USA Facts Website

USAFacts.org – Steve Balmer, Founder and Former Apple CEO

USAFacts is not-for-profit and nonpartisan. When former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer retired from tech to focus on philanthropy, he searched for solid, reliable, impartial numbers to understand what the US government does with tax dollars to help determine the best way to make an impact. How is the money spent? Who is served? What are the outcomes?

Those numbers weren’t readily available. So, he assembled a small team of economists, writers, and researchers to help comb through government data. Their eye-opening report laid the foundation for USAFacts. Today USAFacts reports are provided free as a resource for the American public and US government alike. Access Website

Solid September Job Quality Index and Total Employment Growth, but Gains Tilted Towards Low Wage Service Jobs along with Declining Manufacturing Employment

Coalition for a Prosperous America - Andrew Rechenberg

WASHINGTON — The Coalition for a Prosperous America (CPA) today announced that the U.S. Private Sector Job Quality Index (JQI) was 83.58, up by +0.58% from the preceding month. Moreover, the overall September 2024 Jobs Report from the government’s Bureau of Labor Statistics showed strong job growth. Employment was up 254,000 compared to the 150,000 consensus expectations.

The JQI, developed by CPA in partnership with other economists, divides the U.S. private sector nonmanagement labor force of 109.6 million employees into 16 sectors and 164 subsectors to evaluate economic trends in national employment. Sectors where the average weekly wage is above the average weekly wage for this group are termed “high-quality jobs” and those below are “low-quality jobs.” The data shows that for over 30 years the U.S. economy has created more low-quality jobs than high-quality. Read Article

Biomaterials Draw Interest, But Supply Chain is Weak

Market Moves Manufacturing – PMM, Karen Hanna, Arburg Inc.,

Regulations might stimulate market, which is seeing growing demand, despite low supply.

Tourists slaking their thirst at the Summer Olympics in Paris encountered an achievement that likely flew under the radar as the athletes dove, flipped and soared into the record books. 

Cups distributed at the Cass Pocha — an outdoor food and drink stall located near the Eiffel Tower during the Games — were made from 100 percent biobased polylactic acid (PLA), sourced from sugarcane. The biomaterial isn’t the only one to garner a high-profile platform — at recent tradeshows, including NPE2024, machinery makers have touted their commitment to sustainability by using PLA and other plant-based materials in processing demonstrations. Read Article

8 Reasons Why Sustainability is Getting a Bad Rap

IndustryWeek - Stephan Liozu

Misconceptions are causing manufacturers to miss the long-term benefits and cost savings.

Sustainability is a highly polarizing topic, with passionate supporters and strong detractors. Despite its recent surge in attention, there are emerging cracks in the sustainability narrative.

Bain & Co. recently reported a notable decline in corporate attention and investment in sustainability initiatives, signaling a shift in priorities. A growing number of publications and reports reflect a negative bias toward sustainability, which, despite being a buzzword in recent years, has developed an unfavorable reputation.

Unlike AI, which is often associated with innovation, growth and future potential, sustainability tends to be linked with compliance, regulations and constraints—concepts that many leaders perceive as limiting. This perception contributes to the polarization around sustainability, as it is frequently misunderstood, labeled negatively and associated with burdensome requirements. These narratives, combined with internal organizational challenges, have resulted in sustainability gaining a negative image in some circles. Understanding the reasons behind this shift is crucial to addressing the underlying issues. Read Article

Why Is Wall Street Doing Business with China?

IndustryWeek - Michael Collins

US investment dollars from retirement funds are still flowing into flagged companies.

A comprehensive report from the House Select Committee on competition between the U.S. and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) reveals that billions of investment dollars from Wall Street firms are flowing into Chinese companies that have been blacklisted by the U.S. government.

The report shows that asset managers and index providers have invested $6.54 billion in 63 companies flagged by the U.S. government for advancing China's military capabilities or supporting human rights abuses. The panel said the activity was not illegal, but it called for Congress to pass legislation that would restrict investment in blacklisted entities.

 According to the Coalition for a Prosperous America, 4,200 unregulated Chinese companies are in the investment portfolios of scores of unwitting investors. Read Article

Economist: Factory Growth to Outpace Broader Economy Over Next Two Years

IndustryWeek - Geert De Lombaerde

Hugh Johnson also sees manufacturing job growth blooming to 150,000 in 2026.

The manufacturing sector “is going to be a real positive” for the jobs market over the next two years, a veteran economist says, as factories will shake off their recent sluggishness and produce growth outpacing that of the economy as a whole.

Speaking to the UHY Annual Manufacturing Outlook held in Albany on Sept. 26, Hugh Johnson said leading indicators as well as investor sentiment suggests the U.S. economy will continue to expand in 2025 and 2026, with the first part of next year being the trough for both GDP and employment growth. Read Article

Huge Wyoming Rare Earth Project Gets $450 Million Loan From Feds

Cowboy State Daily - Renée Jean

Wyoming Rare (USA) will get more than $450 million in financing for its huge Halleck Creek Project in southeast Wyoming from a federal bank. It’s a loud message that America is serious about rare earth minerals and Wyoming’s potential to supply them.

The U.S. government is highlighting a huge Wyoming rare earth project as nationally important in the best way it knows how — with money. A lot of it.

The Export-Import Bank of the United States has pledged up to $456 million in financing for the Halleck Creek Project in southeast Wyoming. The pledge is not binding, and will depend on sufficiently moving the project forward.

Repayment of the loan would take place over 15 years under EXIM’s Make More in America Initiative, under which EXIM has been directed to take steps to reduce the competitive impact of export support that countries like the People’s Republic of China provide their industries. Read Article  

Navy Partners With Private Industry to Grow Submarine Industrial Base Capacity

Seapower - Staff

WASHINGTON – The Navy is proud to announce a groundbreaking co-investment collaboration to bolster U.S. maritime dominance and national security.

In order to meet submarine production requirements, and in support of Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro’s Maritime Statecraft initiative, the Navy and its submarine industrial base partners are committed to rebuilding a manufacturing base that has shrunk to just one-third of its capacity from 30 years ago. As part of this challenge, submarine production must nearly double, requiring an additional 3.5 to 4.5 million submarine module production and outfitting hours annually. This partnership will play a key role in ensuring submarine shipbuilders can meet the Navy’s required sustained submarine construction cadence for the Columbia Class and Virginia Class submarine programs.

A key element of this initiative is to incentivize private investment in the expansion of domestic shipyard capacity for submarine module manufacturing, including through an investment by Austal USA, LLC (Austal USA) in the qualified opportunity fund acquiring and developing Alabama Shipyard in Mobile, Alabama. This Gulf Coast site, with its deep-water port, advanced facilities, and proximity to significant infrastructure and a skilled workforce, is ideally suited for expanding industrial base capacity. Positioned next to Austal USA, an existing U.S. Navy shipbuilding contractor, the Alabama Shipyard will support the production of Columbia Class and Virginia Class submarine modules, as well as additive manufacturing and training. Read Article

There Are ‘Literally Zero’ Skills Where AI Could Replace a Human, Indeed’s Chief Economist Says

HR Dive - Carolyn Crist

Although a labor shortage is coming, employers can set themselves apart by taking a skills-first approach to hiring and investing in upskilling, Indeed data indicates.

Although generative AI tools are changing the workplace, they won’t replace workers — or even fully manage tasks without prompts, according to a recent presentation at Indeed FutureWorks 2024.

Based on an Indeed analysis, generative AI is unlikely to replace most work skills, especially those used for in-person roles such as cooks, drivers and nurses. Although generative AI may be more likely to affect technical or computational fields, such as accounting, advertising and software development, these tools still can’t replace workers entirely. Read Article  

Boeing Machinists Reject New Contract, Strike to Continue

IndustryWeek - Robert Schoenberger

Nearly two-thirds of the vote went against the contract that called for 35% raises, bonuses and increased contributions to retirement funds.

Nearly two-thirds (64%) of Boeing’s machinists rejected a tentative deal that called for 35% raises over four years, signing bonuses, increased benefits for retiree and large contributions to current workers’ retirement accounts. So, the strike against the nation's largest plane manufacturer will continue.

“After 10 years of sacrifices, we still have ground to make up, and we’re hopeful to do so by resuming negotiations promptly,” said Jon Holden, president of International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers District 751, and Brandon Bryant, president of IAM District W24, in a joint statement. Read Article

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Workplace Stability Key to Driving Top Talent

Quality Magazine - Robert Martichenko

It is generally accepted that team-member participation is the number one driver for organizational success.

Note: The following is the second article in a monthly series addressing the important topic of building Meaningful Employment Environments.

