MAPI — Manufacturers Alliance News and Reports — Global Outlook and More

Issues in the Brief

Survey: Utilizing Technology to Expand Tax Capabilities
MAPI and PwC recently collaborated on a survey of MAPI’s tax council members to evaluate their tax function and determine…

In the Global Outlook, the Only Constant Is Change
The changes in the global economic picture have been the most consequential since Bretton Woods, with new powers, dramatic crises, and constant change. The bottom line in the outlook is that we’re still in a slow-growth world, one struggling to adjust to post-recession dynamics.

Parker Hannifin Uses Opportunity Thinking to Drive Growth
Parker Hannifin, a global leader in motion and control technologies, needed to develop a strategic vision within their Electromechanical Automation business. Leadership wanted to determine where they were uniquely advantaged to drive investments in fewer, but bigger, initiatives.

The Disappointing Truth About Diversity and Inclusion for U.S. Manufacturers
Even though two-thirds of surveyed U.S. manufacturers have focused on recruiting and retaining women and/or minorities for a number of years, these strategies have not improved diversity in the sector.

A New Buyer’s Journey: Ensuring You Have the Technology and Processes to Succeed
The buyer’s journey has changed, and B2B manufacturers have been slow to adapt. They’re underinvesting in key areas like digital marketing, lead management systems, and other tools to enable faster growth. As a result, they’re not connecting with an increasingly large segment of buyers to whom the Internet is second nature.

Economic Update

How Important Is U.S. Manufacturing Today?
Manufactured goods are ubiquitous at home, in transit, and at work, but the narrow definition of manufacturing industries in national statistics implies that the sector is of only minor importance to economic activity. The traditional finding is that manufacturers’ proportion of gross domestic product (GDP) is only about 11% and manufacturing’s share of economy-wide full-time equivalent employment is just 9%.

U.S. Industrial Outlook: Growth Acceleration Is Around the Corner
Manufacturing industrial production was essentially unchanged in the first quarter of 2016 and then fell at a 1% annual rate in the second quarter. July production grew at a 6% annual rate, so the third quarter is off to a good start. The strong July begs the question of whether the month’s growth was a fluke.