Blogs
The Overtime Lie: Holding Hostage Millions In Profit
June 11, 2012 2:19 pm | by John Frehse, Chief Strategic Officer, Core Practice LLC | CommentsConsidering the difference between the cost impact of idle time vs. overtime, making the wrong decision to overstaff or underutilizing employees can be very expensive.
The Fallacy Of Raising The Bar
June 7, 2012 12:54 pm | by Michael P. Collins, Author, Saving American Manufacturing | CommentsEven though Intel employs 9,700 in its Arizona semiconductor facilities, the condition of K-12 education there makes me believe it would be foolish to invest another dime there.
U.S. Clean Energy Policies Need Reality Check
June 6, 2012 1:48 pm | by Stanford University | CommentsAmerica's approach to clean energy needs to be reformed if it is to affect energy security or the environment, according to Stanford writers.
Making 'Mobility' More Than A Buzzword
June 5, 2012 12:49 pm | by Mike Schmidt. Associate Editor, Manufacturing Business Technology | CommentsA new kind of business mobility has emerged in today's high-tech business environment, and it's more complex, it's more fluid, and it has yet to be totally defined.
Finding Sources Of Rare Earths Beyond China (Part 1)
June 4, 2012 12:58 pm | by H. Sterling Burnett, Senior Fellow, National Center for Policy Analysis | CommentsKey components of most modern electronics and green energy technologies, as well as defense systems, are made from a small number of elements and critical metals called rare earths. Indeed, rare earth elements are the basis for much of modern technology due to a range of relatively unique properties. From lighting to lasers, magnets to X-ray units, glass tints to electronics, these “rare” minerals are ubiquitous in modern technology.
Hey Mom & Pop, Reinvest Or Retire
June 4, 2012 9:33 am | by David Mantey, Editor, PD&D | CommentsWhile I’m not one to challenge mom or pop, I do agree that reinvestment is the key to success in this industry.
Think Outside The Box By Training Employees In The Cube
June 1, 2012 12:50 pm | by Patrick Michel, Vice President, DELMIA Industry Solutions & Marketing, Dassault Systèmes | CommentsWhile there’s a general public perception that the manufacturing sector is struggling, most people within the industry know that it’s simply not true. Manufacturing is clearly growing at a solid pace led by pent-up demand for consumer durables, such as motor vehicles, business equipment and medical devices and, as a result, manufacturers are hiring. In fact, the sector is enjoying employment growth.
The Problem with Siri
May 31, 2012 12:40 pm | by Chris Fox, Associate Editor, Product Design & Development | CommentsIBM has recently outlawed the use of Siri in their facilities. When I heard this news it immediately struck me as odd and as a sign of our time. Who would have thought a decade ago, even three years ago, that a network would be banning a specific app or software from functioning within a facility? The oddity is that this ultimate access to information is always pinned under some overlord style of control.
5 Tips For Manufacturers To Improve Online Lead Generation
May 24, 2012 12:37 pm | by Derek Singleton, ERP Analyst, Software Advice | CommentsTo truly capitalize on the online opportunity — and generate more leads — manufacturers need to create a website that meets buyer expectations.
The Delicate Balance Of Checks And Balances
May 23, 2012 10:50 am | by Alan Nicol, Executive Member, AlanNicolSolutions | CommentsAs we assess our businesses and our processes, looking for ways to streamline and save time, we look for those elements that add value to our products and services. As much as we come to depend on quality checks and authority approvals, they don’t actually improve or otherwise add value to our outputs. As a result, it becomes standard practice, particularly when exercising improvement programs such as Lean to eliminate checks and approvals.
Is It 'SaaS' Or 'Cloud?' Is That Even The Right Question?
May 22, 2012 1:11 pm | by Cindy Jutras, Founder, Mint Jutras | CommentsYou would think with all the talk about SaaS and cloud today that by now we would all be talking about the same thing. But in spite of, or perhaps because of the huge volume of discussion around SaaS and cloud computing, there remains much confusion over the terminology. Many use the terms “cloud” and “SaaS” interchangeably, but there are some important differences. So let’s distinguish between the two.
Flour Power
May 21, 2012 1:34 pm | by Anna Wells, Executive Editor, Manufacturing Business Technology | CommentsThe original A Mill, built in 1874, was leveled by a flour dust explosion that claimed 18 lives. That explosion and the resulting fire destroyed much of the riverfront business area, cutting Minneapolis’ milling capacity in half. Known as the Great Mill Disaster, the explosion made national news and served as a focal point that led to reforms in the milling industry.
Picking Glass Out Of My Eyes
May 16, 2012 1:49 pm | by David Mantey, Editor, PD&D | CommentsGoogle’s Project Glass, which will inevitably be called Google Glass, is a futuristic Internet-connected pair of glasses.
The Public’s 'Right To Know'
May 14, 2012 11:37 am | by Krystal Gabert, Editor, Food Manufacturing | CommentsNew “Right to Know” bills raise the possibility for the labeling of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) in food.
Seven Success Criteria For Hiring A GMP Consultant
May 11, 2012 1:33 pm | by The QA Pharm | CommentsThere is nothing worse than throwing a bunch of consultants at a problem without knowing the boundaries of the project or defining the expected results. Unfortunately, it happens all the time. It ends in frustration for all parties involved. A formal scope of work (SOW) helps both the client and the consultant to set expectations of each other, and agree on basic assumptions that are critical to success.
The Connected Culture: The Issue Of Overreliance
May 11, 2012 9:04 am | by Chris Fox, Associate Editor, PD&D | CommentsWhat would happen if every computer shut down and we were forced to communicate via landline, or worse, face-to-face?
The Fine Line Between Greed And Discovery
May 9, 2012 2:24 pm | by Chris Fox, Associate Editor, Product Design & Development | CommentsApple's plans for building a silent power plant in North Carolina could either be a power-hungry grab or the next big step in a new energy revolution.
What The Future Holds
May 9, 2012 9:24 am | by Meaghan Ziemba, Associate Editor, PD&D | CommentsIf our future lies in the hands of the young innovators who participate in the FIRST Robotics Competition, I’d say we have a pretty bright one.
Think About Never Failing, Not How To Recover
May 8, 2012 1:50 pm | by Dennis Wenk, Symantec | CommentsWe live in a technology driven world. Every possible business process has been automated — automated to the point where IT is deeply embedded in the operating fabric of our business and the organization is now highly dependent on it. IT has become a microcosm of the organization and it is used to process more transactions, of greater value, faster than ever before — retaining an ever-increasing amount of information for longer periods, as well.
Could Manufacturing Use A Makeover?
May 3, 2012 2:34 pm | by Joel Hans, Managing Editor, Manufacturing.net | CommentsWhile plant floor employees don’t need a facility to look nice, or for the tools they use to be aesthetically pleasing, it can’t hurt, can it? Or can it help?
