - from boston.com article

Perhaps placing too many hopes on alternative energy dreams during a major recession is ill-advised.

I'm just saying....

Read more manufacturing business trends at Industrial Trends Report home.

Farewell green energy manufacturing - we barely knew ya.

noreply@blogger.com (Scott Randall) — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 23:09:00 +0000

Ahhh - it was a good run, green energy manufacturers...

A small player in the solar sector, Evergreen announced in November it was shifting its assembly of solar panels from Devens [Massachusetts] to China in a cost-cutting effort. At the time, it said the Devens facility would continue to make solar wafers and cells.

But on Tuesday, President and Chief Executive Michael El-Hillow said solar manufacturers in China have received "considerable government and financial support," and, together with their low manufacturing costs, have become price leaders within the industry. - article at wsj.com

But wait! Alternative energy manufacturing was going to save us all. Is there no safe harbor from low-cost manufacturing countries? Manufacturing critics argue that finance is the future of the American economy, but finance and manufacturing share one common characteristic: "buy low, sell high." Manufacturers learned this long before the US became a services economy and it is true of every manufacturing market, young and old alike.

Never fear, I'm sure electric cars will fare better. Ha.

See more manufacturing business trends at Industrial Trends Report home.

noreply@blogger.com (Scott Randall) — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 18:46:00 +0000

Currently, it's hard to discuss economy without referring to manufacturing.

Q3 GDP Revised Up -- U.S. Economy Grew Faster Than Previously Thought

noreply@blogger.com (Scott Randall) — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 15:48:00 +0000

The ultimate indicator of US consumer confidence is home investment. We can analyze GDP and manufacturing business trends, but this economy thrives on consumer spending and that will not be fully restored until we see new home sales recover.
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Louisiana sees employment jump in October - CNBC

noreply@blogger.com (Scott Randall) — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 23:07:00 +0000

Louisiana sees employment jump in October - CNBC

Industrial Trends Report saw this coming.....

http://industrialtrendsreport.blogspot.com/2010/08/louisiana-is-ripe-for-new-growth.html

Federal Reserve appreciates strong US manufacturing trends

noreply@blogger.com (Scott Randall) — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 19:52:00 +0000

In a post yesterday, Industrial Trends Report denounced US manufacturing skeptics that repeatedly discredit the value of manufacturing in today's economy. The Federal Reserve seems to have echoed our view in a report issued today:

Factories are the largest component of industrial production. They helped lead the economy out of recession but have grown more slowly in recent months. October's solid gain eased fears that the manufacturing recovery could stall, weighing down the broader economy.

The report shows that manufacturing will grow faster than the broader economy through 2013, said Daniel Meckstroth, chief economist at the trade group Manufacturers Alliance/MAPI. Meckstroth said demand for factory goods is growing overseas, while U.S. consumers and businesses still are making purchases that they put off during the recession. - Associated Press article at Yahoo News

Lets review: the services sector starts with services required of a healthy manufacturing industry... those service businesses require other services which spawns other businesses thus increasing the services sector as a whole... retail industries grow most robustly when there is healthy employment in both manufacturing and services sectors...

It's really not that hard to fathom and it's really not that hard to admit how much our economy depends on strong manufacturing trends. Have you hugged your local manufacturer today?

Read about more manufacturing business trends at Industrial Trends Report home.

Who says US manufacturing industry is dead?

noreply@blogger.com (Scott Randall) — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 15:34:00 +0000

It's often said that US manufacturing is dead, dying or insigficant in today's economy. If that's true, why does one single manufacturing trend report from one single region for one single month have so much impact on the value of the dollar?

Forex: Dollar eases after US manufacturing data
FXstreet.com (Barcelona) - The Dollar has pulled down somewhat, trimming previous gains against its main rivals, weighed by well weaker than expected US Empire State Manufacturing Index data. - article on NASDAQ.com
Read more: http://community.nasdaq.com/News/2010-11/forex-dollar-dips-after-after-us-manufacturing-data.aspx?storyid=44976#ixzz15MgYDlUQ

US manufacturing is critical to the US economy and if it impacts the value of the dollar - it impacts the whole world. In recent months US manufacturing business has been the only bright spot in our economy. When other sectors are doing well again, lets hope that the economic foundation - manufacturing - will receive the respect and admiration it really deserves.

Read about more manufacturing business trends at Industrial Trends Report home.

International market growth trends supporting US manufacturing

noreply@blogger.com (Scott Randall) — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 21:39:00 +0000

Improved US manufacturing is, no doubt, good news for the American economy. The not so good, is the fact that this manufacturing growth further amplifies the fact that it is feeding other international markets.

