By Barbara Swenson

The concept of carbon credits for manufacturers originated with the Kyoto Agreement of 1997. As a means of combating global warming, signers of the agreement consented to limiting their carbon emissions to a predetermined amount. When businesses reach or surpass these goals, the agreement awards them carbon credits that can be sold to other companies who do not meet their goals. In this way, carbon credits can be like money in the bank for manufacturers willing participate in the program.

By Holly Reynolds

The economy is staggering, recession is looming, and your business is suffering. How do you escape the cash crunch? Cut some costs. Perhaps you’ve already made some sacrifices, and the employees from floor production weren’t too thrilled when you cut the annual Holiday Bash. But let’s be real here. Some substantial cuts must be made or your business’s value will fall.

By Rachel Hartman

When you make a sales trip to Mexico, you not only step into a new country, you also walk into a different culture. As an outsider, there are many potentially harmful mistakes you can make, ranging from embarrassing to utterly offensive and destructive for business. To build lasting business relationships, you’ll want to avoid as many of these as possible. Following are some of the most common cultural blunders foreigners make in Mexico. Avoid these, and your chances for success in this growing market will be greatly improved.

By Tom Caldecott

If you’re running a small manufacturing company, what’s the best way to lead in today’s turbulent times? Jim Clemmer, head of the management consulting firm The CLEMMER Group, tells the story of a CEO who was seen by his staff reading Clemmer’s book, Firing on All Cylinders: The Service/Quality System for High-Powered Corporate Performance.