CMTC Manufacturing Blog

Posted by Steven Brand on Apr 18, 2019 9:00:00 AM

It may seem hard to believe, but in terms of technology, social media is still just a baby. Connecting with others via online social sites gained momentum less than 20 years ago with the arrival of sites like MySpace. Today, social media is a phenomenon, and Americans spend more than 215 weekly minutes connecting with others online through their smartphone, and an additional 100 minutes connecting via laptop, desktop, or tablet.

For small and medium-sized manufacturers (SMMs), social media represents an incredible opportunity for marketing and recruiting. Plus, by building an online social media presence, SMMs can significantly reduce the expense of traditional advertising because it’s inexpensive—or no cost—and it reaches a very broad audience. With social media, SMMs can connect with customers in real-time and engage them in a whole new way.

Posted by Steven Brand on Apr 4, 2019 9:15:00 AM

When manufacturers think of social media, LinkedIn and Facebook are probably the first two that come to mind. As a video platform, they may feel YouTube is better suited to funny cat videos. That may have been true in the early days of YouTube, but now it’s more social and influential than ever before. Today, over 300 hours of video are uploaded every minute, so YouTube has something for everyone. And that’s exactly who you’ll find on YouTube: everyone.

Posted by Steven Brand on Mar 26, 2019 8:30:00 AM

Want to stay in the know when it comes to the manufacturing world? A wealth of information is just a mobile device away. There are countless manufacturing blogs to subscribe to and, while it was difficult, we narrowed it down to five. If you’re less of a reader and prefer listening to a podcast while you hit the gym or commute to work, we’ve provided five of our favorite podcasts too.

Posted by Steven Brand on Mar 19, 2019 11:13:49 AM

There are nearly 600 million users on LinkedIn, with two new users joining every second. This makes the social media giant one of the best ways to promote your company and products. While being on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram all help your business connect with others, LinkedIn is truly the place for manufacturers to thrive. It can give you the ability to tap into existing connections, make new ones, and get noticed (it’s also the top-rated social network for lead generation).

Posted by Marjorie Dunn on Mar 8, 2019 9:00:00 AM

In honor of International Women’s Day, CMTC celebrates women in manufacturing!

There’s a common misconception that the manufacturing industry is almost universally male-dominated. In many people’s minds, the industry is old fashioned, hanging on to dated gender biases and excluding women from managerial roles that are key to climbing the industry ladder, such as production supervisors and operations managers.

But the fact is, manufacturers are more forward-thinking than ever before, and women now make up nearly one-third of the manufacturing industry workforce in the United States.

Posted by Steven Brand on Feb 20, 2019 10:07:29 AM

When it comes to cost-saving techniques, many manufacturers instinctively look toward making cuts; this could mean anything from laying off employees to pulling back on new technology. However, these methods can bring down morale and quash innovation, which allows competitors to get ahead.

Good news: there are other ways to save money that won’t hurt business—and can actually help it thrive.

Posted by Steven Brand on Feb 15, 2019 9:55:12 AM

Just when you’ve gotten used to Facebook and Twitter, along comes another social media site. You might be tempted to roll your eyes and think, not another one! But instead, think of it as another opportunity to promote your business to a broad audience, boost your sales, and recruit new talent. The best part of social media? It can significantly reduce the costs involved with traditional advertising.

Posted by Steven Brand on Feb 7, 2019 9:05:00 AM

 Conferences are a great way for you and your team to network with others, demo exciting new technologies, learn about topics that interest you, and gain valuable insights from industry experts. Thankfully, there’s no shortage of events happening in 2019! Here are 16 conferences happening in California and around the country that you can attend.

Posted by Steven Brand on Jan 29, 2019 10:18:31 AM

In today’s workplace, the importance of human resources cannot be stressed enough. While advancements in manufacturing technology may be stealing headlines, issues involving HR—recruitment, harassment, diversity training, and more—also need to also be top of mind. Consider this:

Posted by Steven Brand on Jan 23, 2019 9:05:00 AM

The thought of hiring a consultant doesn’t always appeal to manufacturing leaders. It’s easy to think, why should I hire an outsider to come in and tell me how to run my business? But, unless your business consistently hits its goals, maintains perfect quality control, has secure sources of raw materials, regularly finds ways to reduce costs, and maintains a satisfied customer base, an outsider may be exactly what you need. A good consultant doesn’t come in and tell you how to run your business, but rather works with your team to improve your business. That’s not to say there may not be some drawbacks. So, here’s a closer look at what a consultant does, the advantages, and additional considerations.