Walmart has committed to investing $250bn in products that will support and create American jobs by 2023. Based on data from Boston Consulting Group, it is estimated that one million new U.S. jobs will be created through this initiative. Responding to feedback from its vendors that finding U.S. sources of supply was a challenge, Walmart plans to use ThomasNet's platform for product sourcing and supplier discovery.

ThomasNet and Institute for Supply Management have announced the winners of their first "30 Under 30 Rising Supply Chain Stars" Recognition Program, a jointly sponsored initiative to advance the future of the supply chain profession. The winners, aged 30 or younger, were recognized for making significant contributions to their organizations.

ThomasNet and the Institute for Supply Management are partnering to spotlight millennials whose initiative and leadership are strengthening procurement and supply chain management.

At a time when technological innovations offer new growth opportunities for the manufacturing sector, a lack of talent from "rising generations" threatens its future vitality, according to ThomasNet.com's Industry Market Barometer research.

In a move to attract the brainpower and creativity of the next generation, and draw them into manufacturing, ThomasNet has announced what it calls the North American Manufacturing Scholarship Program. Up to 30 graduating high school seniors with an interest in manufacturing careers will each receive a $1,000 scholarship to pursue studies at a two-year or four-year college, or a vocational-technical school.