Drew Industries Acquires Duncan Systems

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Drew Industries' subsidiary Lippert Components, Inc. recently acquired Duncan Systems, Inc., an Elkhart, Indiana based RV accessory manufacturer. In doing so, the conglomerate aspires to expand its marketplace in the Hoosier State. The cost of the acquisition was $18 million.

Drew Industries' President Scott Mereness spoke to the rationale justifying his company's acquisition of Duncan Systems, Inc.

"Consistent with our long-term strategic plan, in the past few years we have increased our sales of aftermarket replacement parts to warehouse distributors and retail RV dealers, as well as through our online store," he said.

In order to preserve stability of its operations, Drew Industries will retain Brent Watson as the President of Duncan Systems. Watson conveyed his excitement to continue working in his executive capacity under the leadership of subsidiary Lippert Components, Inc.

"We are confident Lippert Components will invest in the business for the long term and strategically drive the business forward, as well as provide the opportunity to supply our existing customers with a broader line of replacement parts." Watson said.

Assimilating Duncan Systems, Inc. into Drew Industry's ownership should sustain success for each enterprise. Over the last calendar years, the new acquisition was able to accumulate $26 million in sales. Retaining Watson as the company's President figures to ease the transition without sacrificing productivity.

Corporation acquisitions such as Drew Industries purchase of Duncan Systems highlight the complexities of manufacturing operations. Manufacturing management software is an important tool to keep operations running smoothly, especially at times of transition such as this.

Accent Software, Inc. provides enterprises within the manufacturing industry with business management software that can enhance their ERP. As the foundation for efficient operations, these tools can stimulate success and growth like that which contributed to Drew Industries' ability to expand its enterprise.

Indiana Manufacturing Makes The Grade In Nation-Wide Study

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Indiana's manufacturing sector has been lauded for its ability to break the mold that the rest of the nation has cast. Despite the decline of available jobs in the industry throughout the country, the Hoosier state has managed to provide manufacturing employment to its citizens. Despite that success, private enterprise alone cannot act as a panacea for these economic woes. In order to fulfill a legitimate economic recovery, education needs to act as an agent for success in synthesis with business.

The Hoosier State's ability to supplement its manufacturing base with skilled laborers is one factor that has enabled it become the nation's leading marketplace for this industry. Education provides potential employees with a means of refining those skills to become capable workers in this thriving market.

A Ball State University study highlights Indiana's success in providing its private, manufacturing industry with educated, skilled and capable workers. The school's Center for Business and Economic Research collaborated with Conexus Indiana to evaluate the Hoosier State's manufacturing sector.

The study resulted in the state being afforded an "A' grade for its manufacturing sector. The grade was determined through analysis of wages, employment and production. Indiana also scored remarkably high regarding in the study's tax climate category. Initiatives taken on behalf of the gubernatorial administration and the Indiana Economic Development Corporation factories into the state receiving its commendation.

The results of the study convey the stability that Indiana's manufacturing sector has been able to achieve with its growth. to facilitate the sustainment of that success, manufacturers should implement business management software solutions.

Accent Software, Inc. provides localized businesses in Indiana with a resource for their ERP. By implementing manufacturing business software, an enterprise can continue to grow with Indiana's thriving manufacturing sector.

Yorktown Based Company’s Expansion Fuels Job Growth

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Mursix Corporation is a manufacturer based out of Yorktown, Indiana. The enterprise has invested $7.1 million in order to expand its headquarters. The project will be completed by 2017 and is forecast to add up to 108 jobs to the Hoosier state. The company's growth has been enabled by the vibrant manufacturing sector within the state.

Founded in Indiana, the Mursix Corporation's growth embodies the economic development of the state throughout recent years. In an era in which manufacturing output has become less of a part of the domestic economy, the Hoosier state's ability to deviate from that trend has allowed it to become a destination for foreign and local investment capital. Tax breaks and other policies have been a major part of creating this economic climate.

Indiana Governor Mike Pence spoke to the role of state policy making in creating an economy conducive to growth in the manufacturing industry.

