Few would argue that today's economy is uncertain and unstable. Manufacturers face unprecedented challenges. To compete globally and achieve profitability, most must strive for unprecedented efficiency — and that means implementing superior systems and practices throughout the enterprise and operating lean and mean at every turn. As companies seek to identify and eliminate waste, continually improve processes, and respond to the increasing product demands of its customers, they are learning to do more with less, whether it is resources, staff, or money. They are also learning that one tool perhaps more than any other goes a long way toward helping achieve those goals — industrial Ethernet.