Auto Sales Forecast to Slow, Trade May Cast Shadow Over 2019 January 13, 2019 U.S. sales of cars and light trucks are forecast to slow this year. At the same time, potential trade fights may cast a shadow over the industry, an economist said Sunday ahead of the North American International Auto Show.
A Mixed Picture, For Now, About Manufacturing’s Strength January 7, 2019 On Jan. 3, the Institute for Supply Management released its monthly manufacturing index. It had a noticeable drop, to 54.1% in December from 59.3% the month before. That meant manufacturing was still expanding, but at a slower rate.
The Pressing Need to Simplify Work January 11, 2019 Organizational complexity is strangling innovation, productivity, and engagement. As companies grow, they typically add more structures, reporting relationships, communication channels, processes, and rules.
Swiss Machining Made Simpler January 30, 2019 Swiss-style machine tools can be a good choice for making complex parts. On the downside, however, Swiss machining itself has a reputation of being complex—and, therefore, more difficult to master than standard machining.
Lasercraft: Enclosure Cooling Beats Production-Robbing Heat Wave January 2, 2019 When the heat is on production equipment, threatening to shut production down, enclosure cooling systems can get parts out the door, eliminating loss of future production and downtime. That’s exactly what happened to Lasercraft Inc. (Fairfield, OH), a manufacturer of precision laser-cut metal parts.
Large-Part Machining Tests Horizontal Machine Tool Capabilities January 29, 2019 Horizontal machining centers (HMCs) are versatile four-axis and, increasingly, five-axis machine platforms that maximize processing of multi-sided large parts by minimizing part handling.
Detroit Tigers: Reverse-Engineered World Series Trophy Honors ’68 Tigers January 2, 2019 Technology came to the aid of Detroit Tigers management when they hoped to recapture some of the magic of the 1968 Detroit Tigers’ World Series-winning season. The 50-year anniversary celebration, held September 7-9, 2018, included on-field festivities in which the 16 surviving members of the 1968 team were presented with replicas of the World Series’ trophy.
NASCAR Driver Brad Keselowski Launches Keselowski Advanced Manufacturing January 25, 2019 NASCAR champion Brad Keselowski has joined the ranks of entrepreneurs in the metalworking industry while continuing his successful racing career.
Shop Roots Out Long Set Up Times with Advanced Automation December 7, 2018 Erik Anderson, president and CEO of Basin Precision Machining LLC, has determined that setups are the root of all evil when it comes to manufacturing productivity. They cause part variations, downtime, and high-percentage scrap rates.
Using 3D Scanning to Find Pipe Problems at a Nuclear Power Plant December 3, 2018 Nuclear power has long been a clean, dependable source of energy throughout the world. However, as power plants age, concerns grow on their continued reliability. There are many components that make up the infrastructure of a nuclear power plant with the design intent to reduce radiation and contamination exposure to personnel, equipment, and the surrounding environment.