Large portion of the industry looks to 2021 as the time normalcy will return to steel mills. Conditions in the steel sector are decidedly mixed, with demand surprisingly strong in some end-use markets and some regions of the country, yet disastrously weak in others. Overshadowing all is the... Continue Reading
Production at America’s factories, utilities, and mines surged last month, but remained well below pre-pandemic levels. The Federal Reserve said Wednesday that U.S. industrial production rose 5.4% in June, the second straight monthly gain after a 1.4% uptick in May. But it was still 10.9%... Continue Reading
Restarting the global automotive engine. Significant challenges lie ahead for companies trying to rev up the global automotive engine. It’s the question every backyard mechanic asks themselves just before they turn the key after rebuilding the engine on their favorite old car—will it... Continue Reading
While companies scramble to change processes practically overnight, they are forced to respond with creativity and flexibility, improving communication with customers and employees along the way. Since the Coronavirus outbreak began in the U.S., manufacturers have turned to their cleaning OEMs,... Continue Reading
Leaders can make a difference through personal accountability, caring, and “re-onboarding” of all their people. Leadership matters most—and is hardest to do well—when people face objective threats, when old ways of working are no longer possible, and when confusion and... Continue Reading
Since the start of the global Covid-19 pandemic, it’s likely you’ve had to convert your existing team to a remote one involuntarily, or you’ve had to hire a totally new remote team. Naturally, this brings challenges. I’ve outlined the common ones I’ve come across with... Continue Reading
2020 has been quite the year for in-person meetings, with almost all being cancelled nationwide since April. Every association has had to adjust, innovate, and create an alternative learning and networking experience for their industry. The Metal Treating Institute’s marquee event, Furnaces... Continue Reading
While the outlook for the logistics industry is brighter than for other sectors of the domestic economy, much still remains unknown, according to that report. This year’s annual “State of Logistics Report,” released today by the Council of Supply Chain Management... Continue Reading
As Human Resource professionals, we have a lot on our plates right now...I get it. Some have moved employees back to the office, at least part-time; others never left. Then there are those to whom it may seem like the return to the office will never arrive. In any case, COVID-19 appears to be your... Continue Reading
If growing up in the 1980s taught me anything, it’s that right now we should be either be living in a post-apocalyptic hellscape or a wondrous time with flying cars. While we seem to be on track for the latter, what few predicted, outside of George Orwell, was that thanks to technology,... Continue Reading
As COVID-19 Worries Linger, Economy Tries to Charge Forward As the nation continues to grapple with lingering COVID-19 worries, the data last week reflected bounce backs in activity, suggesting that the economy is trying to charge forward. These “green shoots” provide some... Continue Reading
Full disclosure: I’m actually excited for 5G and all of the advancements it will bring. Think about it for a moment here…we have already seen remote surgeries performed across 5G networks and more than enough bandwidth to ensure that our continual internet of things (IoT) growth is... Continue Reading
