Manufacturing study released

ITASCA - Manufacturing in the western hemisphere has changed dramatically, taking on a project-intensive business model that requires dramatically different management techniques and business software, according to a study released Friday by IFS North America. Due in part to competition from overseas, North American manufacturing can no longer be characterized by long production runs or identical products, the study says. Based on a survey conducted by a third-party research firm of 341 executives from mid-market to large manufacturers, the report indicated that 77 percent of respondents were with companies extremely reliant on projects focused on short-run project times, engineer-to-order flexibility and highly regulated production.