U.S. businesses plan to increase hiring and capital spending in the first half of 2010, according to a recent survey conducted by the National Association for Business Economics (NABE).

In January 2010, the Material Handling Equipment Distributors Association (MHEDA) released its 2010 Industry Forecast.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is recruiting university students to participate in its Virtual Manufacturing Automation Competition this May. NIST hopes to use the event to develop performance metrics for mixed pallets.

Regulatory plans that were shelved or put on hold are making a comeback in 2010.

Supply chain breakdowns are making us sick.

A major automotive brake supplier uses bulk containers to support 5S lean manufacturing.

These articles were those most viewed in last week's newsletter.

PECO Pallet Issues Statement on McNeil Drug Recalls
PECO Pallet Inc. has issued a statement regarding the recent recalls of Tylenol Arthritis and numerous other over-the-counter drugs by McNeil Consumer Healthcare, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson.

In the Tylenol Blame Game, Accountability Proves Tough to Swallow
In the January issue of MHM, we broke the news of a massive recall of over-the-counter drugs made by McNeil Consumer Healthcare, one of Johnson & Johnson’s 250 subsidiaries.

MHIA Joins International Sustainable Packaging Group
Material Handling Industry of America (MHIA) has joined a new subcommittee of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). The group is developing global standards for sustainable packaging.