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Manufacturing in the Summer: The High Costs of Heat

Manufacturing in the Summer: The High Costs of Heat

As temperatures continue to rise and the Southwest experiences 120-130 degree F days it looks as if we are in for a rough and hot summer. July and August are notoriously uncomfortable months for factory workers, and hot temperatures can have a gruesome effect on the health and productivity of those in the manufacturing industry. As plant owners and managers struggle to keep their workers cool, sweltering conditions in large facilities…

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Are Your Salary Expectations Realistic?

Are Your Salary Expectations Realistic?

If you work hard & have an impressive string of accomplishments under your belt, you reasonably should be paid your worth yet a recent study suggests American workers are paid less than their expectations. Of the 1,501 adults surveyed by the American Psychological Association, over 50 percent reported back that they were inadequately paid. Salaries are without question a major factor when searching for a new source of employment but…

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By the Numbers: Manufacturing in 2012

By the Numbers: Manufacturing in 2012

Manufacturing is still considered to be one of the largest industries in the world. As of 2012, the manufacturing industry contributed $1.87 trillion to the US economy, making up 11.9% of the total GDP. Over 17.2 million workers, or 1 in 6 in the private sector, are directly employed in the manufacturing industry. With these numbers of workers in the US, combined with countless others all across the globe, the amount of goods that were…

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Baby Boomers Leaving the Workplace

Baby Boomers Leaving the Workplace

America’s work force will soon experience significant changes as the oldest baby boomers celebrate their 65th birthdays this year. According to the Oregon Employment Law Letter, nearly 70 million people will retire within the next decade which guarantees massive impacts on several industries across the country.  A nationwide study conducted by inc.com revealed that only 33% of the 578 surveyed organizations have researched how the change…

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The Missing Piece of American Manufacturing: Clean Energy

The Missing Piece of American Manufacturing: Clean Energy

Can you guess which country invested $65.1 billion in the clean energy market during 2012? Definitely not the United States. China, one of the leading wind turbine makers and home to the world’s top nine solar producers, holds that distinction and is gung ho about closing the domestic clean energy gap ahead of its Western competitors. The United States, whose investments decreased to $35.6 billion, is quickly shrinking to the size of a blip…

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“Tell Me About Yourself”: Answering the First Interview Question

“Tell Me About Yourself”: Answering the First Interview Question

There is no question that is more open-ended during an interview than “tell me about yourself.”  Interviewers ask this as an easy introduction to the conversation and really aren’t looking for any specific answer.  It is essentially a hiring manager’s way of passing his turn and letting you make the first move.  Because it asks something so personal of you there really is no right answer.  However there are certain answers to…

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Are You Buying American Made?

Are You Buying American Made?

If you’re a member of the manufacturing industry, your job is reliant upon whether people at home & abroad are willing to buy American made goods. The infinitesimal wages of workers in China, India, and other third world countries have given companies incentives to move their operations overseas for decades but none of that would be possible without the consent of consumer & commercial customers. So, are you buying American…

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Durable Goods Continue to Rise

Durable Goods Continue to Rise

New orders for manufactured durable goods rose again in May, continuing an upward trend that was started in April of this year.  According to the advance report put out by the US Department of Commerce, orders for US durable goods increased by 3.6% to $231 billion, a number that is predicted to rise even higher in the coming months. This is good news for the reviving manufacturing industry, which saw an increase of 3.3% in durable goods for the…

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6 Things You Have to Know Before An Interview

6 Things You Have to Know Before An Interview

Any experienced job seeker will tell you to never go into a job interview without having done all of the proper research. It would be akin to taking a road trip without any preparation – no luggage, no hotel reservations, and no points of interest – except for plugging the coordinates into a GPS seconds before you put the key in the ignition. Sure, you might physically make it to the end but will you have done anything worthwhile in…

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Is Sustainable Manufacturing in the Cards?

Is Sustainable Manufacturing in the Cards?

Is your company going green yet?  Whether you think climate change is a serious concern, or shrug it off as a bad case of paranoia, the topic is here to stay.  Industry professionals – whether by actions of goodwill or steady pressure from the EPA – are focused on going green.  While the specific effects of sustainable manufacturing remain controversial, companies are nonetheless attempting to latch on to its principal…

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