It is a distinct honor of mine to sit on the executive board of the Association for Manufacturing Excellence. This honor is best described as an ability to have many conversations about many topics with many highly engaged and knowledgeable leaders. One of the most frequent conversations these days surrounds the topic of our challenges with our ability to attract, recruit, develop and retain top talent. This is particularly evident within the ranks of our frontline team members. These challenges, and the work we are all doing to mitigate the impacts of these challenges, have re-introduced the concept of workplace stability. Read Article  

The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) Announced That it Has Approved the Application Submitted to the Special Financial Assistance (SFA) Program By:

PBGC Approves SFA Application for Detroit Carpenters Fund - Detroit Carpenters Fund Averts Insolvency and Reduction of Benefits Through Receipt of Special Financial Assistance. Read Release

PBGC Approves SFA Application for Midwestern Teamsters Plan - Midwestern Teamsters Pension Plan Averts Insolvency and Reduction of Benefits Through Receipt of Special Financial Assistance Read Release

Special Financial Assistance Applications Under Review – Visit Website  

Florida Insurers Shortchanged Homeowners After 2022 Hurricane, Whistleblowers Say

CBS – 60 Minutes

On Thursday night, Hurricane Helene and its 140 mile an hour winds made landfall in Florida's Big Bend region. It was deadly. The full extent of the damage won't be known for weeks and residents know rebuilding after the storm is likely to be as daunting as the storm itself.

It's been two years since Hurricane Ian hit Southwest Florida and an estimated 50 thousand homeowners are still locked in battles with their insurance companies. Tonight, you will hear from insurance insiders who say after years of diligently paying premiums, homeowners are being misled by their insurance carriers. The whistleblowers, who are all licensed adjusters, tell us after Hurricane Ian, several insurance carriers were using altered damage reports to deceive customers. See Video  

Money Rolls in on US Election Bets After Judge Clears the Way

AP News – Wayne Parry

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) — People began betting Thursday on which political party would win control of Congress in the November elections after a judge’s ruling allowing the wagers — the only ones to be legally approved by a U.S. jurisdiction.

New York startup company Kalshi began taking what amounts to bets on the outcome of the November congressional elections after a judge refused to block them from doing so.

The ruling by U.S. District Court Judge Jia Cobb in Washington enabled the company, at least temporarily, to offer prediction contracts across the country— essentially yes-or-no bets — on which party will win control of the Senate and the House in November. Read Article

Is a Bubble Forming in the Data Center Industry Due to AI Hype?

Area Development – Site Selection Group, King White

The data center industry has experienced unprecedented growth over the past few years, driven largely by the explosion of data consumption, cloud computing, and, more recently, artificial intelligence (AI). As companies increasingly invest in AI technologies, the demand for data center capacity has surged, leading to massive data center site selection projects landing in hubs everywhere. However, this rapid expansion begs the question: are we heading toward a bubble in the data center market? Site Selection Group investigates if the growth is sustainable. Read Blog

Bankruptcy Bandwagon Gets More Crowded

CFO.com - David McCann, Contributing Editor

Recent pace of filings is 43% higher than the annual average between 2005 and 2023.

Driven by a smorgasbord of factors, the pace of corporate bankruptcies among large companies — those with at least $100 million in assets — has continued to accelerate this year.

There were 108 such bankruptcy filings (Chapters 11 and 7 combined) during the 12 months ended June 30, up 8% from the prior 12-month period, according to a new report from Cornerstone Research. The figure is 43% higher than the annual average between 2005 and 2023.

The only times of more extensive bankruptcies over the past two decades were during the 2008-09 financial crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Read Article 

Agencies Agree to Insert Labor Issues Into M&A

EHS Today - David Sparkman

Extends Biden administration-wide campaign to boost unions.

The Biden administration is advancing its campaign to promote labor unions through joint actions of federal agencies with a new memorandum of understanding (MOU) between four top regulatory agencies to inject labor issues into the government approval process for corporate mergers and acquisitions (M&A) that fall under their jurisdictions.

The agencies are the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice (DOJ), the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Department of Labor (DOL), and National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). Since 2022, the same signatories to the Aug. 28 MOU agreement have signed five similar agreements backing up their commitment to cooperate on labor issues. Read Article 

Workers Say Debt Is Influencing Career Decisions

HR Dive - Kathryn Moody, Senior Editor

Financial stress can put incredible strain on workers’ productivity and health, various studies have shown.

Dive Brief:

• Four in 10 U.S. workers surveyed by the American Staffing Association said their debt — including mortgages, credit card debt, student loans and medical debt — was influencing their career decisions, according to a report released Oct. 10.
• Millennial workers were more likely than any other generation to say debt was affecting those choices.
• Notably, nearly 3 in 4 workers surveyed said they have debt of some kind. “Increased levels of personal debt results in unhealthy levels of stress, damaged credit scores, limited mobility in the job market, reduced quality of life, and reduced prospects for the future for a growing number of individuals and their families,” Richard Wahlquist, CEO of ASA, said in a statement. Read Article

Wall Street is Worried Stocks Might Be on the Cusp of a ‘Lost Decade’

MarketWatch - Joseph Adinolfi

Following their stellar gains over the past 10 years, U.S. stocks might be on the cusp of a decade of subpar returns.

Stocks have been on a terrific run over the past decade. But the years ahead might not be quite so spectacular.

A rising chorus of market watchers has recently sounded the alarm about the possibility that investors could be on the cusp of a “lost decade” — one where performance falls far short of what they have come to expect over the past 15 years.

A report published by David Kostin, chief U.S. equity strategist at Goldman Sachs, helped kickstart the conversation on Friday, when Kostin warned that the S&P 500 could be poised for what would be among its weakest stretches of returns over the past century. Read Article

South Carolina Enacts Key Tax Credits to Boost Economic Development Efforts

Area Development - John Wall, Partner, Burr & Forman

SCEDA priority legislation could boost state’s economic development efforts.

Several new laws enacted in the spring of 2024 should benefit South Carolina’s economic development recruitment efforts for several target industries, including two priorities of the South Carolina Economic Developer’s Association (“SCEDA”).

Here’s a breakdown of several newly signed laws.

The new law enhances a number of valuable incentives available for many different industries, and specifically does the following: Read Article

What Is a “Fair” Drug Price?

Institute for New Economic Thinking - William Lazonick and Öner Tulum

Medicare Needs a Perspective on “Collective and Cumulative Learning” in Inflation Reduction Act Negotiations

The ongoing negotiations under the Inflation Reduction Act over drug prices between Medicare and pharmaceutical companies confront the complex question of what constitutes a “maximum fair price” (MFP) for prescription medicine. The higher the price on a “MFP” drug under negotiation, the less affordable the drug is to the healthcare system. The negotiators agree, however, that the price of the MFP drug should be high enough to fund the pharmaceutical company’s next round of investment in drug innovation. The question is, with this tradeoff in mind, how high is “fair”? Read Article

The Economics of Sanctions: From Theory into Practice

Brookings Institution - Oleg Itskhoki and Elina Ribakova

The sanctions imposed to isolate Russia economically after it invaded Ukraine in February 2022, though “unprecedented in scale and scope,” have failed so far to significantly alter Russia’s behavior, according to a paper to be discussed at the Brookings Papers on Economic Activity (BPEA) conference on September 27.

“Their impact on Russia’s economy has been mixed, with only moderate contraction reported by official Russian statistics” write the authors, Oleg Itskhoki of Harvard University and Elina Ribakova of the Peterson Institute for International Economics. Read Article

The Fed and the “Soft Landing” - Policy or Luck?

Institute for New Economic Thinking - Thomas Ferguson and Servaas Storm

The biggest factor in accounting for the strength in the economy is the continuing importance of the wealth effect in sustaining consumption by the affluent.

Late summer festivals have long been traditional high points in the world of arts and music. Nowadays, courtesy of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, central bankers repair to their own version of Bayreuth or Salzburg: the conference held in late August in Wyoming at the Jackson Lake Lodge in Grand Teton National Park. Read Article

Federal Reserve’s Capitulation to Wall Street’s Baseless Capital Attacks Are Unjustified

Better Markets

WASHINGTON, D.C.— Dennis M. Kelleher, Cofounder, President and CEO, issued the following statement in connection with Federal Reserve Board (Fed) Vice Chair for Supervision Michael Barr’s statements on the Fed’s proposed capital rule:

“Today’s action by Federal Reserve Vice Chair for Supervision Michael Barr gutting the proposed capital rule is baseless and unjustified. Remember that Wall Street’s banks attacked the rule before it was even proposed. The threat those banks pose to the country is from being undercapitalized, as proved yet again in the banking crisis of 2023. Wall Street’s propaganda campaign against the rule is based on the ludicrous claim that the proposed rule would result in overcapitalized banks.

“It is telling that the Fed’s capitulation to Wall Street’s attacks on the modest capital proposal did not have facts or data supporting the action. That’s because the ‘broad and material’ changes that Wall Street’s biggest banks insisted on and that Fed Chair Powell championed are unjustified and baseless. The assertions in the speech supposedly defending these actions merely repeat the empty but relentless attacks from Wall Street’s biggest banks, their lobbyists, and political allies, even though they have all been rebutted on the merits here, here and elsewhere. Read Statement

Economic View: Tariffs Done Right Can Rebuild Our Economy

Coalition for a Prosperous America - Jeff Ferry

Economic View: Tariffs Done Right Can Rebuild Our Economy

Proposals for new tariffs face a lot of criticism these days, from the media, from economists, and from foreign policy types. Part of the reason is that it’s Donald Trump making the proposals and many in those groups don’t like Trump. But the fact is that tariffs can work to build our economy. They have worked before and they have worked recently as well.

