Blogs
Drought Looms Large For Food Processors
September 13, 2012 8:00 am | by Krystal Gabert, Editor | CommentsExperts aren't sure about the long-term impact the Midwestern drought will have on food prices across North America. Media reports have conflicted on the severity of the drought's effect on crop yields and consumer food costs.
The IP Bogeyman
August 14, 2012 9:25 am | by Anna Wells, Executive Editor, IMPO | CommentsBesides IT resources, it’s important to remember all of the other items of value that exist within the walls of your facility. In a processing environment, sequencing and recipes can be the intellectual property that means retaining your competitive edge.
Sugary Drinks: Industry Challenges And Opportunities
August 3, 2012 12:17 pm | by Lindsey Coblentz, Associate Editor | CommentsWhether or not evidence linking sugary drinks and obesity is conclusive, it is clear that consumers are curbing soda consumption. Such a purchasing shift presents obvious challenges to the beverage industry but also a wealth of growth opportunities.
From Need-To-Know To Need-To-Share
July 31, 2012 10:24 am | by Abbigail Kriebs, Associate Editor, Industrial Distribution | CommentsSupporting a mobile workforce is one thing, but do you have the right strategy that not only improves productivity, but also keeps your corporate information secure and protects you from liability?
The Hidden Cost Of Cheap Labor
July 25, 2012 9:30 am | by Krystal Gabert, Editor | CommentsSkilled laborers suddenly finding themselves out of work are looking for unskilled jobs in the food industry out of necessity, and employers can pick up needed labor for bargain prices. But at what cost?
How Cheap Is This Breakfast?
July 17, 2012 9:30 am | by Anna Wells, Executive Editor, Industrial Distribution | CommentsEven when pointing to the characteristics (or price) of your products, never assume that these “benefits” are a no brainer.
Head Directly To Jail, Do Not Collect $2M
July 9, 2012 12:58 pm | by Rachel Leisemann Immel, Associate Editor, IMPO | CommentsWith fraud in the manufacturing sector continuing to rise, businesses need to look for ways to protect themselves. Steps to secure your business might include reviewing online banking and transactional accounts daily, dedicating a computer to just banking transactions (no email or web browsing on this computer), and using spyware detection and authenticated applications.
Working Stiffs At Age 15
July 5, 2012 8:00 am | by Chris Fox, Associate Editor, PD&D | CommentsAs college is becoming more and more common, there has been an emergence of a new type of education, or rather a new format; the concept of Technical Education High Schools (TEHS).
What If The Humane Society Were In Your Facility?
June 25, 2012 1:22 pm | by Lindsey Coblentz, Associate Editor | CommentsIf food companies take the time to learn the concerns of animal activists and consumers, they can take action before a potentially detrimental situation occurs at their facility, as well as gain the respect and trust of their customers.
Deceptive Marketing, Damaging Consequences
June 18, 2012 11:00 am | by Jonnatha Mayberry, Associate Editor, Chem.Info | CommentsThis May alone, a number of companies have been hit with deceptive marketing charges, padding their pocketbooks by giving false hope to their consumers.
Flour Power
May 29, 2012 9:21 am | by Anna Wells, Editor, IMPO | CommentsSometimes it takes a room full of ghosts, shaking the flour dust from their clothes, to speak to the enormity of this history behind us, and the task ahead.
The Public’s "Right To Know"
May 11, 2012 12:01 pm | by Krystal Gabert, Editor | CommentsNew “Right to Know” bills raise the possibility for the labeling of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) in food. How the food industry reacts will impact the direction of the public conversation about genetic engineering.
Impatience Is A Virtue
May 10, 2012 10:02 am | by Mike Schmidt, Associate Editor, Manufacturing Business Technology | CommentsAre there small or seemingly insignificant issues in your place of work that have the potential to evolve into potentially serious, or even catastrophic, problems? Whether its data management, energy efficiency, or another area, it seems every company could point to something where one or two wrong moves has created a small issue that could eventually make a significant impact on the overall bottom line.
Manufacturing Is Cool
April 30, 2012 9:00 am | by Anna Wells, Executive Editor, Manufacturing Business Technology | CommentsMany say manufacturing isn’t “sexy.” Perhaps this thinking is so ingrained in our culture that a strategy targeting college students is, for some, just too late. But is it ever wasted effort to start influencing the opinions of these kids before they’re ready to graduate?
The Power Of Perception
April 23, 2012 10:16 am | by Lindsey Coblentz, Associate Editor | CommentsThe BPA debate demonstrates an all too common issue facing the food industry today: Despite scientific evidence of a product’s safety, a deeply engrained negative perception will lead consumers to avoid that product.
FSMA Provisions May Protect 'Pink Slime' Whistleblowers
April 19, 2012 9:30 am | by Krystal Gabert, Editor | CommentsSection 402 of the FSMA states that companies across the supply chain cannot "discharge an employee or otherwise discriminate against an employee with respect to compensation, terms, conditions, or privileges of employment" for revealing "any violation of, or any act or omission the employee reasonably believes to be a violation of any provision of this Act."
The Cost Of The Untrained
April 16, 2012 9:36 am | by Rachel Leisemann Immel, Associate Editor, IMPO | CommentsI’ve heard time and time again how critical a successful training program is in the industry—and the cost of an untrained worker might just be a bit higher than a masticated remote.
Let Bygones Be Bygones? Not So Fast
April 13, 2012 8:15 am | by Editor | CommentsAre factories safer today than they were in 1911? Most definitely — but that doesn’t mean that we can let our guards down.
How Much Is Too Much?
April 12, 2012 9:03 am | by Rachel Leisemann Immel, Associate Editor, IMPO | CommentsIn many cases, a CEO’s pay is directly tied to the performance of the company since a large portion of the compensation package is generally in company stock. This part of their pay has a major impact on compensation, both positively and negatively. But most companies include a variety of pay options in a CEO’s compensation package: base salary, stock options, travel expenses, insurance packages and incentive pay.
Talk Is Cheap
March 28, 2012 10:00 am | by Mike Schmidt, Associate Editor, Manufacturing Business Technology | CommentsWhile many businesses recognize the value of protecting themselves from potentially disastrous security incidents, they fall short in their attempts to do so.
