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Daily industrial news and top headlines for plant and maintenance managers
Quality, Layer By Layer
July 16, 2008 9:14 am | Commentsh4 { font: bold 14px Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #000; } .byline { font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 4px; } .caption { font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; margin: 4px; } .sup { position: relative; bottom: 2px; font-size: smaller;" } By Anna Wells Metalsa Roanoke's emphasis on technology and long term vision guides the company's recent changes in its IT and CI projects.
Circuit Breaker Replacement & Retrofill For Uptime, Compliance
June 25, 2008 12:47 pm | by Mike Rice, Vice President, Square D Services, Schneider Electric | CommentsCircuit breakers are key to an industrial facility’s power distribution system. That’s why it’s not surprising that several warning signs of an aging system relate to these devices, such as nuisance tripping or a main breaker failure.
An Equipment Approach To Dust Elimination
June 25, 2008 12:10 pm | by Andy Mandell, Marketing Manager, Dynabrade, Inc. | CommentsHigh quality dust collection air tools and accessories are important in today’s workplace. Eliminating dust at the source is not only beneficial for the worker’s health, but it also achieves a clean work environment and extends the life of the tool itself, resulting in reduced costs.
Applying Lean Principles In Process Industries
June 25, 2008 9:45 am | by Herb Lichtenberg, Senior VP Practice Director, Strategic Asset Management, Inc. | CommentsLean manufacturing defines seven types of waste that make a production system inefficient and costly. These are: Over-production: Producing too much, too soon. Inventory: Extra production required to buffer process variability. Transportation: Movement of materials without adding value.
Seeing Is Believing
June 25, 2008 8:16 am | Commentsh4 { font: bold 14px Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #000; } .byline { font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 4px; } .caption { font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; margin: 4px; } .sup { position: relative; bottom: 2px; font-size: smaller;" } Key to the turnaround at Snap-on’s Murphy, NC power tool plant was instilling a clear path outlining what these continuous improvement strategies were targeting, and where they would lead the facility.
Making An IMPACT
June 25, 2008 8:11 am | Commentsh4 { font: bold 14px Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #000; } .byline { font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 4px; } .caption { font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; margin: 4px; } .sup { position: relative; bottom: 2px; font-size: smaller;" } Dedicated employees and a clear, goal-oriented vision have transformed Snap-on’s Murphy, NC power tool plant into a Shingo Prize winner.
Efficiency, Useful Power & ROI
June 5, 2008 1:07 pm | by Eric Ingersoll, Chairman, General Compression | CommentsRecently, as fuel prices have shot skyward and demonstrated considerable volatility, and as electricity grids have shown signs of strain, energy efficiency— or sometimes fuel efficiency— has received increasingly serious consideration in boardrooms and boiler rooms alike.
Q & A With Mr. John B. Nofsinger, Material Handling Industry Of America
June 5, 2008 1:06 pm | Commentsh4 { font: bold 14px Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #000; } .byline { font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 4px; } .caption { font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; margin: 4px; } .sup { position: relative; bottom: 2px; font-size: smaller;" } Mr.
Sound Planning Strategy For Industrial Systems
June 5, 2008 1:06 pm | by Robb Dussault, Automation and Control Services Manager, Schneider Electric | Commentsh4 { font: bold 14px Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #000; } .byline { font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 4px; } .caption { font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; margin: 4px; } .sup { position: relative; bottom: 2px; font-size: smaller;" } Creating a sound planning strategy for industrial systems is a lot like financial planning.
An Education In Adhesives
May 9, 2008 6:22 am | CommentsSuppliers of adhesives and sealants are oftentimes not taking the time and energy required to examine user applications in detail, or they lack the expertise. In the end, they are often prescribing the incorrect compound for the customer.
The New Face Of Job Shops
May 9, 2008 6:21 am | by Mike Collins | Commentsh4 { font: bold 14px Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #000; } .byline { font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 4px; } .caption { font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; margin: 4px; } .sup { position: relative; bottom: 2px; font-size: smaller;" } "Just being a good supplier and a dependable business partner is no longer enough.
Creating A Value Concept
May 9, 2008 6:21 am | by Anna Wells , Editor, IMPO | CommentsRefusing to be edged out by offshore competition, Morey Corp. invests in a new facility and sophisticated automation technology. A value-added approach has triggered an expanded view for Morey , taking its operations from manufacturing into overall project management.
Idea Surfing: Fighting The Fad
April 21, 2008 10:05 am | by Mike Collins | Commentsh4 { font: bold 14px Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #000; } .byline { font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 4px; } .caption { font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; margin: 4px; } .sup { position: relative; bottom: 2px; font-size: smaller;" } To ensure a longer product life cycle, and to avoid the "fad" label, developers of new ideas and strategies need to consider tailoring the strategy to the type and size of the manufacturer In his 35 years in manufacturing, Mike Collins has helped companies make the transition from being defenders-focused on process change and cost-cutting-to prospectors-focused on finding new markets and profitable growth.
Arc Flash Safety Starts With Electrical Distribution Maintenance
April 21, 2008 9:47 am | by Joseph Weigel, Product Manager, Square D Services, Schneider Electric | CommentsThe electricity that flows through the electrical distribution system of any industrial facility is the lifeblood of the entire operation. Production processes, environmental controls and security, lighting and safety systems all require a clean, reliable, and continuously available flow of power.
Going Lean? Don't Forget IT
April 18, 2008 12:03 pm | by Diskeeper Corporation | CommentsIn today’s manufacturing universe, cost-effectiveness is a constant battle. Every element from raw goods to worker efficiency, eliminating waste of time and material, streamlining processes, and even evaluating and improving supervisory expertise, is undergoing microscopic and expert examination so that companies can remain functional and profitable.
