Manufacturing and Supply Chain 2016: A Year In Review

From the rise of automation on the shop floor to foreign and domestic political changes impacting the status quo, 2016 has been a whirlwind year for the manufacturing and supply chain industries. Fortunately, we’ve been keeping a pulse on the industry throughout the year.

Want a recap of everything that happened? Here are 16 of our top stories from 2016.

Breaking Into The New Year With New Opportunities
As the calendar flipped from 2015 to 2016, manufacturers found themselves facing new challenges. But if approached correctly, these challenges could become opportunities for growth. Top 3 U.S. Manufacturing Challenges (and Opportunities) in 2016

Reshoring Makes Waves
In 2016, reshoring became a hot topic, as more companies began to bring jobs back to the U.S. In our blog post, we outlined the reasons why the trend has gained steam.
6 Benefits of Reshoring in 2016

The Next Generation Of Supply Chain Excellence Is Introduced
Every year, THOMASNET.com proudly partners with the Institute For Supply Management to sponsor the 30 Under 30 Rising Supply Chain Stars program, which shines a spotlight on young professionals for their commitment, creativity and contributions to supply chain. In February, we introduced the world to the 30 Under 30 Class of 2015.
Introducing the Next Wave of Supply Chain Excellence

Manufacturing & Supply Chain Remained On The Cutting Edge
In a study of the top 50 emerging technologies expected to transform the world, many were part of the manufacturing and supply chain industries. Find out which technologies made the list.
Six Technical Trends That Are Reshaping Manufacturing

The Supply Chain Industry Learned New Best Practices At ISM 2016
Thousands of supply chain pros gathered in Indianapolis for ISM2016, the premier networking and learning event for procurement. We were there, and we recapped all of the action in Indy.
ISM 2016 Recap

Working In Manufacturing Remained Great
There are many awesome reasons to work in manufacturing, and we took a fresh look at the reasons why people love being a part of the industry.
The 7 Reasons It’s Great To Work In Manufacturing

We Celebrated Independence Day - And The Independent American Manufacturer
American manufacturers contribute so much to our country, so on the Fourth of July, we gave them the recognition they deserve.
Celebrating The Independent American Manufacturer

The IoT Became A Key Component Of The Supply Chain, And A Challenge To Overcome
The Internet of Things is becoming an increasingly prominent part of our lives, and it’s also becoming an increasingly prominent part of the supply chain. However, there are some roadblocks that are holding procurement teams back.
3 Roadblocks to IoT Adoption In The Supply Chain

The World Got A Lesson In Logistics At The Summer Games In Rio
The Summer Games in Rio had more than 10,500 athletes from 200 countries, but those numbers pale in comparison to the scale of the logistics operation that was unfolding behind the scenes. Discover the strategies the organizing committee in Rio used to produce make the games happen.
5 Supply Chain Lessons We Can Learn From The Summer Games In Rio

The Supply Chain Got Social
What were procurement professionals talking about on social media in 2016? Procurious, the world's first online business network for procurement and supply chain professionals, provided a snapshot of the five biggest topics.
5 Topics U.S. Procurement Professionals Are Talking About On Social Media Right Now

American Manufacturers Moved Into New Markets Through Exporting
As American manufacturers try to expand their businesses, exporting offers a golden opportunity to expand into new markets. However, as a result of negative myths and misconceptions, many manufacturers don't take advantage of the opportunity.  
Debunking 7 Common Exporting Myths & Misconceptions

A Cybersecurity Attack Put The Supply Chain On Notice
In October, an unprecedented cyberattack crippled many popular websites including Twitter, Netflix, PayPal and Reddit. We broke down the nature of the attack to help you take a proactive approach to cybersecurity.
Can A DDoS Attack Impact The Supply Chain?

Manufacturers Took To The Polls On Election Day
Every vote counted in the 2016 election, and we encouraged manufacturers to get out and vote. Manufacturing Vote Will Make The Difference On Election Day

Veterans Day Hit Close To Home For Many Manufacturers
The manufacturing industry is filled with veterans who served their countries before serving their careers, and each one has a story to tell. This past Veterans Day, we shared the story of  Richard McCarthy, a manufacturer and veteran of World War II.
A Veteran's Manufacturing Story

Manufacturers Got A New Way To Connect With Buyers
Industrial marketers know that the buying cycle can be lengthy, and staying top of mind can be difficult. However evaluation driven retargeting could be the solution to connecting to more buyers.
Is This Digital Marketing Approach The Secret To Connecting With More Buyers?

The Manufacturing Workforce Experienced Ups And Downs
One of the major indicators of the strength of the manufacturing industry is the strength of the manufacturing workforce. In 2016, hiring ended on a positive note.
Manufacturing Industry Jobs Update: November 2016

We look forward to keeping you in the know in 2017. If you’re not already a subscriber, sign up for our newsletter and never miss a story!