Globalization

Honda To Build New Assembly Plant In Thailand

February 6, 2013 10:19 am | by The Associated Press | News | Comments

Honda Motor Co. will build a new assembly plant in Thailand and expand the current plant to deal with high demand, the president of Asian Honda Co. said Wednesday. Hiroshi Kobayashi said Honda will invest 17.15 billion Baht ($570 million) to build its second assembly plant in Prachin Buri Province in eastern Thailand to meet higher demand in both domestic and international markets, particularly for smaller cars.

How To Bring Manufacturing Back: A Lesson From Germany

February 5, 2013 8:00 am | by Jeremy W. Crane | Blogs | Comments

If we were to change our education system, as well as put a higher value to those who serve the economy outside of cubicles and office space, we would see corporations bring their manufacturing back to the United States. They would create the jobs that so many are searching for. The price for manufacturing will drop domestically, which will in turn bring manufacturing jobs back home.

Japan December Industrial Production Up 2.5 Percent

February 1, 2013 1:43 pm | by Elaine Kurtenbach, AP Business Writer | News | Comments

Japan's industrial production picked up pace in December from the month before, in a sign the world's third-largest economy may be stabilizing thanks to stronger global demand and government spending. Increased output of large passenger cars and vehicle components and machinery for making semiconductors were the main factors helping to drive the improvement in manufacturing, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry said.

Daimler Buys Stake In Chinese Automaker BAIC

February 1, 2013 1:41 pm | by The Associated Press | News | Comments

German luxury automaker Daimler AG said Friday it is buying a stake in the passenger car unit of its main Chinese partner to expand its presence in the world's biggest auto market. Daimler said it will pay 640 million euros ($875 million) for 12 percent of BAIC Motor, a unit of Beijing Automotive Industries Corp., with which it manufactures Mercedes Benz cars.

Bringing Manufacturing Jobs Back Home

February 1, 2013 1:14 pm | by CNN Money | Videos | Comments

Workers are cranking out precision machine parts at the Komo Manufacturing plant in Lakewood, New Jersey now that the work has returned from China. Skilled manufacturing jobs are returning to the United States, as labor costs rise abroad and quality concerns permeate the market.

Rare Good News For Eurozone Economy

February 1, 2013 10:37 am | by Pan Pylas, Associated Press | News | Comments

Mention it quietly, but there were rare hopeful signs for Europe's struggling economy on Friday. Three pieces of economic news for the 17 European Union countries that use the euro were all slightly better than hoped — in sharp contrast to some of the grim days the eurozone has witnessed over the last three years of its crisis over too much debt.

Economy Is Thawing

January 31, 2013 11:44 am | by NBC News | Videos | Comments

The stock market is now back at pre-recession levels at a five-year high and unemployment is at a five-year low. CNBC's Jim Cramer talks about whether we're back on solid footing or looking at a short-lived bubble in this video from NBC's Today show.

Mazda To Build Thailand Transmission Plant

January 30, 2013 1:34 pm | by The Associated Press | News | Comments

Mazda Motor Corp. said Wednesday it will build a plant to manufacture automatic transmissions in the Thai province of Chonburi, with production starting in the first half of fiscal 2015. The plant, to be built with 26 billion yen in investment, will turn out 400,000 transmissions a year for the automaker's vehicles employing its fuel-efficient technology dubbed Skyactiv, Mazda said.

Speed To Market 2013

January 30, 2013 8:00 am | by Steve Helfer, General Manager, Clinkenbeard, Rockford, IL | Articles | Comments

Challenges are ever increasing with global markets. Customers are expecting quicker response times on the solutions they seek. Companies are impacted by forces from all directions, but it all comes down to execution: if you don’t execute you will not win the market or launch the product. Execution is stopped by distractions from your core business and your business core processes; none of these distractions are new.

China Levies Anti-Dumping Tax On U.S., EU Chemicals

January 28, 2013 2:00 pm | by The Associated Press | News | Comments

China says it will impose anti-dumping duties on two chemicals from the United States and European Union for five years. The Ministry of Commerce said it ruled that U.S. and EU companies have been selling the chemicals at unfairly low prices, hurting China's domestic industry.

Cisco CEO: Canada Is Best For Business

January 25, 2013 12:00 pm | by CNN Money | Videos | Comments

At the World Economic Forum, Cisco CEO John Chambers says it is easier to do business in Canada and Russia than in the U.S. He says that other countries "get" how important it is to attract business, favorable tax policy, and working together with businesses to achieve goals. He also says that, right now, the U.S. is not country that attracts business.

Survey: China Manufacturing Hits 2-Year High

January 25, 2013 10:04 am | by Kelvin Chan, AP Business Writer | News | Comments

China's manufacturing crept higher in January to the fastest pace in two years, a survey showed Thursday, in another sign the world's second-biggest economy is coming out of a downturn. A preliminary version of HSBC's monthly purchasing managers' index rose for the fifth month in a row to 51.9 in January from 51.5 in December. Readings above 50 on the 100-point scale indicate an expansion.

