The Leading Source for Manufacturing News & Insight
Microsoft Director: 'Manufacturing Is A Hotbed Of Innovation'
May 7, 2013 11:22 am | Articles | CommentsThe fundamental DNA of our business is to unleash the potential of people and organizations. And we have a long history of success in productivity tools. So that’s what we want to continue to do for our manufacturing customers — provide the tools to unlock their potential in growth, innovation, quality and customer service and help them improve productivity by optimizing and connecting their operations.
Safety Agency Watches Ford Vans For Rust Signs
May 7, 2013 11:20 am | News | CommentsU.S. auto safety regulators are monitoring about 100,000 Ford and Mercury minivans that were not covered by a recall issued earlier this year for rust problems. Ford recalled about 230,000 Ford Freestar and Mercury Monterey minivans in March to fix rust in the wheel wells that can cause the third-row seats to come loose.
U.S. Job Postings Fell In March; Hiring Slowed
May 7, 2013 11:18 am | by Christopher S. Rugaber, AP Economics Writer | News | CommentsU.S. employers posted fewer job openings in March compared with February and slowed overall hiring, underscoring a weak month of job growth. The Labor Department says job openings fell 1.4 percent to a seasonally adjusted 3.8 million jobs. Total hiring declined 4.3 percent to 4.3 million.
FDA Wants Cancer Warnings On Tanning Beds
May 7, 2013 8:20 am | by Matthew Perrone, AP Health Writer | News | CommentsThe FDA has regulated tanning beds and sun lamps for over 30 years, but for the first time ever the agency says those devices should not be used by people under age 18. The agency wants that warning on pamphlets, catalogues and websites that promote indoor tanning.
Machinists Overwhelmingly OK United Tech Contract
May 7, 2013 8:17 am | News | CommentsUnion Local President Tony Walter said union members won an annual 2.5 percent raise and a $2,000 signing bonus. Pensions will be increased by $7 per month for each year of service and employee contributions to health insurance coverage will increase by as much as $12 a week.
Nun's Nuclear Protest Trial Gets Underway
May 7, 2013 8:01 am | by Erik Schelzig, Associated Press | News | CommentsAn octogenarian nun and two codefendants used bolt cutters to cut through fences and spent about two hours inside a Tennessee national security plant that has had a hand in making, maintaining or dismantling parts of every nuclear weapon in the country's arsenal, federal authorities allege.
GM Recalls More Than 38,000 Cars For Battery Control Defect
May 7, 2013 7:56 am | News | CommentsGeneral Motors Co. is recalling 38,197 Chevrolet Malibu Eco, Buick LaCrosse and Buick Regal sedans in the U.S. because a defective battery control module could stall the engine or cause a fire. Vehicles from the 2012 and 2013 model years equipped with GM's eAssist hybrid system are affected.
Ethiopian Air Wants Compensation For 787 Grounding
May 7, 2013 7:54 am | News | CommentsThe chief executive of Ethiopian Airlines says his company will seek compensation from Boeing for the grounding of its 787 Dreamliner planes. The airline grounded its four Dreamliners in January following the FAA order for a safety review on the aircraft after incidents of overheating by its lithium batteries. Ethiopian Airlines began flying the 787s again last month.
BMW Recalls 3 Series For Faulty Air Bags
May 7, 2013 7:51 am | News | CommentsBMW is recalling 45,500 3 Series sedans in the U.S. and Canada because their passenger air bags may not inflate properly. The recall affects 3 Series from the 2002 and 2003 model years. The defective air bags have an inflator housing that can rupture during deployment and send shrapnel flying into the vehicle.
China's Struggling Automakers Jump On SUV Boom
May 7, 2013 7:48 am | by Joe McDonald, AP Business Writer | News | CommentsThe SUV boom clashes with Beijing's efforts to push automakers to develop electric cars and to sell smaller vehicles to help curb smog and demand for imported oil. But the SUV's image of safety appeals to prosperous Chinese drivers who face chaotic city streets while electrics from BYD and other producers struggle to attract buyers.
