There’s no question that manufacturing is the lifeblood of the United States economy. And it’s not just the ubiquitous, name-brand behemoths making the most impact.
According to the Small Business Administration, the majority of U.S. manufacturers are small and mid-sized manufacturers (SMMs), employing less than 500 employees. In fact, 75% of all manufacturing companies have fewer than 20 employees. While the needs of SMMs can vary from their much larger counterparts, many face the same struggles related to talent acquisition, technology investment decisions, supply chain stability, and digitalization.
But SMMs often lack the resources and layers of expertise that enterprise organizations inherently have. Thanks to advanced technology, however, SMMs can access enterprise-grade services more cost effectively than ever with innovations that allow for flexible solutions to progress their growth and digital transformation journeys.
In this issue, we tackle some common pain points faced by SMMs and offer proven solutions to help them compete and succeed. Kip Hanson’s feature on networking and connectivity covers both the basics and advanced considerations for business continuity and resiliency across Industry 4.0 milestones. Brad Marley, in his piece, gleans insights from several SMMs that share best practices, challenges, missteps, and successes to address many factors that impact talent acquisition and retention. And Karen Haywood Queen addresses several aspects related to a roadmap for SMMs that seek smart software solutions and digital strategies to achieve greater productivity, efficiency, and profitability.
The stakes for SMMs have never been higher, as is the potential for future growth. With a few strategic investments and smart decisions proven to yield short- and long-term ROI, SMMs can chart their own paths for success, no matter how small they wish to stay or how large they wish to grow. Enjoy!
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