Tariffs, i.e. protection from imports, were an integral part of America’s rise to modern prosperity in the 19th century. In the 1860s, we imposed heavy tariffs on imported iron and steel. According to economist Frank Taussig, British steel rails sold in the U.S. at that time for $31 a ton, about half the U.S. price of $61 a ton. Britain was the world leader in steel technology and production. However, a U.S. tariff of $28 a ton reduced imports and enabled U.S. producers to catch up. After 1879, America’s Carnegie Steel rose to industry leadership through aggressive adoption of the most modern technology and production methods. By 1897, steel in the U.S. was down to $19 a ton, $2 cheaper than British steel. Despite the fact that Carnegie Steel paid higher wages than its British competitors, Carnegie Steel was globally competitive and began exporting steel to Britain. Protection enabled the U.S. industry to catch up and surpass the British industry, creating thousands of U.S. jobs along the way. Read Article

Katherine Tai Says Proper Use of Tariffs a Good Way to Stop Deindustrialization

Coalition for a Prosperous America - Kenneth Rapoza

U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai said the proper use of tariffs as a trade tool is good for the middle class, especially those that work in the industrial sectors of the economy. No tariffs, on the other hand, may lower costs of goods sold. But they come with other risks, including the socio-economic problems associated with deindustrialization.

“One of the things we need to take into account is that things that look like they are low priced and artificially low priced and have brought with them a lot of larger costs,” she said on MSNBC’s news show hosted by Ali Velshi.

For Tai, those costs are sometimes incalculable, but clearly visible. They include the “larger costs to America’s industrial strength, to our manufacturing economy and to what our future might look like,” she said speaking on behalf of the Biden administration’s May 14th decision to increase tariffs on semiconductors, solar goods, EVs and EV batteries made in China. Read Article

A Nobel Prize for An Explanation of Why Nations Fail

NPR Panet Money - Greg Rosalsky

On January 6th, 2021, rioters stormed the United States Capitol building. To many of us, it felt like one of the bedrock institutional traditions of our democracy was in jeopardy: the peaceful transition of power to a leader elected by the people.

As inauguration day approached, Americans feared that more violence was possible. Thousands of National Guard troops descended on the capital to keep the peace. And our democratic institutions felt more fragile than ever. Read Article

‘We Are Essentially in a New Gilded Age’: As Workers Get Laid Off, CEOs and Shareholders Gobble Up Hundreds of Billions in Profits

Fortune - Chloe Berger

Taking a modern-century spin on “Let them eat cake,” shareholders are having the whole cake, and eating it too. It’s no shock the boardroom is able to stay above the fray as wealthy members are more equipped to weather economic downturns. But it turns out CEOs and shareholders are walking away with an even greater slice of profits than one might think.

So finds a recent report from Oxfam, a British nonprofit focused on eradicating poverty, which analyzed more than 200 U.S. corporations to assess their “inequality footprint.” Most money ends up funneling into the mouths of those at the top, as 90% (or $1.1 trillion) of the combined $1.25 trillion in net profits for those companies analyzed went to paying wealthy shareholders. Read Article

Navigating an Evolving Global Economy: The Future of Korea-LAC Relations

InterAmerican Development Bank - Fabrizio Opertti and Marcelo Dolabella 

In recent decades, the relationship between Korea and Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) has flourished amidst a period of unprecedented international economic cooperation. However, the recent proliferation of trade barriers and subsidies poses new challenges.

What does this mean for Korea-LAC relations? A recent report by the IDB argues that despite these challenges, there is no reason to abandon the goal of a close partnership. By integrating their economies, Korea and LAC are better positioned to address geopolitical, environmental, and social issues while maintaining trade and foreign investment as growth drivers. Read Blog

IDB Invest, Bancolombia and Atlas Renewable Energy Announce Investment to Boost Colombia’s Energy Transition

InterAmerican Development Bank

This represents one of the largest solar projects ever undertaken in Colombia.

IDB Invest, Bancolombia, and Atlas Renewable Energy, a global leader in clean energy generation, have strengthened their commitment to mitigating climate change by finalizing a long-term financial agreement for the development, construction, and operation of the 201 MWp Shangri-La solar photovoltaic power plant in the Tolima department of Colombia. The financial package includes a senior secured loan totaling COP 473.77 billion (approximately $113 million), provided by IDB Invest and Bancolombia.

The project will contribute 160 MWac of zero-carbon installed capacity to Colombia's energy grid, generating approximately 403.7 GWh of clean energy annually. This is enough to power around 214,000 homes while preventing the emission of roughly 162,000 tons of CO2 per year. By doing so, the project will make a direct impact on climate change mitigation, delivering a net reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. Read Release

Honduras 2024/25 Coffee Exports Seen Up 15% Despite EU Trade Fears

Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH - Reuters

TEGUCIGALPA, Oct 1 (Reuters) - Honduras' coffee exports in the 2024/25 season are seen up 14.5% from the previous period to 5.37 million 60-kg bags, industry leaders said on Tuesday, despite fears that shipments could be hurt by an EU regulation set to take effect at the end of the year.

Central America's largest exporter of the bean sees exports boosted by better production this year as harvesting for the new season kicks off, Pedro Mendoza, head of Honduras' coffee organization IHCAFE said. Read Article

German Police Reintroduce Spot Controls at All Borders

DeutscheWelle - Sabine Kinkartz

Germany is reintroducing border checks at all its borders for at least six months. The aim is to help restrict migration. DW visited the border area between Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands to see how it was working.

Checks are being temporarily reintroduced at Germany's borders with France, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Denmark. They are due to run until March 15, 2025. Such controls have already become part of daily life at the borders with Poland, the Czech Republic, Austria and Switzerland. Read Article

Reeves Urged to Hit Wealthy with Exit Tax as They Flee Britain

Yahoo Finance – The Telegraph, Szu Ping Chan

Rachel Reeves should launch a tax raid on wealthy people fleeing Britain as part of sweeping changes to capital gains rates, a leading think tank has said.

The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) has called on Ms Reeves to impose an exit tax on investors moving their money out of the country, which it said would reduce incentives for them to flee.

Canada, Australia, the US and Japan already impose some form of exit tax on accrued but unrealised investment gains. Read Article

Germany's Prolonged Recession Makes Firms Takeover Targets

DeutscheWelle - Dirk Kaufmann

The German economy just can't seem to get back on its feet, with another year of contraction on the horizon. As more companies struggle, they're becoming the focus of merger and acquisition specialists.

The situation of the German economy isn't rosy at the moment, and the future is not looking good either.

German Economy Minister Robert Habeck told reporters in Berlin on Wednesday that the country's gross domestic product (GDP) is expected to shrink in 2024, meaning Europe's biggest economy will remain stuck in recession for the second consecutive year.

Unveiling the government's routine autumn growth forecast, Habeck announced an expected contraction of 0.2%, revising a more optimistic spring outlook of plus 0.3% of growth. Read Article  

China: Attacks on Japanese Citizens Stoke Security Concerns

DeutscheWelle - Julian Ryall in Tokyo

Japanese nationals have become increasingly jittery over traveling to China after several Japanese were targeted in violent attacks.

Some of the products that Ken Kato sells though his funerary business come from China while others have components that originate in China, but the Tokyo-based company owner has no intention of traveling there to meet his partners. It is, he says, simply too dangerous for a Japanese person.

"This is a small company, but when you are in business in Japan it is important to sometimes make the effort to meet partners face-to-face," Kato told DW. "I'm happy to do that if they can come to Japan, but I'm not going to China and I won't ask any of my staff to go either. It is not worth the risk."

Japanese have become increasingly reluctant to visit China after a series of incidents that have made the headlines here, paired with a gradual downward spiral in diplomatic relations between Tokyo and Beijing. Read Article  

Why is Indonesia's Middle Class Shrinking?

DeutscheWelle - Arti Ekawati

As Indonesia's newly elected government takes office promising economic growth, the country's middle class is under pressure.

On October 20, Prabowo Subianto will be inaugurated as Indonesia's president. He won an election in February by running a populist campaign that included promises of 8% economic growth while ending poverty and malnutrition.

In recent decades, the Southeast Asian nation has been a success story, recording rapid growth rates and reducing extreme poverty.

According to research by the World Bank, Indonesia will need to further boost economic expansion and create a "much larger" middle class in order to become a high-income country. Read Article 

What is Behind Vietnam's Economic Success Story?

DeutscheWelle -Tommy Walker in Bangkok

The World Bank has forecast that Vietnam will show the strongest growth of the emerging economies in Southeast Asia.

According to a new forecast from the World Bank, economic growth in Vietnam is expected to reach 6.1% by the end of 2024 and 6.5% in 2025.

