With everything that has happened in the past few months, it is no surprise that the economy is on nearly everyone's mind, topping the list of concerns for manufacturers and distributors in the annual MDM Reader Survey. The collapse of financial markets and continued tightening of credit has added to the stress of everyday business.
 
It's enough for me to manage my own company but now I must analyze my bank's financials on an ongoing basis,"wrote one industrial distributor in the survey.
 
The next 12 to 18 months will be tough for many in the industry, says Brent Grover, CEO of Evergreen Consulting: "Demand is weak, margins are squeezed and most companies are faced with costly excess capacity."
 
The U.S. government hopes that recently passed ...