Indiana’s economic growth was eighth in nation in 2013

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The Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), an agency within the United States Department of Commerce, has published a study detailing quarterly economic growth by state. The results placed Indiana eighth nationwide, well ahead of the national average, in the fourth quarter of 2013. In that quarter, the state's gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 4.2 percent, good for eighth place behind leaders North Dakota and Wyoming, whose GDPs grew 8.4 percent each.

The report also reveals that Indiana's total GDP of $294 billion made it the 16th biggest economy in the United States after growing 2.1 percent for the entire year, compared to the USA's 1.8 percent improvement. Also detailed are the sectors that contributed the most, and least, to that growth, with manufacturing leading the way, as a Ball State University study highlighted and this blog noted last month.

The manufacturing sector contributes 30.4 percent of the state's GDP, a much higher proportion than the national average, which sits at just 13 percent. Indiana's manufacturing generated $90.5 billion in 2013. In a very distant second place is the real estate market, including leasing and renting, which represents 9.7 percent of Indiana's GDP, followed by government (9 percent), health care and social assistance (7.7 percent) and retail trade (5.8 percent).

In this economic climate, the implementation of manufacturing business software can help a company grow in what is clearly a very competitive sector and one where enterprises can use all the help they can get, but also one that, in Indiana's case, is rife with opportunity. Business management software solutions are readily available to companies looking to set themselves apart from the crowd.

The BEA, which until now only published yearly reports, now intends to make quarterly studies the norm.

Indiana Medical Device Manufacturing Council seeks to expand domestic, high level manufacturing.

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The Indiana Medical Device Manufacturing Council (IMDMC) has named State Representative Kathy Heurer as its Executive Director. In doing so, the organization seeks to improve the state's capacity to manufacture high tech, medical devices. The assimilation of Indiana's manufacturing sector in the health care industry would have a multitude of benefits. Among these would be the creation of new jobs for highly skilled laborers, improved patient care and increased investment capital.

Indiana's manufacturing sector has been positively affected by policy making that is conducive to the success of private industry. That effect has resulted in the Hoosier State being the seventh largest medical device manufacturing market in the nation. As health care spending continues to increase, having a stake in that industry enables Indiana to maintain its manufacturing sector's success for the long term.

Executive Director Heurer's experience in the Indiana General Assembly's Commerce and Economic Development Committee allows her to focus that expertise specifically on medical device manufacturing. Denis Johnson, IMDMC Board President conveyed the potential of her contributions.

"We are looking forward to having Kathy join us. As a state legislator she worked tirelessly for policies that would benefit our state, and we believe that as executive director of our organization, she will be able to transfer those skills to our specific industry at both the state and federal level." he said.

Medical device development requires a unique understanding of highly skilled manufacturing practices. Indiana's focus on developing secondary, public education to create an adept labor force supplements the potential of the IMDMC's efforts.

Accent Software, Inc. provides enterprises with business management software to facilitate the success of their manufacturing. Implementing this component of ERP enables businesses within this competitive industry to thrive among their competitors.

Indiana Turns To Education To Improve Workforce

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At a time where workforce participation rates are struggling to eclipse 65 percent, states must take new initiatives to improve the capability of their laborers. Tying that workforce development to a relatively successful industry is a strategy that can fuel economic growth. Indiana's utilization of a $2.4 million grant from the US Department of Labor demonstrates the impact of that initiative.

Governor Mike Pence spoke to the state's desire to improve the capabilities of its workforce.

"We also want to make sure that our high schools, our post-secondary institutions are creating more effective pathways so that our young people are entering the workforce with the background and the training that they need," Pence said.

Pathways that focus on educating students about manufacturing processes offer the potential for future growth within that industry. Despite leading the nation in manufacturing growth, Indiana must take new approaches to sustain that success.

The manufacturing sector accounts for a large portion of Indiana's GDP. By preserving the growth of that industry, the state can continue to provide its residents with jobs that enable them to achieve a quality standard of living.

