INDUSTRY AND ECONOMIC NEWS
Four Out of Five Manufacturers Optimistic About Their Own Company’s Outlook
In the second quarter of 2019, about four out of five manufacturing respondents said that they were either somewhat or very optimistic about their own company’s outlook. While that was down from nearly 90 percent who said the same thing in the first quarter, it continues to reflect a mostly optimistic sentiment in the sector. More
The Commercial Response to Cost Volatility: How to Protect Margins Against Inflation and Tariffs
For companies that respond strategically, input-cost increases can be an opportunity to restructure pricing, upgrade sales skills, and improve account management. More
Construction Starts Rise 10% in May
Residential building edged up 2%, with modest gains for both single family housing and multifamily housing. More
The State of the Nation’s Housing 2019
With the nation’s economy on sound footing and incomes on the rise, the number of people forming households in the United States has finally returned to a more normal pace. Housing production, however, has not. More
GOVERNMENT AND LEGISLATIVE NEWS
Alliance to Save Energy Responds to House’s Funding of DOE’s Energy Efficiency Programs
The U.S. House passed a package of fiscal year 2020 appropriations bills consisting of four bills that fund federal departments including Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, Defense, State, and Energy from October 1, 2019 to September 30, 2020. The Department of Energy will receive increased funding for energy efficiency programs and the Alliance to Save Energy has released a statement from president Jason Hartke. More
CODES AND STANDARDS NEWS
EPA and HUD Issue New Lead Dust Standards
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) together have issued new, tighter standards for lead dust found on floors and window sills, lowering the dust-lead hazard standards from 40 micrograms of lead per square foot (µg/ft2) to 10 µg/ft2 on window sills. More
GREEN BUILDING NEWS
The Green Deal Could Change the Way America Builds
Existing buildings hoover up about 40% of energy consumed in the U.S. and emit about 29% of greenhouse gases. The Green New Deal calls for retrofitting all of them—every last skyscraper, McDonald’s, and suburban ranch home—for energy efficiency within the next 10 years. More
Brownfield Laws Can Save Green Building and the Planet
It is estimated that there are more than 450,000 brownfield sites across the U.S. impacted by an actual presence of hazardous substances and many times that number with a potential or perceived presence. More
TECHNOLOGY NEWS
Making Better Machines—and More Revenue—with IIoT
Equipment OEMS can help smaller manufacturers on their Industrial 4.0 journey, and reap the benefits. IIoT technology has become increasingly affordable—especially for small and medium-sized organizations—and as the value proposition is recognized, adoption rates will only continue to increase. More
Simple Steps for Distributors to Leverage Social Media and Close More Business
Are you a social seller? Social selling is the art and science of using social media to find, understand, connect with and nurture sales prospects. As tech-savvy millennials are taking over the workforce, it is the contemporary way to develop and build valuable relationships with potential customers so you are the first person a prospect thinks of when they are ready to buy. More
SAFETY NEWS
On Guards: Keeping Workers Safe Around Machines and Moving Parts
Machine guarding is a perennial fixture on OSHA’s annual list of the Top 10 most frequently cited workplace safety violations. It ranked ninth in fiscal year 2018 after coming in at No. 8 in FY 2017 – accounting for more than 4,000 violations over both years. More
Employers Should File Lockout/Tagout Comments
Employers subject to the federal Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) rules should take advantage of the opportunity to comment on planned revisions of the standards or face enormous potential costs down the line, several attorneys warn. More
ARTICLES OF INTEREST
How B2B Companies Can Win Back Customers
They’ve Lost
Most research and training in sales focuses on acquiring customers, but, as ecosystems become increasingly dynamic and discontinuous, it’s also important to focus on winning back customers you’ve lost. More
Are Your Operations Aligned with Your Customers?
We all know the importance of our inside and outside salespeople being aligned with each other and with our customers. However, have you also aligned your production and operations team with the customers? More
Do What You Love and Love What You Do – Developing Your Workforce
In an ideal world, we all want this to be our work life. However, in the real world, most people don’t get to do what they love, or they don’t always love what they do. The truth is: These goals are easier to verbalize than to achieve, because one must subsist in the process. It takes more than just luck to be able to realize both goals. More
PODCASTS
Summer Reading List 2019 With Jeff Tweten
In episode 75, Jeff Tweten of WorkSafeWorkSmart.com returns for the Behind Your Back Podcast’s second annual Summer Reading List. Bradley and Jeff, along with Jenny T, share some of their favorite books – for business and pleasure – that they think you should read to enrich your summer. Listen to Behind Your Back Sales
