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and then to a service-oriented society ,” says Deskins . “ Most jobs are now in services rather than agriculture or manufacturing , but now we are moving toward a data-driven , information-based economy . That will be the newest revolution .”
For the state to move forward and create this new wave of jobs , internet connectivity is paramount . Smart manufacturers count on internet infrastructure .
“ An important point is connectivity ,” says Lego . “ Without it , you will get left at the starting line . Smart manufacturing makes your operation more efficient and transparent . You have control over what happens at your fingertips , on your phone or Google Glass or on your monitor . Everything that is connected to the internet can provide you with insight .”
Stepping into the 21st Century
Major changes at any time make their mark on the socioeconomic landscape . Some companies will explode with growth because of smart manufacturing while others will be left to languish . However , Lego says companies can forge ahead by reaching out .
“ Do not try to be everything by yourself ,” he says . “ Find the right partners . Oftentimes a good partnership is when manufacturing experts get help on the IT side . The two worlds often speak different languages . Bring a translator or a research institute or university partner on board . This has saved a lot of projects .”
As West Virginia companies step into 21st century manufacturing , they will become beacons of encouragement for other businesses . Building these kinds of practices into how we manufacture in the state can only make us more competitive . According to Deskins , now is the time for West Virginia manufacturers to embrace this new way of doing things and stay ahead of the curve to move the state forward .
“ There is an element of uncertainty ,” he says . “ It ’ s sometimes scary doing things differently because you don ’ t know how it ’ s going to unfold . But the world is changing , and we have to change with it .” •
David Fenwick , Partner at Goodwin & Goodwin , LLP
When you need a lawyer , you need
“ At will ” employment means you can terminate an employee for any reason , as long as it ’ s not an unlawful one . But your company just got served with a lawsuit by a former employee whose performance was terrible and was fired only for that reason . So how can he / she sue you ? Can that really happen ?
Unfortunately , it happens often , as the threshold for filing a “ wrongful termination ” lawsuit that can subject your company to a year or more of expensive litigation is relatively low . However , the stakes can be high . You need an experienced employment lawyer who can help you explore an early and reasonable resolution , or if the circumstances warrant , aggressively defend the case through trial . In these situations , an attorney with over 25 years of employment law experience and an undefeated trial record in such cases can be an invaluable asset .
If your company finds itself in this unfortunate dilemma or would like to look at proactive measures that might avoid such a lawsuit in the first place , David and his team at Goodwin are ready to assist .
Call us at 304-346-7000 , visit goodwingoodwin . com or email jdf @ goodwingoodwin . com .
Responsible Attorney : Booth Goodwin , Goodwin & Goodwin , LLP , 300 Summers Street , 15th Floor , Charleston , WV 25301
Charleston • Parkersburg • Ripley
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