Laura Ross

Author at Thomas

Featured in: Favicon

thomasnet.com Favicon

jrheum.org Favicon

thestar.co.uk

Articles

The Largest Family-Owned Businesses

1 week ago | thomasnet.com | Laura Ross |Audrey Altmann

Image credit: Iv-olga/ShutterstockFamily-owned companies play a surprisingly prominent role in an increasingly globalized and dynamic world. Remarkably, if the largest 500 family businesses combined their revenue, they would have a GDP that is only beaten by the U.S. and China. Here, we explore the origins and journeys of the top five, ranked by revenue. Born to farmers in Oklahoma in 1918, Sam Walton grew up during the Great Depression.
How Manufacturers Can Attract Recent Graduates

1 week ago | thomasnet.com | Laura Ross |Audrey Altmann

Valued at $2.5 trillion, the U.S. manufacturing industry is a well-established global leader in innovation and output. Long-term trends, however, have led to a significant talent gap, with recruiters concerned about the retirement of the Baby Boomer generation, who currently make up of manufacturing workers. Automation is making a significant impact across the sector, reducing dependency on labor in factories and plants, but this currently applies only to repetitive and lower-skilled jobs.
Behind the Lexus Supply Chain

1 week ago | thomasnet.com | Laura Ross |Audrey Altmann

In August 1983, Toyota’s Chairman, Dr. Eiji Toyoda, gathered an array of strategists, engineers, and designers for a top-secret meeting. Their mission was clear: build the world’s greatest vehicle to rival all those that came before it. Known as the Flagship One project, a team of 60 designers, 24 engineering teams, and 220 support workers committed tens of thousands of hours at an immeasurable cost to develop the best in automotive excellence.
Behind the Tesla Supply Chain

2 weeks ago | thomasnet.com | Laura Ross |Audrey Altmann

Tesla is a pioneer in the electric vehicle market and one of the most recognizable brands in the world. Founded in 2023 as an electric car company by engineers Martin Eberhard and Marc Tarpenning, the company’s founding mission was to accelerate the world’s transition to sustainable energy. Elon Musk, an early investor and board member, took over as CEO in 2008, the same year the automaker’s first car, the all-electric Roadster, rolled off the assembly line.
Quantum Computing Chips Signal a New Era in Technology

1 month ago | thomasnet.com | Laura Ross |Audrey Altmann

No field has enjoyed more rapid developments than computing. In the past few decades, computers have been liberated from the confines of advanced science labs and become an essential item in every household. That’s not to mention their critical contributions across almost all industries and fields of research. If you believe the hype, the sector’s latest development marks the start of an entirely new era of computing.
The Circular Economy in Manufacturing

1 month ago | thomasnet.com | Laura Ross |Audrey Altmann

Manufacturers everywhere are rethinking how we make, use, market, and dispose of products. Car re-rentals, vending machines for washing powder, coffee cups you can eat, subscriptions for recyclable running shoes, and water harvesting using food scraps: from manufacturing processes and service-based models to product innovation, a lot is happening in the circular economy. Creating a circular economy means reinventing the way we manufacture and consume goods.
Which Industries Use the Most Energy?

1 month ago | thomasnet.com | Laura Ross |Audrey Altmann

The industrial sector tops the list of the world’s biggest energy consumers, using around 54% of the world’s total energy. In the U.S. alone, industrial activities consumed a staggering British thermal units (BTU) in 2023, and annual usage is expected to grow rapidly between now and 2050. The problem? A host of environmental issues—including air, water, and thermal pollution, climate change, and solid waste disposal—are directly linked to energy production and consumption.
The Home Depot’s Strategy for Supply Chain Success

1 month ago | thomasnet.com | Laura Ross |Audrey Altmann

Home Depot is the world’s largest home improvement retailer, which sells a wide range of building materials, home improvement supplies, power tools, appliances, and indoor and outdoor garden products to DIY customers, professional contractors, and the industry’s largest installation businesses. Today, the retailer operates 2,300 stores across North America, each averaging 105,000 square feet of indoor retail space. It also has a thriving e-commerce business, selling over one million products.
The Largest U.S. Steel Companies

1 month ago | thomasnet.com | Laura Ross |Audrey Altmann

The global steel market, worth an estimated $1.47 trillion in 2024, is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.6% between 2025 and 2030. This growth is attributable to various factors, including urbanization, population growth, advances in the automotive and aerospace industries, and the rapid expansion of the renewable energy sector.
Behind the Chevrolet Corvette Supply Chain

2 months ago | thomasnet.com | Laura Ross |Audrey Altmann

The Chevrolet Corvette is the world’s longest-running, continuously produced passenger car and a symbol of quintessential American culture. First introduced by General Motors (GM) in 1953 under the Chevrolet marque, this two-door, two-seater sports car, named after the small, fast-moving naval vessels once employed by the British Navy, emanates style, class, and effortless high performance.