The new orders index jumped to 58.9% from 51.1% the prior month. New orders are a strong indicator of future sales.
Exports are a big source of new orders: The export index for October shot up to 60.5% from 54.5%. - MarketWatch article

The US retail market remains stagnant. Manufacturing sectors are growing and exports are improving, but US unemployment continues to hover at 10% and consumer confidence is on shaky ground. It's good that someone, somewhere in the world is buying, but until US companies begin purchasing from US manufacturers all the other service industry and consumer businesses that the US economy depends upon will not thrive.

Since most US jobs are in the services sectors, they are dependent on a healthy manufacturing base to support their industries. International growth is good - home grown expansion is better.

Read more manufacturing business trends at Industrial Trends Report home.

Euro manufacturing confidence is UP, no DOWN, no UP, no DOWN...

noreply@blogger.com (Scott Randall) — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 14:36:00 +0000

Confidence among manufacturing businesses in Europe has recently risen to 3 year highs. Unfortunately these same leaders are already expressing a concern that manufacturing in the region is already beginning to slow.

European manufacturing growth accelerated in October and German business confidence unexpectedly increased. MAN SE, the region’s third-largest truckmaker, today reported third-quarter profit that beat analyst estimates. Nevertheless, the euro- region recovery may weaken as a stronger euro and faltering global demand hurt exports and governments cut spending. - Bloomberg article

In recessions past, economists always claim that the rest of the world's economies generally follow the trends of the US economy by about six months. I think this pattern remains mostly consistent with today's economy. But just as the pace of change in every other facet of our world has hastened, this 6 month lag has been shortened to about 3 months.

The manufacturing economy of Europe is echoing sentiments expressed by US manufacturers during both UP and DOWN periods of recent months.

Read more manufacturing business trends at Industrial Trends Report

Louisiana is ripe for new growth manufacturing trend

noreply@blogger.com (Scott Randall) — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 14:17:00 +0000

A recent report announced British wind turbine blade builder, Blade Dynamics, will be moving into a recently vacated manufacturing facility near New Orleans. Blade Dynamics, with two major US-based investment partners chose this location, a former Lockheed-Martin factory for it's available workforce, adequate manufacturing facilities and some lucrative incentives crafted by state and local governments.

This story is part of a bigger manufacturing business trend in Louisana. Another major manufacturer, Northup Gruman, recently reported that it would close it's Avondale shipyard in 2013. The Avondale shipyard employees 5000 workers and impacts another 7000 area jobs.

The BP oils spill is already scaring some oil well operators out of the region for fear of harsh regulations and potential penalties if they experience the same fate of BP.

All of this adversity in Louisiana manufacturing sectors will create new opportunities for other manufacturers like Blade Dynamics. Look for local authorities to readily negotiate incentives to put workers back on the job as quickly as possible.

He (Theo Botha) said the state offered Blade Dynamics a "competitive state incentive package" to help lure it to Louisiana.

The state's economic development department said Blade Dynamics was offered performance-based financial assistance of $5.4 million to offset lease costs at Michoud and $6 million to offset equipment purchases, plus money to cover projected relocation costs. The state also will provide customized employee recruitment, screening, training development and training delivery services. The total incentive package could amount to $30 million. - The Times Picayune article

Unfortunately, a less appealing trend is the quantity of jobs being restored in this process. During peak space shuttle production day, Lockheed-Martin employed 5000. Blade Dynamics expect to employ 600.

Read more manufacturing business trends at Industrial Trends Report

China manufacturing economy trends toward the top

noreply@blogger.com (Scott Randall) — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 14:12:00 +0000

Recent reports announced that China has overtaken Japan as the world's second largest economy. Many manufacturers have been aware of this growing superpower for several years, but it seems to be a shock to many in the general public.

China overtook the U.S. last year as the biggest automobile market and Germany as the largest exporter. The nation is the world’s No. 1 buyer of iron ore and copper and the second- biggest importer of crude oil, and has underpinned demand for exports by its Asian neighbors. - Bloomberg article

Most Americans have an over-inflated sense of self worth in the world economy. Why should this rise to economic power be such a surprise? It is ironic that China has replaced JAPAN as the second largest economy. Japan followed a similar trend to economic power that started about 50 years ago.

At that time, the the term "MADE IN JAPAN" was a sarcastic reference to cheap, poor quality goods. Today, Japan's manufacturing is more closely associated with high technology and advanced efficiencies. China has endured the same stereotypical jabs from American consumers as they bought up as much of that "cheap, poor quality goods" as their local retailer could stock the shelves with.

Now, they're laughing all the way to the bank (which they also own a good share of).

