There are many areas in which changes—small or large—can be made to boost a manufacturer’s sustainability, including product design and packaging, facilities, materials, process, machinery, transportation, suppliers and supply chain network. By Sara Pearson Specter

More and more companies are choosing to invest in green building practices, enjoying quick returns on investments that pay off in profit and public opinion. Is LEED certification worth looking into for your next warehouse? By Amy Drew Thompson

Technological innovations and lower component prices are placing robotics within reach of far more companies now, allowing manufacturers to cut costs, provide better jobs and wages, modernize plants and move production onshore from overseas factories. By Dinah Wisenberg Brin

Implementation of lean principles throughout the organization is the route taken by many companies to achieve optimal performance and provide high value service to customers. By Sheryl S. Jackson

Optimizing inventory across a supply chain increases the number of inventory turns and frees cash for productive investment. By Michael Fickes