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It’s OK to Move Down (Yes, Down) the Value Chain

Harvard Business Review

Leaders of many companies — in industries ranging from contract manufacturing, and software services to consulting and health care — tell us the same thing: “We want to move up the value chain.” Joseph , a scrap-metal recycler, in order to secure supplies for its operations. Ethical supply chains.

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Entrepreneurs Take On Manufacturing

Harvard Business Review

Likewise, companies like PCH International and Dragon Innovation are now available to manage contract manufacturing and otherwise “make manufacturing feel easy” to entrepreneurs or small companies, as noted by The Wall Street Journal’s Chris Mims last year.

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It’s Time for Companies to Be Strategic About Energy

Harvard Business Review

Last year, networking giant Cisco Systems worked with one of its contract manufacturers in Malaysia to deploy 1,500 energy and temperature sensors on its manufacturing equipment. The technologies and processes that are transforming companies. Disclosure: I was at the meeting as a paid speaker on sustainability strategy.).

Energy 8
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CEOs Need to Get Serious About Sales

Harvard Business Review

When tracking trends for future growth opportunities, for example, invest real money (2 to 4 percent of the sales budget is good) to develop analytical tools and teams that monitor trends such as demographic shifts, regulations, and new technologies. Only the CEO can push this kind of coordination through.

CEO 15
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Community Financing Breathes Life into a New U.S. Manufacturing Firm

Harvard Business Review

But it is realistic to envision the growth of high-value-add, high-skill, high-wage manufacturing industries like the microprocessor and computer-networking businesses that Intel and Cisco launched in the 1980s. Trouble is, two recessions in 10 years have cut the capital fuel supply to the tech-company-creation engine.

Finance 10
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The Limits of 3D Printing

Harvard Business Review

The technologies and trends shaping tomorrow’s businesses. Therefore, contract manufacturers that perform 3D printing such as Shapeways generally wait to fill a batch that uses the entire build room. 3D printing technology undoubtedly has great potential. Insight Center. The Future of Operations.

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The Trade War with China Could Accelerate 3-D Printing in the U.S.

Harvard Business Review

That spells trouble for American manufacturers with global supply chains. As companies rethink their supply chains, they ought to seriously consider embracing a new manufacturing technology that’s now ready for prime time: 3-D printing.