By Liz Stevens, writer, Plastics Business Many Manufacturers Association for Plastics Processors (MAPP) members are in the vanguard of companies exploring, embracing and implementing advanced automation in plastics processing. One outstanding MAPP member is striving to build new functionality from proven technologies to make immediate improvements in its productivity and … [Read more...] about APMC Automates with Integrated Innovations
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From Chaos to Control: How MAPP Members Are Taking Charge of MRO Spending with Grainger
By Shelby Lasley, GPO Director, MAPP In the world of manufacturing, most companies can quickly identify their biggest cost drivers: labor, raw materials and energy. But tucked behind the scenes, in storerooms and tool cribs, lurks a category that often goes unnoticed until something breaks – maintenance, repair and operations (MRO) supplies. More than 40% of MRO purchases … [Read more...] about From Chaos to Control: How MAPP Members Are Taking Charge of MRO Spending with Grainger
Four Drivers of the 2026 Economy
By Chris Kuehl, managing director, Armada Corporate Intelligence To be fair, there likely are many additional drivers depending on the industry and line of business, but for this article, the focus is on the four drivers that stand out for the economy as a whole. These four drivers include: In many cases, there isn’t much a business can do about these drivers other … [Read more...] about Four Drivers of the 2026 Economy
Top 5 Thoughts on Implementing AI in Manufacturing
By Liz Stevens, writer, Plastics Business Artificial intelligence (AI) is on the rise, again. The discipline began in the 1950s but fell out of favor in the 1970s. In the 1980s, AI became popular again, with expert systems that contained comprehensive knowledge in fields like law and medicine. Once more, however, AI fell out of favor. Now in its third incarnation, begun in the … [Read more...] about Top 5 Thoughts on Implementing AI in Manufacturing
Manufacturers See Wage Uptick Despite Lower Yearly Inflation: 2025 Wage and Salary Report
By Andrew Carlsgaard, analytics director, MAPP The 2025 MAPP Wage and Salary Report continues to reflect the impact of heightened inflation on wages and salaries across the US workforce. The survey results of 196 manufacturing organizations representing approximately 28,000 employees show an increasingly prevalent upward trend: 65 of the 73 industry job categories (89%) … [Read more...] about Manufacturers See Wage Uptick Despite Lower Yearly Inflation: 2025 Wage and Salary Report