"Like other growing Hoosier companies, Mursix understands the advantage it gains here in Indiana, with a lower cost of doing business, constantly shrinking red tape and the best manufacturing workforce available. Indiana is proud to be a state that works where employers can get things done, inspire excellence and achieve their big dreams." he said.

Mursix Corporation was offered up to $625,000 in conditional tax credits for the expansion of their headquarters. The allocation of those credits is based upon hiring Indiana residents for the jobs that their growth will create.

As manufacturers continue to grow within Indiana's thriving marketplace, the need for business management solutions is imperative. Manufacturing software can enable expansion and productivity to be sustained.

Accent Software, Inc. offers Indiana-based manufacturers with a means to accelerate the productivity of their ERP. In doing so, enterprises can become a stable part of the state's manufacturing sector like the Mursix Corporation has.

U.S. Factory Output Highlights Need For Efficient ERP

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This past Friday, the US Federal Reserve announced that manufacturing production rose by 1 percent in July. The month's growth exceeds the 0.3 increase that occurred during June. The incremental growth follows a trend of steady growth in this industry over the last calendar year. In those 12 months, manufacturing output has risen by nearly 5 percent.

Increased manufacturing output highlights the need for business management software that enterprises should implement to increase the efficiency of their operations. By utilizing those tools, inventory management, production and distribution processes can be analyzed in real time. The ready accessibility to this information enables businesses to make alterations to their operations in order with fluctuations in customer demand and other factors within their market.

By improving productivity, enterprises have enabled the job market to grow as well. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) most recent jobs report, manufacturers added 28,000 workers to the economy last month. That figure exceeds June's numbers by 5,000 jobs. The steady, progressive growth demonstrates the stability that the manufacturing industry can offer a labor force still riddled with unemployment and decreases in workforce participation.

Paul Dales, Senior U.S. Economist at Capital Economics, spoke to the impact this growth will have on payrolls for manufacturing enterprises.

"Manufacturing payrolls may soon start to rise by close to 50,000 a month." Dales said.

Growth within this industry is not without complication though. As product orders and jobs continue to rise, the need to manufacture efficiently becomes imperative.

Accent Software, Inc. provides enterprises in the Hoosier state with manufacturing software to continue to contribute to economic growth in the United States. As manufacturing becomes a foundation of the domestic economy, the influence of business management solutions is greater than ever.

IUPUI Grant Boosts Manufacturing Research

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Retail conglomerate Walmart has presented Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) with a $291,202 grant from their U.S Manufacturing Innovation Fund. The grant will fund IUPUI's research project for polymer manufacturing. The aim of the initiative is to boost high level manufacturing in the United States by stimulating its academic research

Kathleen McLaughling, President of the Walmart Foundation, conveyed her organization's excitement and expectations regarding their choice to give this generous grant to IUPUI.

"Researchers at many of America's best universities are hard at work on tough manufacturing challenges, we are excited to support the development of innovative solutions, which we hope will unlock new opportunity for manufacturing in this country." she said

The IUPUI project has been dubbed as the "Optimal Plastic Injection Molding Tooling Design and Production through Advanced Additive Manufacturing." Research will be conducted over the next two years before being concluded in 2016. By the time of its conclusion, the university believes its findings will be able to further catalyze highly skilled manufacturing within the Hoosier state.

David J. Russomanno, dean, Purdue School of Engineering and Technology at IUPUI, spoke to the impact of his university's research.

"We have world-class faculty in the area of advanced manufacturing. Their expertise will be applied to overcome some of the impediments to growing consumer goods manufacturing in Indiana and across the entire United States." he said.

The project conveys Indiana's standing at the forefront of domestic manufacturing. By stimulating further academic research and innovation, the university is contributing to the sustained success of the state's manufacturing sector.

As new innovations bring optimized efficiency to manufacturing in Indiana, the need for business management software that manufacturers can utilize to improve operational efficiency is imperative.

Accent Software, Inc. provides localized manufacturers with business management software solutions that can allow them to make the most of Indiana's thriving manufacturing sector.

