FX Market The Purchasing Managers’ Index, or PMI, is a survey conducted among the purchasing managers of various companies in the manufacturing sector. It is very important because it acts as a leading indicator for the manufacturing sector and because many central banks make use of PMI readings when considering their respective monetary policies.

Industry Week The state of Michigan wants to make sure that talented workers view their state through the same lens that they view Silicon Valley. To help change the brand, on August 5th, Snyder announced a new initiative – ‘We Run on Brainpower’ – designed to showcase the many cutting-edge, high-technology jobs in today’s automotive industry and the opportunities they offer to Michigan students and residents.

GearExpo Register for an education course and you’ll receive a complimentary pass to the exhibit hall. Bring colleagues along to qualify for group pricing and benefits. Information on group pricing is coming soon.

The Baxter Bulletin The small metal bat hanging from Sydney Phifer’s neck is her own creation. She drew the design in a software program, made it on a computerized numerical control machine, cut excess metal from it, drilled a hole in the end to wear it with her lanyard, and added her name for a personal touch.

Industry Week In October, thousands of manufacturers, colleges, and trade schools across the country will celebrate Manufacturing Day by opening their doors and inviting young people to experience modern manufacturing. The annual national event, executed at the local level, is designed to dispel the prevalent misconceptions about our industry and also address the serious skilled labor gap that now exists.

Clean Technica Siemens announced in early August that it will invest €200 million into building its first offshore wind turbine manufacturing facility in Germany. The planned manufacturing facility will be the first for the company in Germany and will manufacture nacelles for the company’s next-generation 7 MW wind turbines, designed for use out at sea.

Manufacturing Business Technlogy Lexus invited The Verge to Spain to ride the hoverboard it created for a commercial. Sam Sheffer found the board to be very difficult to ride — but it does hover!

Industry Week Mexico's factories continue to expand, and the country is expected to be the manufacturing growth leader in Latin America through 2016, according to a report from the MAPI Foundation, the research affiliate of the Manufacturers Alliance for Productivity and Innovation.

Green Biz Companies can't know when the next drought or flood will hit or how they'll be affected by shifts in political power. But business leaders may be able to position their companies to better withstand change, even while searching for ways to cut costs and identify new growth opportunities.

Fortune Powerful software is giving us new insights into large-scale efficiency. But logistics veterans say companies aren’t always ready to think big.

Area Development Additive manufacturing is evolving from prototyping to diagnostic tools to the production of vehicle bodies, although it’s still not feasible for use on a large scale.

Canadian Manufacturing Aerospace manufacturer Heroux-Devtek is beefing up its workforce as it prepares to build the world’s tallest landing gear for Boeing’s 777 aircraft. The Quebec-based company plans to hire about 40 workers over the next six months to increase its workforce dedicated to the Boeing 777 and 777X to about 160

Manufacturing Business Technology The GreenTeam Formula Student electric racing car developed by engineers at the University of Stuttgart in Germany has just set the record for the fastest acceleration of an electric car. The car accelerated from 0-62mph in 1.779 seconds after traveling 25 meters.

The Engineer David Brown Gear Systems has been awarded the largest single order in its 150-year history to deliver gearboxes for the Type 26 Global Combat Ship program.

Hepburn Engineering, a marine products and services company, has announced it has signed an agreement with Canada’s largest shipbuilder, Chantier Davie Canada, for the supply of a Replenishment-At-Sea system for its Resolve-Class Auxiliary Oiler Replenishment ship.