Manufacturing

Racine-based outdoor recreation equipment manufacturer Johnson Outdoors Inc. reported a fiscal fourth quarter net loss of $786,000, compared with a net loss of $3.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2013.

One of the reasons lean is powerful as a management philosophy is that it brings together various and often diverse stakeholders, empowering them to collectively effect change. It achieves this by validating or dispelling past beliefs, piercing cultural boundaries within the organization and creating a common vision among employees regardless of tenure, knowledge or experience.

Milwaukee-based Busch Precision Inc. is hosting tours for area Milwaukee Public Schools as part of its involvement with the Council of Small Business Executives’ “Be the Spark” campaign.

Sheboygan Falls-based sausage manufacturer Johnsonville Sausage has opened its first retail store, in Naples, Fla.

Sussex-based Quad/Graphics Inc. plans to close its direct marketing plant in Atlanta, Ga., in early 2015.

Milwaukee-based Douglas Dynamics Inc. announced it has agreed to acquire Manchester, Iowa-based Henderson for about $95 million.

Grafton-based Microbrush International has acquired the Dry Tips product line from Swedish surgical and wound product manufacturer Molnlycke Health Care.

A lot has happened at Waukesha-based DUECO Inc. this year.

American manufacturing has had great success in automating factories with robots and computers in the last 50 years, and computers are now eliminating many service jobs. This has caused a lot of speculation about how far artificial intelligence can be developed.

Companies interested in investing in energy efficiency and waste reduction projects can apply for low interest financing by Monday, Dec. 8. The funding is available from the new Wisconsin’s Clean Energy Manufacturing Revolving Loan Fund (CERLF), a program jointly managed by the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation and the Wisconsin Department of Administration.