Both forecasts are higher than what was estimated in April, with the increase in growth attributed to a rebound in manufacturing exports, tourism and investment, according to the report. Read Article

Indian Companies Struggle to Stop Ransomware Attacks

DeutscheWelle - Murali Krishnan in New Delhi

India has been grappling with a steady increase in ransomware cyberattacks targeting businesses, banks and public services. Institutions and companies are being asked to do more to protect their data.

Numerous government departments and the technology sector are among the primary targets of recent ransomware attacks in India, with health care, banking, manufacturing, and online commerce also affected.

The most common type of cyberattack deploys encrypting ransomware, which encrypts a victim's data and demands a ransom for the decryption key.

According to a report released in July by Check Point, a global cybersecurity company, India saw a 46% year-on-year increase in overall cyberattacks in the second quarter of 2024. Read Article

How Singapore Got a Grip on Water Scarcity

DeutscheWelle -Tim Schauenberg

Water has influenced war, the economy, and people’s health in Singapore. How has this water-stressed country become a global pioneer in the management of a scarce resource?

Home to six million people, the city-state of Singapore is colorful, multicultural and prosperous. Ranking among the top five richest countries globally, it is an international center for the financial industry and global trade.

It is also clean and green with many parks featuring fountains, ponds, and canals. Yet, with no natural freshwater sources of its own, it is one of the most water-stressed states in the world.

Even so, Singapore is successfully meeting the increasing water needs of its rapidly growing population and economy. So much so, that over the past decades, the small island state has managed to become a global role model in water management. Read Article

India Rules Out Joining World’s Largest Trade Deal, Accuses China of ‘Very Opaque’ Trade Practices

Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH - CNBC, Lee Ying Shan

Key Points

• India’s commerce and industry minister ruled out the idea of joining the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, maintaining that it is not in the country’s interest to be part of a free trade agreement with China.
• “It was not in our farmers’ interest, RCEP did not reflect the aspirations of our small and micro medium industries and sector, and in some form, was nothing but a free trade agreement with China,” Piyush Goyal said.
• The RCEP is the world’s largest free trade agreement by GDP of its members. Read Article

Pakistan: What is Behind Attacks on Chinese Nationals?

DeutscheWelle - Haroon Janjua in Islamabad

A massive blast outside Karachi's international airport has killed two Chinese nationals. This is not the first time militants have targeted Chinese workers in Pakistan.

The Chinese embassy in Pakistan has confirmed that two Chinese nationals were killed and one injured in an explosion near the Jinnah International Airport in Karachi on Sunday.

A total of three people were killed and at least 11 were wounded in what Pakistani authorities described as a "terror attack." Read Article

How Did the Turkey Attack Unfold?

BBC - Nick Eardley

The Turkish government has said at least five people were killed after an attack on aerospace company - TAI - which manufactures drones and jets for the military.

Turkey has said it was a terrorist attack - and launched strikes on armed separatist group the PKK in response. Footage from the attack shows two heavily armed people arriving at TAI. It also shows a large explosion at the site. See Video Report

All Aboard the Sparkling Railway Breaking New Ground for East Africa

BBC - Basillioh Rukanga & Alfred Lasteck, BBC News, Dar es Salaam & Dodoma

Shaped and coloured like the country’s rare gemstone, tanzanite, the sparkling new railway terminal in Dar es Salaam is a symbol of Tanzania’s transport ambitions.

The glass panels gleam in the sun, like an outsize version of the prismatic bluish-purple gem that glitters in the light.

The trains – powered by electricity, a first for the region – carry passengers from the commercial hub to the capital, Dodoma, in less than four hours, half the time it takes by road. Read Article

. "Institute training on the job" - Number 6 of Fourteen Points

                          W. Edwards Deming

American engineer, statistician,

professor, author, lecturer, and

management consultant

1900 - 1993



“Quality means doing it right when no one is looking.”

Henry Ford

Henry Ford was an American industrialist and business magnate. Founder of Ford Motor Company, pioneer in making automobiles affordable for middle-class Americans.

1863 – 1947

“Trickle-down economics is a myth. Enriching corporations - as the TPP would - will not necessarily help those in the middle, let alone those at the bottom.”

Joseph Eugene Stiglitz

American New Keynesian economist, public policy analyst, professor at Columbia University. He is a recipient of the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences and the John Bates Clark

Medal.

1943 –

US Dockworkers Launch Strike After Labor Contract Expires

IndustryWeek - Agence France-Presse, Anna Smith

"With the longshoremen’s strike now in effect, the disruption to our supply chain is both immediate and far-reaching," says Transportation Intermediaries Association President and CEO Anne Reinke.

Dockworkers at major ports along the U.S. East and Gulf Coasts went on strike Tuesday after last-minute negotiations yielded no new labor contract, a stoppage expected to drag on the world's largest economy.

The International Longshoremen's Association (ILA) said the walkout by its workers marks the first "coast wide strike in almost 50 years". Read Article

Companies to Shift 9% More Nearshoring to Mexico

CFO Dive - Maura Webber Sadovi, Senior Editor

Mexico is poised to replace Canada as the second-most popular country for nearshoring, as its share of U.S.-serving supply chains is expected to rise to 36%.

Dive Brief:

• Over the next two years the percentage of U.S.-serving supply chains located in North and South America will rise to 69% from 59%, according to the findings of a KPMG survey of 250 U.S.-based executives from companies with annual revenues of $1 billion or more. 
• Exactly what countries house the lion’s share of those operations are expected to shift over the next three years, with the U.S. expected to see its share drop to 44% from 62% while Canada’s is expected to dip to 30% from 39%. Mexico tops the countries poised to enjoy gains, with its share poised to rise to 36% from 27%, replacing Canada as the second-most popular country for nearshoring in the Americas.
• Companies have been shifting away from “globalized” sourcing of goods toward “localized” supply chains that reduce the distance between production and customer after recent crises — including the COVID-19 pandemic and the Panama Canal drought — exposed the vulnerabilities of the longer trade routes, according to “The Proximity Premium” report on the findings which was published this month. Read Article

August Trade Deficit Surprisingly Falls 10% to $70.4 Billion; Lowest Deficit Since March

Coalition for a Prosperous America - Kenneth Rapoza

The August trade figures came in surprisingly low on Tuesday, falling 10% to $70.4 billion, marking the lowest monthly goods and services gap since March ($67.9 billion), the Bureau of Economic Analysis said today.

Exports rose 2% to $271.8 billion while imports fell 0.9% to $342.2 billion. This figure, however, includes services exports –things like intellectual property fees from companies abroad renewing Adobe Acrobat licenses, or foreign investors paying for financial services, like brokerage or money management fees. The goods deficit for August was $94.8 billion, also the lowest monthly figure since March ($92.9 billion). 

August might have been slow, with the deficit levels falling below the three month average. But the year-to-date goods and services deficit managed to increase by $47.1 billion, or 8.9%, from the same period in 2023. Exports increased $79 billion or 3.9%, but imports increased $126.1 billion or 4.9%. Read Article

BRICS Leaders Discuss Dollar Alternative

DeutscheWelle - Emily Leshner

Reducing dependency on the US dollar and Western financial institutions: that's the key theme at the BRICS summit this year, where the leaders of some emerging economies meet to discuss top priorities. See Video Report

Quotas Can Work Better Than Tariffs to Reshore Production

Coalition for a Prosperous America - Jeff Ferry

KEY POINTS

• Quotas can be more effective than tariffs at restraining imports, providing greater certainty for U.S. domestic producers to invest in expanding production.
• Quotas provide for greater predictability in the market, reducing the risk of shortages or sudden price changes while at the same time encouraging domestic producers to expand production.
• Tariffs can be nullified by an exporting nation that uses subsidies or devaluation of its currency to support its exports. The full value of the tariff can be absorbed by government-subsidized price-cutting and/or currency devaluation.
• Tariffs have the advantage of delivering revenue to the government of the importing nation. The government can use this revenue to reduce the fiscal deficit or cut taxes or increase spending, or all of these. Read Article

All White House Contenders Against U.S. Steel Sale; But Influential Global Institutions In Favor

Coalition for a Prosperous America - Kenneth Rapoza

All White House Contenders Against U.S. Steel Sale; But Influential Global Institutions In Favor

The leading contenders for the White House all favor blocking the U.S. Steel sale to Nippon Steel of Japan, a sale that might yet reward its senior executive, David Burritt, with a $72 million pay package once it closes.



Globalist-thinking institutions are all in favor of the deal. It is unclear who will come out on top as Biden extended the foreign investment review process (CFIUS) in mid-September. That gives CFIUS about 90 days to decide, meaning after the presidential election and possibly before the end of the year.

Presidential candidate Kamala Harris said on September 2 that “U.S. Steel should remain American-owned and American-operated.” But Biden could agree to the deal if CFIUS clears it before he leaves office, even allowing Harris to say – should she win – that she would not have agreed to the sale regardless if she had the final word. Read Article

Hurricane Helene Exposes a Rare-Earth Supply Chain Vulnerability

IndustryWeek - Zachary A. Collier

Quartz mining in Spruce Pine, North Carolina, highlights the problem of 'single point of failure.'

