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Critics of tax breaks for manufacturers describe state and federal policies as “corporate welfare”, and claim that tax-based incentives are ineffective. As a recent article from the State Science & Technology Institute (SSTI) explains, however, research and development (R&D) tax credits help more than just manufacturing companies. Two new studies show how businesses that claim R&D tax credits are less likely to lay-off employees, and are more likely to support satellite industries through capital expenditures.

Manufacturing executives are feeling bullish about the U.S. economy, and they’re ready to prove it. In a recent survey by Pricewaterhouse Coopers (PwC), 68% of respondents reported that they’re optimistic about the American economy’s prospects for 2015. That’s an 11% increase from the last time PwC checked the Manufacturing Barometer, a quarterly survey of 60 senior executives at multinational manufacturers.

Rising labor costs abroad, abundant energy supplies at home, direct foreign investment, and increasing U.S. demand are all powering America’s manufacturing renaissance. What’s less understood, however, is the importance of available metals and minerals, materials that are used to make everything from cell phones and laptops to body armor, medical devices, and machinery.

Does your business have a Facebook page and a Twitter account? Some manufacturers are still skeptical about the value of social media, but it’s important to have what Hootsuite’s Evan Lepage calls “reference points” about your company. In the Internet Age, prospects and customers go on-line to find information – and they visit more than just company websites. Using search results, what will they learn about you?

CES isn’t just about geeks, gadgets, and gizmos anymore. Sure, the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) is targeted at techies. But that doesn’t mean the annual event is a glorified Star Trek convention.