Waupaca Foundry has put the Great Recession well into its rear view mirror as the plant here that makes iron castings for parts used in cars and trucks now employs a five-year high of 560 people. One company advantage executives cite is the use of a just-in-time supply chain that they say is unique in their industry and a cost-saver for the business.

Recently, a manufacturing executive told me that companies must be more transparent in telling future hires exactly what the job entails. That includes hours, working conditions and expectations. He's lost too many people who didn't realize that putting in a lot of hours was just part of the job. Dan Johnston, co-founder of WorkStep, would whole-heartedly agree. After seeing the struggle, first-hand as a manager of a large third-party logistics company, he set out to make some changes.