China has not reached that status of superior quality manufacturer that Japan has established, but they will. Once Japan established a solid manufacturing economy, they turned up the R&D investments and found they could really supercharge their economy through innovative, advanced products. China will follow this same manufacturing trend.

Maybe by 2010 China will reverse the sourcing trends and find contract manufacturers in the US more lucrative than within their own borders.

Read more about manufacturing business at Industrial Trends Report home.

Senate refuses to make green manufacturing a real priority

noreply@blogger.com (Scott Randall) — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 22:36:00 +0000

It's been announced that federal carbon emmissions cap legislation has been tabled by the US Senate. Industrial Trends Report has long followed this non-issue and it's impact for manufacturing business. All along it has been rhetoric strong and action weak - it's great for sound bites, but terrible for votes.

According to this recent MarketWatch.com article, the issue remains a strong issue in the White House:

Curbing emissions linked to climate change is one of President Barack Obama's top priorities.

However, the proposed carbon cap legislation that could be potentially punishing to manufacturers during a time when unemployment is high doesn't match the priority of protecting voter favor as we approach mid-term elections.

Instead, it is being replaced with some safer legislation that is more driven by popular mood swings than sound manufacturing business or environmental science. The Senate has chosen to pursue legislation that will "hold BP accountable" for the oil spill in the Gulf (whatever that means). Choosing a topic that's considered such a "gimmie" among most voters proves the real value the President and his colleagues place on green manufacturing.

This true position on carbon emissions was first revealed during last year's UN conference on climate change in Copenhagen (read Industrial Trends Report post). The President united with China in refusing to match the anticipated greenhouse gas levels promised in years prior. He cited that this would not be realistically feasible at this time. That's because the environmental benefits cannot be proven to be significantly more beneficial than the economic damage it would do to our manufacturing industry - manufacturing businesses with jobs, money and votes.

In true vote-monger rhetoric, Senate Democratic leader, Harry Reid, did not even provide a timeframe for this BP scolding bill.

Reid didn't offer a timetable for action on the new legislation, but said Democrats would continue to try to build support, according to the Journal. - MarketWatch.com article

Nevertheless, it will be easy to report to voters at home that Republicans have ruined their chance to charge manufacturers for carbon emmissions, but they claim to go after big, bad BP to satisfy the environmentalists.

Just wait and see if either bill ultimately passes.

Manufacturers aren't complaining about the administration's failure to commit to carbon cap and trade. Manufacturing businesses are complaining that these bills, which primarily serve as props to stir up support from environmental interest groups and under-informed voters, are causing the manufacturing economy to stall due to mixed signals and hollow threats.

The economy would be better served by owning up to the fact that the real priority is jobs and incomes. Admit that cutting carbon emmissions are not worth cutting jobs and let's get on with growing the manufacturing industry.

Read more about manufacturing business at Industrial Trends Report home.

Local contract manufacturing trends upward in 2010

noreply@blogger.com (Scott Randall) — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 18:35:00 +0000

A recent survey from Design-2-Part (D2P) suggests a manufacturing business trend of increasing local contract manufacturing. The survey polled about 2000 respondants that attended D2P trade shows and showed that more over their respondents expect to contract locally rather than overseas.

Improving local contract manufacturing trends are lead by greater control and access to the project. Near sourcing has growing popularity with many smaller, just-in-time manufacturing businesses lacking extensive overseas management capabilities and require faster access to changes and finished parts.

Overseas contract manufacturing has never been an ideal scenario for these manufacturers and more are bringing the work back home. The majority of survey respondents expected no change in their outsourced work while nearly 31% anticipate growth.

This is all good news for US-based contract manufacturers and the extended business services they support as well.

Read more manufacturing business trends at Industrial Trends Report home.

Biofuels manufacturing trend is fading, others beware!

noreply@blogger.com (Scott Randall) — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 15:43:00 +0000

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) recently issued a report (“Using Biofuels Tax Credits to Achieve Energy and Environmental Policy Goals”) that has the biofuel industry in turmoil. Other artificially stimulated market manufacturers should see this as a wake up call.

As gas prices approached $5.00/gallon not long ago, corn-based ethanol was the darling of the media and lawmakers too. Tax credits and stimulus money have been used to subsidize development of this alternative energy resource in hopes of reducing carbon emissions and US dependency on foreign oil.

The CBO report indicates that federally subsidized ethanol production benefits may not be worth the taxpayer's cost.

Federal lawmakers are now considering a reduction of these benefits since subsidizing ethanol manufacturing may not be producing justifiable effects.

This news should be a wake up call for other alternative energy manufacturers. Any market that requires artificial support to sustain itself cannot endure. Funding technology and manufacturing methods is not the problem with such markets as electric cars and solar industry - it's the public's willingness to support a more expensive option.

