IT for Manufacturing Executives
The Lead
Starboard Says Smithfield Sale Undervalues Company
June 17, 2013 9:53 am | by Michael Felberbaum, AP Business Writer | News | Comments
One of Smithfield Foods' largest shareholders says a $4.72 billion takeover bid from China's largest meat producer falls short of what the company would be worth if sold off piece by piece. New York-based investment firm Starboard Value LP estimated the pork producer's value at $9 billion to $10.8 billion.
Take Control Of Your Company’s Future: The R&D Tax Credit
June 17, 2013 10:42 am | by Dean Zerbe, alliantgroup National Managing Director | Articles | Comments
Happily, the tax code rewards manufacturers who are engaged in these efforts to stay competitive...
Strong Tours Show ‘Em What You’re Made Of
June 17, 2013 10:37 am | by Cory Schaeffer, Co-Founder of Listen Technologies | Blogs | Comments
I’ve been on a lot of facility tours. Some have been interesting, while others have been...
Apple Details Government Requests For Data
June 17, 2013 9:56 am | by The Associated Press | News | Comments
Apple says it received between 4,000 and 5,000 requests from U.S. law enforcement for customer...
Whatever Happened To L.A. Gear?
June 17, 2013 10:25 am | by CNN Money | Videos | CommentsThe sneakers with the flashing lights were everywhere in the 90s. With celebrity endorsements and rocketing sales, L.A. Gear became the No. 3 sneaker company behind Nike and Reebok. And even though the company fell on hard times, the brand is still with us today.
Chrysler Freezes Some Pension Plans
June 17, 2013 9:45 am | by Sarah Skidmore, AP Business Writer | News | CommentsU.S. companies in general have moved away from traditional, or "defined benefit," pensions due to the cost. General Motors made a similar move last year when it froze traditional pension benefits for 19,000 salaried workers hired before 2001. Such pensions guarantee a specific payment to retirees.
Long-Haul Jets Get Boost At Paris Air Show
June 17, 2013 9:43 am | by Lori Hinnant, Associated Press | News | CommentsThe global aviation event at Le Bourget airfield north of Paris is once again showcasing the rivalry between U.S.-based Boeing and French-based Airbus. After several years of success for their smaller models, the world's leading plane makers are hoping this year generates orders for the bigger, more expensive long-haul jets.
Google Begins Launching Internet-Beaming Balloons
June 17, 2013 9:38 am | by Martha Mendoza and Nick Perry, Associated Press | News | CommentsEighteen months in the works, the top-secret project was announced Saturday in New Zealand, where up to 50 volunteer households are already beginning to receive the Internet briefly on their home computers via translucent helium balloons that sail by on the wind 12 miles above Earth.
China Announces New Measures To Curb Air Pollution
June 17, 2013 9:26 am | by Louise Watt, Associated Press | News | CommentsChina's growing middle class has become increasingly fed up with air, water and soil pollution that has resulted from development-at-all costs policies. Members of the public have virtually no say on industrial projects, and often protest against factories or petrochemical plants they fear could affect their health.
To Ease Shortage Of Organs, Grow Them In A Lab?
June 17, 2013 9:19 am | by Malcolm Ritter, AP Science Writer | News | CommentsGrowing lungs and other organs for transplant is still in the future, but scientists are working toward that goal. In North Carolina, a 3-D printer builds prototype kidneys. In several labs, scientists study how to build on the internal scaffolding of hearts, lungs, livers and kidneys of people and pigs to make custom-made implants.
Apparel Brands Look To New Asian Frontiers
June 14, 2013 9:50 am | by Reuters TV | Videos | CommentsAttention shoppers: Southeast Asia is the emerging hotspot for apparel manufacturing, with cost and safety concerns driving global brands to shift sourcing from stalwarts China and Bangladesh. Today, countries including Vietnam, Cambodia, and Indonesia are making clothing for some big brands.
What eCommerce Features Are Best For Manufacturing?
June 14, 2013 9:45 am | by Bob Barr, Senior Vice President, Acquity Group | Articles | CommentsThe eCommerce imperative in manufacturing is driving a rush to develop and implement first-class eCommerce technologies capable of providing customers the kinds of online experiences they have come to expect from their favorite B2C brands. But blindly adding features and capabilities is a recipe for disaster.
Top Five Benefits of Additive Manufacturing (You Never Considered)
June 14, 2013 9:36 am | by Jeff Hanson, RedEye On Demand | Articles | CommentsSince the introduction of 3D printing (additive manufacturing) in the 1980s, the benefits of producing small quantities of complex parts fast is well understood among manufacturing circles. Despite this, the industry is just beginning to understand exactly how transformative the technology will be to the future of manufacturing.
GAO Rejects Beechcraft's Protest Of Lost Contract
June 14, 2013 9:14 am | by The Associated Press | News | CommentsBoth companies issued statements Thursday announcing the decision by the Government Accountability Office. It's the latest development in a high-stakes competition that has taken nearly three years with legal challenges from both sides.
IBM Lays Off Workers As Company Eyes New Markets
June 14, 2013 9:12 am | by The Associated Press | News | CommentsIBM has laid off an undisclosed number of workers this week as the company intensifies its focus on some of some of the technology industry's hottest markets. The cutbacks are part of a reorganization that IBM Corp. executives disclosed in April during a conference call discussing the Armonk, N.Y., company's first-quarter earnings.
First Flight Of Airbus A350 Reopens Wide-Body Race
June 14, 2013 9:07 am | by The Associated Press | News | CommentsFriday's flight from Toulouse is to last about four hours and marks a key step on the path to full certification. More than half of the A350 — Airbus' first all-new plane in eight years — is made up of lightweight carbon-fiber designed to save on jet fuel, which makes up half the cost of long-haul flights.
New Hostess Owner Prepares To Restart Ga. Plant
June 14, 2013 9:05 am | by The Associated Press | News | CommentsThe smell of snack cakes could soon return to the Dolly Madison plant in Columbus as Hostess Brands LLC prepares to relaunch production.Hostess Brands LLC spokesman Michael Cramer said workers will be resuming production by July. He said crews are now getting the facility ready to bake goods again, including testing equipment that's been idle since November.
Businesses Increased Stockpiles In April
June 14, 2013 9:02 am | by Martin Crutsinger, AP Economics Writer | News | CommentsU.S. businesses increased their stockpiles in April but their sales fell for a second straight month, held back by a decline in orders to American factories. The Commerce Department said Thursday that business stockpiles rose 0.3 percent in April from March.
Lightweight Microsoft Office Available On iPhone
June 14, 2013 8:56 am | by Anick Jesdanun, AP Technology Writer | News | CommentsMicrosoft's Office software package is coming to the iPhone for the first time Friday, offering people the ability to read and edit their text documents, spreadsheets and slide presentations at the doctor's office or at a soccer game.
