by Gene Mussel, director, Harbour Results, Inc. Today, plastic processors have many challenges to manage to maintain a successful business – from raw material price increases to labor shortages – and, several of these issues are out of leadership’s control. However, one opportunity to drive efficiency and profitability improvement – and can be controlled – is the relationship … [Read more...] about Techniques for a Successful Mold-Building Partnership
Economy
China’s Threat to Itself and the World
by Chris Kuehl, managing director, Armada Corporate Intelligence The data that has come pouring from China of late points to a real economic crisis, the worst the nation has experienced in decades. The slump in the second quarter took the economy to a contraction of 2.6% from the first quarter and the annual growth rate was a pathetic 0.4%. This affects the entire global … [Read more...] about China’s Threat to Itself and the World
What Are the Real Threats to the Economy?
by Chris Kuehl, managing director, Armada Corporate Intelligence Is the sky falling? Are we all doomed? Are we on the cusp of stagflation or hyper-inflation? Is this the beginning of the worst recession since the 1930s? The short answer is… No. The frothy coverage of the economy has been an exercise in extremes, and one has to wonder why – especially when we look at the … [Read more...] about What Are the Real Threats to the Economy?
What is Going On, and Why?
by Chris Kuehl, managing director, Armada Corporate Intelligence The consumer is seeing all manner of inflation lately – as seen in the media. That tends to obscure the kind of inflation the manufacturing sector is experiencing. The Producer Price Index jumped by more than 10% in 2021, and that is a surge not seen in years. Much of that can be attributed to oil and energy … [Read more...] about What is Going On, and Why?
Adapting to and Overcoming New and Recurring Challenges in 2022
by Ian Gjertson, analytics director, MAPP The past two years featured numerous challenges and controversy as the world has tried (and continues to try) to adapt to and overcome the COVID-19 pandemic. Fortunately, according to the 195 plastics processing companies that participated in MAPP’s 22nd annual State of the Plastics Industry Report, which benchmarks 2021 performance … [Read more...] about Adapting to and Overcoming New and Recurring Challenges in 2022