As Indiana’s largest industry sector enjoys continued growth in revenues and profits, its employers are investing heavily in automation and manufacturing efficiency, welcoming an industry movement that, nationally, has been dubbed “Industry 4.0.” The 2018 Indiana Manufacturing Survey: Industry 4.0 Has Arrived shows that most Indiana manufacturers consider investments in facilities, machinery and related information technology to be their top concern. Meanwhile, the percentage of firms identifying workforce development as their top concern declined to its lowest level in a decade.

Results from the 2018 Indiana Manufacturing Survey indicate that not only are manufacturers now embracing automation, which helps them fuel growth and address the ongoing work shortage, but that they are racing toward it at a faster pace than ever before.

Katz, Sapper & Miller's 12th annual survey assessing the state of Indiana's manufacturing and distribution industries is now underway.

Katz, Sapper & Miller’s JC Wilkinson and KSM Consulting’s Mark Caswell will present at the Indiana Manufacturers Association’s (IMA) Manufacturing Technology Summit June 6 in Indianapolis. The event brings together leaders in the manufacturing industry to explore cutting-edge technologies and how they can be used to improve profitability.

In recent years, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) received feedback that revenue recognition guidance was fragmented at best, confusing at worst. This is significant considering revenue is the key measurement used to determine a manufacturing company’s performance. In response to this feedback, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, in May 2014, and subsequently amended it. This is the most significant revision to U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (U.S. GAAP) revenue recognition standards in history.

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 is the largest shake-up to the Internal Revenue Code in more than 30 years. From substantial changes in depreciation rules to the repeal of DPAD, it includes a multitude of changes that will directly impact the manufacturing sector.

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (TCJA) was signed into law by President Trump Dec. 22, 2017. The TCJA is the largest shake-up to the Internal Revenue Code in more than 30 years and includes a multitude of changes that will directly impact the manufacturing sector. From substantial changes in depreciation rules to the repeal of DPAD, the following is a summary of key provisions in the new law and how they might affect manufacturers.

After an unsuccessful attempt at a third-party sale, industrial battery manufacturer Bulldog Battery looked to KSM for help developing an exit strategy.

We could not say goodbye to 2017 without revisiting the year’s most popular content. We believe these posts illustrate the depth and varied experience of our firm as well as our commitment to helping our clients further their growth and success.

Indiana’s manufacturers have overcome big challenges in recent years to post encouraging numbers. But one of their biggest challenges continues to dog them: uncertainty.