The Pump Act is a new law that makes changes to the Break Time for Nursing Mothers law, which required that employers provide reasonable break time and a private, non-bathroom space for lactating employees to pump milk during the workday.

Quiet quitting is basically doing the minimum requirements at a job. In the early 2020s quiet quitting emerged as a much-publicized trend in the US and elsewhere. There were a variety of factors in the workplace that influenced the trend. But some have questioned whether it’s even a new phenomenon. 

In a recent chat for USA Manufacturing Hour on Twitter, host Julie Gardner from Hourly – Insurance & Payroll in California led a discussion about quiet quitting and how to navigate some of the root causes in the workplace.

The Iceberg Problem is common for manufacturers. It states that in many cases only a very small amount of information is available or known about a situation or phenomenon. The bulk of data is either unavailable or hidden. The principle gets its name from the fact that only about 2/10th of an iceberg’s mass is seen outside while about 8/10th of it is unseen and under water. When it comes to customers, it’s important to help them understand that there is more to a process than the minimal amount they see. How can manufacturers help customers see the full picture? In a recent chat for USA Manufacturing Hour on Twitter, , Chase Bodor from Plastic Plus Technology in California, led a discussion about how to help customers see beyond the tip of the iceberg.

Constraints are a big part of the manufacturing industry. They are almost inevitable at times. The key to dealing with this is planning. In order to lessen the effects of constraints on your operation, it is crucial to know how to identify both your internal and external constraints and have the proper strategies to handle them effectively. In a recent chat for USA Manufacturing Hour on Twitter, host, Dr Lisa Lang from www.ScienceofBusiness.com led a discussion on the Theory of Constraints.

LinkedIn is a platform that can be utilized in a variety of ways. In addition to increasing brand awareness and sales, it is an excellent resource for building and cultivating a community. In a recent USA Manufacturing Hour chat on Twitter, host Ingor van Rooi, the Networking Ninja and also of We’ve Got This Admin in Canada, led a discussion about ways to build a community using LinkedIn.

In a departure from the regular format of chats for USA Manufacturing Hour on Twitter, Ben Nordman from Obsidian Manufacturing in Illinois decided to format a chat as a way for participants to share snippets about their experiences working in the manufacturing industry.

Many companies have perks as part of their corporate culture. Are perks effective for employee morale? In a recent chat for USA Manufacturing Hour on Twitter, host Kelley Plats from North American Coating Laboratories in Ohio hosted a discussion about perks that work in a corporate environment.

Entrepreneurial thinking is thinking outside-the-box to bring improvements or solve problems. It is the ability to recognize opportunities and discover the best way to capitalize on them.

People who think in an entrepreneurial way see things differently. This is not always inherent. In fact, many who think in this way have developed their skills over time.

In a recent chat for USA Manufacturing Hour on Twitter, host Erin Courtenay from Earthling Interactive in Wisconsin led a discussion about entrepreneurial thinking in manufacturing.

Manufacturers and distributors both benefit from building strong relationships. In a world where margins are tight, companies have to use all resources at their disposal to understand each other, encourage collaboration and streamline the process of working together.  

There are many who believe that if you are not taking risks, you are not growing.