In celebration of Manufacturing Month, I shared my goal setting and planning process as part of MNI University.



Are you a goal oriented or a result driven person? Do you find that you need a set direction to go towards or look for validation along the way to prove that you are on the right track?



You may have found yourself in positions where your goals are not defined or there are no KPIs or colleagues to compare your efforts or results to.

October is shaping up to be a standout month for the U.S. manufacturing sector. Beginning with the largest private investment in New York's history to new enterprises making everything from EV technology to construction materials, manufacturing wins for October represented billions in investments and tens of thousands of jobs.

As the past two years or so has taught us, building an international network is essential for business as we know it today. Whether your goal is to take your business international or not, there is still something to be gained by making contacts in your industry in different countries. Read on to discover how you can make the most of networking in the second of this four-part series from networking expert Ingor van Rooi.

Twenty years ago, leaders looking to increase the success of their sales and marketing teams focused on improving efficiency. Today, the key to success is productivity. This article will discuss how managers can build a productivity mindset and inspire their teams to be more productive so your company can reap the benefits through higher profits and longevity.

Aluminum solutions provider Novelis Inc. announced it has broken ground on a new aluminum rolling and recycling plant in Bay Minette, Alabama. Representing a $2.5 billion investment, the new state-of-the-art facility will employ 1,000 once fully operational. Novelis reports the new facility will have an initial 600 kilotonnes of finished aluminum products capacity per year, primarily serving the beverage container market, as well as the automotive sector. In addition, the new operation will include a recycling center for beverage cans, which will increase the company's capacity by 15 billion cans per year.

Manufacturers continued to add jobs at a steady clip in September, even as hiring overall in the U.S. slowed, according to the latest jobs report from the Labor Department issued October 7th.



In September, U.S. manufacturers added another 22,000 new positions, adding to the 22,000 jobs the sector added in August. Meanwhile, the economy added 263,000 jobs overall in September, down from the 315,000 jobs gained in August.

When it comes to conducting business, nothing is more important than relationships and there's only one way to build them: by making contacts and networking. Harvard Business Review recently posted an article that encourages people to learn to love networking because it is a necessity in today's world! Read on to discover how you can make the most of networking in part one of this four-part series from networking expert Ingor van Rooi.

Spanning multiple states, representing millions in investments and thousands of jobs, September's new plant announcements included some exciting enterprises in the semiconductor industry, one very innovative food manufacturing operation, as well as some notable foreign investments.

Lead generation is critical for the long-term success of any business. The sales team is the one-on-one approach to getting the word out about your business and what your company can do to help their business become better. But when the sales rep develops the opportunity, and begins to work in the sales cycle, what happens to lead generation? Are appointments continuously being set for a robust sales funnel?

Even though digitalization has hurt publishers, there is a strong demand for printing equipment in areas like packaging and custom printing products. Printing machinery manufacturers are embracing modern technologies to offer products that are more performing, connected and sustainable.

Industrial-based MNI and SalesLeads Inc have entered into a joint collaboration between the MNI IndustrySelect databases and SalesLeads' Industrial Prospecting Services. The relationship offers MNI's current and future customers the opportunity to increase the value of their investment by offering proven business development and prospecting services by SalesLeads Inc.

How many times does your first contact result in a closed sale? Unless you were born under an incredibly lucky star, not many. So let's discover why a single call won't complete the transaction and investigate some B2B follow-up strategies.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported September 2nd hiring in the U.S. manufacturing sector expanded in August, while unfilled positions in the sector further declined.



In August, U.S. manufacturers added 22,000 new positions, slightly lower than the 30,000 jobs the sector added in July. Meanwhile, the economy added 315,000 jobs and the unemployment rate rose slightly to 3.7%.

It might be the dog days of summer, but U.S. manufacturers have been hard at work, with multiple new plants swinging into operation. Spanning multiple states, representing millions in investments and thousands of jobs, August's new plant announcements ran the gambit of industries, from EV chargers in Tennessee to biopharmaceutical tubing in South Carolina and tools in Wisconsin.



Let's explore some of the most exciting new manufacturing companies announced in August 2022.

Roofing systems manufacturer GAF Energy broke ground on a new solar roof facility in Georgetown, Texas on August 26th, joining Congressman John Carter and Georgetown Mayor Josh Schroeder for the ceremony. GAF Energy, a Standard Industries company and provider of solar roofing for the North American market is building the new plant in response to heightened demand for its Timberline Solar roof, which features the world first nailable shingle. The Timberline Solar roof system is also the only roof system in the world to integrate solar technology directly into traditional roofing processes.

PPG announced plans to expand adhesives and sealants production at its Temple, Texas facility. The expansion, in partnership with the Temple Economic Development Corporation, will represent an investment of $9 million and will create 12 jobs.

