Goal setting is an important part of success. In fact, goals are like a roadmap to a destination and without goals, forward movement can be directionless. Identifying the right goals is an important part of any strategy and can be effective in promoting both short- and long-term results. This is true in business but also true for life in general.

In a recent chat for USA Manufacturing Hour on Twitter, host, Pavel Stepanov from VirtuDesk led a discussion about setting effective goals for both the short and long term.

One of the best ways to generate new leads and increase sales is by using cold email marketing. This strategy is often underestimated but can be very effective for any type of business. What are some tips for effectively using cold email marketing? In a recent chat for USA Manufacturing Hour on Twitter, host, Kati McDermith from Industry Net in Illinois led a discussion about ways cold email marketing can be an effective lead and sales generation tool.

It’s been said that manufacturing is the cornerstone of America. In these trying times, manufacturing has been a constant amid a chaotic economic storm. Because manufacturing is an important part of economic wellbeing, there are many benefits to advocating for it. In a recent USA Manufacturing Hour Twitter chat, host, Michael Womack from NJMEP in New Jersey, led a discussion about the benefits of advocating for manufacturing and how to make an impact.

It’s no secret that automation can make many facets of operations more efficient. When it comes to using automation for efficiency, managing the purchase order process is no exception. As supply chain issues have increased, it has become even more important to manage data efficiently when it comes to purchase orders and ERP systems. What’s the best way to manage changes to PO’s in the most efficient way possible while positively impacting inventory strategy?

In a recent USA Manufacturing Hour Chat on Twitter, Host, Sarah Scudder from Source Day in Texas led a discussion about automating purchase order changes and how it can affect supply chain and inventory strategy.

In the past, many high-level decisions in the manufacturing sector were made based upon intuition, human intelligence, experience, or gut feeling. Today, as technology advances, many decisions are made based on information from online databases, statistical analysis, experiments, and other sources. The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) has been a major driver for this change, with manufacturers using AI to improve manufacturing methods and productivity. There are several ways that AI helps the manufacturing industry.

Is a disaster recovery plan an important part of business operations? In today’s ever-changing world, any number of disasters could potentially impact a business as well as the employees who rely on that business to earn a living. When unexpected disaster strikes, understanding strategies for how and why to implement a disaster recovery plan could save a business from extended periods of downtime, negatively impacted profitability, and struggling employees.

Brand awareness on social media is a task that generally falls squarely into the hands of the Marketing Department in most companies. Often overlooked are employees, who can be great assets for building awareness about a brand on social media. But what are the best ways for a company to optimize employee profiles and encourage them to be company advocates while navigating some of the many pitfalls that could occur in the process?

It’s close to Thanksgiving and naturally the focus for a lot of people is on things to be thankful for. Gratitude can be practiced in all aspects of life including work life. What are some of the best ways to practice mindful gratitude in the workplace? In this USA Manufacturing Hour Twitter Chat Recap, Ruby Rusine from Social Success Marketing in California led the discussion on ways to be grateful and mindful in the workplace, even in a stressful and fast-paced environment.

Corporate social responsibility, sometimes referred to as CSR or Corporate Citizenship, is a business model that helps a company be socially accountable to itself, its stakeholders, and the public. Corporations self-regulate this business model and by practicing corporate social responsibility, companies can have a positive impact on their community, their employees and their stakeholders. Ben Nordman from Obsidian Manufacturing in Illinois led a discussion for USA Manufacturing Hour Chat on Twitter about Corporate Social responsibility and how it can have an impact.

Social Media can be a great tool for not only connecting with existing customers, but for finding leads as well. LinkedIn, as a social media platform, is focused on business. When utilized effectively, LinkedIn is an excellent tool to spur leads and, in turn, revenue growth for any type of business including manufacturing.