Hurricane Helene left widespread destruction in western North Carolina. One of the towns impacted is Spruce Pine, the location of the world’s largest deposit of high-purity quartz, an ingredient used in semiconductor manufacturing.

Two mining companies that operate in Spruce Pine, Sibelco and the Quartz Corp., had to temporarily halt operations due to flooding and damage to infrastructure in the area. Luckily, mining operations have since resumed at one of the mines.

The global semiconductor industry is dependent on Spruce Pine as the primary source for virtually all high-purity quartz it consumes. Read Article

Mexican Port Plans $600m Expansion to Tap US ‘Nearshoring’ Boom

Area Development – Global Reconstruction Review, David Rogers

The Port of Lázaro Cárdenas on Mexico’s Pacific coast will invest $617m to expand its capacity over the next six years to meet American companies’ growing demand for “nearshoring”, the Sol de México newspaper reports.

Nearshoring is the practice of moving production facilities to neighbouring countries with lower labour costs, and then exporting the goods to the domestic market.

The practice has bipartisan support in the US, largely because the factories are relocating from China to Mexico. Read Article

Purveyors of Apprenticeships?

Community College Daily News - Matthew Dembicki

As of 2023, 541 community or technical colleges were registered apprenticeship “sponsors,” meaning they officially administered and operated apprenticeship programs. However, only 208 of these colleges had an active apprentice.

Therein lies the rub in a pitch by the Apprenticeships for America (AFA), an advocacy organization working to expand apprenticeships, to rally more community colleges to serve as intermediaries to grow apprenticeships nationally. Read Article

Apprenticeship Group Urges Employers, Community Colleges to Team Up

HR Dive - Kate Tornone, Lead Editor

A report calls on stakeholders to let go of assumptions that apprenticeships are only for the trades.

Community colleges have “significant untapped potential” to help workers obtain in-demand skills — but they need buy-in from employers, according to a nonprofit apprenticeship organization.

More than 500 community and technical colleges are registered as apprenticeship sponsors, but less than half had active apprentices last year, according to Apprenticeships for America’s Sept. 25 report.

The full potential of apprenticeships can only be realized if employers and colleges come together in meaningful ways, the organization said. Read Article /

The US Must Lead the Way in Advanced Manufacturing Talent

IndustryWeek - Josh Cramer

Tapping into workforce resources at the national level can advance the skills of the labor force locally.

As U.S. manufacturing continues to recover from the challenges ushered in by the pandemic, the industry currently is facing a workforce shortage. According to a 2021 study by Deloitte and the Manufacturing Institute, 2.1 million manufacturing jobs could go unfilled by 2030. This statistic raises the critical question of how to fill these roles with qualified personnel tailored to the needs of industry.

Technology continues to evolve and change, opening up career possibilities in the fields of additive manufacturing, robotics, automation and AI, all emerging and disruptive. Not only will these roles require candidates who are properly trained in critical thinking, problem-solving, communication and innovation—but they will change some of the landscape of current roles in the sector. Read Article  

Manufacturers, Liberal Arts Colleges Have Reasons to Collaborate

IndustryWeek - Byron Rich

Their mutualistic strengths and needs can make them good partners in small-town America.

Manufacturing and higher education, two industries that are core to America’s historic prosperity, face growing existential threats. One space where the two collide is in the small towns and cities comprising rural America. In these communities scattered across the nation, we find relics of the past and possibly the key to their future: small liberal arts colleges struggling to enroll enough students, and small to medium-sized manufacturers desperate for talent that will allow them to grow and innovate.

In towns like the one I call home, Meadville, Pennsylvania, manufacturing and higher education until recently never collaborated. They merely coexisted. Read Article  

The Cost of Labor and Workforce Skills Necessary for the Transition to an Electrified Auto Industry

Area Development – Raymond Perez, Of Counsel, Fisher & Phillips LLP

Why executives must prioritize workforce skills for the electric vehicle transition.

Editor’s Note: This article is part of Area Development’s Auto/Aero Special Report in the Q3 2024 issue. It was commissioned and edited by Dennis Cuneo who served as guest editor for this special coverage.

Labor costs and workforce skill shortages are a growing concern for automotive OEM’s and their suppliers. While the availability of a skilled workforce has always been part of the site selection calculus, it is now a top consideration in any automotive site selection decision. As noted in a study by the Center for Automotive Research, as the auto industry transitions to hybrid and electric vehicle, the U.S. faces a serious challenge in developing a skilled workforce to meet the anticipated demand in electric vehicle battery production. Read Article

Serious Leaders Are Committed, Consistent and Patient

IndustryWeek - Katie Anderson

It’s more about fostering behaviors and creating the right environment than focusing entirely on results.

When it comes to leadership, the word serious can carry a lot of weight. But what does it mean to be a serious leader?

Is it about being strict, unwavering, or demanding perfection? Not quite.

In fact, being serious as a leader is more about commitment, consistency and a relentless focus on improving—both yourself and your organization. It's about being serious not just about the results your organization needs, but also about understanding that the key to achieving those results lies in intentionally building the right culture and structures for your teams to be successful in attaining those results. Read Article

When Silos Fall, Lean Thrives

IndustryWeek - David Rizzardo

There are real steps leaders can take to break functional experts out of their hidey-holes.

Let’s start by defining silo-building. It’s the mindset and actions that create isolated departments or work areas that do not collaborate well, neither with other areas of the company nor with other parts of the value stream.

The focus of the silo is optimization of the silo, nothing else. In manufacturing, a silo might be a fabrication area that supplies components to the assembly department. Or more often, silos develop in support or administrative departments; e.g., engineering, IT, quality, sales. Read Article

Gap in Training Front Line Workers

EHS Today

Just 24% of workers say they have right training needed to succeed at work.

Determining the correct amount of training is difficult. A recent survey, the 2024 Lighthouse Research & Advisory Frontline Development Trends Study, which gathered responses from 737 different employers and 1,050 workers across frontline industries, found a gap in training.

“In a world where nearly six in 10 frontline workers say that they have experienced additional stress due to low staffing levels over the last year, it’s time to turn our attention to this critical segment of the workforce in a practical, proactive manner to help them be more productive and engaged in their work,” the report says.

In addition to low staffing levels, just 24% of those surveyed strongly agree that they have the right types and amount of training they need to succeed at work. Respondents cited time/scheduling constraints, limited practice opportunities, and/or lack of resource access as the top three reasons they have trouble developing their skills at work. Read Article

Manager Development a Top Priority for HR in 2025, Gartner Says

HR Dive – Kathryn Moody, Senior Editor

Many HR leaders surveyed said their leaders are “not equipped to lead change.”

Leader and manager development is a top priority for HR leaders, according to an Oct. 15 Gartner analysis, with many noting that their leaders and managers “are not equipped to lead change.”

Three-quarters of HR leaders surveyed earlier this year said managers are overwhelmed by their responsibilities. “For organizations to deliver on their goals, managers must be prepared to successfully lead both today and tomorrow,” Mark Whittle, vice president of advisory in the Gartner HR practice, said in a statement. “Though 75% of organizations have made significant updates to their leadership development programs, and more than half are increasing spending on leader development, they are not seeing results.” Read Article

October

Economic Development Opportunities – An Important Incentive in Attracting Companies to Your Region

by Dean Prigelmeier, President of Proactive Technologies, Inc.



Increasing Worker Capacity - An Alternative to Cutting Workers for Short-term Cost Savings

by Stacey Lett, Director of Operations - Eastern U.S. - Proactive Technologies, Inc. 

Education-Employer Partnerships That Work

by Frank Gibson, Workforce Development Advisor, retired from The Ohio State University – Alber Enterprise Center. Currently an Independent Business Consultant

WATCH VIDEO INTERVIEW

by Proactive Technologies, Inc. - Staff

September

The Worker Development Puzzle... For Many

by Dean Prigelmeier, President of Proactive Technologies, Inc. 

Lessen Gen Z Workplace Anxiety – Make Training Deliberate and Engaging

by Stacey Lett, Director of Operations - Eastern U.S. - Proactive Technologies, Inc. 

The Employers Have the Most Advanced Equipment Available for Training

by Frank Gibson, Workforce Development Advisor, retired from The Ohio State University – Alber Enterprise Center. Currently an Independent Business Consultant

Keeping Employers Engaged in Regional Workforce Development Projects

by Dean Prigelmeier, President of Proactive Technologies, Inc.

August

Reluctant to Reshore Due to Apparent Shortage of Skilled Labor? Don’t Be

by Dean Prigelmeier, President of Proactive Technologies, Inc. 

Challenge Employees with Self-Improvement Opportunities to Head-off Burnout

by Stacey Lett, Director of Operations - Eastern U.S. - Proactive Technologies, Inc.

The Challenges of "Team Building" Projects

by Stacey Lett, Director of Operations - Eastern U.S. - Proactive Technologies, Inc.

Replicating Your Best Performers

by Stacey Lett, Director of Operations - Eastern U.S. - Proactive Technologies, Inc.

July

What Constitutes “Training” is Stumbling Block to Effective Worker Development Strategies

by Dean Prigelmeier, President of Proactive Technologies, Inc. 

