The Thomas Blog

How Will Millennials Influence the Future of Purchasing?

Whether you like it or not, millennials are coming into the supply chain and are beginning to be the employees in charge of purchasing. Millennial purchasing habits still present a challenge, but UPS recently released the Industrial Buyer Survey giving insight to the habits of the "buyers of the future.” 

Where is Your Thanksgiving Meal Coming From: A Look at US Food Manufacturing

It’s that time of year again — family comes together, entertainment is in abundance, and food is shared. 

And speaking of food, the newest Food Manufacturing Industry Report lists the eight U.S. states that have the highest added value to the food manufacturing industry. So we took a look at the United States Department of Agriculture State Export Data for what exactly we can be thankful for. The results for each state are below. 

Can the Internet Of Things Solve the Talent Gap?

As an industry, we talk about the talent gap all the time. We talk about how to fill the gap with millennials. We cry out about how robots are stealing our jobs. And we go back and forth between our lack of people and metallic replacements that we don’t stop to find the solution needle in the proverbial haystack.

The 4 Newest Material Innovations You Should Know About

We like to talk about innovation, but in an industry of builders and makers, we’re limited by one thing: to make something tangible, we need materials. 

We don’t often highlight the foundation to building new products, never mind the sometimes revolutionary impact they may have on the world. So here are the latest innovations in materials that may shape how we build the future.

The Rodon Group on How to Manufacture A Perfect Plastic Part

“Perfect” is not a word that is thrown around very often. It implies upmost precision, unyielding quality, and repeatable functionality. So when an industry expert such as The Rodon Group imparts knowledge on how to manufacture the perfect plastic part, it’s time to sit up and listen. And according to Rodon, the Pennsylvania-based high-volume plastic injection molder, the way to do this is by following these four factors.

Technology That Can Improve Safety In Manufacturing and the Supply Chain

Whether you think technology is making our lives simpler or more dangerous, it is undoubtedly pushing the capabilities of humanity forward. In the right hands, it has been making the world a safer place to live in.

Technology has the ability to keep us — and our industry — safe. 

The Top 5 Stories from Manufacturing Day 2015

Every beginning of October, manufacturers across North America dust off their shops and open their doors to the world for Manufacturing Day. From grass root political efforts to educating students on the lifeblood of the country, the day also kicks off Manufacturing Month, which continues to celebrate everything the industry does for the country and the economy.

Industry Growth You Need to Know About

Manufacturing is a rollercoaster industry, with prophets and doomsayers focused on the tiny bumps and dips at every turn. But at the end of the day, the industry is showing signs of growth. 

The Internet of Things is a Buzzword, and Millennials Love Buzzwords

I know — this is just another article on the Internet of Things amidst a sea of articles on the Internet of Things. Just hear me out.