When it comes to the manufacturing industry, there is no shortage of challenges that can cause organizations to stumble. However, after falling on hard times because of the economic downturn, the market has experienced strong growth, according to a recent Motley Fool article.

"After a remarkable recovery from the depths of the recession, the manufacturing sector continues to thrive in America," the article reads. "Recent data shows that the U.S. trade deficit sank to its lowest level in four years in November. Meanwhile, industrial stocks have climbed 183% over the past five years, and experts believe that manufacturing will fully recover to pre-recession levels by the end of 2014."

The article goes on to talk about several major challenges that will be a factor in the manufacturing industry in 2014. Many of these are continuations of things that are already affecting the market. These include:

• Rise of reshoring in the U.S.
• Natural gas revolution
• 3D printing boom
• Debut of the industrial internet
• Lingering "skills gap"
• U.S. trade deficit
• High-tech materials like carbon fiber

These areas will not cause splashed overnight, but instead be a series of ripples that will be felt in many different ways. Regardless, it is something that should not be ignored by businesses.

Companies should use this as motivation to upgrade their operations and make sure they are ready for any changes that could be coming down the pipeline. One way to do this is through the use of manufacturing business software and ERP solutions, which can improve efficiency and provide better insight into overall operations.