Manufacturing Business Technology

• Career connection: Leading association offers global network for jobs and candidates search
  
  By Manufacturing Business Technology Staff, January 12, 2009
  ISPE, an association of 25,000 pharmaceutical science and manufacturing professionals, is expanding its global online Career Exchange center to include a pilot network of local Web sites that will serve pharmaceutical science and manufacturing professionals and employers.
  
  
• Staying the course: Tech-savvy companies maintain ERP investments during economic downturn
  
  Roberto Michel, senior contributing editor, January 9, 2009
    While the global economic downturn that began in late 2008 is slowing the overall ERP software market, there are some bright spots for ERP vendors.
  
• Analyst view: Niche areas are the bright spots amidst slower enterprise application sales
  
  Frank O Smith, senior contributing editor, January 8, 2009
  Even though declines in manufacturing, higher unemployment, and tightening credit took the bloom off the rose for what could have been strong single- or double-digit growth in the enterprise applications market for 2008, AMR Research sees some niche areas that promise to perform well in 2009.
  
  
• Apparel domain: Partnership promises seamless PLM-to-ERP solution, end to end
  
  By Manufacturing Business Technology Staff, January 8, 2009
  
  
• Contract to succeed: Marlin Equity becomes primary shareholder in Emptoris
  
  By Manufacturing Business Technology Staff, January 8, 2009
  
  
• Panorama polling: New report says ERP implementations take longer, cost more, yield less satisfaction
  
  By Manufacturing Business Technology Staff, January 7, 2009
  Implementing an ERP project in the estimated time, for the estimated cost, and with satisfying results is a rare occurrence. Streamlining internal planning and organizational change processes will generate a better ROI.
  
• Technology innovation: Government seeks proposals for R&D funding
  
  By Manufacturing Business Technology Staff, January 7, 2009
  The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is seeking proposals for potential areas of funded research and development addressing “critical national and societal needs considered to be “high risk, high reward.”
  
• Plan to save: Three things you can do in 2009 that cost little or no money
  
  Dr. Harpal Singh, CEO, Supply Chain Consultants, January 7, 2009
  There is no doubt that 2009 is going to be a tough year. Supply chain initiatives will be focused on cost reduction and conserving cash. Here are three ways to do it.
  
• Volatility factor: JP Morgan issues top nine global trade challenges for 2009
  
  Bernie Hart, global product executive, JP Morgan, January 7, 2009
  When considering the global trade environment in 2009, a number of potential issues can and will disrupt global supply chains, sourcing strategies, and the flow of working capital. Several of these issues are hangovers from 2008's economic turbulence, and some are just starting to develop.
  
• Electric avenue: Zero Motorcycles revs up S&OP with SaaS-ready BI
  
  Frank O Smith, senior contributing editor, January 6, 2009
  Zero Motorcycles is all about what’s changing—from its patented battery technology, electric bike design, and lightweight materials to its hybrid direct sales/independent reps go-to-market strategy. And just like its high-performance bikes, the two-year-old company is racing to add to the product line to extend market reach in 2009.
  
  
• Configure this: MicroMain teams for Facilligence for Web-based maintenance management
  
  By Manufacturing Business Technology Staff, January 6, 2009
  
  
• Chemical connection: Honeywell technology to be used to design, upgrade key Casale Group global facilities
  
  By Manufacturing Business Technology Staff, January 6, 2009
  Honeywell just won a contract to supply process simulation solutions to Casale Group, a Lugano, Switzerland-based specialist in the design and refurbishment of chemical facilities. Casale will deploy the UniSim Design Suite across its process engineering teams.
  
• Smart buy: Emerson expands its consulting capabilities with Bay-Tec acquisition
  
  By Manufacturing Business Technology Staff, January 6, 2009
  
  
• Efficient environment: Cadbury uses wireless tablets in “green” data-collection program
  
  By Manufacturing Business Technology Staff, January 6, 2009
  Cadbury, the world’s largest confectionery company, has issued tablet computers to its field staff to improve workers’ ability to collect and analyze sales data. The company says abandoning its paper-based data-collection system is part of its ongoing campaign to preserve the environment.
  
  
• Oil schmoil: Uncertainty and change comprise today’s biggest supply chain concerns
  
  Frank O Smith, senior contributing editor (fosmith@thewritinggroup.com), January 5, 2009
  Step aside, energy. A survey out of Boston-based AMR Research on supply chain risk—released early December—now puts constant change at the top of the factors list. The way to combat it all is to have fluid, flexible strategies that can help you deal with whatever comes your way.
  
• Business benefit: Five tips for transportation management excellence
  
  David Johnston, senior VP of manufacturing and wholesale distribution, JDA Software, January 5, 2009
  The challenges facing companies today in a plummeting economy are obvious: rising costs, pressure to deploy environmentally sound practices, and shifting consumer demand. So what are best-in-class companies doing to combat the issues while keeping a tight budget in mind?
  
  
• Who would best serve as an Obama Administration Tech Czar?
  
  By Manufacturing Business Technology Staff, January 5, 2009
  
  
• “Nauseating detail”: Credit index shows widespread carnage in manufacturing, service sectors
  
  By Manufacturing Business Technology Staff, January 5, 2009
  While both the services and manufacturing indexes fell to record lows to finish out 2008, and all 20 of the collective components fell below 50 as indicated by the index,  2009 may offer signs of hope for the business landscape.
  
  
• Obama's CTO: List is long for candidate tasked with mapping the nation's technology future
  
  William Atkinson, contributing editor, January 5, 2009
    Back in November 2007, around the time he visited Google’s headquarters in Mountain View, Calif., president-elect Barack Obama unveiled his technology plan. One of the elements of the plan was to appoint a chief technology officer (CTO).
  
  
• Get the facts: Product development team launches PLM software comparison Web site
  
  By Manufacturing Business Technology Staff, December 23, 2008
  A new Web site promises to save apparel and retail customers time and money selecting a product life-cycle management (PLM) solution.