Manufacturers' Response to the Economic Downturn

According to a recent study by software giant Epicor, manufacturers are responding to the economic downturn by looking to streamline business, manufacturing and supply chain operations.

According to a post on ThomasNet's IndustrialNewsRoom, "to handle the downward spiraling economy and to increase business efficiency, 63 percent of respondents have already adopted, or are examining, lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, Total Quality Management (TQM) and other methodologies for improving supply chain management."

"Other solutions implemented included promoting business and management philosophies (54 percent), adding enterprise manufacturing applications (33 percent), offering software services (23 percent), installing eco-friendly policies (23 percent) and offshore outsourcing (23 percent)."

This suggests that people with experience and/or skills to undertake any of the activities mentioned above will continue to find demand for their services in the job market.