The Thomas Blog

Don’t Let The Purchase Of New Equipment Drag You Into A Sinkhole

A common misstep among less-seasoned manufacturers is overleveraging themselves on new equipment in the well-intentioned effort to increase capacity. As veteran shop owners know, investing in new equipment can actually be a risky move and be a hindrance to your goals if administered incorrectly.

Introducing the Next Wave of Supply Chain Excellence

During the time you have spent in the industry, have you been able to deliver over $10 Million in cost savings? How about spearheading an entirely new global distribution model? Were you an integral component of a startup’s growth? It’s okay if you weren’t. 

3 Profiles Manufacturing Marketers Should Have

very supplier wants to be in front of as many buyers as possible. So how do you stand out from all the other suppliers vying for the same contacts and customers that you are?

Making Manufacturing Cool Again

When people ask me what industry I work in, they’re usually surprised to learn that it’s manufacturing. Why? I’m a New York City native who never learned any sort of manufacturing skills. I went to school for publishing and print, and then received a job at a marketing agency. But then I found myself at THOMASNET, a company steeped in manufacturing and supply chain history.

And it’s here, writing for all of you every week, where I discovered something — manufacturing is incredibly cool.

Answers to 5 of your Burning Questions About Space Exploration

To infinity and beyond!

That was the mantra for everyone who grew up watching a bunch of ragtag toys explore a foreign world. The battle cry for the children who wanted to grow up and be astronauts. And over the last couple of years, the U.S. seems to be reinvesting in the same exploratory wonder we had when we landed on the moon.

5 Breakthroughs Manufacturing the Future of Medical Science

Medicine has come a long way from where it started. We have cured crippling diseases, eradicated plagues, and extended our average lifespan by decades. Pharmaceuticals are owed a lot for the medical breakthroughs that grant us these miracles, from development to distribution. 

But in the 21st century, we have the ability to meld science and technology to open up a new world of disease prevention. Just over the last couple of months promising developments have broken through. So let’s take a look at the medicine of the future.

Grow Your Business By Diversifying

Diversifying your business and expanding into new markets can open up new revenue streams while making you less dependent on a single customer or industry.

However, expanding into new markets often requires a lot of time and a lot of money, and many shop owners are reluctant to make that commitment. In addition, when business is good, expansion can seem like a luxury rather than a necessity, and it quickly drops to the last item on a to-do list.

Women in Manufacturing — Q&A with Wyoming Machine Co-Presidents Lori and Traci Tapani

A family business that has diversified their company to ensure long term success. A women-owned sheet metal fabrication manufacturer whose co-presidents are active in the community. Role models for men and women everywhere, operating in a changing industry while staying true to themselves.

Talking Toys with K’NEX Product Designer Heather Croston

This holiday season, we hope that you’re considering gifting STEM toys to the children in your lives. Here at Thomas, we always admire toys that teach, but have you ever wondered how these wonderful toys were designed in the first place?