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Daily industrial news and top headlines for plant and maintenance managers
A New Industrial Revolution
January 31, 2013 3:08 pm | by Rachel Leisemann Immel, Associate Editor, IMPO | CommentsPennsylvania is a growing energy leader in the United States, becoming a net exporter of natural gas in 2011. They have seized opportunities the Marcellus Shale boom has provided, and expanded into global leaders in natural gas—and are making the region known for its industrial innovation and talent, truly fueling a new industrial revolution.
Protecting Cables From Damage
January 31, 2013 2:19 pm | by John Gavilanes, Director of Engineering, Lapp | CommentsOf all the chemical exposures that can affect the life and performance of electrical cables, oil is one of the most damaging. Used as a coolant and lubricant in many industrial settings, oil can inflict molecular damage on the polymers used for cable insulation and jacketing. If ignored, oil damage to cables can be severe, ultimately resulting in cable failure, downtime, and replacement costs.
Speed To Market 2013
January 30, 2013 8:00 am | by Steve Helfer, General Manager, Clinkenbeard, Rockford, IL | CommentsChallenges are ever increasing with global markets. Customers are expecting quicker response times on the solutions they seek. Companies are impacted by forces from all directions, but it all comes down to execution: if you don’t execute you will not win the market or launch the product. Execution is stopped by distractions from your core business and your business core processes; none of these distractions are new.
Argyle Welding Supply Now Tracking Smarter
January 29, 2013 8:08 am | by Barcoding, Inc. and TrackAbout | CommentsArgyle often lacked reliable data to provide accurate billing, resolve customer disputes and account for the 26,000 cylinders they managed. The company struggled with these problems until a vendor introduced them to TrackAbout, giving them the confidence to invest in an advanced asset tracking system.
New Research Indentifies Major Climate Threat To Global Supply Chains
January 28, 2013 8:08 am | by CDP & Accenture | CommentsSeventy percent of companies believe that climate change has the potential to significantly affect their revenue, a risk which is intensified by a chasm between the sustainable business practices of multinational corporations and their suppliers, according to research published today by the Carbon Disclosure Project and Accenture.
Ten Pitfalls To Avoid When Selecting A CMMS/EAM (Part 2)
January 25, 2013 8:08 am | by David Berger, Director, Western Management Consultants, Toronto | CommentsMany companies make the mistake of selecting a CMMS/EAM that addresses the short-term needs of primarily the maintenance department. This is not the best approach given the number and degree of changes that most companies go through over a relatively short period of time.
Keep Track Of Your Assets
January 25, 2013 8:00 am | by Adebayo Onigbanjo, Product Marketing Manager – Location Solutions (LS), Zebra Technologies | CommentsGlobal manufacturers are constantly looking for ways to make their operations more agile, efficient and profitable. A smart way to reach those goals is to realize the most value from every asset in its supply chain. Barcoding, passive and active RFID, and Real-Time Locating System (RTLS) solutions can be used to make smart business decisions that will help improve operational performance.
Ten Pitfalls To Avoid When Selecting A CMMS/EAM (Part 1)
January 23, 2013 8:08 am | by David Berger, Director, Western Management Consultants, Toronto | CommentsAs companies search for ways to get the most out of their existing operating assets, CMMS/EAM software is key. When it comes to researching, selecting, and implementing the right CMMS/EAM, the same mistakes have been made for decades and some new ones have emerged.
Do You Hear What I Hear?
January 22, 2013 8:08 am | CommentsFrom ringing bells to fireplace logs crackling, the sounds of the holiday season is a near-distant memory. However, for employees in loud workplaces, these sentimental noises may become an even more faint memory of the past if the proper precautions aren’t taken.
Solar Carports: Refueling Stations Of The Future
January 21, 2013 8:08 am | by Seth Cutler, GE Energy’s Industrial Solutions business | CommentsSolar photovoltaic (PV) technology has been around for most of the 20th century; however it has only made financial and commercial sense in the last five to 10 years. The growth of the PV industry has been driven by the improving economics associated with a PV install as a result of cost reductions and incentives.
A Closer Look At The American Taxpayer Relief Act Of 2012
January 21, 2013 8:00 am | by Mary Balmer, CPA, director of research and development for Sage North America | CommentsThe American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012, signed into law on January 2, 2013, avoids the scheduled increases to individual income tax rates for most Americans andextends a host of expired and expiring tax provisions for both individuals and businesses. A sigh of relief has been heard as at least one portion of the fiscal cliff was narrowly averted. It also ends the long and acrimonious debate over the Bush-era tax cuts.
USMTO: U.S. Manufacturing Tech Orders Up From 2011
January 18, 2013 8:00 am | CommentsNovember U.S. manufacturing technology orders totaled $421.83 million according to AMT - The Association For Manufacturing Technology. This total, as reported by companies participating in the USMTO program, was down 11.0 percent from October and down 8.5 percent when compared with the total of $460.86 million reported for November 2011. With a year-to-date total of $5,212.17 million, 2012 was up 4.8 percent compared with 2011.
When Lightning Strikes Your Plant Floor
January 16, 2013 8:08 am | by John Amann, Vice President of First Aid & Safety, Cintas Corporation | CommentsSeveral disaster-related hazards can impact your business including, fires, natural disasters, chemical spills, medical emergencies, blackouts and more. Preparing a disaster plan that details how to maintain safety and productivity, and reviewing it with employees can help your business be proactive and ensure the correct reactive solutions are onsite to limit the impact of workplace emergencies.
How To Ensure A Motor’s Energy Efficiency
January 15, 2013 8:08 am | by Baldor Electric Company | CommentsSince the inception of the first industrial electric motors, manufacturers have been developing technology to produce better motors which use the least amount of energy possible. While perhaps increasing the efficiency of electric motors is not a relatively new phenomenon, the last several decades of technological advancements in motors, as well as manufacturing methods, has vastly improved the efficiency of electric motors.
Rugged Tablet Evolution: What’s Next?
January 14, 2013 8:05 am | by Tom Callahan, General Manager & Chief Technology Officer, QRC Technologies | CommentsThe industry as a whole has come a long way since the rack-mounted era, but industrial computing’s nuanced operational requirements have driven an evolutionary path quite different from its consumer counterparts — like the Apple iPad, Amazon Kindle or new Microsoft Surface.
