Manufacturing And Warehousing IT News For VARs — October, 6, 2014
By Trisha Leon, contributing writer
In the news, SMEs can benefit from mobile, social, and cloud solutions. Also, technology is updating the public’s perception of manufacturing, and President Obama emphasizes manufacturing’s contribution to economic growth.
Article Stresses ROI Of Mobile, Social, And Cloud For SMEs
An article in Manufacturers Monthly, “Small Business Is Missing The Mobile, Social, Cloud Revolution,” details four main ways in which SMEs can capitalize on these technologies. Many SMEs have been slow to implement these solutions. The ones that do, however experience faster growth, generate more profit, and create more jobs. According to the article, becoming a part of the information technology revolution has far-reaching benefits. It states, “When a firm becomes more efficient, the owners of that firm benefit most. When many firms become more efficient, customers benefit, because firms compete.” VARs can look for ways to make these technological tools more accessible to their SME clients, thus prompting efficiency and growth.
Dispelling The Notion That Manufacturing Isn’t High-Tech
Industry Week magazine would like to set the record straight about manufacturing— it is a high-tech industry. Not all are convinced, but with recent advents in 3D printing, robotics, wearable computing, and the iPad, “suddenly manufacturing is not only accessible and understandable to the general public, it is exciting to them.” By incorporating this new, amazing technology into manufacturing, the industry can finally shake off that dusty old image and step into the limelight. According to Industry Week, “The benefits go beyond reducing costs and speeding production, making U.S. manufacturing more competitive in the world market.” These new technologies put to use alongside IT solutions like mobile and cloud computing, can thrust manufacturing into a new age. And there’s nothing old-fashioned about that.
President Points Out Manufacturing’s Contribution To Economic Growth
President Barak Obama has emphasized the importance of the manufacturing sector and its gains which have created jobs and aided the economy to move forward since the Great Recession. A Manufacturing.net article, “Obama Highlights Nation’s Manufacturing Gains,” reports that during a visit to a steel manufacturer, Obama will promote his pocketbook policies as the congressional elections enter their final month. The President has focused on American manufacturing in recent months and made a push to encourage the industry’s growth. According to Manufacturing.net, “The U.S. economy has created 700,000 manufacturing jobs since its low point of 11.45 million jobs in February 2010.”
Construction Spending Decreases In August
Industrial Distribution reports that according to the Associated Press, “U.S. construction spending fell in August.” Though all sectors took a hit, economists remain optimistic about growth through the rest of the year. Barclays economist, Michael Grapen, mentions that though the third quarter numbers have not been initially strong, he is still encouraged about the gains in single-family homes and apartment construction. The article states, “The economy rebounded in the April-June quarter, growing at an annual rate of 4.6 percent, the best showing in more than two years. Part of the rebound reflected a recovery in residential construction, which grew at an annual rate of 8.8 percent in the spring, the first positive growth after two quarters of declines.” The predictions are that the construction sector will continue to grow, supporting overall economic growth, despite this dip in spending.
Manufacturing IT Talking Points
Info World reports in an article, “Google’s Physical Web Wants To Link All The Smart ‘Things’,” that Google has introduced a new project called the “Physical Web,” which proposes the creation of “interaction on demand.” What is interaction on demand? Presumably it is the ability of any smart device to communicate with other smart devices. According to Google, “People should be able to walk up to any smart device — a vending machine, a poster, a toy, a bus stop, a rental car — and not have to download an app first (to interact). Everything should be just a tap away.” Using Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), the Physical Web would transmit to users nearby devices available for use. Scott Jenson, author of the Physical Web documentation has indicated that the idea is still in the experimental phase. But this sort of technology could improve ease of use for many smart device users.
For more news and insights, visit BSMinfo’s Manufacturing And Warehousing Tech Center.