Looking to do business with West Virginia manufacturing companies? West Virginia is a unique manufacturing state, home to some major names in the chemicals and industrial machinery sectors. This infographic provides key facts and statistics on West Virginia's manufacturing sector. Explore top cities, number of companies and jobs, distribution data, firmographic info and more, based on MNI's survey of West Virginia manufacturers.

Email has become a go-to channel for B2B marketers, supporting goals like nurturing leads, staying in touch with existing clients, and helping prospects move along the different stages of their buying journey.



Taking a strategic approach to delivering the right information to support buying activities will help you get more out of this channel. Here's why you need email segmentation for a successful email marketing campaign.

It's no secret that customer retention tends to cost a lot less than new customer acquisition. However, not every organization has a strong customer retention strategy in place.



From boosting revenues to unlocking loyalty, a business-to-business (B2B) customer retention program can support company-wide goals and become a cornerstone for customer success.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported August 5th that U.S. manufacturing companies added new jobs in July, while unfilled positions in the sector declined. Today, we're exploring the most recent manufacturing numbers from the Labor Department, providing the gains and losses by specific subsector, as well as the latest in manufacturing job openings.

While you might be expert at sales openers, ending the call on the right foot is just as important. The last thing you want is an awkward end to your call. In order to stand the best chance with your prospects , you want to make sure the entirety of your call is perfect, and that includes ending the call on the right foot. So how do you end your pitch with your prospect solidly in your funnel? Or, better still, how do you finish with a closed sale? Let's explore both objectives. Here are some techniques for how to end a sales call while keeping your prospects on the hook.

Max Solutions, a differentiated specialty packaging platform has opened its first manufacturing facility in Bristol, Pennsylvania. Founded in 2021, Max Solutions produces folding cartons and labels, investing in next-generation technology, innovation, and supply chain optimization to deliver its products to the health care and consumer markets. The Bristol plant is one of two manufacturing plants the company Max Solutions is opening this year.

Printed circuit boards (PCBs) are everywhere. Indeed, from cars to appliances, there is a huge demand for these components. In spite of supply chain issues during COVID-19, printed circuit board manufacturers have a bright future. Explore the top U.S. manufacturers in this powerful industry.

A recent study by Bloomberg found that manufacturing executives are bringing more manufacturing stateside, with the construction of new manufacturing facilities up 116% over the past year--racing past the 10% increase for all building projects in the U.S. combined.



Spanning multiple states, representing billions in investments and thousands of jobs, July's new plant announcements ran the gambit of industries, from lithium-ion batteries in Kansas to spaceships in Arizona and waffles in Missouri.

Meatpacking plants fall under the agricultural sector in the U.S. economy. Agricultural, food and related industries contributed more than $1 trillion to the U.S. gross domestic product in 2020. The food manufacturing portion accounted for 2 million jobs, with meat and poultry manufacturing comprising about 1/3 of these positions. A powerful subsector, the meatpacking industry employs hundreds of thousands and has posted strong growth in the past year, making it a top industry to do business with. This article will explore the key facts and statistics on the industry and examine some of the largest meatpacking companies in the United States.

If you don't know where you're going, it's difficult to get there. Setting goals for yourself or your B2B sales team will tighten your focus. Carefully calculated goalsetting will also clarify your strategy and increase your efficiency. It is widely known that sales representatives' motivation rises more in response to specific goals than by simply aspiring toward superior achievement. That crucial data leads to the vital question, "How do you set sales goals, and which goals should you set?"

Fabral Metal Wall and Roof Systems, a supplier of corrugated steel panels, has opened a new manufacturing facility in Salt Lake City in response to heightened demand. The new operation is the company's eighth facility in the U.S. and will produce Fabral's post-frame product lines, including a variety of panels, as well as accessories such as flashing and trim.

B2B prospects make thousands of small decisions every day. Will they follow a link to read an article or open the email they just received? You can sway these decisions by crafting powerful headlines. Whether you're grabbing the recipient's attention, making a promise or telling them why they should engage with your content, B2B email subject lines that resonate with your audience can help you get more out of your email campaigns.



How do B2B email subject lines support the success of your email campaigns?

Electronic components are critical to U.S. industries. In fact, average sales approached $303 billion last year, making up 1.5% of all manufacturing sales.



MNI's data on the electronic components industry can help you get a handle on this lucrative market.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported July 8th that hiring in the U.S. manufacturing sector added new jobs at a steady rate in June, while unfilled positions in the sector declined. Today, we're exploring the most recent manufacturing numbers from the Labor Department, providing the gains and losses by specific subsector, as well as the latest in manufacturing job openings.