Japan’s factory activity growth slowed further to a 21-month low in October as relentless cost pressures torment manufacturers; but service-sector firms received a boost as the country reopened to foreign tourists visa-free. The au Jibun Bank Flash Japan Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) eased to a seasonally adjusted 50.7 in October, down from the prior…

Britain’s manufacturers are warning that their energy costs have already spiraled out of control, with nearly half reporting that electricity bills have shot up by over 100 percent in the past 12 months. Make UK, the trade organisation that represents 20,000 manufacturers, is pressuring the government to take immediate action over the energy crisis, saying…

BERLIN—German manufacturers slightly increased outputs in May, buoyed by order backlogs, increased staffing, and, in some cases, improved materials availability, but a further decline in new orders mean rough seas ahead, a survey found on Wednesday. S&P Global’s final Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) for manufacturing, which accounts for about a fifth of the economy, came…

Canada’s food manufacturers are starting to cut capacity and focus on key products as they confront labour shortages and supply chain problems that show no signs of easing. Experts say food manufacturers are facing inflation, shipping backlogs and delays in obtaining things like ingredients and packaging. Michael Graydon, CEO of Food, Health & Consumer Products…

With global shipping logistics resembling a harried crow’s nest these days, toy manufacturers with domestic operations are happily producing and delivering goods, tangle free. Moreover, many are expanding their facilities and increasing levels of production. Meanwhile, toy companies with overseas production arrangements battle delays and rising costs, which may impact the number of foreign-made gifts…

More than a year after the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus entered the scene, manufacturers are dealing with a very different world and supply chain. As they battle ongoing disruptions, congested ports, and ongoing delays, the idea of sourcing closer to home is gaining interest. “There’s such an initiative now for the reshoring,” says Nicole…

The pandemic shifted production levels, consumer demand, and supply chain logistics at nearly every point throughout the globe. As truck routes, air cargo deliveries, and ocean shipping wrestle with new realities, manufacturers are now considering long-term adjustments to how they source inventory and deliver finished products. “There are many changes that have come to the…

U.S. businesses are dealing with growing inflationary pressures with rising input costs, material shortages, and unresolved supply issues being key drivers. Among manufacturers, 86.4 percent stated their primary current business challenge was an increase in raw material prices, according to the third quarter outlook survey by the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM). One of the roots…

Set in the heart of San Francisco, Remi, a company which cuts out the middleman in the dental industry and manufactures teeth guards for 80 percent less than what customers pay at the dentist, launched the second week of March 2020. At the time, COVID-19 was just gaining a foothold in the United States. In…

California has become the first U.S. state to eliminate paying garment workers by the piece or unit, and will instead pay them by the hour. Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday signed Senate Bill 62, also known as the Garment Worker Protection Act, which creates new “nation-leading” policies that will end the practice that has prevented thousands of workers in…