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Welcoming Grandma Into Our Virtual Future
April 24, 2013 | by Joel Hans, Managing Editor, Manufacturing.net | Comments
I feel that every generation experiences at least once technology that is a complete diversion from what existed before, one that fundamentally changes the way our society works. These revolutions challenge us to adapt and take on new ways of thinking. I think VR is on the verge of becoming one of those technologies.
Advanced Manufacturing: GE’s Response To Full Employment
April 12, 2013 11:47 am | by Tom Kadala, Founder and CEO of Alternative Technology Corporation | Comments
Without a ready inventory of workers to support a competitive manufacturing base, America’s...
We All Need Google Fiber
April 12, 2013 9:00 am | by Joel Hans, Managing Editor, Manufacturing.net | Comments
Almost a year ago, Google launched its first broadband internet network, ...
Legos On The Plant Floor?
April 8, 2013 4:00 pm | by Joel Hans, Managing Editor, Manufacturing.net | Comments
Apple’s campus-in-progress will feature an orchard for engineers to wander through, while...
'Saving' The Next Generation Of Manufacturing Workers
June 13, 2013 2:40 pm | by Joel Hans, Managing Editor, Manufacturing.net | CommentsWhen it comes to the monumental task of training another generation of manufacturing employees, armed with the high-tech skills that the technology-heavy processes of the future will require, it’s easy to come down hard on the educational system. And yes, there are bad educators, but that shouldn’t detract from those who care and who work hard despite the poor infrastructure to help students get the education they need.
Why Own Expensive Equipment When You Can Lease It?
June 12, 2013 2:14 pm | by Chris Fox, Associate Editor, PD&D | CommentsA new buzzword was recently thrown my way at the annual PTC Live conference in Anaheim. I’ve never been a big fan of buzzwords nor the concepts that they represent, as they are often watered-down or tainted versions of truly original ideas that have been bastardized by Corporate America. But, I digress.
Manufacturing Gangnam Style
May 21, 2013 2:08 pm | by Stacey Wagner, Manager, Workforce Systems Development, NIST MEP | CommentsRethink Robotics, the firm that designed and manufactured Baxter the famous industrial robot, has met its match. Robotis’ Bioloid, an educational DIY robotics set, has developed a new, hipper cousin to Baxter that dances – Gangnam Style. And no wonder. Baxter is a “serious robot” who has a job at Vanguard Plastics.
Campylobacter On The Rise
May 10, 2013 2:37 pm | by Krystal Gabert, Editor, Food Manufacturing | CommentsBy tracking identified foodborne illness instances, FoodNet determined that, in addition to various other strains of foodborne bacteria and viruses, campylobacter infection was found in 14.3 people per 100,000. This figure shows a 14 percent increase over the infection rates from 2006 to 2008.
Smartphone Shakes
April 29, 2013 2:33 pm | by Meaghan Ziemba, Editor, WDD | CommentsI recently attended a concert in Madison, WI. I placed my phone in my back pocket to avoid carrying a purse and to have it easily accessible when I wanted to update my status and snap a few photos. Unfortunately, after a visit to the facilities and a horrifying plop, I knew that I was in trouble.
Technology Is Not The Problem — It Is The Solution
April 25, 2013 10:57 am | by Robert Atkinson, President and Founder, Information Technology and Innovation Foundation | CommentsTechnological growth has been principally responsible for the development of new industries, products and processes that have created better paying jobs, cheaper goods and a higher standard of living for society. Where would our economy be without information technology, advanced manufacturing and biotechnology?
How Clouds Can Dominate Sunny Florida
April 25, 2013 8:11 am | by Anna Wells, Executive Editor, IMPO | CommentsIt’s not always easy to get a room full of people excited about IT, but Inforum 2013 succeeded in doing so. But it wouldn’t be a conference on enterprise solutions if there weren’t cloud cover—and Infor has a few new cloud initiatives with big ramifications for manufacturers.
Taking Manufacturing To School
April 21, 2013 8:36 pm | by Lindsey Jahn, Associated Editor, Food Manufacturing | CommentsAn AMP Steering Committee was appointed, and in July 2012, the Committee issued a report with 16 recommendations to help AMP attain its mission. The report included five “workstreams,” or focus areas, each of which the Committee assessed and then made recommendations for improvement.
Please Turn Out The Lights
April 16, 2013 9:42 pm | by Krystal Gabert, Editor, Food Manufacturing | CommentsAccording to the EIA, the average retail price of electricity for industrial customers has risen steadily from 5.05 cents per kilowatt-hour in 2001 to 6.82 cents per kilowatt-hour in 2011. While this increase closely mirrors the rate of inflation, manufacturers have been proactive in adopting energy efficient equipment and procedures in order to reduce energy-related expenses.
