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Daily industrial news and top headlines for plant and maintenance managers
Will 3D Printing Save The ‘TechBelt’?
September 28, 2012 8:12 am | by Joel Hans, Managing Editor, Manufacturing.net | CommentsThe “TechBelt” region has been hit hard by the recession, with numerous plant closures and the loss of manufacturing jobs. The I-80/I-79 corridor has nearly 32,000 manufacturers, and countless employees who have those “high-tech” skills that modern manufacturers need to thrive, but oftentimes, there simply isn’t enough work to go around.
Engineering Spotlight: The Wheelift In Action
September 26, 2012 8:12 am | by Joel Hans, Managing Editor, Manufacturing.net | CommentsManufacturers of airliners and fighter jets alike regularly need to lift loads between 35 and 75 tons, and with an incredible degree of precision. The capability to be partially or fully automated is also a major plus when it comes to the small tolerances in assembly that can make the difference between a plane that flies and once that doesn’t.
Engineering Spotlight: Mel Terry, Wheelift
September 25, 2012 8:12 am | by Joel Hans, Managing Editor, Manufacturing.net | CommentsMel Terry, the designer of the Wheelift heavy transporter system, has been quietly revolutionizing the way manufacturers get their work done. And from where he sits right now, Terry is anticipating a future in which his creation is being used — and abused — in transporting the heaviest creations of our various industries.
If The Climbing Shoe Doesn’t Fit, Design A New Foot
September 24, 2012 8:20 am | by Nick O’Donohoe, Morris Technologies | CommentsSpecialized prostheses for competitive athletes who run, ski, and cycle can be more complex. Warden points out that the DMLS process is also perfect for producing medical products with even more critical geometries. A growing list of materials — including biocompatible plastics and metals — is enabling Morris engineers to consider laser sintering for a number of cutting-edge medical applications.
10 Common Project Management Mistakes
September 24, 2012 8:16 am | by Paul Glover, Founder, The Glover Group | CommentsProject management typically has five stages. Some project managers make mistakes during one or more of those stages, which can sabotage the chance of a successful outcome and have disastrous results for everyone involved. Here are two of the most common mistakes — and ways to avoid them — during each of the five stages. Which ones have you made?
Investing In Labor Pays Off With Productivity
September 19, 2012 8:16 am | by Mike Schmidt. Associate Editor, Manufacturing Business Technology | CommentsKeeping labor costs down has long been a preferred method for manufacturers around the globe to achieve sustained success and profitability. However, lately it seems manufacturers have found investing in efforts to raise workforce productivity to be a reasonable and desirable alternative.
Bentley Acquires Ivara To Redefine Asset Management
September 18, 2012 12:03 pm | by Bentley Systems | CommentsBentley Systems, Incorporated, dedicated to providing comprehensive software solutions for sustaining infrastructure, today announced that it has acquired Ontario, Canada-based Ivara Corporation, a leading provider of asset performance management software solutions for organizations in asset-intensive industries, including mining and metals, power generation and utilities, oil and gas, and petrochemical.
Debunking Common Myths In The Temporary Staffing Industry
September 18, 2012 8:16 am | by Bill Schwartz, Vice President and CEO, Civic Staffing | CommentsIt may seem simple; call a staffing firm to provide temporary workers to meet changing production cycles and schedules for your business. Utilizing an outside firm reduces many of the risks employing these temporary workers. But today’s temporary staffing environment is getting increasingly tricky and there may be repercussions in that decision that could have a more permanent — and costly — impact than you would like.
A Homecoming For U.S. Manufacturing?
September 17, 2012 8:16 am | by PwC | CommentsA new PwC US report reveals that while rising labor costs are part of the story, a range of factors—including transportation and energy costs and protecting the supply chain—could drive a sustained manufacturing renaissance in the U.S. beyond any cyclical recovery, potentially improving investment, employment, production output, and research & development.
Q&A: Critical Innovation Trends And Technology
September 14, 2012 8:36 am | CommentsMilind Lakkad is the Global Head of Manufacturing at Tata Consultancy Services, a $10.17B global IT services organization. He recently spoke about the impact of emerging technologies and the four big innovation trends – mobile, social, big data, and cloud computing on the manufacturing world and how companies can address the new and varied technological needs within the industry.
Providing The Proper Workbench, Part 2
September 14, 2012 8:20 am | by Jim Norton, Custom Products & Services, Inc. | CommentsTaking the time to detail your requirements with a qualified sales representative and reputable workstation manufacturer will pay dividends from day one. A flexible, modular design with common, interchangeable components will allow your facility to grow and change as your business expands and moves toward new markets.
Acquisition Bolsters Allied Reliability Group Service Offerings
September 13, 2012 3:55 pm | by Allied Reliability Group | CommentsAllied Reliability Group is pleased to announce the acquisition of ABB’s Reliability Consulting business in North America, originally known as HSB RT. The unit consists of 20 remote employees, all of whom will be fully integrated into GPAllied. The Reliability Consulting business unit will complement GPAllied’s current reliability consulting offerings.
Q&A: Streamlined Packing Designs
September 13, 2012 11:15 am | CommentsBosch Packaging Systems has injected over 100 years of industry experience into their advanced packaging lines with a unique, uniform design principle. The recent fruits of their single design philosophy were formally unveiled last year. To find out more, we spoke with Detlef Gottstein, the responsible product manager from Bosch Packaging Systems, and the company’s consultant Prof. Sigmar Willnauer, an expert in Industrial Design.
Moving Up In The World
September 13, 2012 10:41 am | by Anna Wells, Executive Editor, IMPO | CommentsFortunately for plant personnel, technology has improved over time to ensure that most winches, hoists, and cranes serve their purpose safely. However, advanced equipment technology isn’t the complete solution, and this critical area of material handling still requires some user know-how when it comes to accurate selection and maintenance.
A Manufacturing Opportunity
September 12, 2012 5:30 pm | CommentsIn the past decade, America has lost 6 million manufacturing jobs; yet today, 600,000 jobs can’t be filled in America because manufacturers can’t find people with the right skills. When Americans are asked how they would create a thousand new jobs in their communities with a new business facility, manufacturing is their first choice.
