IT for Manufacturing Executives
Ford To Invest $850M In Fuel-Efficient Vehicles
October 26, 2010 4:30 am | News | CommentsDETROIT (AP) — Ford Motor Co. will invest $850 million between 2011 and 2013 to develop and build more fuel-efficient vehicles. The automaker said Monday it will invest the money in Michigan, where unemployment is 13 percent. Ford said it will expand its manufacturing and engineering operations, supporting up to 1,200 new jobs.
Most Tech Companies Fare Well In Recent Quarter
October 26, 2010 4:28 am | News | CommentsHere is a summary of recent earnings and reports for selected technology companies and what they reveal about the state of spending and the overall economy: Oct. 12: Intel Corp. offers an encouraging sign for what the computer industry might expect from the all-important holiday shopping season.
U.S. Steel Posts $51M Loss In 3Q
October 26, 2010 4:24 am | News | CommentsPITTSBURGH (AP) — U.S. Steel said Tuesday it continues to lose money because demand for its products remains weak due to the uneven global economic recovery. The Pittsburgh manufacturing giant reported a third-quarter loss of $51 million. In late July the company was predicting a profit for the quarter, but it tempered that outlook as the period progressed.
Ford To Hire 1,200 Michigan Workers By 2013
October 26, 2010 4:23 am | News | CommentsDEARBORN, Mich. (AP) — Ford Motor Co. said Monday it will hire 1,200 new workers in Michigan by 2013 if the state approves tax incentives. Ford plans to invest $850 million in several Detroit-area plants to build its new six-speed transmissions. The company also will hire 900 hourly manufacturing workers and 300 engineers and other salaried workers.
What Google Knows About You
October 25, 2010 9:45 am | Videos | CommentsWhat, and how much, does Google know about you? Google Chairman and CEO Eric Schmidt recently appeared on CNN's Parker-Spitzer to discuss privacy issues and just how much information his company saves from people's searches. Web security, privacy, and network security are major issues, and Schmidt is very forthright about what information his company has on people like you and me.
Lean Manufacturing Isn't Enough
October 25, 2010 9:22 am | by Mike Collins, Author, Saving American Manufacturing | Articles | CommentsTop line growth will require a different kind of plan that should be developed in parallel with any process improvement projects. If not, the company will get to the end of its lean journey with plenty of new capacity and no new sales. Several years ago I was doing a seminar in Orlando on growth planning.
The Value Of HACCP
October 25, 2010 9:21 am | Articles | CommentsHazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) is quickly becoming one of the most important issues in the food industry. Food Manufacturing, a sister publication of Manufacturing Business Technology, spoke with Mike Gay of Rockwell Automation to discuss the latest HACCP technology and trends and how food manufacturers can utilize these tools to improve efficiency, increase cost savings and strengthen product quality control.
Monitor And Control HMI
October 25, 2010 6:58 am | Product Releases | CommentsMaple Systems (Everett, WA) recently added two new Touchscreen Graphic HMIs to its family of OIT products. The new HMI5043T is a compact 4.3 inch 16:9 widescreen model, and the HMI5104TH is a larger 10.4 inch high-resolution unit. Both units have an Ethernet port and a VNC server that enables the user to remotely monitor and control the HMI via a desktop, laptop, cell phone, etc.
HP Will Sell Windows 7 Tablet For Business Users
October 25, 2010 4:39 am | by Dana Wollman, AP Technology Writer | News | CommentsNEW YORK (AP) — Hewlett-Packard Co.'s new tablet might look a little bit like Apple Inc.'s latest blockbuster gadget but it's not meant to be an iPad killer. HP, the world's largest computer maker, started selling the Slate 500 on Thursday. It costs $799 and, like the iPad, has a touch-sensitive screen and no keyboard.
GE Inks $750M Deal To Supply Wind Turbines
October 25, 2010 4:38 am | News | CommentsNEW YORK (AP) — General Electric Co. said Monday it will help Reliance Power Ltd. of India with a power plant expansion project in a deal worth $750 million. GE, based in Fairfield, Conn., said it will supply natural gas and steam turbines, training and other services for the Samalkot power plant in Andhra Pradesh, India.
Cyberwarfare Report: Attacks Are Coming 24/7
October 25, 2010 4:36 am | by Dan Elliott, Associated Press Writer | News | CommentsDENVER (AP) — A new Air Force manual for cyberwarfare describes a shadowy, fast-changing world where anonymous enemies can carry out devastating attacks in seconds and where conventional ideas about time and space don't apply. Much of the 62-page manual is a dry compendium of definitions, acronyms and explanations of who reports to whom.
New Health Care Law Criticized By Leading Manufacturer
October 25, 2010 4:34 am | by Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar, Associated Press Writer | News | CommentsWASHINGTON (AP) — The new health care law wasn't supposed to undercut employer plans that have provided most people in the U.S. with coverage for generations. But last week a leading manufacturer told workers their costs will jump partly because of the law. Also, a Democratic governor laid out a scheme for employers to get out of health care by shifting workers into taxpayer-subsidized insurance markets that open in 2014.
LM Ericsson AB Reports $557M Profit For 3Q
October 25, 2010 4:31 am | by Louise Nordstrom, Associated Press Writer | News | CommentsSTOCKHOLM (AP) — Swedish wireless equipment maker LM Ericsson AB on Friday said third-quarter net profits rose more than fourfold largely on the back of lower restructuring costs and an improved performance in its joint venture with Sony Corp. The Stockholm-headquartered company reported a profit of 3.
HP Completes $1.5B Acquisition Of Software Maker ArcSight
October 25, 2010 4:30 am | News | CommentsPALO ALTO, Calif. (AP) — Hewlett-Packard Co. said Friday that it finished its acquisition of security software maker ArcSight Inc. for $43.50 per share, or $1.5 billion. HP said in September that it would buy ArcSight, which is the latest in a series of acquisitions the technology company has made as it seeks bigger profit margins outside the personal computer business.
Calculating TCO Wisely
October 22, 2010 11:37 am | by Russ Holmer, President, Haumiller Engineering | Articles | CommentsThere are several factors to consider when calculating Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) prior to making a significant equipment purchase. To get the most value out of your automated assembly machine, looking at total cost of ownership (TCO) is a must. This importance is multiplied in more challenging economic times.