Vocational education programs provide students with exposure to industry standard tools that qualify them for high level manufacturing jobs. By improving the available workforce, manufacturers enable themselves to further their growth.

Manufacturing business software is a tool that improves the efficiency and production of enterprises within this industry. By exposing students to the use of this component of ERP, businesses render themselves more capable of sustaining their prolonged success.

Accent Software, Inc. provides manufacturing software to businesses in order to improve the administration of their operations. By utilizing this aspect of ERP, a manufacturer can assure its labor force is operating efficiently.

Export-Import Bank Of The United State’s Charter Renewal A Concern For Indiana’s Manufacturing Sector

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The Export-Import Bank of the United State's Charter is set to expire on September 30th of this year. The financial organization loans money to foreign companies in order to allocate those funds for the purchase of domestically manufactured goods. For state's like Indiana, this policy making enables investment capital to be given to the state. Over the past few years, foreign investors have been a huge contributor to stimulating Indiana's resurgent manufacturing industry.

Renewing the Export-Import Bank charter would enable the Hoosier state to continue to expand its manufacturing sector. That component of Indiana's economy is attributed to a quarter of the state's GDP. The substantial portion that manufacturing attributes to Indiana's economic prosperity conveys the negative impact that losing foreign investment capital would have on the state.

Exporting goods also results in a higher standard of income for manufacturing employees. Companies that export manufactured goods pay their staff an average of 6 percent more than companies that only participate in domestic marketplaces. Without renewing the Export-Import Bank charter, average salaries within the Hoosier state could decline.

This issue is especially relevant as wage disparity in the Hoosier state continues to grow. Improving average incomes is imperative to maintaining active participation in a consumer-based economy. Manufacturing jobs that export goods catalyze marketplace activity, furthering the impact of a renewal of the Export-Import Bank Charter.

The instability surrounding the preservation of foreign investment capital into domestic manufacturing marketplaces highlights the need for efficient ERP. Business that utilize business software for manufacturing render themselves more capable of improving production despite the uncertainty surrounding economic stimulus provided to this industry.

Accent Software, Inc. provides manufacturers with manufacturing software systems that enable them to succeed despite the uncertain economic climate they are immersed within.

Advance Fabricators Growth Demonstrates Indiana’s Effective Policy Making

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The Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) has been a major catalyst for bringing growth to Indiana's manufacturing sector. Tax incentives and other policy making by the IEDC have created an economic climate that attracts investment capital from international, domestic and state enterprises. The effects that these strategies have had on Advance Fabricators, Inc. speaks to their impact.

Advance Fabricators will invest $2.15 million to renovate its New Albany facility. Eric Doden, President of the Indiana Economic Development Corporation spoke to the state's ability to facilitate manufacturing growth.

"Indiana-made goods, like the products produced by Advance Fabricators, are high-quality and high-value. It all starts with our skilled workforce and continues onto an environment that supports business growth, all made possible in a state that works." he said.

Gary Ragsdale, owner of Advance Fabricators echoed Doden's stance.

"Indiana has a solid record supporting small and large business. Indiana maintains a state that is economically sound and allows business to operate knowing the future holds great opportunity." Ragsdale said.

The IEDC offered Advance Fabricators up to $50,000 in training grants aimed at providing addition jobs to Indiana's manufacturing labor force. By strengthening the state's base of skilled manufacturers, attracting addition investment capital into the Hoosier State should be achieved.

The manufacturing industry has come to represent 25 percent of Indiana's economy. 97 percent of the Hoosier State's exports come from manufacturers. This industry adds $64 billion annually to the state.

As manufacturing becomes increasingly prevalent in Indiana, having a resource for manufacturing software with a localized expertise becomes more important. Accent Software, Inc. provides Hoosier manufacturers with the tools they need to implement ERP that can fuel their success. In doing so, the state's manufacturing industry can continue to thrive.