Employers Say They Struggle With a “Skills Shortage,” Yet They Cut the Training Budget. What Gives?

by Stacey Lett, Director of Operations - Eastern U.S. - Proactive Technologies, Inc. 

Jack of All Trades, Master of None

by Dr. Dave Just, formally Dean of Corporate and Continuing Education at Community Colleges in MA, OH, PA, SC. Currently President of K&D Consulting 

A Simple, Low-investment Solution to Closing Skill Gaps; New-Hires and Incumbents

by Dean Prigelmeier, President of Proactive Technologies, Inc.

June

Sobering Polling Data That Warns Employer’s to Take Worker Development Seriously

by Dean Prigelmeier, President of Proactive Technologies, Inc.

Challenges Presented by the Widening Skill Gap

by Stacey Lett, Director of Operations - Eastern U.S. - Proactive Technologies, Inc. 

Cross-Training Workers After Lean Efforts Builds Capacity Using Existing Staff

by Stacey Lett, Director of Operations - Eastern U.S. - Proactive Technologies, Inc. 

Supervisors and First Line Management Need Structured On-The-Job Training, Too

by Dean Prigelmeier, President of Proactive Technologies, Inc.

See more articles on the Proactive Technologies , Inc. website

To supplement onsite PROTECH® system of managed human resource development classes, these regularly scheduled webinars are available to the registered staff of clients:

• Structured On-The-Job Training Instructor Certification
• Structured On-The Job Training Checklist Administrator Certification
• Management Structured On-The-Job Training Project Support Briefing
• Integrating Support for Plant-Wide ISO/AS/IATF Quality and Safety Systems with PROTECH Workforce Development System
• Supporting "Pay-For-Value" Systems
• Promoting Continuous Process Improvement While Implementing the PROTECH System for the Accelerated Transfer of Expertise™
• PROTECH Onsite Lead Trainer and System Administrator Certification



Contact US to attend one of these seminars and we will send you an e-reservation. Include your client ID, name and user ID number and which webinar you would like to attend.

Copyright © 2019-24

Proactive Technologies, Inc.®

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 



Compliance in Manufacturing:- A Practical Guide for Small Manufacturers

Quality Magazine – Scott Ryan

Ensuring compliance in manufacturing is not just about ticking boxes; it’s about building trust and driving excellence. For small manufacturers, the challenge of navigating complex regulatory landscapes might seem overwhelming – it requires significant overhead and can be complex to implement and maintain. However, delving into the history and evolution of compliance, along with technological advances, can help shed light on where regulatory standards are, where they are going, and how manufacturers can implement compliance strategies with a view to the future (without wrecking the bottom line). By grasping how to effectively implement compliance strategies, small manufacturers can not only meet regulatory demands but also elevate their operations and reputation, turning what once seemed like a maze into a clear, rewarding path to success. Read Article

CEOs Should Use Data, Not Clean It

IndustryWeek - Dennis Scimeca

Manufacturing leaders have better things to do than correlate data to find patterns that guide improvement. Let automation do the work.

Only clean and organized data yields useful analytics for manufacturers. So, imagine yourself as a one-man show at a high mix/low-yield job shop serving highly regulated industries, trying to clean data from eight different systems quickly enough to serve any constructive purpose.

Wes Prunckle, president and CEO of Strand Products, a 55-employee contract manufacturer of mechanical wire, cord and cable assemblies based at a single plant in Ventura, California, didn’t have to imagine. He lived the nightmare. Read Article

U.S. Senate Committee Criticizes Boeing’s Quality Issues and FAA Regulatory Gaps

Quality Magazine

WASHINGTON—A U.S. Senate panel investigating Boeing's safety culture on Wednesday faulted the plane maker's quality practices and oversight by the Federal Aviation Administration citing documents obtained in an ongoing investigation.

The Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, which is holding a hearing today with FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker, said Boeing workers continue to feel pressure to prioritize speed of production over quality. Read Article

General Motors to Recall Over 18,000 Vehicles on Brake Line Concerns, NHTSA Says

Reuters

General Motors (GM.N), opens new tab will recall 18,235 commercial vehicles in the United States over an issue with brake lines, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said on Thursday.

"The brake line may have insufficient clearance to the body mounts, which can result in brake line damage that can lead to a brake fluid leak," the auto safety regulator said.

The recall covers certain Chevrolet Express Cutaway and GMC Savana Cutaway models between 2013 and 2019 that are equipped with optional GM-provided body mounts. Read Article

Beyond Lean Thinking: “Doing Better with Less of Everything”

Quality Magazine - Glenn Marshall

Beyond Lean Thinking values processes over results. It opens minds to overcoming challenges, including unanticipated ones.

For over 30 years companies have been relying on Lean thinking principles for driving successful business models to allow them to become more competitive in leading and winning the global economic and environmental marathon. Lean Thinking is a business methodology based on the history of Japanese manufacturing techniques which have been applied worldwide within many types of industries. It is a mindset – a way of viewing the world – that aims to handle work in a Lean manner.

Lean is a way of thinking about creating needed value with fewer resources and less waste. Lean practices begin with the work — the actions that directly and indirectly create value for the customer — and the people doing that work. Read Article

Quality 101: Is it a Digital Caliper – or a Swiss Army Knife?

Quality Magazine - George Schuetz

Even a digital caliper — which takes most of the guesswork out of reading the measured value — still requires skill to correctly apply it to the measured dimension.

We are all familiar with the versatility of calipers—vernier, dial, or digital. On the shop floor, in the inspection room, or even now for the home hobbyist, the caliper is a fast and easy-to-use tool to make basic length measurements.

But while the caliper is a versatile tool, it is not one of the most precise. Skill is required for positioning and interpreting measurement results. As the user develops a “feel” for the tool, measurement results become more consistent. Read Article

Honda Recalls Nearly 1.7M Vehicles for Steering Problem that Could Lead to Crashes

NPR - The Associated Press

Honda Motor Co. is recalling close to 1.7 million vehicles due to a manufacturing issue that could make it difficult to steer the vehicles and lead to crashes.

Honda reported the recall last week to government regulators, who issued the recall order on Tuesday.

The safety recall order from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said that the steering gearbox assembly may have been manufactured incorrectly, potentially causing “excessive internal friction” that could make the vehicle difficult to steer and increase the likelihood of a crash. Read Article

Honda Recalls 700,000 Accords, Civics and CR-Vs for Fuel Pumps That Can Leak

NPR - The Associated Press

Honda is recalling more than 700,000 vehicles because the high-pressure fuel pump may crack and leak fuel, which could increase the risk of a fire.

It is the second major recall this month at Honda, after 1.7 million vehicles were found to have potential steering issues in early October.

The recall includes the Accord and Accord Hybrid 2023-2024; the Civic and Civic Hybrid 2025 and the CR-V Hybrid 2023-2025. Read Article

U.S. to Probe Tesla's 'Full Self-Driving' System After Pedestrian Killed

NPR – The Associated Press

DETROIT — The U.S. government's road safety agency is investigating Tesla's “Full Self-Driving” system after getting reports of crashes in low-visibility conditions, including one that killed a pedestrian.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said in documents that it opened the probe on Thursday after the company reported four crashes when Teslas encountered sun glare, fog and airborne dust.

In addition to the pedestrian's death, another crash involved an injury, the agency said. Read Article

Palau: A Pacific Island on the Front Line of Climate change

DeutscheWelle - Julian Ryall in Koror, Palau

One of the smallest nations in the world is threatened by rising sea levels, higher tides, flooding and more frequent and powerful storms. And there are dozens of other Pacific states in the same boat.

The full-throated roar of the twin outboard engines decreases to a dull rumble and the bow comes down as our speed across the lagoon drops. With deft aim, the crewman at the stern spikes a shard of Styrofoam with a boat hook and pulls it aboard. 

Swing Aguon guns the engines again and we surge forward. With a jerk of his thumb over his shoulder.

"I hate to see stuff like that in the water. It's not right," he said. Read Article

Since 2000, Deaths from Drug Use Have Increased Six-fold in North America

Our World in Data -Fiona Spooner, Mojmir Vinkler

Drug-related death rates have increased six-fold in Canada and the United States over two decades, according to recent data from the World Health Organization’s Global Health Estimates. We have just updated our charts with the latest data.

In 2000, drug-related death rates in Canada and the United States were reasonably similar to rates in other countries. But since then, deaths from drugs, particularly opioids, have risen sharply.

Opioids include prescription painkillers like OxyContin and Vicodin, synthetic opioids like fentanyl, and drugs like heroin. Read Report 

Walmart Sells Tiny House for Less Than $16,000

Fast Company - Adele Peters

Shipping is free, and the house will show up at your address on a flatbed truck. Walmart sells this tiny house for less than $16,000

When you’re buying laundry detergent or toilet paper at Walmart.com, you can also buy a tiny house.

