By Andrew Carlsgaard, benchmarking and analytics director, MAPP At the beginning of 2025, the United States plastics manufacturing industry is signaling recovery and growth. After several years of new economic challenges since the onset of the pandemic, including inflationary pressures and supply chain disruptions, optimism is on the horizon as the US manufacturing industry … [Read more...] about Plastics Industry Leaders’ Forecast Improved for 2025 in Spite of Challenges to End 2024
Business Planning
ERP and MES: The Importance of Data-Driven Software in Plastics
By Lindsey Munson, editor, Plastics Business For plastics processors, data evaluation is crucial to the functioning properties across the entire company, and with that, there are several prominent options in data management and monitoring systems. For this article, the focus is on enterprise resource planning (ERP) and manufacturing execution system (MES) software, and how, … [Read more...] about ERP and MES: The Importance of Data-Driven Software in Plastics
Outlook for 2025: Trends, Challenges and Investments in Plastics
By Lindsey Munson, editor, Plastics Business With 2025 knocking at the door, the plastics industry is ready to turn the page by building on the momentum of the last year, maneuvering market demands, establishing relationships and strategically planning for the year ahead. There is cautious optimism among plastics processors, who likely will face challenges of economic … [Read more...] about Outlook for 2025: Trends, Challenges and Investments in Plastics
Reducing Waste and Maximizing Efficiency in Manufacturing
By Steve Bieszczat, chief marketing officer, DELMIAWorks When processors and manufacturers think about conserving valuable resources, they are not only considering energy; they’re also looking at raw materials, time and people. The following are three real-world examples of how companies are using their manufacturing enterprise resource (ERP) systems to reduce waste while … [Read more...] about Reducing Waste and Maximizing Efficiency in Manufacturing
Effective Leadership Planning for NextGen Succession
By Lindsey Munson, editor, Plastics Business “If you can’t be replaced, you can’t be promoted,” are words that resonate with leaders. This quote stands as a simple reminder and sound advice to those seeking a leadership role or being a “succession” – on-the-job training and sharing processes and procedures are critical components to reaching the next step on the ladder. … [Read more...] about Effective Leadership Planning for NextGen Succession