As a plastics industry forecaster, I was pleased to be interviewed by Steve Toloken in your Jan. 27 story (“Despite 4Q hit, plastics production up in '02,” Page 4).
However, I disagree with those who lament that we remain in uncertain economic times. My data and numbers indicate the opposite — things are coming around, albeit slowly. The recession has provided some valuable lessons, and those who fail to see them are doomed to repeat them.
With NPE on the horizon, let's be more positive in our thoughts and actions. The good thing to come out of the downturn is that certain people in my profession have found ways to help business people understand and apply data to forge a profitable future. No more useless five-year plans. The need today is to learn how to come up with plans and actions that make a difference in sales, growth and profitability now.
Smart managers and their companies are learning the new business economics of using past data, incorporating their own company parameters, and developing short-term action plans.
Bill Wood
Mountaintop Economics
& Research
