If you are looking to build a stronger American base of operations for the manufacturing and supply aspect of your operation, it might pay to observe some of this country's more historic innovations in this area. Auto manufacturing certainly maintains a presence in Indiana, and it's not out of the realm of possibility that your business might have something to learn by connecting itself to major milestones.

One such milestone was reached this month, according to USA Today: the deployment of Ford's automotive assembly line in its auto production back in 1913. This might not seem immediately relevant for your company, but it's not just a period of reflection for the company in question. It also appears to be a moment in which Ford is considering its future by announcing a boost in its productivity that it hopes to see instituted within the next four years.

According to the Detroit Free Press, Ford is also looking to increase efficiency in the way it manages its factories with tighter crews and building new locations. William Ford, the chairman of the company and descendant of founder and inventor Henry Ford, was quoted on the significance of that first invention.

"One hundred years ago, my great-grandfather had a vision to build safe and efficient transportation for everyone," he said. "I am proud he was able to bring the freedom of mobility to millions by making cars affordable to families and that his vision of serving people still drives everything that we do today."

Investing in business manufacturing software could be seen as the evolution of the drive to make the process more efficient. Just as a physical assembly line must be primed, so should the virtual and digital assembly lines we use be ready to run smoothly between different stations.