Keep up with constant change and innovations by reading manufacturing and process technology publications. If you don't stay abreast of current industry trends and news, you give your competition an advantage they won't hesitate to exploit. Reading and learning from process technology industry publications and other manufacturing industry publications and then applying what you've learned will help improve your business, attract new customers and retain current customers with new contracts.

Publications for manufacturing provide great resources for breaking developments, new industry trends, new technologies, process improvement, and so much more. As you search for publications for process technology and other manufacturing topics, consider the following sources:

1. Buy books on manufacturing technology that build on the foundation of knowledge you already own.

2. Stay current on trends, news and events with manufacturing and process technology magazines.

3. Use other publications for process technology and other manufacturing topics to your advantage.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Read manufacturing tech books to broaden your horizons

Manufacturing technology books make smart reference additions to your manufacturing book collection.

I recommend: When looking for books on manufacturing technology, start with Exploring Advanced Manufacturing Technologies, by Steve Krar and Art Gill. The 2005 book serves as a quick reference for many new manufacturing technologies when you don't have time to research a topic. The CD-ROM that comes with it contains the same information as the book, so you can listen to it in your car on your way to work or to a meeting. Order Manufacturing Systems and Technologies for the New Frontier, published in 2008. This book compiles more than 100 papers presented at the 41st CIRP Conference on Manufacturing Systems that deal with manufacturing systems meeting the challenges posed by evolving global sustainability requirements. Subjects include new trends in manufacturing systems design and applications, smart use of advanced methods and new materials and more.

Add manufacturing technology magazines to the list of resources at your fingertips

You'll find tons of pertinent articles that include current news, trends, events, industry forecasts and editorials from manufacturing technology magazines.

I recommend: If manufacturing technology publications interest you, start your free subscription to Automation World, a publication concentrating on innovative manufacturing strategies and applications. Within its pages you'll find solutions for maximizing ROI, news, IT and control system. If you work in the chemical manufacturing industry and want a process manufacturing magazine, order a free subscription to Chemical Processing. The monthly magazine spans all aspects of the industry, from plant design and process optimization to plant operations, maintenance and safety compliance.

Explore other manufacturing publications for quick answers and in-depth reports on specific topics

To keep up with developments in a particular aspect of manufacturing, read online publications and manufacturing technology journals.

I recommend: Bookmark Manufacturing.net, the online publication for manufacturing executives, and then request the companion E-newsletter. The website provides quick access to manufacturing news around the world, regulations, industry trends, plant openings/closings, supply chain news, finance, economic forecasts and much more. For process manufacturing publications, subscribe to Materials and Manufacturing Processes, a journal published eight times a year. The journal focuses on improved raw materials usage and energy, integration of design and manufacturing activities demanding the invention of new manufacturing processes and techniques and much more. Gain in-depth knowledge reading the Journal of Manufacturing Technology Management, a journal offering international coverage of the management of manufacturing technology and the integration of production, design, supply and marketing functions of manufacturing businesses.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Besides researching topics and keeping up with trends, use manufacturing publications for developing new networking opportunities, potential customers and new suppliers.