In the 2015 Indiana Manufacturing Survey: Back to Uncertainty, it was clear that the post-recession bounce had cooled … and so had manufacturing sentiment. The 2016 Indiana Manufacturing Survey results appear to show that regulatory burdens and the shortage of skilled workers continue to be top concerns for Hoosier manufacturers.

As economists and politicians continue to debate the latest GDP numbers, one conclusion can definitively be determined—manufacturing continues to dominate Indiana’s economy.

Employment reports published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics in June confirmed the workforce issues facing manufacturers across the country: despite the high number of job openings, manufacturing employment continues to decline. With product demand continuing to grow, manufacturers must consider ways to combat the shortage of qualified workers.

Reshoring manufacturing jobs back to the United States has been a hot topic in the industry for the past few years. The question is, why should your company consider it? Some might argue that it’s a matter of patriotism; others argue it’s a simple matter of economics – manufacturers want to bring production closer to the actual consumers of their products.

More than 250,000 Hoosiers make their living working in advanced manufacturing. Nationally, Indiana has the third highest employment numbers in the sector, and recent data indicates Indiana has a healthy economic outlook going forward compared to other states in the region.

Katz, Sapper & Miller’s 10th annual survey assessing the state of Indiana’s manufacturing and distribution industries is now underway.

Today’s consumers want the “smartest” product on the market. They want the newest make and model. They want options, upgrades, and customized products that keep them connected. As if that’s not enough, they wanted it all yesterday. Gone are the days of mass-produced “vanilla” widgets that take months to produce.

Indiana’s manufacturing sector continues to generate its share of economic development victories: The recent news that Subaru of Indiana will invest another $140 million and create 1,200 new jobs at its Lafayette plant is a major vote of confidence.

Katz, Sapper & Miller released its annual Indiana Manufacturing Survey today in collaboration with the Indiana University Kelley School of Business. 

ASU 2015-05 provides additional guidance on accounting for fees paid in a cloud-computing arrangement. The FASB determined there was no explicit guidance currently available under generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) in the United States for these type of  transactions, specifically related to an arrangement including a software license.