Are you sick and tired of hearing about the recession yet? Is the recession here? Is it not here? Is there an easy fix? Is the world going to end? I feel the pundits who are panic-stricken about the impending or current recession are acting like Chicken Little, and the rest of us are confused and bewildered, wondering whether the sky really is falling.

For the U.S. manufacturing industry, the challenges seem to be the same, regardless of whether we are in a recession or not. Energy costs continue to rise and there are still price pressures for raw materials.

But a survey conducted early this year by Prime Advantage, a manufacturers’ buying group, found 88 percent of companies in the industry planned to continue improving cost savings, efficiency measurements and/or supplier diversity goals. Additionally, 66 percent of manufacturing firms are planning significant capital improvements in 2008. If two-thirds of firms in the industry are considering major investments, we should be optimistic about this year, no?   

Whether the country sinks into a recession or not, manufacturers must continue to improve their operations to keep costs in check and remain competitive. Our contributors this month have a number of suggestions on how to do just that.

Bryan Hornik discusses the nuts and bolts of an effective safety program, which can improve quality and costs. Kevin Piotrowski explains how to adopt an integrated quality program and James Peal advises how to keep innovation from being stifled. Additionally, Rick Biederer discusses how manufacturers can improve sales and ROI through strategic use of the Internet.

Regardless of your strategy for 2008, remain optimistic. The U.S. manufacturing industry knows how to keep going, even with challenges ahead.