Manufacturing Business Technology - February 1, 2009

Once considered to be of interest only to “tree huggers,” sustainable or green business practices are more widely embraced now by companies. But it’s not sheer concern for the environment that’s driving these initiatives. Instead, companies are discovering that business practices that preserve the planet’s future can pay substantial financial dividends today.

• Columnists
• In Perspective
• Bill Polk: Brains and brawn: Manufacturing has a future in the U.S.
• Julie Fraser: New-year project: Make global supply chains less risky
• Cindy Jutras: Collaboration calling: Work together now to set proper expectations
• Viewpoint
• Sidney Hill, Jr.: It will take more than a financial bailout to recharge the U.S. auto industry

• Computing Infrastructure
• Google eyes the enterprise
• Efficient environment: Cadbury uses wireless tablets in “green” data-collection program

• Emerging Technology
• Household name: Lifetime Brands embraces BI solution to view data, perfect pricing
• Chemical suppliers streamline SC data exchange using Integration-as-a-Service platform
• New insight: Quality application sets up visual cues for process flow integrity

• Enterprise/Supply Chain
• Filling the gaps in S&OP
• Seeing the signs: Hillman Group reaps the value of EDI as a managed service

• Industry Spotlight: Global Sourcing
• Industry Spotlight: Global Sourcing

• Product Engineering
• A digital transformation: 3D virtual prototypes shrink development cycles for complex products
• Product development in 3D
• Robust VPN keeps apparel maker ahead of the fashion curve

• Views From the Front
• Staying the course: Tech-savvy companies maintain ERP investments during economic downturn
• Survey says access to IT and training is big incentive to switch manufacturing jobs