One option, a 19-by-20-foot “expandable prefab house,” comes with a steel frame structure that unfolds from the size of a shipping container to create a basic studio cottage with built-in windows, insulated walls, and an insulated roof. Inside, there’s space for a bedroom, living room, kitchen, dining room, and bathroom. The bathroom comes with a toilet and shower; the rest of the space is unfinished. The cost: $15,900. Read Article  

Generative AI Raises Security Concerns Among IT Leaders

CybersecurityDive - Lindsey Wilkinson, Reporter

Executives worry their organization lacks the ability to protect applications and workloads, according to a Flexential survey.

Dive Brief:

• IT leaders say increased AI investments have made their organizations more vulnerable to cyberthreats, according to a Flexential survey published last week.
• More than half of executives credit the complexity of AI applications for weakening their company’s cybersecurity posture by expanding the attack surface, according to the survey of 350 IT decision-makers at organizations with annual revenues of more than $100 million.
• Around 2 in 5 IT leaders say their security teams lack the skills needed to protect AI applications and workloads. Read Article

Data Privacy Concerns Swirl Around Generative AI Adoption

Cybersecurity Dive - Roberto Torres, Editor

IT and business professionals fear the technology’s adoption will expose critical data, according to a Deloitte report.

Dive Brief:

• Technology professionals say data privacy tops their list of ethical worries surrounding the deployment of generative AI in the enterprise, according to a Deloitte report published Monday. The firm surveyed 1,848 business and technology professionals.
• Nearly three-quarters of professionals ranked data privacy among their top three ethical concerns about the technology’s use, according to the report.
• Two in 5 respondents flagged data privacy as their No. 1 concern this year, almost double the 1 in 4 that cited data privacy in Deloitte’s 2023 survey. Read Article

Chinese Hackers Reportedly Infiltrate Several Major US Internet Firms

Tech Radar - Sead Fadilpašić

Salt Typhoon compromised multiple ISPs, but it's not known who

A group of 7 hackers, 6 slightly blurred in the background and one in the foreground, all wearing black with hoods pulled up over their heads. You cannot see their faces. The hacker in the foreground sits with an open laptop in front of them. The background, behind the hackers, is a Chinese flag

Chinese hackers have allegedly broken into multiple internet service providers (ISP) in the United States, and are using their position to steal sensitive information and lay the groundwork for future attacks.

An investigation by the Wall Street Journal, which cited “people familiar with the matter”, did not name the compromised ISPs, but did mention there has been a “handful” of victims, and that the group behind the intrusions has been dubbed Salt Typhoon.

Given the name, Salt Typhoon has quickly been linked to other Chinese state-sponsored groups, all of which Microsoft named ‘typhoon’ - Flax Typhoon, Volt Typhoon, and Brass Typhoon. Read Article

Hackers Found Millions of Kias Could Be Tracked, Controlled With Just a Plate Number

The Drive - Beverly Braga

Kia updated its web portal after the hackers informed them of the security issue, which was similar to a past vulnerability with Lexus and Toyota vehicles.

There for a while, Kia and Hyundai owners couldn’t go a week without receiving some not-so-good news about their cars’ security. This time, a bug with Kia’s web portal allowed white-hat ethical hackers to access millions of vehicles and remotely control their internet-connected features. And before you run out to your late-model Kia and delete every connected app, know that the automaker has created a patch to fix the security vulnerability. Your car will not start on its own. For now.

As Wired reports, a group of independent security researchers informed Kia of the issue in June. The weak security was related to the Kia Connect owner’s portal, an infotainment and telematics service that allows remote access for certain features. Many automakers offer a similar connectivity app for vehicles equipped with advanced telematics systems, all of which feature “connect” or “link” in their names. Read Article  

Ransomware Attacks Surge Despite International Enforcement Effort

Cybersecurity Drive - Matt Kapko, Senior Reporter

Progress remains elusive as federal authorities point to ransomware payments inhibiting progress to reduce the volume and impact of attacks.

Dive Brief:

• The number of ransomware attacks hitting U.S. and international organizations continues to climb, despite an extensive and growing effort to reduce the volume and impact of these attacks, U.S. cyber authorities said Sunday.
• Ransomware attacks increased 74% from 2,593 global attacks in 2022 to 4,506 attacks in 2023, officials said during a briefing before the fourth annual International Counter Ransomware Initiative summit. This year is already on track to exceed 2023’s record. “In the first half of 2024, we’re tracking 2,321 attacks,” said Laura Galante, director of the Cyber Threat Intelligence Integration Center at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.
• About half of all ransomware attacks hit U.S. organizations during the first half of 2024, Galante said. Healthcare and emergency services were among the most heavily impacted sectors during that period, Galante said. Read Article

Hacker Made Millions From Breaking into Business Office 365 Accounts

Tech Radar - Sead Fadilpašić

Executive inboxes raided for insider information

A hacker has reportedly made millions of dollars by breaking into valuable Office 365 accounts and using the information found inside, on the stock market.

The office of the US Attorney for the district of New Jersey has recently accused a UK national called Robert B. Westbrook of one count each of securities fraud and wire fraud, and five counts of computer fraud.

Westbrook is now facing years in prison, and millions of dollars in potential fines. Read Article  

Scammers are Accessing Ticketmaster Users' Email Accounts, Stealing Tickets, Company Says

USA Today – Jonathon Limehouse

Ticketmaster is pointing the finger at scammers after several users have reported their pricey concert tickets being stolen from their accounts.

Ticketmaster is telling fans who claim their concert tickets disappeared from their accounts, costing them thousands of dollars, that they were victims of hackers.

"What we’re seeing is scammers accessing a fan’s email account," a Ticketmaster spokesperson told USA TODAY on Tuesday.

Many ticketholders have spoken to outlets about their experience, including Blaine Heck who told MarketWatch and the Daily Mail that she had a pair of $3,500 Taylor Swift tickets stolen from her account. Similarly, Savannah Van Skyhawk in Indiana lost her tickets to see the "Shake it Off" singer in concert even after contacting Ticketmaster multiple times, WTHR reported. Read Article

The 30-year-old Internet Backdoor Law That Came Back to Bite

Tech Crunch - Zack Whittaker

News broke this weekend that China-backed hackers have compromised the wiretap systems of several U.S. telecom and internet providers, likely in an effort to gather intelligence on Americans.

The wiretap systems, as mandated under a 30-year-old U.S. federal law, are some of the most sensitive in a telecom or internet provider’s network, typically granting a select few employees nearly unfettered access to information about their customers, including their internet traffic and browsing histories. 

But for the technologists who have for years sounded the alarm about the security risks of legally required backdoors, news of the compromises are the “told you so” moment they hoped would never come but knew one day would.Thousands of Comcast Customers Have Data Stolen from Third Party Debt Collectors. Read Article

Thousands of Comcast Customers Have Data Stolen by Third-party Debt Collectors

Tech Radar - Sead Fadilpašić

When ransomware actors accessed FBCS, they struck gold

Hundreds of thousands of Comcast users had their data stolen in a third-party ransomware attack and data breach on a third-party partner, the company has confirmed.

Financial Business and Consumer Solutions (FBCS) fell prey to an attack from an unknown threat actor in February 2024 which saw sensitive data stolen and systems encrypted, with the hackers then demanding payment in exchange for releasing the decryption key.

When FBCS initially suffered the ransomware attack, the crooks made away with sensitive data on more than four million people, and at first, the firm believed Comcast’s customer data was secure, but after a more thorough investigation, FBCS has concluded it was affected, too. Read Article

'Godfather of AI' Geoffrey Hinton Just Won a Nobel Even Though He's Now Scared of AI

Tech Radar - Lance Ulanoff

A prize for Hinton's foundational AI work

Geoffrey Hinton, the oft-recognized 'Godfather of AI' and now-vocal alarm ringer for an AI-infused future, just won a Nobel Prize in Physics for his work in – wait for it – training artificial neural networks using physics.

That's right, the brilliant Turing Prize-winning scientist most afraid of how artificial intelligence might harm humanity has won the world's biggest science award for his foundational work in AI. Read Article

This Detailed Malware Can Hack Your Systems and Turn Off Your Antivirus To Do More Damage

Tech Radar - Sead Fadilpašić

Yunit Stealer can add itself to Windows Defender's list of exclusions to cause havoc

A new information-stealing malware has been spotted which is capable of exfiltrating quite a lot of sensitive information, and also disabling antivirus programs to establish persistence on target endpoints.

Cybersecurity researchers from CYFIRMA have shared an in-depth analysis of the infostealer, which they call Yunit Stealer.

Yunit Stealer uses JavaScript to incorporate system utility and cryptographic modules, allowing it to execute tasks such as system information retrieval, command execution, and HTTP requests. It remains persistent on the target device by modifying the registry, adding tasks through batch and VBScript, and ultimately - by setting exclusions in Windows Defender. Read Article 

ADT Employee Account Data Stolen in Cyberattack

Cybersecurity Dive - Matt Kapko, Senior Reporter

The alarm system company said an attacker accessed its network with compromised credentials obtained from an unnamed third party.

