IT for Manufacturing Executives
U.S. Can't Lose Innovation War
November 3, 2010 9:05 am | Videos | CommentsGoogle CEO Eric Schmidt recently sat down and discussed American innovation with CNN's Fareed Zakaria. According to Schmidt and Zakaria, the biggest concern the U.S. has right now is trying to outperform other countries in the development and manufacturing of certain products -- especially when these countries can manufacture products at a lower cost.
The Election Effect
November 3, 2010 9:03 am | Videos | CommentsWhat changes should American businesses expect to see as a result of the recent U.S. elections? According to Kirby Daley of the Newedge Group, the results will certainly have a major impact on the direction of U.S. policy. However, he cautions that the economy will not see major improvements right away simply because there is a shift in political power in Washington.
Tiger Optics Expands Distribution Network
November 3, 2010 6:24 am | News | CommentsWARRINGTON, PA – To keep pace with soaring demand, Tiger Optics, LLC recently announced new partnerships with eight distributors in Europe and the United States to facilitate sales and support of its laser-based trace gas analyzers. The move significantly expands the manufacturer’s global reach and enhances its ability to serve customers.
Essential Features of Manufacturing ERP Software
November 3, 2010 5:34 am | by Focus | White PapersEnterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems can seem like giant beasts when you realize how integrated they can be with nearly every function in your business. From the Sales and Quoting process through Material Planning, Procurement, Scheduling, Shop Floor Control, Quality Management, Outside Services, Shipping & Logistics, Customer Service, Finance and Human Resource Management, an integrated system can be tied into nearly every function.This FREE research brief will help you understand how the functions link together, simplify the complexity of the many ERP features available and highlight where you can realize the most value.
2010 Midmarket - Enterprise ERP Solutions Comparison Guide
November 3, 2010 5:30 am | by Focus | White PapersWhich ERP solution best fits your unique business situation? Focus has the answers with our in-depth comparison of the top 17 ERP solutions, including offerings from Oracle, SAP, Sage, Epicor, Netsuite, IFS and Microsoft. Whether you’re just looking for basic features such as accounting, CRM, finance and HR or need a robust solution with a full suite of add-on modules for your company, you’ll be able to evaluate the appropriate vendors with this guide.This FREE comparison guide lets you compare important features and functions side by side, including:• Basic features such as inventory management, CRM, financial management and HR• Intermediate features like e-commerce tools• Advanced features including business intelligence and supply chain management• Deployment• CostsPlus many, many more. Download your free Comparison Guide now!
Toyota Wants Acceleration Lawsuits To Be Dismissed
November 3, 2010 4:35 am | News | CommentsNEW YORK (AP) — Toyota Motor Corp. asked a U.S. court to throw out lawsuits over acceleration defects in its cars, saying many of the plaintiffs never identified any defect or experienced sudden, unintended acceleration. The automaker filed its motion in court Monday. "Toyota is confident that its cars provide safe, reliable transportation and that the plaintiffs have no credible claims of loss or defect," said Cari K.
Is GM Really Worth As Much As Ford?
November 3, 2010 4:34 am | by Sharon Silke Carty, AP Auto Writer | News | CommentsDETROIT (AP) — If investors pay what General Motors hopes to get for its stock in a planned IPO, they'll have to buy the logic that the company's stock-market value should be similar to its closest competitor, Ford Motor Co. But Ford is making far more money these days and its U.S. market share is rising while GM's is falling and its new management team has little auto industry experience.
Oracle Buys Art Technology Group For $1B
November 3, 2010 4:32 am | by Jordan Robertson, AP Technology Writer | News | CommentsOAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Oracle Corp. is adding to its software arsenal software with the $1 billion all-cash deal announced Tuesday for a company called Art Technology Group Inc., which helps businesses interact with online shoppers to boost sales. The acquisition deepens the push by one of the world's biggest business software makers to control more of the technology that powers companies' day-to-day chores.
Dell To Buy Software Maker Boomi
November 3, 2010 4:31 am | by Dana Wollman, AP Technology Writer | News | CommentsNEW YORK (AP) — Dell Inc. said Tuesday it has agreed to buy Boomi, whose software makes it easy for businesses to send data back and forth between Web-based applications and computer programs that run on PCs. Terms of the deal were not disclosed, nor did the company say when it expects to close the deal.
Consulting Company IHS Buys iSuppli
November 3, 2010 4:29 am | News | CommentsENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Consulting company IHS Inc. said Tuesday that it is buying privately held electronics technology research group iSuppli Corp. in a move meant to improve its ability to offer information in the electronics, manufacturing and supply chain markets. Financial terms of the deal, which IHS expects to close on or before Nov.
The Growth Of The Consumer Industry
November 2, 2010 10:07 am | by Dr. Ron L. Hollis, P.E., President & CEO, | Articles | CommentsThe consumer market is stuck until something can break the current inertia in material pricing for the equipment. By Dr. Ron L. Hollis, P.E., President & CEO, Quickparts.com The consumer market is the current nirvana for the manufacturers of additive manufacturing, commonly known as rapid prototyping, and their loyal service providers.
Choosing A Pneumatic Conveying System
November 2, 2010 10:05 am | Articles | CommentsThere are three universal requirements that all users have when purchasing a pneumatic conveying system: they need to know that the system will work with their specific product; that the system will perform the way a company says it will; and, that it won’t break the bank. When it comes to understanding pneumatic conveying systems, entire books have been written and many white papers published with diagrams and complicated equations to explain how the process works.
Chevy Volt: More Computer Than Car
November 2, 2010 9:38 am | by Kim Ukura, Associate Editor, <a style="color:#e51b24;" href="http://www.pddnet.com/default.aspx">PD&D</a> | News | CommentsWith more lines of code than it takes the average F-35 fighter fly, the Chevy Volt is on the edge of a shift to automobiles built with and run on software. Henry Ford probably wouldn’t recognize the inside of General Motor’s Chevy Volt because the car is almost more software than hardware.
Scapegoating China
November 2, 2010 9:26 am | Videos | CommentsIn the weeks and months leading up to the mid-term elections, Democrats and Republicans began to raise the issue of the United States' trading policies with China. Many Americans are upset that the U.S. has lost manufacturing jobs to China over the better part of the last 30 years, but don't look for either major political party to accept the blame for what's transpired.
Oracle, SAP To Tangle In Corporate Espionage Trial
November 2, 2010 4:41 am | News | CommentsSAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — Opening arguments are scheduled to begin Tuesday in a corporate espionage trial involving two of the world's biggest business software makers. Oracle Corp. and archrival SAP AG will argue in an Oakland court over how much SAP should pay for a subsidiary that stole Oracle customer-support documents from password-protected Web sites.
