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Daily industrial news and top headlines for plant and maintenance managers
Is Detroit Having A 'Renaissance'?
February 9, 2011 9:42 am | CommentsChrysler's Super Bowl ad featuring the "Motor City" and rapper Eminem has received a great deal of buzz in the days following its premiere, and now many are left wondering if Detroit is about to experience a "renaissance." CNBC sat down with Detroit Mayor Dave Bing to discuss some of the new policies he's putting in place to encourage growth in the inner city.
Toyota Cars Declared Safe To Drive
February 9, 2011 9:41 am | CommentsAs many of you have heard, the government has said — after a 10-month investigation — that the Toyota recalls were caused by sticky accelerators and floor mats, not any electronic flaws. After 8 million recalled vehicles, Toyota is simply trying to move past the controversy, but some aren't done fighting.
Tech Companies Side With Egypt Protesters
February 3, 2011 3:54 am | CommentsIt's been hard to avoid coverage about the massive protests happening in Egypt right now, or the news that the government effectively activated an internet "kill switch," which cut off protesters from spreading images and video to the outside world. In an effort to help foster a democratic, open society in Egypt, technology companies like Google, and groups like Tor, have initiated projects to help get the word out in a variety of ways.
Should The Gov't Regulate Our Salt?
February 3, 2011 3:29 am | CommentsFor years, some have been pushing for more strict regulation on the amount of sodium that Americans consume on a daily basis. As everyone knows, a high-sodium diet can lead to high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and countless other health risks. So, should the government step in and force fast food chains and food processors to tone down the salt? If you’re having trouble watching this video, try downloading the latest version of Flash Player or contacting your IT department.
Steel Craftsmanship At Its Finest
February 3, 2011 3:27 am | CommentsFrom Steel , a short film from Michael John Evans, documents the process of building a custom steel bicycle at Soulcraft, owned and operated by Sean Walling. As always, we try to honor and appreciate those who perform great work, and we think this is an excellent example of why the U.S. still dominates the rest of the world in manufacturing.
A Party That Happens To Sell Shoes
February 3, 2011 3:27 am | CommentsZappos, the online shoe retailer, is a unique company in a couple of ways. First of all, they like to say that they're a service company, and that they just happen to sell shoes. Imagine getting that kind of service at most companies. But more importantly, they offer a variety of perks—such as free lunches and ice cream—and they try to maintain a festive, positive atmosphere around the offices.
Let's Build A Firetruck
January 25, 2011 4:55 am | CommentsUltimate Factories , via the National Geographic Channel, visits Pierce Manufacturing's Appleton, Wis. facility to see how their high-tech and heavy-duty fire trucks are built. The factory is 800,000 square feet of production on a massive scale, where over 1,500 highly-skilled workers build the life-saving tools that our fire departments depend on.
The Problem With Boys
January 24, 2011 10:00 am | CommentsAll around the country, boys are tuning out. They're disengaging from school, and they're forgetting what it means to learn and work hard. While this talk from Ali-Carr Chellman focuses mostly on the U.S.'s education system, this issues could have implications in our world, too. Without learning what it means to engage with anything, and work for it, the future manufacturing workers and businessmen won't learn to enjoy engineering and the technical aspects of simply making things.
Is Elkhart Really Recovering?
January 24, 2011 9:33 am | CommentsRecent studies show that Elkhart is in a recovery. RV manufacturing is slowly climbing back toward its golden days, and companies like Navistar are helping put some of the swath of skilled workers back in employment. But to say that the area is recovering? That depends on who you ask. Visit msnbc.
How Long Is This Piece Of String?
January 24, 2011 9:32 am | CommentsIt’s easy enough to measure a piece of string, right? Your job probably relies heavily on your ability to easily measure the dimensions of the product you’re trying to make. But getting a true measurement of something as simple as a string isn’t as simple as pulling out a ruler. BBC reporter Alan Davies tries to tackle a question that has been around for centuries, and ultimately ends up in a world of atomic scales and black holes.
The Obama-GE Love Story
January 24, 2011 9:31 am | CommentsLast week, Obama tapped Jeffrey Immelt, the CEO of GE, to head a new White House Council on Jobs and Competitiveness. In a string of attempts to reach out to business leaders around the country, Obama and Immelt will hope to create a business climate that is more conducive to job creation and retention.
Is Manufacturing Being Held Back?
January 19, 2011 10:46 am | CommentsTelevision host Dylan Ratigan recently joined the "cast" of Morning Joe to discuss the state of American manufacturing. He says that while the Federal Reserve has done much to help manufacturers get out of the current slump, our tax system is still too restrictive to encourage solid growth.
'Watson' Begins Robot Dystopia At Jeopardy
January 19, 2011 8:45 am | CommentsWatson, which IBM claims as a profound advance in artificial intelligence, went up against Jeopardy! champions Ken Jennings and Brad Rutter last week in its television debut. Watson held its own in a short practice round, and it will appear on Jeopardy! as part of a million-dollar tournament that will be televised next month.
Bet You Can't Build A Toaster
January 19, 2011 8:38 am | CommentsIt wouldn't be that hard to build a toaster from scratch, right? It's no surprise that even the simplest of toasters is the result of a pretty complex process, but as Thomas Thwaites proves, creating something from raw elements to finished product in the modern era is simply not possible for the layman.
Make Anything 3D By Just Blinking
January 19, 2011 8:36 am | CommentsIf you heard anything about CES this year, or just like following information on the newest TV technology, you know that the big issue with 3-D technology is that it generally requires those clunky glasses to work properly. Well, one French engineer has solved that problem completely! I won't spoil the surprise, but I will say that it involves blinking.
