IT for Manufacturing Executives
SF, NY Officials Wait To Judge Apple 'Kill Switch'
June 11, 2013 9:19 am | by Terry Collins, Associated Press | News | CommentsSan Francisco District Attorney George Gascon and New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman have been asking the leading wireless device makers to create a "kill switch" that would render stolen phones useless. The prosecutors said they aren't judging Apple's new activation lock feature until they can fully determine its effectiveness.
Last Engineer Let Go At Idaho Hoku Plant
June 11, 2013 9:13 am | by The Associated Press | News | CommentsAn estimated $400 million polysilicon plant in eastern Idaho now has only eight workers, all security guards, after its last engineer exited last month amid dwindling hopes the facility will ever produce materials for solar panels.
Boeing: World Air Fleet To Double In 20 Years
June 11, 2013 9:09 am | by Lori Hinnant, Associated Press | News | CommentsBoeing predicted that the number of commercial aircraft in operation globally will double in the next two decades, with the bulk of some 35,000 new planes going to Asia, an executive from the U.S. airplane-maker said Tuesday.
Judge Sides With GM, Dismisses Spyker Lawsuit
June 11, 2013 9:04 am | by Dee-Ann Durbin, AP Auto Writer | News | CommentsA federal judge has dismissed a $3 billion lawsuit filed by Dutch car maker Spyker against General Motors Co. Spyker sued GM last August, accusing it of unfairly blocking a deal to let a Chinese buyer take over Swedish carmaker Saab. GM sold Saab to Spyker in 2010.
Why Rising Commodity Prices Increase Pressure on Labor Costs
June 10, 2013 4:32 pm | by Kronos | White PapersRising commodity prices would normally appear to be a good thing for manufacturers and distributors, as the costs could be passed down the supply chain to generate a profit. But organizations must also take into consideration the associated labor and overhead costs, creating a new cost control and workforce management challenges. Which strategies help develop a competitive cost advantage? Read more.
Progressive Design Strategies Week
June 10, 2013 10:57 am | by Manufacturing Business Technology | Articles | CommentsManufacturing Business Technology is devoting this week to Progressive Design Strategies. Check here daily for articles, blogs and videos being featured this week. Hear from industry experts on how they've integrated technology, the solutions currently being offered in the industry and gain insight on making the most of your operations.
U.S. Economy Graded A 'B'
June 10, 2013 10:24 am | by CNN Money | Videos | CommentsPimco CEO Mohamed El-Erian says uncertainty is keeping the U.S. economy from growing faster, but we're still doing better than the rest of the world. El-Erain discusses the factors behind economic growth and what's holding it back.
Continuous Improvement: Real Improvement Or Mediocrity?
June 10, 2013 9:59 am | by Mark Latino, President, Reliability Center, Inc. | Articles | CommentsIncremental improvements are more or less feel good measures that say to management “there was a problem and we did this to solve it.” In reality, most continuous improvements have come from technology advancements, not from employee performance advancements. Has the continuous improvement mentality caused manufacturing to settle for mediocrity?
Cyclists Take Industrial 3D Printing For A Spin
June 10, 2013 9:44 am | by Chris Hardee, a science and technology writer based in New Hampshire | Articles | CommentsAbout four years ago, Russ Kappius—mountain-bike enthusiast, winner of six Masters racing titles, and a research geophysicist/software developer—became obsessed with bicycle hubs. He wanted more speed and responsiveness, but wasn't sure how to get it.
NSA Revelations Force Question: What Do We Want?
June 10, 2013 9:29 am | by Adam Geller, AP National Writer | News | CommentsFor more than a decade now, Americans have made peace with the uneasy knowledge that someone — government, business or both — might be watching. Paranoid fantasies have come face to face with modern reality: The government IS collecting our phone records.
Exide Files For Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Protection
June 10, 2013 9:20 am | by The Associated Press | News | CommentsBattery maker Exide Technologies is seeking Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection as it attempts to restructure its U.S. business. The Milton, Ga., company said its international operations are excluded from the filing, which it made Monday in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Delaware.
Want More Time Off? Some Employers Let You Buy It
June 10, 2013 9:15 am | by Sam Hananel, Associated Press | News | CommentsA soon-to-be released survey by the Society for Human Resource Management found that 9 percent of employers allowed workers to cash out unused vacation time. Five percent let employees purchase additional vacation days through a payroll deduction.
Stripped-Down Harley Rebounds From Recession
June 10, 2013 9:11 am | by M.L. Johnson, Associated Press | News | CommentsThe company made $624 million last year, the best annual profit since 2008. It also boosted profit by 30 percent in this year's first quarter, compared to the same period in 2012. With lower costs and more efficient production, analysts say Harley is in a good position to grow as the global economy improves.
American Auto Industry About To Go On Hiring Spree
June 10, 2013 9:08 am | by Tom Krisher, AP Auto Writer | News | CommentsThe auto industry's stepped-up hiring will help sustain the nation's job growth and help fuel consumer spending. On Friday, the government said U.S. employers added 175,000 jobs in May, roughly the monthly average for the past year and a sign of the economy's resilience.
Canada Threatens Tariffs Against U.S. Products
June 10, 2013 9:04 am | by The Associated Press | News | CommentsCanada warned that it may impose tariffs on everything from orange juice to bread if the United States doesn't change a meat-labeling policy that Canadian beef and pork industries say is costing them more than CA$1 billion (US$979 million) a year.
