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Daily industrial news and top headlines for plant and maintenance managers
Logistics Clusters: Delivering Value & Driving Growth
October 26, 2012 8:11 am | CommentsYossi Sheffi, an international expert in supply chain management, discusses his new book, Logistics Clusters. He has worked with leading manufacturers around the world on logistics issues and is an active entrepreneur, having founded or cofounded five companies since 1987.
Developing The Workforce Of Tomorrow (Part 1)
October 24, 2012 8:12 am | by Patricia Riedl, Booz & Co.; Maria Ferrante, PMMI | CommentsIn the next few years, thousands of Baby Boomers are going to retire, leaving factory jobs to Generation Y, who will be presented with dual challenges; increasing productivity and making the overall U.S. economy more competitive. The transition between the generations of workers will be difficult because the two generations are profoundly different in terms of attitude, skills, and work styles.
Equipment Financing: At Year-End And Throughout The Year
October 24, 2012 8:11 am | by William G. Sutton, CAE, President and CEO, Equipment Leasing and Finance Association | CommentsMany businesses give special consideration to equipment financing as the end of the year approaches in order to take advantage of special incentives lenders and captive vendors may offer. While such deals are often available, it’s important to keep financing in mind for acquiring the equipment your business needs, regardless of the time of year.
Ferrules: Your Best Insurance Against Costly Connection Failure
October 23, 2012 8:11 am | by Weidmuller | CommentsThe use of ferrules indicates a prudent allocation of resources. The expense of ferrules and the time it takes to crimp them to the end of a wire pale in comparison to the delays and substantial costs of shorts and failed connections that occur when stranded wire frays or breaks. Simply put, ferrules are the cost-efficient choice.
MES Implementation: It's All In The Approach
October 22, 2012 8:13 am | by Mike Schmidt. Associate Editor, Manufacturing Business Technology | CommentsIt’s easy to see the benefit of undertaking the effort to implement an MES system. They effectively collect, process, and translate valuable business data related to the plant floor and the enterprise resource planning system. But the adoption process can be fraught with risk and uncertainty, depending on the approach a manufacturer takes.
Nothing Run-Of-The-Mill For Tool And Instrument Manufacturer
October 22, 2012 8:12 am | by Edgecam | CommentsOperating in a “niche within a niche” is how the managing director of a tool maker and manufacturer of precision scientific instruments – some of which are currently operating in space, one-and-a-half-million kilometres away from Earth – describes his company.
Cable Management: Making Space Useable Now And In The Future
October 19, 2012 8:01 am | by Jim Norton, Custom Products & Services, Inc. | CommentsWhat exactly is cable management? It seems to mean many different things, and different products. Like many terms used today, cable management has become a “catch all” reference that often entails the perspective of the person using the term. This makes cable management even more important, and increasingly more challenging to address.
3 Simple Complexities Of Data Protection
October 17, 2012 8:39 am | by Dennis Wenk, Symantec | CommentsData is the foundation of information; information leads to knowledge and knowledge is power. There is little disagreement that data has value. In fact, digital data seems to be the new world currency. So protecting valuable data assets is a central concern for business continuity management.
Applying ID Readers In Multiple Code Applications
October 17, 2012 8:38 am | by Eric Andersen, Product Marketing Manager, ID Products, Cognex | CommentsAs product safety and traceability become a more critical factor in a wide range of industries, engineers are more and more often faced with the challenge of reading multiple codes on a single product. There are a wide variety of multiple code reading applications, including multiple codes of the same symbology within a single field of view and multiple codes in multiple fields of view.
Rugged Vs. Consumer: How To Select The Right Mobile Solution
October 16, 2012 8:38 am | by Mike Wills, VP of North America, Psion | CommentsNot all mobile devices are created equal. Manufacturing organizations use handheld computers for a wide variety of applications such as material management, supply chain, quality control, asset tracking and communications. However, there is sometimes uncertainty surrounding whether to deploy consumer or rugged devices.
Is Your Workplace Prepared?
October 15, 2012 8:39 am | by Cintas Corp. | Comments“Disaster can strike at any moment, leaving employees afraid and confused amidst chaos,” said John Amann, Vice President of First Aid & Safety, Cintas. “However, if safety directors prepare workers beforehand, they can ensure they’re ready for a potential emergency. Understanding common mistakes businesses make in preparing for emergencies is an important step in emergency planning and training.”
Outside Pipe Flow Measurement Technologies
October 12, 2012 8:38 am | by Greyline Instruments Inc. | CommentsDoppler and transit time are two very popular types of flow meters for non-invasive measurement of flow in full pipes. They are both ultrasonic and both measure flow by using sensors clamped onto the outside of a pipe. But they actually work best in opposite applications and success in your installation depends on understanding the differences and making the right choice.
The Global State Of Information Security
October 10, 2012 8:20 am | by PwC | CommentsInformation security has always been a high-stakes game. One that demands a smart strategy, the right technology moves, and an unblinking eye on adversaries. For many businesses, it's become a pursuit that's almost impossible to win. That’s because the rules have changed, and opponents—old and new—are armed with expert technology skills. As a result, the risks are greater than ever.
A Package Deal
October 9, 2012 3:58 pm | by Anna Wells, Executive Editor, IMPO | CommentsWhether its repetitive use injuries or regulatory compliance issues you’re trying to target, packaging equipment vendors have stepped up their game to help address manufacturing, processing, and distribution needs.
Let There Be Light
October 9, 2012 3:48 pm | by Rachel Leisemann Immel, Associate Editor, IMPO | CommentsLighting: one of the basic components of the modern industrial landscape, and a component so basic that manufacturers often ignore it. But with the emergence of LEDs, solar, and new technologies – such as remote phosphor technology – this landscape is changing, says Terry Bair, vice president, industrial vertical, Acuity brands: “The emergence of LEDs has greatly impacted the industrial landscape.”
