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. 

Disappearing are the days of large investments and lengthy implementation times for manufacturing applications. As we mentioned in our previous blog on the Digital Revolution, major changes in the industry charged by Information Technology in the last few decades are quickly moving onto web-based systems.