Mattress enterprise puts doubts surrounding Indiana’s manufacturing sector to rest

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As manufacturing enterprises begin to invest more in the domestic economy, competition for their business intensifies. Optimism for continued economic expansion of Indiana's manufacturing has arisen out of that intensity. Tempur Sealy's announcement that it will construct a new operational facility in Plainfield adds to those high hopes.

The Plainfield, Indiana facility will perform manufacturing and distribution operations for the Lexington, Kentucky-based mattress company. Upon completion of the project, 300 jobs will be added to the Hoosier State's economy. Many of those jobs will employ residents of the state with skilled manufacturing jobs that can draw from their expertise. The time frame for this endeavor is not lengthy either as the facility will open in 2015.

Scott Vollet, Senior Vice President, global operations for Tempur Sealy International, spoke to the impact the Plainfield facility will have on the company's future.

"Because of its centralized location and proximity to our customers, the Plainfield facility will allow us to improve our customer service and logistics efficiencies. We're particularly excited to be able to deliver combined shipments of Sealy and Tempur-Pedic products to our customers." said Vollet.

The long term success of the Plainfield operations bodes well as Tempur Sealy became the largest mattress provider in the world. This status was achieved upon the company's purchase of the Sealy Corporation last year. The acquisition speaks to the stability and potential for expansion that the company could bring to Indiana.

Tax incentives and training grants offered by the Indiana Economic Development Corporation figured into the company's decision to invest in Indiana's manufacturing sector.

As enterprises continue to look toward Indiana for manufacturing labor, business management software solutions become an imperative tool for success. By utilizing Accent Software, Inc. as a resource to refine manufacturing ERP, these businesses can make the most of this thriving marketplace.

Vera Bradley Job Cuts Demonstrate Need For Proper Manufacturing ERP

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Over the last few years, investment capital has been pouring into Indiana's manufacturing sector. The influx of capital has stimulated new job growth and given public education a new direction by providing Hoosiers with an industry that offers them the potential for long term, secure employment. Despite its sustained success, the state has suffered a reduction in its manufacturing labor force.

The job loss is attributed to plans on behalf of manufacturer Vera Bradley. The business plans to cut 150 jobs by closing manufacturing operations during the entirety of the shift those employees worked. The decision by the quilt accessory producer to eliminate the second shift deviates from recent expansion on behalf of Indiana-based businesses within this industry.

Public relations manger Melissa Schenkel tried to temper the pessimism surrounding the cuts. She expressed Vera Bradley's plans to reschedule many of the 150 workers to first and/or third shift capacities. Schenkel quelled an concerns that this business strategy suggests a departure from its Indiana marketplace.

"We certainly take great pride in being able to produce a portion of our inventory in the U.S., and our Fort Wayne facility provides us with a great deal of flexibility when we are 'chasing' business and need a quick turn-around," Schenkel said.

Vera Bradley attributed the cost of manufacturing to the rationale behind this decision.

By implementing business management solutions specifically tailored to manufacturing enterprises, operational efficiency can reduce the impact that labor costs have on a company.

Accent Software, Inc. offers Indiana-based manufacturers the requisite business solutions that can enable them to grow, sustain and add employees instead of making its operations smaller. In doing so, businesses can continue to thrive in Indiana's manufacturing sector.

MonoSol facility demonstrates Indiana’s global presence within manufacturing industry.

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MonoSol is an enterprise based out of Merrilville, Indiana. Despite being headquartered within the Hoosier state, the water soluble polymer films manufacturing business is a subsidiary of Kuraray, Co., a Japanese conglomerate. Kuraray, Co.'s decision to locate the headquarters of MonoSol within Indiana speaks to the state's ability to attract manufacturing business from the global marketplace. In doing so, the state has bolstered its manufacturing economy and given its labor force a specific direction to find prosperous employment.

The newest evidence that Indiana's manufacturing sector is growing strong comes from MonoSol's recent decision to expand its business operations. The Japanese-owned manufacturer has announced that it will locate a new facility in Portage, Indiana. The facility will cost $65 million in an effort to increase production and create jobs. Upon the completion of the new facility, MonoSol will be able to create up to 150 new jobs by the year 2020.