Microsoft Touching Up Windows 8 To Address Gripes
May 7, 2013 7:43 am | by Michael Liedtke, AP Technology Writer | News | CommentsThe tune up announced Tuesday won't be released to consumers and businesses until later this year. The changes, part of a software package given the codename "Blue," are a tacit acknowledgment of the shortcomings in Windows 8, a radical overhaul of Microsoft Corp.'s ubiquitous operating system.
Throw The Pilot Out
May 6, 2013 6:12 pm | by Alan Nicol, Executive Member, AlanNicolSolutions | Articles | CommentsI know that I have written about this before, but maybe not so explicitly. Program pilots are booby traps, doomed to fail, generally speaking. There is a simple reason for it. Change, real, observable, meaningful change requires conviction and commitment. A pilot of a change is a demonstration of the absence of both.
Storage Space Can Be Found By Simply Looking Up
May 6, 2013 2:13 pm | by Paul Mihelich, Director of Sales, Wildeck | Articles | CommentsBut while loading docks and warehouses are often landlocked, they don’t have to be, as the answer to additional space can frequently be found by looking up. Vertical reciprocating conveyors (VRCs) and work platforms offer food manufacturers a new level of storage space by going up and adding a second level.
Pentagon: Chinese Government Waging Cyberattacks
May 6, 2013 2:05 pm | by Lolita C. Baldor, Associated Press | News | CommentsThe Pentagon for the first time is officially accusing the Chinese government and military with conducting computer-based attacks against the U.S., including efforts to steal information from federal agencies.In a new report, the Defense Department goes a small step further than it has gone previously.
Ex-Iowa Slaughterhouse Manager Faces Charges
May 6, 2013 2:00 pm | by Ryan J. Foley, Associated Press | News | CommentsAmara pleaded not guilty to an indictment charging him with conspiring to harbor workers who were in the country illegally and conspiring to provide false immigration papers at what was the nation's largest kosher slaughterhouse. He faces 25 counts related to harboring and two counts related to document fraud.
BMC Software To Be Sold For $6.6B
May 6, 2013 1:57 pm | News | CommentsBMC Software Inc. has agreed to be sold to a private investor group for about $6.6 billion in cash. The Houston-based maker of system management software for businesses said Monday that the deal is for $46.25 per share. That's less than 2 percent above Friday's closing stock price of $45.42.
Merck Plays Up Consumer Products In New Campaign
May 6, 2013 1:45 pm | News | CommentsThe new campaign is the first major campaign to promote its consumer products, which include Coppertone sunscreen, Dr. Scholl's shoes and shoe inserts, and Claritin over-the-counter allergy medication. Called the "Active Family Project," the campaign features a website, Facebook page and other social and digital media aimed at moms to help promote healthy lifestyles.
FAA Safety Oversight Of Aircraft Repairs Faulted
May 6, 2013 1:41 pm | by Joan Lowy, Associated Press | News | CommentsThe Department of Transportation's inspector general said in a report released Monday that a supposedly risk-based safety inspection system adopted by the FAA "falls short of being truly risk-based." The report said this is especially true for foreign repair stations.
Why Manufacturers Need To Bulletproof Their Virtualized IT Environments
May 6, 2013 12:35 pm | by Frank Hill, Stratus Technologies | Articles | CommentsToday, many popular manufacturing applications are certified for virtualization and with good reason. The benefits of virtualization, including cost control, higher productivity, and better long-term planning, are indisputable. Yet, some manufacturing engineers and plant IT departments are missing out on these benefits because they think virtualization involves too much risk — a point of view that is not entirely without merit.
EU: Motorola May Have Violated Antitrust Rules
May 6, 2013 12:27 pm | News | CommentsIt's a violation of EU antitrust rules for a patent-holder to deny use to technologically essential patents to companies willing to pay a fair and reasonable price. Motorola Mobility, now owned by Google, obtained an injunction preventing Apple from using certain patented technologies.