Opel May Move Up End Of German Plant Production

January 22, 2013 2:07 pm | by The Associated Press | News | Comments

General Motors Co. is pressing employees in Germany to agree on a turnaround plan for its struggling European unit, warning if there is no deal it would end car production at one of its German plants two years earlier than planned. Opel announced last month it plans to stop producing cars at the plant in Bochum at the end of 2016 when it stops making its current Zafira model.

Is Labor Productivity The No. 1 Factor For Global Competiveness?

January 22, 2013 8:00 am | by Simon Macpherson, Senior Director Operations, Kronos EMEA | Blogs | Comments

It’s been my long-held belief that no matter what we automate in manufacturing, or how flexible and effective a supply chain we develop, it’s how we manage the people in the business that will make the difference between good and world class. When it comes to managing the workforce, very few industries are under more pressure than manufacturing.

Over 140 Nations Adopt Treaty To Cut Mercury

January 21, 2013 10:07 am | by John Heilprin, Associated Press | News | Comments

A new and legally binding international treaty to reduce harmful emissions of mercury was adopted Saturday by more than 140 nations, capping four years of difficult negotiations but stopping short of some of the tougher measures that proponents had envisioned.

China's Growth Rebounds But Still Vulnerable

January 18, 2013 10:14 am | by Joe McDonald, AP Business Writer | News | Comments

China's economy is finally rebounding from its deepest slump since the 2008 global crisis but the shaky recovery could be vulnerable to a new downturn in global trade. Growth rose to 7.9 percent in the three months ending in December, up from the previous quarter's 7.4 percent data showed Friday.

Denso Plans $1B North American Investment

January 15, 2013 2:20 pm | by The Associated Press | News | Comments

Auto parts supplier Denso Corp. plans to invest nearly $1 billion in North America over the next four years and add more than 2,000 jobs as it works to localize its operations. The investment from the Japanese company was announced Tuesday during press previews for the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

Jeep Manufacturing To Expand To China

January 15, 2013 2:18 pm | by David Runk, Associated Press | News | Comments

Fiat, Chrysler and a Chinese automaker have signed an agreement to expand manufacturing in China and produce the Jeep for sale in that market. The companies said the agreement was signed at Chrysler Group LLC's headquarters in the Detroit suburb of Auburn Hills.

Eurozone Industrial Output Down For 3rd Month

January 14, 2013 10:20 am | by Pan Pylas, Associated Press | News | Comments

Industrial output across the 17 European Union countries that use the euro fell in November for the third straight month, official figures showed Monday, raising fears that the recession in the region has continued into the last three months of 2012.

Apple CEO: China Will Be Biggest Market

January 11, 2013 2:14 pm | by Joe McDonald, AP Business Writer | News | Comments

Apple expects China to overtake the United States as its biggest market, CEO Tim Cook told a Chinese government news agency. "China is currently our second largest market. I believe it will become our first. I believe strongly that it will," the Xinhua News Agency quoted Cook as saying in an interview.

China Trade Rebounds In Sign Of Economic Recovery

January 10, 2013 1:51 pm | by Joe McDonald, AP Business Writer | News | Comments

China's trade growth rebounded strongly in December in a positive sign for the gradual and still uncertain recovery of the world's second-largest economy. Export growth more than quadrupled from the previous month to 14.1 percent while imports — which failed to grow at all in November — rose 6 percent in a sign of increasing domestic demand, data showed Thursday.

Yanmar To Build New Indonesia Plant

January 9, 2013 10:09 am | by The Associated Press | News | Comments

Yanmar Co., a Japanese maker of agricultural equipment, engines and boats, said Wednesday it will build a new plant in Indonesia to produce diesel engine parts and other products. Yanmar said its move to set up the factory at an industrial complex in eastern Jakarta by investing roughly 7.5 billion yen is aimed at enhancing the company's cost competitiveness through overseas production.

Unemployment Risks Creating A New Divide In Europe

January 8, 2013 2:39 pm | by Don Melvin, Raf Casert, Associated Press | News | Comments

Record unemployment and fraying social welfare systems in southern Europe risk creating a new divide in the continent, the EU warned Tuesday, when figures showed joblessness across the 17 EU countries that use the euro hit a new high. Eurozone unemployment rose to 11.8 percent in November, the highest since the euro currency was founded in 1999, according to the statistical agency Eurostat.

Nissan Chief Hopes For Better Japan-China Relations

January 2, 2013 10:10 am | by The Associated Press | News | Comments

Nissan Motor Co. President and Chief Executive Officer Carlos Ghosn expressed hope that the recent change in leadership in both Japan and China will bring about an improvement in strained bilateral economic relations and a recovery of auto sales in China.

The Real Cost Of That Pool Toy

January 2, 2013 8:01 am | by Laurie Keyser Brunner, President, MainStream Management LLC | Blogs | Comments

When we think about profitably manufacturing goods, China is at the top of the list, followed closely by Vietnam, Indonesia and Malaysia. But, I am here to report that manufacturing in America is alive, if not exactly well. And, the best of U.S. manufacturers can compete with—and beat—the cost of overseas production.