Rush job? No prob! September 24, 2020 Improvements in manufacturing management software, robotics, additive manufacturing and thermal controls are making small batch sizes more cost effective—even for smaller shops. Manufacturing plants are able to reduce inventory, improve throughput and reduce demands on human operators.
Study Shows Big Increase in Digital Readiness September 29, 2020 While the manufacturing sector generates large amounts of data, relatively few companies have fully harnessed that data to improve operational efficiencies.
National Safety Council: COVID-19 on Pace to Become Third Leading Cause of Death in 2020 August 20, 2020 The National Safety Council says it is highly alarmed to see that the mortality numbers for COVID-19 already have surpassed the total annual number of preventable, accidental deaths in 2018, the most recent year of final data—and it is only August. At this pace, COVID-19 likely will be the third leading cause of death in 2020, behind only heart disease and cancer.
Protolabs CEO Headlines Panel Discussion at ‘The Best of SMX Virtual Event’ October 28, 2020 While the manufacturing industry learns to deal with COVID-19, it is also undergoing seismic change from other critical issues. Four industry leaders take on these issues in a panel discussion titled, “How Smart Manufacturing is Disrupting the Supply Chain - Are You Prepared?”
Layoffs, Social Distancing Drive Machine Shops to Automate Labor-Intensive Finishing Operations October 21, 2020 Whether driven by the reduction of in-shop personnel due to layoffs or to maintain social distancing guidelines into the future, many machine shops will likely be re-evaluating ways to eliminate labor-intensive manual operations if they can be automated instead.
Executive Discusses AI's Impact on Workers October 14, 2020 The CEO of an artificial intelligence company discusses how AI affects workers and how AI can be deployed well.
View Marketing as an Investment—Not an Expense September 29, 2020 Peter Drucker, known as the father of modern management, was quoted in a 2006 article in Forbes as saying, “Because the purpose of business is to create a customer, the business enterprise has two—and only two—basic functions: marketing and innovation. Marketing and innovation produce results; all the rest are costs.”
Shyft Group Acquires F3 MFG October 6, 2020 Shyft Group, Inc. said it F3 MFG Inc. (“F3”), an aluminum truck body and accessory manufacturer.
Boeing 737 Max Gets U.S. Approval to Fly Again November 18, 2020 The Federal Aviation Administration lifted a grounding order on Boeing Co.'s 737 Max that had been in effect since early 2019.
Leak-Tight Data Systems June 19, 2020 Manufacturing operations face a multitude of cyber threats. The latest dangers from hackers include not only the theft of intellectual property but also malicious attacks that can cripple critical infrastructure, such as energy plants, utilities, and large-scale factories.