While the project will take approximately five years to complete, it is evident that MonoSol is committed to conducting business in the Hoosier state. Of its current payroll of more than 445 employees, 300 of those full time position are held by employees that work in Indiana-based facilities. Increasing domestic jobs in the state speaks to the level of commitment that exists to continue to be a part of Indiana's robust manufacturing economy.

The announcement of the new facility shed light on Indiana's role in the global manufacturing marketplace. P. Scott Bening, MonoSol's CEO, conveyed that Indiana is a destination for over seas' investors.

Accent Software, Inc. offers enterprises within Indiana like MonoSol business management software that is essential in operating a manufacturing enterprise. The industry and market expertise of Accent Software, Inc. make it their software solutions a powerful resource for new and expanding manufacturers.

Wage Inequality Mars Indiana’s Economic Resurgence

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Over the past few years, the state on Indiana has experience a resurgence in economic development. The success of this growth has been attributed to policy making that has enabled investment within the state revolving around tax incentives aimed at promoting business in the Hoosier State. That approach has enabled Indiana's manufacturing economy to strengthen itself at the core of the state's marketplace.

Despite the rebounding growth in Indiana, the state's economy remains less than ideal. One key issue affecting the state is wage inequality. While Indiana has added more jobs than average since the most recent economic collapse, income disparities have grown greater as well. On average, jobs added since the 2008 crisis pay $14,000 less than before the recession.

Jobs lost within the manufacturing sector since 2008 are a key component of the wage inequality that has arisen. Nearly half of all jobs lost within Indiana over the last 6 years have been manufacturing jobs. Those positions offer higher than average wages. While manufacturing jobs have been added to the state due to prudent, domestic policy making, the aspect of lower wages for those occupations still haunts the Hoosier State.

A report commissioned by the U.S. Conference of Mayors brings the reality of income inequality to light. In Indianapolis alone, income inequality grew by 5.4 percent. Regionally, the capital of the Hoosier state is on the high end of that issue according to the study. For comparison, Chicago's wage inequality only rose 2.5 percent in the same period that the study examined.

In order to improve wages for workers, manufacturing enterprises should implement ERP that can lower operational costs. Doing so ultimately enables manufacturers to be able to pay their employees fair and equitable wages due to the cost reduction facilitated by business management software.

Accent Software, Inc. provides manufacturers within Indiana to improve their operations by implementing business management software solutions. By optimizing the efficiency of operations, an enterprise has the ability to improve different facets of its business, including wages.

US Bureau of Labor Statistics highlights Indiana’s success as a manufacturing economy

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Despite an increase of manufacturing enterprises that have focused on domestic job creation in their respective industry, that job market has yet to reach the status it held before the 2008 recession. Despite the slow recovery, the state of Indiana continues to lead the nation in growth within this sector. The Bureau of Labor Statistics has recently quantified the success of the Hoosier State in leading an economic resurgence for manufacturers.

Over the past 12 months, Indiana has added 13,700 factory jobs. That figure places Indiana well above the second most successful state in the nation; Texas. Growth within the Hoosier State's manufacturing economy highlights the renewed investment into this industrial sector. Increasing the availability of domestic jobs is a ramification of that success.

Indiana is estimated to have 502,800 manufacturing jobs within the state. This figure falls only 10,000 short of where it stood before the recession. With constant growth, it appears as it if will only be a matter of time before that figure is reached and eventually surpassed.

The state's governance is attributed to its success in adding jobs to the manufacturing marketplace. Indiana Senator Brandt Hershman spoke to the policies that have enabled this progress.

"Every day, our low-tax, job-friendly environment draws more employers to Indiana and away from unfavorable states like our neighbor, Illinois, which ranked dead last for manufacturing job growth. As state leaders continue to work hard to attract job opportunities for Hoosiers, I anticipate these trends will continue." said Hershman.

As manufacturing jobs continue to be added, enterprise resource planning must be implemented within enterprises that expand their payroll. Accent Software, Inc. provides manufacturers with business management software to accelerate the resurgence of Indiana's labor market by improving operations and ultimately, adding jobs.