Article contends companies need more flexibility than long-term planning allows, but there may be a flaw to this thinking.
Posts By Jenel Stelton-Holtmeier
Distributors are looking for ways to better manage and communicate with talent in the 'new normal.'
Association is calling on all distributors to donate supplies for rebuilding efforts.
It's tough to plan for rehiring when the economic outlook remains muddled.
MDM readers say they are prepared to do "more with less" as they move into what could be the start of a recovery. This article looks at current job growth expectations across industries, as well as signs to look for that indicate it may be time to start hiring again.
With recovery now making headlines more than recession, attention has shifted toward what that recovery could look like. Debate continues over when the U.S. and global economies will rebound, but a dominant belief is that when recovery does occur, one thing it may be lacking is jobs.
Distributors and manufacturers are planning to do "more with less" in 2010, according to the results of MDM's annual Reader Survey conducted in December. More than a third …
After a year of uncertainty, 3M is looking forward to a year of recovery, though the pace of recovery will be "patchy and slow," according to President and CEO George W. Buckley. Buckley addressed analysts and investors at the 3M 2010 Outlook meeting earlier this month.
"2010 will be a year of separation: The strong will get stronger, and the weak won't," Buckley said. "This will be a time when real market share transfers could begin."
Sales for the St. Paul, MN-based diversified manufacturer have …
MDM's list of the biggest players in the merger & acquisition landscape for 2009, including W. W. Grainger and Motion Industries.
More companies - such as 3M - are changing their tone about integrating green and alternative energy into their business plans.
Whatever your feelings on "green," many distributors have increased their focus in this area, finding profitable growth at a time when growth is hard to find. MDM spoke with expert Bill Bean, who said companies interested in pursuing this growth opportunity need to go beyond just labeling products "green"; the change should be part of a strategic plan.
Even as more distributors and manufacturers are entering into "green" markets, several questions remain as to whether green is the right way to expand, and if now, given current conditions, is the right time to explore the new markets.
"Business is tough right now," says Bill Bean, president of Green Planning & Coaching. "I find myself telling people that there is no new business in traditional markets today, only someone else's business. …
ISM semiannual survey indicates many manufacturers expect to continue supplier consolidation.
Federal Reserve Districts report manufacturing conditions holding steady or improving.
Go back to basics to improve cash flow: Better manage A/R.
Vendor Managed Inventory services are gaining ground. This article considers the challenges to implementing managed inventory programs, whether a manufacturer or a distributor is providing VMI to customer. MDM spoke to Fastenal and Updike Supply, as well as inventory expert Jon Schreibfeder and two vendors to gain perspective on current trends in VMI.
With uncertainty dominating the economic landscape, companies are continuing to look for ways to cut costs. Many have already cut staff and production to levels not experienced in decades. They have outsourced tasks that could be done for less outside of the firm. But what about inventory management?
More customers are showing interest in using inventory management services from their suppliers, according to those who supply those services. Many larger public distributors …
The Stanley Works and Black & Decker have recently announced they are merging to form an $8.4 billion manufacturer. The deal, which the companies insist is not due to economic conditions, seems to be getting a positive response from channels the suppliers serve. Still, distributors are watching the manufacturers closely as they move toward closing the deal in the first half of 2010.
While the initial announcement came as a surprise to many, the merger of The Stanley Works (NYSE: SWK), New Britain, CT, and The Black & Decker Corp. (NYSE: BDK), Towson, MD, also made sense to many with interests in …
The tool manufacturers have done their due diligence.
Filing adds another layer of uncertainty to an already uncertain recovery.
This article looks at one way wholesaler-distributors of all sizes are saving money and boosting their bottom lines: by renegotiating leases. The author looks at why it's a good time to renegotiate, where to start when renegotiating lease terms, and what to offer in return for lower rates.
When the real estate market crumbled, the market price for leasing business space also took a hit. Yet most companies continued to pay the higher rates because they were locked into leases.
That was the case for KAR Industrial …
Beige Book: Manufacturing and residential real estate lead gains.
