Alternatives to traditional business models can still find a use for the accredited manufacturing business software that follows industry standards, and perhaps create their own approach to setting American business back on the right path.

So says Bruce Upbin in a recent piece on the role of something he calls "artisanal manufacturing." In his words, this is an approach to production that would allow companies to focus on the things that make their product great.

In the midst of this piece, Upbin notes the role that modern technology can play in the development of a form of manufacturing that makes a difference both on a national level and for individual customers. This could include the planning software that allows for companies of a medium size to get the most out of what they have to offer.

"Technology has enabled American companies to move jobs offshore, drive labor costs to precariously low levels, and provide US customers with an endless supply of disposable goods," Upbin writes. "But it can also enable local sourcing, rapid changes in supply, efficient distribution, direct marketing, smaller inventories, reduced working capital, and improved customer relations and services."

The future of education on these instances may include the effects that they have in different levels of the business. A press release from local Indiana school Ivy Tech Community College now has a new course offering to grant interested parties a chance to focus more on the skills that might help them see the opportunities available in areas that might go unnoticed without the specificity this knowledge can bring.

Invest in software to stay ahead of the game when it comes to these moments.