IT for Manufacturing Executives
New Robot Safety Standard Approved
May 22, 2013 9:32 am | by Robotic Industries Association | News | CommentsA new American national robot safety standard has been approved by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). Developed by Robotic Industries Association (RIA), the standard has been updated for the first time since 1999 and is now harmonized with the International ISO standard for robot manufacturers and integrators.
Indian Guest Workers Sue Company In Miss., Texas
May 22, 2013 9:27 am | by The Associated Press | News | CommentsDozens of Indian guest workers are suing an Alabama-based marine and fabrication company, claiming it financially exploited them and forced them to live in squalid conditions after bringing them to work at Gulf Coast shipyards after Hurricane Katrina.
Safety Board: ATF Blocking Plant Blast Probe
May 22, 2013 9:24 am | by The Associated Press | News | CommentsFederal agents and the state fire marshal have effectively barred a federal safety panel from the site of a Texas fertilizer plant blast that killed 15 people and injured about 200 others, hampering its investigation, the panel's chairman said.
U.S. Auto Factories Cutting Back On Summer Downtime
May 22, 2013 9:22 am | by Dee-Ann Durbin, AP Auto Writer | News | CommentsThe three Detroit carmakers traditionally shut factories for 14 days around July 4 to do maintenance and change the machinery for new models. But they don't have that luxury this year. U.S. demand for new cars and trucks has been strong, up 7 percent through April, led by soaring demand for full-size pickup trucks.
Direct-Connect Industrial Camera Series
May 21, 2013 3:51 pm | by Cognex Corp. | Product Releases | CommentsCognex Corporation, the world's leading supplier of machine vision systems and software, has announced the Cognex Industrial Camera (CIC) series, a new line of GigE Vision® digital industrial cameras designed for easy integration with VisionPro® and CVL® vision software.
Fix Your Enterprise Application Performance Issues — Before They Fix You
May 21, 2013 10:38 am | by Kieran Taylor, Director of Product Marketing, Compuware APM | Articles | CommentsDue to the importance of the work and functions they support, fast, reliable enterprise resource planning (ERP) applications are the lifeblood of a well-oiled manufacturing business. However, heightened end-user expectations combined with the increased complexity of modern application delivery environments make it very difficult to ensure strong performance.
When Will Cloud ERP Take Off?
May 21, 2013 10:30 am | by Pat Garrehy, Rootstock President & CEO | Articles | CommentsMost can agree that Cloud ERP, and certainly MFG Cloud ERP, is in its infancy. Interestingly, while analysts project that the adoption rate for Cloud HR is over 60 percent and for Cloud CRM over 75 percent, the present adoption rate of Cloud ERP for manufacturers is less than ten percent (versus 90 percent of On Premise ERP). Yet, there is a general consensus that, by 2023, most of the installed MFG ERP systems will be Cloud-based.
MBT Manufacturing Newswire - Remaking American Security
May 21, 2013 10:20 am | by Manufacturing Business Technology | Videos | CommentsIn this episode of MBT’s Manufacturing Newswire, remaking American security, Amazon eyes the smartphone market, and a blow to the nation’s labor unions. We’ll also updated you on Window’s Blue, take a brief look at the uncertainty in U.S. manufacturing, and the liability surrounding 3-D printed guns.
Economists Predict Increase In Consumer Spending
May 21, 2013 10:07 am | by The Associated Press | News | CommentsThe economists predict that the U.S. economy will grow 2.4 percent this year and 3 percent next year. That's unchanged from their forecast in February. But they are more bullish on consumer spending and housing than they were three months ago, in part because of a more positive view about unemployment.
Judge Gives Final Approval To A123 Bankruptcy Plan
May 21, 2013 10:04 am | by The Associated Press | News | CommentsA Delaware bankruptcy judge has given final approval to the reorganization plan of failed battery maker A123 Systems Inc., which was the recipient of a $249 million Department of Energy grant. Monday's court hearing resolved minor outstanding issues following the sale of most of the company's assets to the U.S. arm of Wanxiang Group Corp. for nearly $257 million.
Sprint To Listen To Dish Offer
May 21, 2013 9:47 am | by The Associated Press | News | CommentsWireless company Sprint Nextel Corp. says it can now let Dish Network Corp. see its books and talk with Dish to see whether its competing offer to buy Sprint is better than its current deal with Japan's SoftBank. The companies said late Thursday that SoftBank had waived provisions of its deal with Sprint that will allow Sprint to talk with Dish.
Walmart Pushing For More Ark. Product Makers
May 21, 2013 9:40 am | by Chuck Bartels, Associated Press | News | CommentsWalmart Senior Vice President Michelle Gloeckler said promoting in-state vendors will improve sales and help the world's largest retailer sell more U.S.-made products. Presently, 44 Arkansas suppliers produce 73 brands and 1,700 items for Walmart, according to the company.
Panel: Apple Uses Firms Outside U.S. To Avoid Taxes
May 21, 2013 9:37 am | by Marcy Gordon, AP Business Writer | News | CommentsThe strategies Apple uses are legal, and many other multinational corporations use similar tax techniques to avoid paying U.S. income taxes on profits they reap overseas. But the report found that Apple uses a unique twist, and lawmakers are raising questions about loopholes in the U.S. tax code.
GM Giving Paid Internships To 110 HS Students
May 21, 2013 9:31 am | by The Associated Press | News | CommentsGeneral Motors is kicking the tires on a unique new internship program for Detroit-area high school students. GM has hired 110 students for paid summer internships, the automaker said Monday in announcing the formation of the GM Student Corps, a program that combines service, education and mentoring.
Advances In Mobile Collaboration: Virtual Presence Brings Experts To The Problem
May 20, 2013 11:22 am | by Marieke Wijtkamp, Vice President of Marketing and Client Services, Librestream Technologies Inc. | Articles | CommentsEquipment downtime, lost production, delays in product reviews and high travel costs to troubleshoot problems can kill the bottom line. Time is money and it’s never been truer for companies with operations spread across the globe. When the best expert is located in New York and the assembly line is in the Far East, costs mount quickly when decisions are delayed.