Who’s The Fool? – Profound Discoveries Or Elaborate Pranks
April 15, 2013 7:49 pm | by Chris Fox, Associate Editor, PD&D | CommentsApril 1 used to be a day where the bully in school could yell out the hallmark and get away with tripping you in the hallway (kind of), or when you tied a rubber band around the faucet to soak the next poor soul trying to get a drink. In a time of viral marketing, April Fools Day has been rebranded to represent the comical creativity of major corporations and colleges.
The Dirty Dozen: Finding And Fixing Company Culture
April 9, 2013 12:12 pm | by Steven Shaffer, President, Shaffer Consulting | CommentsSometimes, a company stops growing when its leader’s gifts are no longer enough to effectively manage the business. It’s no surprise then that one of the biggest impediments to a healthy business is poor organizational health, which stems from poor leadership. When a culture of blame and excuses permeates a company, it can paralyze it.
The Earth Is Eating People
April 5, 2013 3:34 pm | by David Mantey, Executive Editor, PD&D | CommentsFurther news from Florida sealed the state’s fate on my list of states to which I will never travel again, when a regional geologist said that February is the unofficial beginning of “sinkhole season,” which kicks off the state’s rainy season and typically lasts until the end of summer.
5 Ways Manufacturers Can Take Advantage Of The Industrial Internet
March 29, 2013 9:43 am | by Cindy Waxer | CommentsBig data is not just for predicting election outcomes and mapping genomes. General Electric (GE) is betting on the so-called Industrial Internet — a term they coined — to help manufacturers boost performance, streamline processes and better compete in the global marketplace.
Is Re-Industrialization The Key?
March 27, 2013 11:53 am | by Dr. Tom McNamara, Assistant Professor of Operations Management, Rennes School of Business | CommentsMost economists agree that the “Great Recession” of 2008 ended sometime around August 2009, and while the economy has been slowly recovering, unemployment still appears to be a stubborn problem. The headline rate is just a shade under 8 percent, but another measure, U6, stands at an incredible 14.4 percent.
Lessons From The Cupping Room
March 25, 2013 9:18 am | by Anna Wells, Executive Editor, IMPO | CommentsWe kicked off the facility visit with a trip to the “cupping room” for a coffee tasting with one of Carson Valley’s experts, a studied and energetic woman whose passion for coffee was infectious. I found myself wishing I knew more about the roasting and brewing process as we swished and spit uber-fresh coffee into spittoons.
Fighting To Reclaim Manufacturing In America
March 19, 2013 12:40 pm | by Kristopher Settle, Energy Curtailment Specialists | CommentsThe bleeding was stopped nearly three years ago, as manufacturing jobs have been slowly increasing since then. In fact, over 14,000 manufacturing jobs were added in February alone and a total of around 500,000 have been generated since 2010.
Take Two Of These
March 12, 2013 4:41 pm | by David Mantey, Executive Editor, PD&D | CommentsBy injecting the aforementioned inebriated mice with nanocapsules full of enzymes that are instrumental in alcohol metabolism, researchers have not only sobered the little vermin, but created a unique drug delivery technology that could disrupt the medical industry.
The End Of Insight
March 11, 2013 7:36 pm | by Chris Fox, Associate Editor, PD&D | CommentsAs we broach the crest of technology that operates upon the barrier between autonomous and thinking, it is easy to see the inevitability of crossing over. Immersing ourselves in a world not far off from Futurama, where robots have personalities and rights (sort of).
Too Big To Fly: Why Engineering Should Stay Small
February 26, 2013 7:40 pm | by Chris Fox, Associate Editor, PD&D | CommentsThis isn’t a jab at Boeing, rather, it’s an exploration of a flawed (or somewhat flawed) design process. All things considered, there is a lot to weigh in any design. We’d all like to imagine a world with unlimited budgets and no time constraints, but in reality, compromises in design are made with every concept.
Marketing Schemes Through The Google [Looking] Glass
February 25, 2013 2:09 pm | by Chris Fox, Associate Editor, PD&D | CommentsGoogle Glass proposes to, essentially, put a computer on your face with a sleek pair of glasses that gives you access to everything from the current time or temperature to Google Chat. This is all well and good for those of us who aren’t easily distracted by shiny objects or images flickering in our direct (or indirect) line of sight.
