A release from the firm of Katz, Sapper and Miller displays data on a survey done by the company that suggests a potential growth in area manufacturing despite a seemingly low number of available workers. This is more than just a sign of intent, but actual evidence of the amount of importance that local manufacturing carries to employers in this industry, as well as current stability in this area.

For example, the report asserts that companies which are cutting costs are relatively low and make up only 4 percent of the companies in this area, while a majority (70 percent) are "actively investing in capital and labor." It's one thing to have simply a solvent roster of manufacturing specialists onhand, but to see that they are interested in future developments sends a signal of true "investment": not just in the financial sense, but in the way they are committing.

This is even more important in the face of developments that might pose threats to American companies in general and the economy as a whole. Using specialized software for manufacturing can allow your company to identify what it can do to be part of this "fertile ground" for future manufacturing efforts.

Mark Frohlich, a professor of the IU School of Business, a collaborator on the study, noted that overall, the results suggest a possible bright future for manufacturing in the state.

"Our findings from this year's survey show cause for optimism, as Hoosier manufacturers continue to invest and grow," he said.

It's not just about what you're doing as a business, but what you're planning to do. The right manufacturing software solutions can be a way to connect to a larger and similarly minded business community.