by Reggie Gresham, vice president of enterprise sales, Matrix Integration It’s a big decision to outsource IT services. With cloud services, 5G, AI and machine-learning now becoming commonplace in day-to-day business and manufacturing operations, businesses ranging from small service providers to national manufacturers are evaluating the same option – whether or not to work … [Read more...] about Five Key Points CEOs Should Address in Their IT Services Contracts
2021 Issue 4
The Complexity of Machine Rates in the Plastics Processing Industry
by Ian Gjertson, analytics director, MAPP To maintain profitability and strategic advantages in an increasingly competitive industry, it is critical for injection molders to determine machine rates, track labor costs and govern markup and adjustment opportunities. However, because the plastic injection molding industry manufactures an impressively diverse volume of parts for … [Read more...] about The Complexity of Machine Rates in the Plastics Processing Industry
State of the Plastics Industry: Mostly Sunny with a Chance of Thunderstorms
by Laurie Harbour, president and CEO, Harbour Results, Inc. In 2020, if processors asked, “What would the state of the plastics industry be in 2021?” the sentiment would have been pessimistic. Many predicted the COVID-19-spurred recession to last 12 to 18 months and shutdowns and drop in consumer spending would result in many distressed businesses and industries. Business … [Read more...] about State of the Plastics Industry: Mostly Sunny with a Chance of Thunderstorms
Sales Strategies to Attract New Business
by Todd M. Zielinski, CEO, and Lisa Benson, senior marketing content consultant, Athena SWC In early 2020, when business-as-usual became a highly unusual labyrinth of challenges, rarely used words like essential, social distancing, quarantine and lockdown made headlines and littered everyday conversations. Not only did our vernacular change overnight, but the way we interact … [Read more...] about Sales Strategies to Attract New Business
2021 MAPP Benchmarking & Best Practices Conference
By Dianna Brodine, managing editor, Plastics Business Just a few minutes into the opening of the 2021 Benchmarking & Best Practices Conference, a shout interrupted MAPP Executive Director Troy Nix. “We are back!” The source was Tim Capps, MAPP Board of Directors’ president and president of Par 4 Plastics, and the sentiment was echoed by the attendees who gathered in … [Read more...] about 2021 MAPP Benchmarking & Best Practices Conference