Manufacturing Drives Southern Indiana’s Economic Growth

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The presence of existing manufacturers in Southern Indiana has been a catalyst for economic growth in the region. Plastics manufacturing has been an especially prevalent regional industry. As Indiana continues to compete with Illinois and other regional marketplaces, the southern part of the state plays a vital role in attracting laborers from other parts of the country. By adding highly skilled workers to the state's labor force, growth can be sustained.

SABIC operates in Mount Vernon, Indiana. Located at the far, Southwestern part of Indiana, the company has become one of the largest plastics manufacturers in the global marketplace. Its innovating polymer manufacturing enables the enterprise to attract international investment capital into the state.

Evansville, Indiana is home to another plastic manufacturing enterprise — Berry Plastics. The enterprise has amassed more than $5 billion in annual revenue by providing plastic-packaging to customers throughout the world.

SABIC and Berry Plastics demonstrate Indiana's standing as a manufacturing sector with a global reach. By implementing business management software, manufacturers are able to achieve growth that can extend their customer base well beyond the borders of the Hoosier state.

Darrell Voelker, Director of the Harrison County Economic Development Corporation, attributes southern Indiana's success at creating manufacturing jobs to its populous. The values that have become part of the culture of the Hoosier state play a big role in its resurgent economic development.

"The mentality — the work ethic that made this a big manufacturing region years ago — is still here." he said.

As companies continue to invest into Indiana's manufacturing industry, the need for manufacturing business software inherently arises. The solutions provided by this facet of ERP allow growth to be sustained. Accent Software, Inc. provides local business with the tools they need to succeed in a competitive manufacturing economy.

Seymour Tubing Expands Indiana Manufacturing.

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Investment into Indiana's manufacturing sector continues to increase. The latest instance of this trend is on behalf of Seymour Tubing, Inc. The company intends to spend nearly $2.5 million to expands it Seymour based operations center. The expansion will create up to 22 new jobs for Hoosiers by 2015.

By investing in its Seymour operations, the company will add new, high skilled manufacturing positions. High-speed cutting and additional manufacturing equipment will be added to the facility. By implementing these components, the enterprise will be able to draw upon the Hoosier state's abundance of manufacturing laborers.

Seymour Tubing presently employees more than 400 full-time Indiana residents as employees. In the last two years, the company has added 18 jobs to its operations. Those, combined with the addition jobs that are a result of its planned expansion means the business will have added 40 manufacturing positions to the state from 2012-2015.

Yuji Oda, Executive Vice President and Secretary of Seymour Tubing spoke to the local community as a driving force for the impending expansion.

"The company greatly appreciates the support we receive from the state of Indiana and the city of Seymour. This support is an excellent example of how the state of Indiana and the local governments work in partnership with manufacturing organizations to provide continued growth and opportunities for both the companies and the people of Indiana." Oda said.

Victor Smith, Indiana Secretary of Commerce, echoed the Hoosier state's ability to stimulate manufacturing growth.

"Companies like Seymour Tubing thrive with a team of Hoosiers—a team that is knowledgeable, trained and experienced. Combine that with Indiana's affordability, low taxes and great location, and it is clear why Seymour Tubing continues to choose Indiana out of a world of options for its business," he said.

Accent Software, Inc. provides manufacturers in the Hoosier state with business management software that can enable them to expand their operations.

Indiana Furniture Demonstrates Impact of Manufacturing Software

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Indiana Furniture recently implemented a new manufacturing operations management system. The installation of this software figures to improve operational efficiency for the enterprise. In doing so, the company has shown the difficulties that arise in this reorganizational process as well as the long term benefits that it achieves.

Indiana Furniture President and CEO Bret Ackerman spoke to the arduous nature of finding new business software solutions for his manufacturing.

"Implementing a management platform doesn't happen overnight," he stated. "We started at the beginning, with the order entry process, and moved methodically through our operations bringing other departments online, one at a time, to ensure a smooth, invisible transition to the new system for our customers." Ackerman continued.

