Could Your Idea Be Sold at Walmart? Find Out In June

When it comes to purchasing products manufactured in America, Walmart is serious. In 2013, the company announced that they would purchase an additional $50 billion products in 10 years, even though items that are made, sourced, or grown in America already accounted for two-third of Walmart spends to buy products for their U.S. stores. So, […]

Exploding Hoverboards and Why Your Manufacturer Matters

“I feel like Hoverboard is an extension of me. I accelerate at will, stop on a dime, and carve the pavement without even trying. I’m addicted.” Maybe it’s marketing, or maybe it’s just that hoverboards look like a gadget straight from 2050, but the self-balancing scooters are one of the most popular items of 2015. […]

A Guide to Buying Products Made In Nebraska

Locally made or locally produced may not always mean what you think. In recent years, as larger corporations have “caught on” to the idea that purchasing local products may actually be more cost-efficient (it’s cheaper to buy the corn for the Kansas Wal-Mart in Kansas than have it shipped from somewhere else), buying local has […]

Is a Manufacturing Backlog a Blessing Or a Curse?

“Why Can’t L.L. Bean Keep the Darn Duck Boots in Stock?” asked a Bloomberg Business headline earlier this year when it was revealed that L.L. Bean’s infamous backlog of their eponymous shoes seemed to echo their 2014 trajectory. If you’re not one of the 100,000 people who ended up on a back-order list for the […]

Who Manufactures for the Holidays?

The holiday season, which we’re approaching rapidly, is hands-down the most massive season for commerce and production in the United States. Not only do manufacturers need to ramp up to produce for gift-giving and seasonal shoppers, but also for all of the celebrations that tend to accompany Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Hanukkah, and other seasonal holidays. […]

How to Get Started Manufacturing a Product In the U.S.A.

The good old World Wide Web, globalization, and advanced technology have made it easier than ever for entrepreneurs to take an idea from concept to production. While manufacturing may seem like an industry filled with giant factories and mass production, the reality is that if you have a dream and a product idea, you can […]

Association Works to Raise the Profile of Nebraska Manufacturing

“You don’t settle for manufacturing, you aspire to it.” Deb Franklin, vice president of human resources for Claas Manufacturing, spoke in a closed-door meeting last week with state, local, and industry stakeholders. For Claas, as well as for manufacturers in a variety of industries, part of the problem during their hiring process is that they […]

3 Manufacturers Transitioning to Made In the USA

Late last year, we mentioned on the blog that “Made in the USA” was making a comeback for several reasons. The “Made in the USA” label is still desirable in global markets, as well as at home. This is because it brings an assurance that products are made according to high production standards and with […]

The Long-Term Unemployed, What’s the Deal?

We’ve talked on the blog before about ways people who have been unemployed long-term can find jobs in the manufacturing industry: Assess your interests, look for manufacturers in your area, research local educational institutions, and finding open jobs are all important ways to get started looking. A major question for many people, though, is how […]

Welding 101

In charting the course of America’s history, it’s easy to see that welders have been there every step of the way. President Roosevelt, in a letter to Prime Minister Winston Churchill, bragged about the discovery of new welding techniques that enabled America to build ships with a speed unequaled in the history of shipbuilding. The first […]