Articles
Let Technology Improve Your Maintenance Efficiency
February 8, 2012 12:15 pm | by Ed Smigo, Director, Systems Technology, PROCONEX | CommentsWhile automation has greatly increased operating efficiency over the past 30 years, the same level of efficiency has not rippled down to the maintenance function.
Funding Medical Device Innovation
February 8, 2012 9:24 am | by Rahul Sathe, Principal Mechanical Engineer, Surgical and Interventional Products, Cambridge Consultants | CommentsThe recent decline of venture financing is threatening innovation in the $300 billion global market for medical devices.
Problem Solving Is More Than Method
February 7, 2012 12:05 pm | by Mark A. Latino, President, Reliability Center Inc. | CommentsAre incremental continuous improvements really encouraging employees to just make problems a little better and settling for mediocrity?
Building Paul Jr. Designs
February 7, 2012 11:49 am | CommentsRegular appearances on the Discovery Channel is just one of the many reasons behind the success of this small custom motorcycle shop in Rock Tavern, NY.
A Numbers Game
February 7, 2012 8:52 am | by Krystal Gabert, Editor, Food Manufacturing | CommentsDemand for data management software has exploded over the last few years as manufacturers are realizing the benefits of quick response to information.
The Breeding Ground for Young Engineers
February 6, 2012 11:51 am | by Chris Fox, Associate Editor, PD&D | CommentsRemember BattleBots? Imagine a smarter and less sinister robot competition that fosters youth interest in engineering.
The Prospector Organization
February 6, 2012 11:48 am | by Michael P. Collins, Author, Saving American Manufacturing | CommentsMost American manufacturers I have talked to around the country want to increase sales. This means finding new customers and market niches, and being able to shorten lead times. But, in discussing their needs, I have often found that they are not organized to find new customers or explore market opportunities, and their organizations are not designed to reduce lead times.
Next Generation Manufacturing
February 6, 2012 9:43 am | by Rachel Leisemann Immel, Associate Editor, IMPO | CommentsThe economic downturn has been difficult, especially for small manufacturers, who may struggle to keep pace with larger competition on a global playing field.
Purchasing Managers Index Makes Post-Holiday Rebound
February 3, 2012 10:27 am | CommentsThe index, which measures production, new orders, inventories, and employment activity in Michigan, rose to 65.9 in January after falling below 50 in December.
Skimming The Surface Of Axiomatic Design
February 3, 2012 9:28 am | by Alan Nicol, Executive Member, AlanNicolSolutions | CommentsIt is based on such a fundamental design philosophy that it works for any design discipline and easily with other product development methodologies.
Your Sales Team: Does It Fit Your Company?
February 2, 2012 1:24 pm | by Ty Swain, CEO, Growth Dynamics | CommentsA recent survey showed 42.5 percent of companies struggle to hire sales professionals that succeed at selling their product offerings. What can done differently?
Close The Door To Winter Intruders
February 2, 2012 9:05 am | by Greg Baumann, Director, Technical Services, Orkin, LLC | CommentsThe intruders you should be worried about this winter -- mice and rats -- can slip through holes as small as coins.
The Business Of Electrical Safety
February 1, 2012 12:54 pm | by Rachel Leisemann Immel, Associate Editor, IMPO | CommentsExperts in electricity are not necessarily experts in safety —an IEEE study says there are 2,000 hospitalizations in the U.S. every year due to electrical burns.
Q&A: The Manufacturing Workers Of Tomorrow
February 1, 2012 11:47 am | CommentsIn order for the U.S., or any capitalistic industrialized economy, to compete in the global market against low cost labor, low environmental hurdles, and government subsidies, the manufacturing plant or process facility must be highly automated to maximize on-spec throughput, minimize waste, material costs and energy use. Additionally, the plant must operate with a goal of sustainability, security, as well as physical and system safety.
The Cookie Doesn’t Crumble
February 1, 2012 9:22 am | CommentsCrucial in its success to grow and build its brand has been its ability to anticipate changing consumer taste with smart product development efforts.
Automatic Improvement: Spotlight On PLCs
January 31, 2012 1:49 pm | by Rachel Leisemann Immel, Associate Editor, IMPO | CommentsOriginally developed for the American automotive industry, the programmable logic controller has transformed modern day industrial manufacturing.
Entrepreneurially Hard Wired
January 31, 2012 9:34 am | by Mike Rainone, Co-Founder, PCDworks | CommentsWhat we lack is the European vision that seed money, especially government seed money, is a required ingredient for successful innovation.
Family Ties
January 30, 2012 2:36 pm | by Anna Wells, Executive Editor, Industrial Distribution | CommentsDespite flying below the radar for many years, Flint-based Shively Bros. has lately become a distributor to watch as it propels forward.
Supply Chain Planning Is Dead — Or Is It?
January 30, 2012 1:44 pm | CommentsEven with the sophisticated planning tools available today, the best supply chain plans yield less than 50 percent accuracy. What else can be done?
How To Identify And Update Dinosaur Processes
January 27, 2012 1:18 pm | by Jennie Clinton, MBCP, MBCI | CommentsDisaster recovery and business continuity plans are based on evolving technologies and, like the dinosaurs, some aspects of these plans will become extinct.
