This week, I decided to publish an article that strays from my usual weekly contribution. Instead of providing readers with industry reports, case studies, or thought leadership articles, below you will find four videos discussing various topics relatable to our community. I guarantee that each of you will find something of interest, as each video varies in its focal point.

Did you know that the global report card displays a 'D' when it comes to our effort of combating global warming? That manufacturing accounts for 16% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and 14% of worldwide employment? Or that GE has lowered its sticker price by 20% due to homeshoring? Me neither, and percisely my reasoning for incorporating the below articles into this week's round up. Enjoy. 

This week's round up shares many interesting advancements within manufacturing and technology. I chose the word interesting wisely here, not only due to the variety of content, but because each article proves to spark the reader's curiousity, making us think in new light; thought-provoking and fasinating. Included you will find discussions on the clean energy manufacturing movement, the brains at MIT being a step ahead of the rest of us, and the top trends that will drastically effect our lives within the next decade. I've even thrown in slice of outside opinion on the debate of tax reform. 

This week, I stumbled upon a variety of topics from Big Data to Shale Gas to Robotics. However, the core subject remains the same throughout. The following articles can be tied together in a number of ways; the simplest being: manufacturing. Take that a step further into discussing the technological advancements that are affecting us today, either in the eyes of a plant floor engineer or a global executive responsible for managing quality and improving operational excellence.  There’s an optimistic future out there that’s obtainable through collaboration at each organizational stage.

This week, we are talking "green" movement, technological advancement, improving the quality of manufacturing, and innovation. Enjoy this compilation of the industry articles that I've found to be the most interesting to read this past week.

Happy Super Bowl Sunday! I thought I’d get in game-day spirit and include a few articles with characteristics correlated to this annual event: Food, Beer, & Energy. More importantly, from an industry perspective, these articles all prove to be industrial news that will undoubtedly affect manufacturing in one way or another.

This week’s round up includes articles that ignite interest from many trending topics within the industrial space. A couple of these insertions provide an alternate perspective on subject matter that I discussed last Sunday. While robots and 3D printing make a comeback this week, the newest additions include food fraud, SAP HANA, and a Made-In-America mindset.

As we are into our third week of this collection, I encourage feedback and comments below. I write this weekly blog post not only as a compilation of industry articles, but as a platform for discussion on trending news.

The manufacturing industry is going through more changes today than perhaps any time in its storied past. Issues surrounding the economy, government regulations, technological innovation and sustainability have set the industry on a new course and triggered a transformation that is occurring right in front of our eyes.