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06.10.14
New Patent Office Procedures May be of Interest to Manufacturers
Since 2013, American inventors have faced new rules for filing and challenging patents on their products and systems. These new rules are part of the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act of 2011, a sweeping overhaul of the nation’s patent system. This article examines how many of these rules may be of interest to manufacturers.
05.13.14
Sunny Outlook for Distributors
The U.S. warehousing and distribution industry is about to get a whole lot faster, bigger and leaner, according to a recent survey by a telecommunications consulting firm. Yet, as this article explains, many distributors might not take full advantage of this trend because they are decidedly low-tech when it comes to inventory management and other day-to-day operations. Even though the survey indicates that many plan to beef up their technology, they are also planning to reduce their employee-training time. But this could be a costly mistake.
05.01.14
Use E-Verify to Confirm Employment Eligibility
Federal law requires employers to hire only U.S. citizens or foreign citizens who have the necessary authorization to work in the United States. Employers normally verify employment status with Form I-9, “Employment Eligibility Verification.” But how does a company know a new employee isn’t lying or providing counterfeit documents?
03.18.14
Inventory: An Often-Overlooked Asset
Inventory – is it an asset or a liability with a host of hidden problems? True, it is an asset shown on the balance sheet, but what is inside that number? And, more important, how can an owner or CEO stay informed as to how that line item affects the company’s bottom line results?
02.11.14
Carbon Tax 101: Understanding the Potential Effects of “Cap and Trade”
Once a bipartisan idea that was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives in 2009, a carbon tax — also referred to as “cap and trade” — has been shelved since the recession took hold four years ago. An economic resurgence in the United States, however, is expected to breathe new life into the proposal, which would set the nation’s carbon dioxide emissions at specific levels and force energy-dependent industries to pay extra for exceeding their allotment. This article describes the findings of a National Association of Manufacturers report predicting that “the adverse effects of the imposition of such a tax would outweigh any benefits.”
01.16.14
Knowledge is Power: Competitive Intelligence Gives You a Leg Up on Your Rivals
You are constantly looking to best your competition, right? And your strategy to achieve this likely involves looking internally. What can you do to improve your products and services and, ultimately, attract new customers? But does your strategy also call for looking externally? If not, it should. Gathering competitive intelligence can help provide strategic insights into your rivals’ future plans.
12.16.13
Is Your Company’s Data Protected?
Most people associate theft at a manufacturing company with loss of product or material. Although in the past this may has been true, a new type of theft has surfaced and it relates to intellectual property. Some of the greatest assets a company has are their vendor lists, trade secrets, customer database, and employee data. Without the proper security measures in place, a company is left with their doors wide open – the doors that lead to their network.
11.19.13
New EPA Rules May Mean Higher Fuel Costs
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has moved to reduce sulfur levels in the air by increasing emissions and gasoline standards. But the American Petroleum Institute and other trade associations argue that the regulators are vastly underestimating how expensive the new rules will be for businesses and consumers, while doing little to help the environment. This short article notes the different cost estimates.
10.15.13
Big Data Strategies for Manufacturers and Distributors
“Big data” is a marketing buzzword used to describe any large set of electronic information that can be analyzed by businesses to increase efficiency. This article explains how, using these latest customer-behavior analytics applications, manufacturers and distributors can crunch their internal databases to see how their conclusions compare to those of their competitors, as well as more effectively analyze, track and predict their customers’, employees’ and inventory’s behavior.
09.17.13
Energy-Related Tax Incentives Available for Manufacturers in 2013
The American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 has made significant tax savings available to businesses in the United States this year, including multiple credits for converting vehicles to natural gas power and subsidies for the use of biofuels. This article looks at these and other energy-related incentives that can help manufacturers and distributors.