Indiana manufacturers possibly harmed by state’s lack of recycling

In a highly digital age, the manufacturing sector is no different from other industries when it comes to integrating the latest technologies. Having strong manufacturing software solutions can not only help companies integrate things like cloud computing, but also assist them in offering clients the best options.

Sometimes though, a combination of adjustments is needed for a business to be profitable. According to one Indiana group, a lack of a recycling program is hindering the state's manufacturing industry.

Carey Hamilton, executive director of the Indiana Recycling Coalition, spoke at the Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission's Environmental Management Policy Committee meeting last Thursday. According to The Times of Northwest Indiana, Hamilton said that the state needs strong recycling legislation, as it will help manufacturing companies and residents. 

"Manufacturers in a manufacturing state want recycled versus raw materials because they save so much on their energy costs," Hamilton said. "There are 60 manufacturers that use recycled materials in Indiana. We're just not serving those companies well."

Jeff Langbehn, executive director of the Lake County Solid Waste Management District, told the news source that many companies have a strong demand for better recycling programs, but the private and municipal sectors have not demonstrated such will. Langbehn said that until Indianapolis has a unified approach, it will be much more difficult to move forward and ensure that businesses can remain cost-effective while recycling.  

Partnering with an Indiana business management software systems provider can help companies find the best options that can keep their business profitable. That way, as organizations look to move forward and have efficient manufacturing software solutions, they can stay ahead of the competition.

Indiana’s manufacturing market receives words of encouragement from local senator

Indiana's prowess in the manufacturing industry has gained the attention of some powerful people as of late. 

The state has been viewed as a leader in the effort to recharge the domestic manufacturing market, something that many politicians have been desperately calling for following the financial crisis that hindered industry growth for most of the last five years. U.S. Senator Dan Coats, a Republican from Indiana, spoke on the strength of the market and praised Indiana manufacturers for their hard work helping the industry grow on a local level.

We're a manufacturing state and to see us coming back now from a pretty big dip is pretty encouraging and so I've been very supportive of whatever we can do to promote manufacturing because it's so important to the state of Indiana," Coats said to a number of local business owners who gathered to greet him at Wabash National, a manufacturer of semi-truck trailers located in Lafayette. 

Coats was rewarded for his enthusiasm in the local industry, receiving the National Association of Manufacturers' Award for Manufacturing Legislative Excellence. As a vocal supporter of Indiana's efforts, Coats is being viewed as a symbolic figure in the rapidly expanding market. 

With government support, the manufacturing sector in Indiana can only continue to improve. While this is good news for the state's overall economy, individual manufacturers must ensure they are taking proper steps to maintain a solid position in an increasingly competitive market. Working with an Indiana business management software systems provider to obtain manufacturing software solutions will allow organizations in the area to keep up.

It's an exciting time to be a manufacturer in Indiana. Working with the right partners and obtaining the best solutions will go a long way toward keeping the market's momentum going strong for years to come. 

Chrysler’s efforts in Indiana showcase value of scalable ERP system

ERP systems must be scalable in terms of number of users, because some events could trigger new needs that cannot be easily fulfilled by a lesser solution.

For example, American automaker Chrysler has big plans for its Indiana facilities. The company is investing $374 million into plants in the central part of the state and is adding about 1,250 jobs. Currently, Indiana is the only area in North America where Chrysler makes transmissions, and business executives want to bolster their efforts there to ensure those operations are running smoothly and with the utmost efficiency.

Sergio Marchionne, the CEO of Chrysler and Fiat, spoke at a recent event at the organization's transmission plant in Kokomo, Indiana. He shared his vision of improving the way transmissions are made there as he hopes to further support his claim as a global leader in transmission manufacturing. 

"This is the sole region where we manufacture transmissions and – including all of the nearby facilities – it will be the largest transmission installation in the world," Marchionne said.

This is a massive venture and will require Chrysler to drastically increase its resources to support both a bevy of new employees and fuel Marchionne's ambition. Not all companies in the area will undergo projects of this magnitude, but it does speak to the importance of procuring a system that can support them.

Earlier this month, this blog mentioned the efforts of Crawford Industries, a local plastics manufacturer that hopes to add 11 new employees in the next two years. Most projects will fall somewhere between those of Crawford and Chrysler, it's important to have a system equipped to handle either.

By working with Indiana business management software systems providers, companies can obtain solutions like ERP software to help manage increased needs. 

Indiana business bearing Appleseed’s name launches in Angola

Each fall, for the last 38 years, apple-loving visitors flock to Fort Wayne, Indiana to celebrate the life of John Chapman. As part of the festivities, guests are able to play games, watch and listen to live entertainment and eat. Although he was born in Massachusetts, Chapman owned land in Indiana and is hailed across the state as an adopted son.

To the rest of the country, Chapman is Johnny Appleseed, a legend in elementary school classrooms. He has also lent his name to a new Indiana business selling a product he would probably be quite fond of – ale cider.

Chapman Brewing Company is the brainchild of Scott Fergusson, the dean of Trine University's Ketner School of Business and an accomplished entrepreneur in his own right. The mayor of Angola praised Fergusson's efforts and said that the company would help spur growth in northeast Indiana.

Fergusson told Inside Indiana Business:

"First and foremost, we want to have a product that will guarantee repeat business. Quality is everything in this market and we intend on serving the highest quality ale cider in the market. If we're able to produce the highest quality cider and meet delivery commitments, our workforce in Angola will easily double in a few short years."

The plan is for Chapman's ranks to expand to eight employees in the next two years, including two 2013 Trine University graduates.

As the company grows – and it could well exceed its own expectations given the locals' fondness for apples – Fergusson and his leadership team will need to adopt Indiana business management software systems to support its scaling. Although Chapman might not need a Microsoft Dynamics NAV system yet, the time will soon come when the need for efficient processes will dictate adoption.