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Daily industrial news and top headlines for plant and maintenance managers
Banishing Bacteria From Wall To Wall
December 12, 2012 8:07 am | by Jonnatha Mayberry, Associate Editor, Chem.Info | CommentsMicrobes are a huge nuisance in pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities. Contamination can cause serious issues, endangering facilities, batches and reputations. FDA regulations provide a cleaning and sterilization roadmap for manufacturers, but companies are provided with some flexibility when it comes to the specifics.
ISM: U.S. Manufacturing Continues Sideways
December 10, 2012 8:42 am | CommentsIt appears that it’s more of the same in U.S. manufacturing. While the overall economy grew for the 42nd consecutive month, economic activity in the manufacturing sector contracted in November following two months of modest expansion, according to the latest Manufacturing ISM Report On Business.
Security First
December 10, 2012 8:32 am | by Chris Needes, Global Market Manager, Automotive Chassis and Powertrain, Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics, Bearings and Tolerance Rings SBU | CommentsWithin recent years, automotive steering systems have evolved far beyond their primary function. They have now become a tool for car manufacturers to provide their customers with even more sophisticated features. In the 1990s, the need for anti-theft protection became more urgent. Thus, in 1995, EU regulatory bodies mandated that cars be fitted with security devices.
Money Saving Ball Screw Repairs
December 3, 2012 11:06 am | by Mike Fitzpatrick, General Manager, PSI Repair Services, Inc. | CommentsWhen it comes to high-precision positioning for rotary-to-linear motion, the ball screw provides unequaled reliability and performance. These highly efficient components are commonly found on machine tools, and fail for a variety of reasons, such as accidents resulting from electronic malfunctions, poor design, too high preload, misalignment, or normal wear and tear over time.
Magnetic Filters To Solve Manufacturing Challenges
December 3, 2012 11:04 am | by Magnetic Products Inc. (MPI) | CommentsWhen a manufacturer suspects that a drilling operation could cause plugs inside a precision brake component, he knows that the resulting damage will be more costly and require far greater action than a simple phone call. That's why manufacturing engineer Jim Helpling sought an innovative solution when charged with making a new steel brake fitting that he knew would be prone to plugs caused by metal-laden coolants.
Moderate Growth Likely Pending ‘Fiscal Cliff’ Compromise
November 30, 2012 2:41 pm | by The Manufacturers Alliance for Productivity and Innovation | CommentsMajor issues still need to be addressed, but presuming the United States gets its fiscal house in some semblance of order, the U.S. economy could be in a transition from sluggish growth to a longer period of moderate growth, according to a new report from The Manufacturers Alliance for Productivity and Innovation.
Electrical Cable Tray Fire Protection
November 30, 2012 8:09 am | by Clay Booth, Fire Protection, Market & Sales Manager, Morgan Thermal Ceramics | CommentsOne of the most significant fire protection requirements for processing facilities and offshore locations is the need to protect control cables and valves in the event of a fire. Several options are on the market and each has its benefits; operators need to weigh the pros and cons of the available solutions to ensure that they select one that is the best.
Clear Thinking: The Last True Competitive Advantage
November 28, 2012 8:08 am | CommentsEmploying Clear Thinking process, from the C-Suite to the plant floor, is the only way to empower the capability to manage fast and well all the big issues associated with constant change through an organization, says Ray Baxter, CEO of Kepner-Tregoe, and he explains more here.
Q&A: The Future Of CAD
November 27, 2012 8:09 am | CommentsCAD is a very mature tool these days. The idea of 3D CAD has been around for two-and-a-half decades. A lot of companies have already moved to 3D CAD, and most of our customers are already using a 3D definition of the design as sort of a virtual prototype. What I see happening today is an effort to get more and more people to be able participate in either the definition or the consumption of that rich, digital definition.
Transforming The Relationship Between Manufacturers And The DoD
November 27, 2012 8:08 am | by Mitch Free, MFG.com Founder and CEO | CommentsThe challenges of sourcing complex manufactured goods to support the Department of Defense (DoD) create significant obstacles for the U.S. manufacturing industry. While today’s manufacturing environment is notably global, opportunities exist to help strengthen the U.S. defense industrial base while improving supply chain security.
Make The Most Of The Trade Show
November 26, 2012 8:10 am | by Vijaya Singh-Dhillon, Managing Director, ABI Marketing Public Relations | CommentsTrade shows continue to be a popular and effective way to capitalize on marketing and sales investments, as well as a successful approach for leveraging business success. With trade show participation, careful planning will allow marketers to maximize lead generation, as well as educate target audiences and recruit distributors. By following a few simple rules, any exhibitor can boost its return on investment (ROI).
How Flexible Thinking Led Hiawatha Rubber To The Cloud
November 21, 2012 8:07 am | by John Dancoe, Product Manager, Plex Systems, Inc. | CommentsFlexibility has always been a fundamental business principle at Hiawatha Rubber – allowing the manufacturer to solve business problems other companies wouldn’t, or couldn’t, tackle. Leveraging the Cloud helps make Hiawatha Rubber an even more formidable competitor, ensuring it will continue to improve and maintain its position as a manufacturing leader.
Get Intelligent About Emerging Markets
November 19, 2012 8:06 am | by Pete Read, Senior VP of Global Strategic Analysis & Advisory and Rahul Dhingra, Senior Consultant at GIA North America | CommentsAny entry into emerging markets is fraught with uncertainties. There are no guaranteed winners. Take Carrefour for example. After an unsuccessful attempt to enter Brazil and its focus on the hypermarket model even as consumers buy more goods locally and online, its share prices have fallen since 2009. On the other hand, Yum! Brands, the operator of KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell, seems to have beaten McDonald’s in conquering China.
IMTS Boosts Manufacturing Technology Orders
November 16, 2012 8:30 am | Comments“In the 17 years that this data has been collected, there is only one other month that broke $600 million. Both of those were in months that reflected sales from IMTS, showing its strength as the largest manufacturing event in the Americas,” said Douglas K. Woods, AMT President.
Manufacturing Skills Gap Less Pervasive Than Thought
November 16, 2012 8:06 am | by The Boston Consulting Group | CommentsThe skills gap in U.S. manufacturing today is more limited than many people believe and is unlikely to prevent a projected resurgence in U.S. manufacturing by the end of this decade. But more severe shortages could develop, threatening to constrain that revival, unless aggressive steps are taken now, according to new research by The Boston Consulting Group (BCG).