Dive Brief:

• An attacker breached ADT’s systems using compromised credentials obtained from a third party, the alarm system company said Monday in a securities filing.
• ADT said its efforts to contain the incident led to the disruption of some information systems. The company did not describe the nature of the attack or provide a timeline for how and when it discovered the intrusion into its systems.
• The incident marks the second attack targeting ADT in as many months. The company disclosed a separate cybersecurity incident in a securities filing on Aug. 7, which resulted in unauthorized access of databases containing ADT customer order information. Read Article  

New Gmail Security Alert For 2.5 Billion Users As AI Hack Confirmed

Forbes - Davey Winder, Senior Contributor - veteran cybersecurity writer, hacker and analyst.

A new and dangerous AI threat for all Gmail users is seen in the wildSOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

Update, Oct. 13, 2024: This story, originally published Oct. 11, includes details of a new Google anti-scam alliance initiative, a new warning about legitimate-looking support scams and details of Google’s Advanced Protection Program to protect high-risk accounts.

Google has implemented increasingly sophisticated protections against those who would compromise your Gmail account—but hackers using AI-driven attacks are also evolving. According to Google’s own figures, there are currently more than 2.5 billion users of the Gmail service. No wonder, then, that it is such a target for hackers and scammers. Here’s what you need to know. Read Article

Iran-linked Attackers Hit Critical Infrastructure with Brute Force



Cybersecurity Dive - Matt Kapko, Senior Reporter

CISA and the FBI warn healthcare, government, IT and other sectors of password spraying and multifactor authentication push bombing.

Iranian cybercriminals are using brute force to gain access to organizations across multiple critical infrastructure sectors, global cyber officials said in a Wednesday joint cybersecurity advisory.

The FBI, the Cybersecurity Infrastructure Security Agency, the National Security Agency and partner agencies in Canada and Australia warned network defenders that Iranian attackers have targeted organizations in the healthcare, government, IT, engineering and energy sectors since October 2023.

Brute force techniques observed during these attacks include password spraying and multifactor authentication push bombing. The Iranian threat actors use compromised access to valid user and group email accounts for initial access to Microsoft 365, Azure and Citrix systems, officials said. Read Aricle

Employers Are Pouring Resources Into EVPs — and Workers May Have No Idea

HR Dive - Carolyn Crist

Most HR leaders responding to a Gartner survey said they aren’t doing a good job of communicating their employee value proposition internally.

Employers are pouring resources into their employee value propositions, but some are failing to communicate those investments, according to a Sept. 17 report from Gartner.

Just 21% of employees responding to a survey said their organization communicates about their EVP enough, and 75% of HR leaders said they aren’t communicating their EVP well internally. Read and Hear Article

What HR Needs to Know About R&D Tax Credits

Human Resource Executive - Michael Smith, Director of Tax, Strategic Partnerships & Alliances, at ADP.

Many small- and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) may be missing out on an opportunity to reduce their payroll taxes through research and development (R&D) tax credits. While HR typically defers to the finance team when it comes to taxes, the unique vantage point of HR can contribute a different perspective.

R&D doesn’t apply just to organizations doing hard-core science. In fact, any business in any industry that is investing time, effort and resources to improving products, processes or solutions is eligible for the federal R&D tax credit and possibly state R&D tax credits. Read Article  

Theater Company Terminated Health Insurance when Workers Turned 65, EEOC Alleges

HR Dive - Emilie Shumway, Editor

New Mexico-based Allen Theatres, Inc. also “mandatorily retired” a 72-year-old worker in violation of the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the agency said.

Dive Brief:

A New Mexico-based movie theater company “mandatorily retired” a 72-year-old worker during a staff-wide reduction-in-force and denied him healthcare benefits after the age of 65, according to a complaint filed Friday by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

Allen Theatres, Inc., violated the Age Discrimination in Employment Act by terminating the worker, a town manager, after 30 years of employment and replacing him with a 30-year-old worker with three years of experience. The theater also maintained a policy of denying workers health insurance once they reached age 65, EEOC said.

EEOC sought injunctive relief, along with back pay (including loss of employee benefits), front pay, pre-judgment and post-judgment interest and liquidated damages. Allen Theatres did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Read Article  

Cutting Too Much: When HR Needs to Pump the Brakes on Layoffs

HR Executive - Peter Cappelli, Wharton expert            

I suspect that few people know of Stellantis, the holding company that now owns brands like Fiat, Peugeot, Chrysler, Maserati and Alfa Romeo. After being assembled from these component parts, it was (temporarily) the largest auto manufacturer in the world. It has stumbled since then, and according to some analysts, the reason has lessons for all organizations.

The list of factors is not too surprising: quality and productivity problems, not producing cars people want and so forth—a pretty sweeping set. Company share price has fallen by half since March, and many executives have left. As is almost always the case with these apparent steep declines, the causes can be seen easily in hindsight.

Layoffs: Leaner today, but what about the long term?

A quote from an industry analyst sums up the problem: “With a single-minded focus on cost, Tavares [the company CEO] has made Stellantis more efficient than competitive.” One reason this conclusion is stunning is that it is coming from an industry analyst. They are employed by investment companies, and they have been the players pushing companies, relentlessly, to cut costs. Read Article

78% of Employees Have Felt Effects of “Lunchflation”

CFO.com - Adam Zaki, Reporter

According to recent data from ezCater, the rising costs of lunch impacted employees in 2024 — possibly providing an opportunity for those who are looking to push a future return to office initiative.

The lunch break, a workday staple that has fallen by the wayside of the remote and hybrid working environment for many business professionals, carries a value beyond mere caloric intake.

The circadian aspect of breaking work at the same time for a fixed period every day, while informally conversing with coworkers over a meal, can make a person’s working experience much better. However, the benefits of a hybrid or remote workstyle environment — especially around cost savings at lunch — are noticeable for those who have that flexibility. Read Article

Workers Unprepared for Unexpected Changes

EHS Today

Compared to last year, 17% of employees feel less resilient.

While there have been many conversations about the resilience of particular industries, a new survey, Resilience Nation, from Ideagen looks at this attribute through the eyes of employees.

The company interviewed over 4,000 people across the US, UK and Australia, working in industries essential to our daily protection and asked about their personal feelings and workplace observations.

The research showed that workers are being asked to work longer hours, with larger workloads which is leading to a decreased enthusiasm towards work.

Key findings identified in the report include: Read Article

How to Prepare for OSHA’s New HazCom Final Rule

EHS Today - Phil N. Molé

A look at the changes to OSHA’s Hazard Communication Standard and guidance on how to ensure compliance. Safety professionals have a lot on their plate.

You must manage your chemical inventory and safety data sheet (SDS) library, among other things. Ironically, this busy schedule may keep you from staying fully informed about major regulatory developments, such as the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) 2024 final rule aligning the new Hazard Communication Standard (HazCom) Standard with Revision 7 (and select elements of Revision 8) of the United Nation’s Globally Harmonized System for Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS).

Still, you must learn about—and comply with—the HazCom final rule. First and foremost, because it directly impacts your responsibilities to protect employees from workplace chemical exposures. Second, the final rule creates regulatory obligations for all hazardous chemical users throughout the supply chain. Read Article

How a Safety Mindset Can Reduce Cybersecurity Incidents

EHS Today - Will Price

Learn how to increase your cyber-awareness while reducing future risks of harm to your workers.

In today’s rapidly evolving threat landscape, cybersecurity incidents are rising at an alarming rate. The convergence of information technology (IT) and operational technology (OT) environments has created new opportunities for attackers. And as the demand for more open interconnections, the cloud and artificial intelligence increases, the risks also magnify.

A safety-first mindset is a critical aspect in reducing both physical and cybersecurity risks. Whether it’s minimizing human errors in physical safety or safeguarding sensitive OT infrastructure data, adopting a holistic approach to safety is vital for mitigating many incidents. Read Article

Just 46% of Employees Rate Their Mental Health at Work as “Very Good” or Better

CFO.com - David McCann, Contributing Editor

Managers and workers have differing views of mental health in the workplace.

Society has come a long way from the days when mental health issues were ignored or, just as bad, considered a stigma and evidence of weakness or incompetence. Today, many employers strive to be more inclusive and supportive.

Still, there remains a divide between managers and employees in how mental health is perceived, according to a new report from Checkr, a provider of background-check software used by hiring managers and human resources officials. Read Article

Troubleshooting 4 Common Gas Detection Issues

EHS Today - Rick Pedley

Gas detectors serve a mission-critical purpose. Here's how to make sure they're working properly.

Gas detection techniques have a fascinating history, dating back to the nineteenth century when canaries served as early warning systems for toxic gases in coal mines. As coal emerged as the Industrial Revolution’s energy source of choice, miners began using flame safety lamps to detect dangerous atmospheric changes in their work environments. Over time, these rudimentary methods gave way to catalytic sensors, which offered more reliable detection of hazardous gases.

Today, modern detection systems employ cutting-edge technologies (e.g., infrared and electrochemical sensors) to help maintain safe working environments in essential industries, such as semiconductor manufacturing, oil and gas, and wastewater treatment. The critical role that gas detectors play in worker safety across industries has led to a market valued at $1.85 billion, with an expected annual growth of 5% between 2024 and 2032. Read Article