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Daily industrial news and top headlines for plant and maintenance managers
Machinists Union To Reevaluate Boeing Relationship
October 30, 2009 4:45 am | by Gene Johnson, Associated Press Writer | News | CommentsEVERETT, Wash. (AP) — Matt Gettmann began working in finance at Boeing Co. last year, and it wasn't long before he found himself watching, stunned, as union members prepared for what became an eight-week strike. The work stoppage cost the company billions in deferred revenue and caused some of the delays in production of its new 787 at a time when Boeing was growing increasingly frustrated with labor squabbles.
More UAW Locals Reject Ford Contract
October 30, 2009 4:29 am | by Dee-Ann Durbin and Tom Krisher, AP Auto Writers | News | CommentsDETROIT (AP) — Workers at two more United Auto Workers locals overwhelmingly rejected changes to their contract with Ford Motor Co. on Thursday, casting further doubt on whether the deal will be approved. Workers at a parts-making plant in Saline, Mich., west of Detroit, voted 75 percent against the deal, while research and engineering employees in Dearborn, Mich.
BP Fined $87 Million By OSHA For Texas Explosion
October 30, 2009 4:21 am | News | CommentsLONDON (AP) — British oil company BP PLC said Friday it is disappointed to receive a fine — expected to be a record $87 million — from the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration over a 2005 explosion that killed 15 people at its Texas City refinery.
Manufacturing Footprint Optimization
October 29, 2009 12:31 pm | by Raj G. Konanahalli and Russ Dillion, AlixPartners LLP | Articles | CommentsChances are, your competitors are quickly rightsizing their manufacturing footprint in response to today’s deteriorating global market conditions. Improving operations within facilities is likely not enough. In order for companies to be competitive in this economic environment as well as going forward, manufacturing footprint optimization (MFO) will need to be a strategic priority.
Banging My Head Against The Wall
October 29, 2009 9:14 am | by by Anna Wells, Editor, IMPO | Blogs | CommentsAlthough it’s an instance that is becoming more and more rare as we grow older and our responsibilities increase, my friends and I like to get together on the occasional weekend night and spend hours at a long, lavish dinner out. We give ourselves time for wine and coffee and dessert, and do our best to catch up.
Keeping An Eye On Things
October 29, 2009 7:52 am | Product Releases | CommentsInvensys Operations Management (Plano, TX) announces the availability of its Avantis PRO 5.0 enterprise asset management (EAM) software that allows users to organize, track, and manage maintenance activity and costs over time. The new version of the EAM solution includes customizable screen views and improvements in data-type awareness, multi-column list controls, and maintenance entity value optimization.
Get A Networkout
October 29, 2009 7:50 am | Product Releases | CommentsOpto 22 (Temecula, CA) has partnered with N-TRON Corporation to sell the company’s line of industrial Ethernet switches and wireless access points. The N-TRON switches can operate in temperatures from -40 to 85°C, in addition to increased shock and vibration resistance.
Designed To Be Struck
October 29, 2009 7:50 am | Product Releases | CommentsSnap-On Industrial (Kenosha, WI) has expanded its lines of heavy-duty striking wrenches and 1” Drive Flank Drive impact sockets. The striking wrenches range from 13/16” to 4-5/8” and feature the company’s Flank Drive design. A dense, rectangular beam helps maintain rigidity and transfers more power.
No More Dust
October 29, 2009 7:49 am | Product Releases | CommentsThe Proterra rider sweeper from Advance (Plymouth, MN) has a 64-inch dust-controlled sweeping path that features a five-stage dust-suppression system that captures at the main and side brooms. This helps minimize airborne dust and keeps manufacturing facilities free of particles.
NEMA 4-Compliant Displays
October 29, 2009 7:39 am | Product Releases | CommentsThe CyRAQ 40 monitors from CyberResearch (New Haven, CT) are the latest addition to the family of rugged NEMA 4 displays. The CyRAQ 40A has a brightness of 700 nits and the CyRAQ 40SB provides 1,000 nits. Both models feature a 40” screen and WXGA resolution (1366 x 768 pixels).
The Mattress Dominoes World Record
October 28, 2009 10:36 am | Articles | CommentsThe warehouse staff at Bensons for Beds attempt to set the world record for mattress dominoes. Do you think your facility staff could do any better? First, you just have to round up about 100 mattresses, which might be tricky unless you work at, you know, a mattress factory. Have any comments or questions about our Thursday video editions of IMPO Insider? Or do you have a video you'd like to see featured in one of our deployments? Email me at Joel.
There's A Robot For Everything
October 28, 2009 9:15 am | Articles | CommentsWe all know manufacturing is being overrun by robots. In many cases, they've become vital resources to our assembly lines, whether it comes to welding, sorting, or fabrication. In many cases, they've taken on jobs that humans find difficult or repetitive, and sometimes dangerous. So, it's inevitable that robots start taking over our other repetitive tasks, like playing Guitar Hero.
The Man With The Golden Audit
October 28, 2009 7:28 am | Articles | CommentsCheck out some of Atlas Copco's newest products, including the AIRScan and AIROptimizer, in this James Bond-esque clip. No, the funky music won't play in the background when you're using these products, but you can at least pretend they're some of Q's gadgets. Have any comments or questions about our Thursday video editions of IMPO Insider? Or do you have a video you'd like to see featured in one of our deployments? Email me at Joel.
Bologna Is A 'Dirty Job'
October 28, 2009 6:56 am | Articles | CommentsWhat won't Mike Rowe do for TV? Luckily, this trip to a bologna factory ranks pretty low on the gross-out factor that has made Mike's expeditions so popular. We do get to see him "throw up," though. Have any comments or questions about our Thursday video editions of IMPO Insider? Or do you have a video you'd like to see featured in one of our deployments? Email me at Joel.
The SuperFreakonomics Of Global Warming
October 28, 2009 6:39 am | Articles | CommentsSteven D. Levitt, author of the famed book "Freakonomics," has some interesting proposals when it comes to global warming. When most people are trying to "green" their lifestyle to reduce their environmental impact, Levitt bucks conventional thought with some cold, hard statistics. Instead of exerting so much effort to be green, there's a simple solution available to us, at little cost or trouble.
