The economic recession hit many industries hard throughout the country, and businesses are just now beginning to pick up the pieces and get back on track. One sector that has suffered significantly over the past few years is manufacturing, and recovery is still ongoing for the many companies that fall under this industry. Employment levels are low and production is at a sluggish but steady growth. To help improve operations and pull themselves out of the post-recession slump, businesses are looking to implement manufacturing management software to have more control over their processes. Companies are also using these systems to ensure they follow all regulations pertaining to manufacturing compliance, as violations can have negative consequences for firms and set them even further back.
Bright spot on the manufacturing horizon
For many industries, things are starting to look up and companies are regaining their confidence as new investments and additional hiring efforts are being made. This includes the manufacturing sector, and the Connecticut Business News Journal recently highlighted the future of the state's industry, which could be indicative of the nation's manufacturing situation as a whole. Overall, manufacturing jobs have been steady over the past few years, coming in at an approximate total of 165,000. Output has also been boosted, and research from the University of Connecticut found that between 1990 and 2007, this aspect increased by more than half. Per worker, the average manufacturing output was at $57,900 in 1990. By 2007, that number grew to $135,800, representing a 134 percent jump.
The industry, both in the state and across the nation, has been implementing technological solutions which have helped boost operations and improve efficiency. This growth is expected to continue in 2013, as these systems are increasingly adopted by manufacturers.
"The factory floor isn't the noisy, grimy workshop it once was," said Steven Lanza, an economist with the University of Connecticut. "Manufacturing has become far more technologically advanced, requiring sophisticated machines and computers operated by highly trained and skilled workers."
Worker shortage seen by manufacturers
Despite this positive news for the nation's manufacturing industry, the Strategic Sourceror reports that there is a lack of available skilled workers throughout the country. The source cites research from the Manufacturing Institute, which found that around 600,000 manufacturing positions are currently unfilled.
To help deal with this shortage, companies can use manufacturing technology to improve their production processes, increase efficiency, boost output and perform a variety of other operational processes.