According to Ackerman's statement, one measure of this processes' success was creating a customer focused approach to the software implementation. Manufacturing software that improves aspects of production ranging from sales to inventory management allow businesses to achieve greater customer satisfaction by acting in accordance to consumer demand.

While the process of enhancing ERP has seemingly limitless potential, the difficulties that arise come from determining what measures should be taken relative to the subjective needs of each enterprise. Each manufacturer that undertakes this process should contact a trusted software provider in order to address their unique, respective needs.

Accent Software, Inc. provides manufacturers with an abundance of business management software solutions. As an embedded member of Indiana's economy, Accent provides enterprises with expertise regarding the products they choose to implement as well as the marketplace they wish to succeed within.

By using Accent Software, Inc. as a resource for manufacturing software solutions, businesses are able to address each of their individual needs to achieve success.

Dometic Group Reorganization Creates Growth In Indiana

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Upon its appointment of Frank Mariano as President, the Dometic group is initiating a global reorganization of its operations. By articulating a new organizational strategy, the company hopes to make its business run more efficiently. The institution of these changes will have a direct effect on Indiana's manufacturing sector as the business employs more than 400 Hoosiers at its Elkhart recreational vehicle refrigerator manufacturing plant.

As part of its new organizational strategy, the Dometic Group will consolidate three of its Michigan based warehouses into a larger, single facility. The new location for those operations will be based out of Goshen, In. Presently, three dozen employees are already employed by the company in this location. New investments into this area of Indiana are expected to create new jobs.

By consolidating its Michigan warehouses into a singular facility, the Dometic group seeks to improve operational efficiency. The implementation of manufacturing business software should aid them in realizing the potential of their Goshen operations. Those business management solutions should achieve that plan by improving ERP, inventory management and other facets of manufacturing production.

In 2012, the Dometic Group announced its plans to expand its Elkhart plant. The continuation of expanding its business within the Hoosier state speaks to the level of commitment that the business has in this marketplace.

Indiana's business-friendly tax policies and other government initiative have driven organizations such as the Dometic Group to catalyze the growth of Indiana's manufacturing sector. The growth of this industry speaks to the importance of business management solutions that can facilitate efficient production.

Accent Software, Inc. is a localized software distributor that can aid businesses like the Dometic Group in becoming an integral part of Indiana's manufacturing sector.

Rockwell American Demonstrates Fuels Manufacturing Growth In Indiana

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Rockwell American manufactures a multitude of trailer parts. Its ability to provide consumers with these products at an affordable price speaks to the efficiency of their manufacturing operations. That success has enabled the manufacturer to expand it Angola, Indiana based sales and distribution facility.

Expansion of the Angola facility will add 16 new jobs to the Hoosier state by 2017. The distribution center was leased by the Texas-based company in 2008. Their growth signifies how entrenched they have become in Indiana's manufacturing economy. The ability for the state to keep enterprises like Rockwell American speaks to its ascension to the forefront of domestic manufacturing marketplaces in the United States.

The Indiana Economic Development Corporation was a major driving force behind Rockwell American's expansion of their local facility. By offering the company tax incentives in cooperation with the Angola City Council, the project was able to be put into action.

Eric Doden, President of the Indiana Economic Development Corporation spoke to why Indiana has become such an alluring destination for Rockwell American's private investments.

"Hoosiers have the skills and work ethic required to build Rockwell American's trailer parts, just like our state builds other products that power our world. Indiana is a state that works, from our affordable business climate to our people." he said.

Angola, Indiana Mayor Richard Hickman conveyed how Rockwell American has become a vital part of his city's community.

"In the time they have been in the community, they have found this is a great location to serve their market and to find skilled workers. We look forward to working with Rockwell American as they grow their capacity and this facility." he said.

Manufacturing business software offers enterprises a means to fuel success that can drive expansion. Accent Software, Inc provides manufacturers with a resource to improve their operations in order to contribute to their growth within this thriving sector of Indiana's economy.