-
Boeing freezes hiring as stocks plunge
Michelle R. Matisons ManufacturingBoeing stocks have reportedly dropped to a 46-year low, as airline travel restrictions and new reports of company malfeasance further limit buyer confidence and challenge the company’s ability to withstand vulnerable market forces. Boeing shares dropped 18% on March 11 — the largest single-day percentage drop in decades. Canceled orders are much to blame here, as the company reported February’s overall net order number was down 28 planes.
-
US employers add 273,000 jobs; unemployment drops to 3.5%
Seth Sandronsky Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementIn February, total U.S. nonfarm payroll jobs increased by 273,000 after January's growth of 225,000, while the unemployment rate dipped to 3.5% from 3.6% the previous month, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The jobless rate has been 3.5% or 3.6% since September. In February, nearly all major groups of workers had scant change in the rate of employment versus January's figures. Meanwhile, wage growth remained rather tepid.
-
Single-use plastic bans, taxes are on the rise around the world
Scott E. Rupp Waste Management & EnvironmentalOn March 1, New York became the second U.S. state to ban plastic bags. The ban in California, according to the San Francisco Chronicle, has reduced disposable plastic bag usage by as much as 80%. In 2019, Canada did away with single-use plastics and eliminated other plastic pollution. More than 60 other nations are attempting to reduce single-use plastics through bans and taxes, according to the United Nations.
-
Breaking down barriers to make career and technical pathways accessible…
Sheilamary Koch EducationLivestreaming industry experts into classrooms is an efficient way for high school career and technical education students to get their questions answered directly by people in the field who've recently completed their education and training. While students from any school certainly benefit, learners from rural, inner city or marginalized communities where opportunities to connect live with industry experts are often severely limited may gain considerably more from such virtual outreach. In fact, Advance CTE, a national nonprofit representing state career and technical education (CTE) directors, recommends technology use to expand access and reach as one of five core strategies for states to expand high-quality CTE pathways in rural areas.
-
Will the coronavirus outbreak cause a global economic downturn?
Linchi Kwok Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementThe COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak is at a turning point from an epidemic to a pandemic. According to an update from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Feb. 22, a total of 32 countries have reported confirmed cases. In South Korea, for example, confirmed infected cases went up to 763 on Feb. 24. Six days earlier, the country only had 31 cases. On Feb. 23, Italy reported that three people had died, and 152 others had been infected with coronavirus; Iran also reported 43 confirmed infected cases. Airlines are canceling months of flights to and from China amid coronavirus fears.
-
Are flying cars and electric airplanes the next frontiers for transportation?
Dave G. Houser Transportation Technology & AutomotiveThe world’s auto and aviation industries and an ever-evolving list of innovative startups are increasingly entering a race to revolutionize air travel as we know it today. Flying cars and electric airplanes are the primary objectives of a host of major corporations and deep-pocketed investors. Boeing, Airbus, United Technologies, Textron, Uber, Google, GM, Ford, Porsche, Toyota and Hyundai are among the industry giants with a horse in the race — and winners will "future-proof" themselves as they develop tomorrow’s modes of transportation.
-
How will coronavirus affect the Chinese economy and international business?
Seth Sandronsky Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementChina is a major U.S. trading partner and the world's fastest growing economy. How will the outbreak of the coronavirus that began in Wuhan affect that nation's economy and international business generally? Much is uncertain. That's a problem, because businesses prefer certainty as an underlying condition of future market demand and supply. We turn to Doug Barry, a spokesperson with the U.S.-China Business Council. "The shutdown of supply chains is having a ripple effect around the world, with shortages in some raw materials, parts and finished goods popping up," Barry said by email.
-
The latest in mid-engine sports cars: Would you choose foreign or domestic?
David Newton Transportation Technology & AutomotiveLike wine and cheese, we are often asked if we prefer foreign or domestic when it comes to our automobile preferences. I have normally favored products made here in America to support the national economy, yet 21 of the 28 cars I’ve owned in my lifetime originate from outside our borders. And today I find myself with a challenging quandary. To fully appreciate my dilemma, you’d need to know a little more about my automotive upbringing. I was raised in the sixties on muscle cars — Ford, Chevy, AMC and Mopar —with big V8 engines, steamroller tires, Holley four-barrel carburetors and Hurst shifters.
-
Infographic: STEM is on the rise. How can schools help?
Brian Wallace EducationOver the last decade, the U.S. has created nearly 2 million new STEM jobs — but students’ math and science scores continue to lag behind other nations, according to the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA). STEM includes many ever-evolving and expanding fields, and success requires the ability to continue to learn and adapt to new situations. Raising a STEM workforce starts long before college. So, where do schools begin?
-
Infographic: It’s 2020, is your business AI-ready?
Brian Wallace Science & TechnologyOne in three business leaders believe AI will have the greatest impact on their business in the next year, but few are acting on this knowledge. So, how can your enterprise get ahead of the competition with artificial intelligence? Find out more with this infographic.
All Manufacturing Articles