A truely self-sustaining industry will not require substantial taxpayer support. If there is a truely profitable market available, private manufacturers will make the investment themselves with anticipation of a profitable outcome.

Some would argue that a manufacturer cannot afford to invest in a new market that is not fully in place yet. However, thanks to the natural laws of free market economies, private companies will round up funds if a valid profit can be proven. The fact that there are no other competitors makes this even more lucrative to them - if it can be shown that there is satisfactory profit potential. Every manufacturer desires a niche market they can "own." That's the most profitable kind.

Taxpayer money is not necessary to subsidize private manufacturers. Perhaps it could go toward the infrastructure that would help promote the product, but governments should leave the product development funds to the private companies.

Read more about manufacturing business at Industrial Trends Report home.

Positive Public Relations may be most valuable current manufacturing trend

noreply@blogger.com (Scott Randall) — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 21:09:00 +0000

Manufacturing positive PR may be a growing trend in a struggling industrial economy. Manufacturing success within shrinking budgets of today's economy may rely on good public relations more than R&D innovation. Apple's faulty equipment flaws with the recently released iPhone 4 are headed toward a product recall and the company's denial of problems is leaving it with a rotten image.

Apple has so far avoided the serious issue of whether the iPhone 4 has a legitimate hardware problem and instead obfuscated the issue by first telling users how to hold the new iPhone and then blaming a software glitch. As a result, Apple now has a big PR headache on top of an obvious hardware flaw. - appolicious.com article

In recent years Apple, has been perceived as a company that could do no wrong and the climbing stock value echoed that sentiment. It was not clear to many whether this company was a manufacturing genius or a marketing superpower. Nevertheless, it was admired in both categories.

The company's treatment of problems surrounding the iPhone 4 and the exclusion of popular, universally accessible software apps on it's products have led to a PR backlash that is tainting both it's manufacturing and marketing reputation.

While the majority of the consumer public crave the products Apple manufacturers, many industry insiders have become more and more critical of the ways of Apple. Here are few of the recent critical news that is beginning to tarnish this electrinics manufacturing star:

Recent reports have indicated that Apple's Asian contract manufacturer, Foxconn, outnumbers Apple's American based employee's 10-1.
iPhone 4 antenna has reception problems
iPhone software glitches are reported to be related to reception problems
The company has been criticized for telling consumers who bought the pricey iPhone that reception could be improved by holding the phone in a different manner
Steve Jobs adamently refused to include popular software like Adobe Flash on the new iPad
Apple's Chinese contract manufacturer, Foxconn, experiences unusually high rate of suicide among employees, reportedly under intense manufacturing pressures
Reports indicate that police used overly aggressive tactics in confiscating iPhone 4 prototype lost by an Apple engineer

No doubt there are many good qualities about Apple products and Apple marketing. Unfortunately, a swelling tide of discontent can quickly overcome a decade of model manufacturing success.

Read more manufacturing business trends at Industrial Trends Report home.

Forecast for wind and solar energy is cloudy and uncool

noreply@blogger.com (Scott Randall) — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 15:39:00 +0000

It's always difficult to unseat an entrenched manufacturing industry. Oil energy has about 100 years of solid foothold in Washington D.C. and local economies that depend on the jobs and tax base they provide.

Alternative energy manufacturing companies will have to endure a long, patient march forward. The appeal of clean energy and energy independence is a tough sell if it threatens an established employment base, tax revenues and a strong lobby group.

The only way to combat that is with overwhelmingly strong financials and revolutionary innovation. So far, alternative energy models have yet to produce either of those criteria. A recent publicitity campaign accusses the petroleum industry with plans of a targeted "smear campaign" to block alternative energy leglation. Ironically, the Clean Energy Works ads fully utilize smear tactics of it's own.

The new ad from Clean Energy Works tags the petroleum industry as "Big Oil." The TV spot shows pictures of more than $4-per-gallon gas prices, former BP PLC CEO Tony Hayward, and the burning Deepwater Horizon oil rig before it sank in the Gulf. The spots advocate passage of "clean energy" legislation. - NY Times article (with links to view the publicity campaign ads)

Since alternative energy processes have yet to prove a true profitable plan to enable them to be any more than a taxpayer sponge for decades to come, they will struggle get full government support and even less public support if it costs consumers more money to energize their lives.

Alternative energy forces may be better off to work on partnering with traditional energy providers rather than spending their valuable resources casting them as as an evil empire. The petroleum and coal industries could benefit from the positive PR it would yield and the alternative energy startups could benefit from the financial support of these established profit centers.

Read about more manufacturing business trends at Industrial Trends Report home.