Top Ten Manufacturing Trends For 2009 Predicted

IndustryWeek (2/3, Parker) – Manufacturing Insights' "top ten predictions for manufacturing" in 2009 include the greater exploitation of "existing tangible and, especially, intangible assets to ride out the financial crisis and prepare for recovery," that "companies will realize...given the challenging economic environment," that the effective management of manufacturing assets "can be a significant competitive weapon," and that "investments in digital manufacturing (preparation), modern execution platforms, product performance, and manufacturing intelligence will come together to begin to support the factory network of the future." Parker added that "technology will continue to deliver productivity gains and serve as a key element in surviving recession and preparing for recovery." Hat tip: NAM