One local manufacturer turned a bad experience with off-the-shelf Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems into a business opportunity.

Research and development investments from the last few years will culminate this spring with Herman Miller Inc.’s plans to begin rolling out a wave of new products, including what President and CEO Brian Walker calls the largest “rethinking” of office design in 45 years.

Attempting to grow the size of the pie is a group effort for members of the thermoset plastics industry.

After ending the 2013 fiscal year with a quarterly loss that’s tied to one-time charges, Steelcase expects moderate sales growth from a year ago and a dip in earnings for the present period.

Herman Miller Inc. expects moderate sales growth over the next few months, following the trend of its most recent quarter.

The office furniture industry will continue to move with the U.S. economy, posting modest growth in 2013 and then accelerating next year, according to an updated industry outlook.

People sit still all day at their desks with their backs straight, feet flat on the floor, forearms parallel to the ground and reaching straight toward the keyboard, and the computer screen 18 to 22 inches from their eyes.

GRAND RAPIDS — With the help of some local students, scenes from the plant floor will soon be headed to the silver screen.

GRAND RAPIDS — Talk about a quick return on investment.

GRAND RAPIDS — The doctor has spoken: Today’s automobiles need to go on a diet.

Manufacturers want to show students that their perceptions of modern manufacturing plants are likely Hollywood fabrications.

Automotive suppliers across West Michigan have no shortage of opportunities these days. Vehicle production volumes are up, new product launches are on the rise, and automakers increasingly insist that their suppliers have a global footprint.

Many West Michigan automotive suppliers are still considering selling their businesses or acquiring companies even after the flurry of M&A activity in late 2012. The problem: A lot of them are just too busy to work on deals.

We recently did some work with a company that is a maker of fluid level indicators for engine oil and transmission fluid – in other words, dipsticks. It got us thinking about the risks that innovation can present to tried and true automotive components.

After spending decades distancing themselves from diesel engines in North America, the Detroit Three automakers have slowly started to come around to the niche potential for diesel-powered cars, trucks and SUVs.