Shared services have gained in popularity within the past few decades for a reason: economies of scale dictate that in a global marketplace, back-office synergies can be gained in-house and across borders and continents.

Study measures the impact of five disruptive changes setting the stage for the future

Americans are surrounded by manufactured goods at home and work— so how can the manufacturing sector represent only 11% of GDP? The explanation is that it doesn’t. MAPI Foundation research examining the full value chain reveals that manufacturing accounts for 32% of GDP. We also find that the manufacturing multiplier is almost three times as high as official data suggest.

The role of financial planning and analysis (FP&A) in finance organizations is growing. Those involved in FP&A provide critical information and analysis for companies, including measurements of company performance, budgeting and forecasting, and evaluation of investment projects.

Following is an analysis from Daniel J. Meckstroth, Ph.D., vice president and chief economist for the MAPI Foundation, the research affiliate of the Manufacturers Alliance for Productivity and Innovation, regarding the January 2016 industrial production report.    

The U.S. manufactures trade picture continued to dim in 2015, especially when compared with China, causing significant job decreases, according to an analysis from the MAPI Foundation, the research affiliate of the Manufacturers Alliance for Productivity and Innovation.

New research by MAPI Foundation Chief Economist Dan Meckstroth, using analysis of national input–output tables by Interindustry Forecasting (Inforum) at the University of Maryland, shows that two measures commonly used by the government to quantify manufacturing’s overall footprint significantly underestimate the impact of the factory sector. 

Following is an analysis from Cliff Waldman, director of economic studies for the MAPI Foundation, the research affiliate of the Manufacturers Alliance for Productivity and Innovation, regarding the January 2016 durable goods report.    

• In February, the European Commission and the United States announced an agreement on the EU-U.S. Privacy Shield, a replacement for the struck-down Safe Harbor Agreement

Following is an analysis from Daniel J. Meckstroth, Ph.D., vice president and chief economist for the MAPI Foundation, the research affiliate of the Manufacturers Alliance for Productivity and Innovation, regarding the February 2016 Institute for Supply Management report.