Former president Bill Clinton answered questions through Bloomberg Businessweek that were posed by U.S. civic and business leaders. When asked about the state of manufacturing in America, Clinton explained that it is a critical industry for any nation to have.

In the U.S. alone, manufacturing accounts for over 80 percent of the exports and 90 percent of the patents, Clinton said, citing information from the U.S. International Trade Commission and the Department of Commerce. Additionally, it is a jobs multiplier, as every manufacturing position created adds 4.6 jobs to support it.

"We do have continuing challenges," Clinton said. "They include training our workforce to meet the needs of a 21st century manufacturing sector; developing and delivering new manufactured products to domestic and global markets; and maintaining and improving our innovation culture."

The former president added that workers with significant training and the right skills must be hired for the manufacturing industry to thrive. Other countries have workforce pipelines that offer apprenticeships and fine-tuned university programs. If the United States fails to keep pace with technology, and ensure that prospective employees have the tools to keep themselves educated on evolving systems, it runs the risk of losing its competitive advantage—something that a strong manufacturing sector can give to a nation's economy.

Companies that have the right software business solutions can ensure that they have the ability to keep pace with changing technologies. Manufacturing software solutions will help businesses stay organized and give their employees the right tools to be able to contribute effectively. 

Any type of expansion, including bringing on more employees, could be a reason for manufacturing firms to reevaluate their software. Partnering with a systems provider can guarantee that the right solution is found for a business' needs.