Articles
Find And Unload Your Dead Weight
August 23, 2011 8:13 am | by Alan Nichol, Executive Member, AlanNicolSolutions, LLC | CommentsMake the effort to identify and shed the dead weight, and you might just be the hero of the day for finding the lost profits your business needs. A lesson I learned from one of the Six Sigma masters is to dig into the Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system of a business and plot out the sales versus inventory numbers of the various products.
Using CMMS To Manage Fixed Assets
August 23, 2011 6:50 am | CommentsA distributor implements a CMMS (computerized maintenance management software) to track repair history, mileage, and idle time of its delivery fleet. What would you do if you had to manage maintenance for all the accumulating assets of an industry giant that thrived on acquisitions? That question befell the fixed asset management team and Jane Sears, fixed asset manager for the Commercial Fuels Division of Parkland Fuel Corporation, Canada’s largest independent distributor of fuel products.
Small Businesses Hacked; Banks Say Not Their Business
August 22, 2011 10:03 am | CommentsHackers are notoriously difficult to catch, and by the time they are caught the money they steal is almost always unrecoverable. So in reality, the question boils down to who is left holding the empty bag: the small-business owner or the bank? by Karl Stephan, Consulting Engineer, Texas State University, San Marcos Say you run a dry-cleaning company with three outlets, or a restaurant, or a machine shop with thirteen employees.
Escalating Metal Prices Spur Design Ingenuity
August 22, 2011 9:52 am | CommentsWhen gold broke through $1700 per troy ounce last week -- the highest price in history for this precious metal -- it made news around the world. When gold broke through $1700 per troy ounce last week -- the highest price in history for this precious metal -- it made news around the world. But gold isn't the only metal that's glittering these days.
The U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act Of 1977
August 19, 2011 7:59 am | by Chris Jeffrey | CommentsEnforcement officials have recently breathed new life into the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977 -- FCPA enforcement actions jumped by 85 percent between 2009 and 2010 alone. Given the threat of huge fines and jail time, what can a manufacturing company do to protect itself? By now, most legal, finance, and compliance personnel at large international manufacturers are well versed in the compliance requirements of the U.
Reducing Costs Through Automated Labor Data Integration, Tracking
August 19, 2011 7:43 am | CommentsThrough fully automated labor data integration and tracking, Briggs & Stratton was able to significantly reduce costs. With 9 U.S. locations, 6000 employees globally, and an average production of 10 million engines per year, Briggs & Stratton is the world’s largest producer of gasoline engines for outdoor power equipment.
A Low-Tech Approach Shows A High-Tech Industry Is Alive And Well
August 18, 2011 8:29 am | by Rob Akers | CommentsDespite predictions of doom and gloom from the pundits earlier this decade, U.S. manufacturing is in fact alive and well, and gaining momentum against overseas competitors as evidenced by the popularity of the NTMA purchasing fair. In the age of email, websites, Twitter and Facebook, it’s easy to forget that, in sales, there is no real substitute for the personal touch.
Steeped In Tradition With Modern Sensibilities
August 18, 2011 8:09 am | by Doan Pendleton, Vice President of Sales and Marketing, VAC-U-MAX | CommentsWhile working on a major efficiency project that culminated in an expansion effort, one company also sought to cut down the amount of lifting employees were doing manually in its production department. With over 34 years in the herbal supplement arena, Traditional Medicinals has combined the ancient art of traditional formulating with the most modern scientific methods of quality assurance and production, and remains dedicated to preserving earth’s natural resources, both human and natural.
How Facebook, Skype, Google May Increase Internet Usage Fees
August 16, 2011 9:07 am | Commentsby Dylan Persaud, Managing Director, Eval-Source In Canada there is still a debate going on with the CRTC, internet service providers and the internet consumers. In one our previous posts we suggested that internet usage fees will increase due to the pushback from ISP’s and lack of a CRTC decision to protect consumers.
The Color Of Money
August 16, 2011 8:15 am | by Anna Wells, Executive Editor, | CommentsManufacturers must be willing to take the long-view of energy efficiency purchases and their varying abilities to pay back: through improved relationships with suppliers and customers, better employee "ownership" of processes, or — the most basic — the greenbacks going back towards the bottom line.
Raising Prices, Not Customer Ire (No Longer Available)
August 15, 2011 12:36 pm | CommentsThe requested article was removed from Manufacturing Business Technology at the author's request. We apologize for the inconvenience. Please feel free to check out some of our other editorials, in addition to videos, products, and headline news at www.
Robot Supplier Develops 'Robotic Educational Package' For Schools
August 15, 2011 9:33 am | CommentsABB Robotics has developed a “robotic educational package” allowing schools, colleges and universities to purchase a complete robot package at an affordable cost for hands-on teaching of programming and operational concepts in the classroom and lab. ABB Robotics has developed a “robotic educational package” allowing schools, colleges and universities to purchase a complete robot package at an affordable cost for hands-on teaching of programming and operational concepts in the classroom and lab.
What Are We Going To Do Now?
August 12, 2011 7:06 am | by Jeff Reinke, Editorial Director, Manufacturing Business Technology | CommentsA look at how manufacturers can benefit from continuity planning, and resources ( http://www.continuityinsights.com/subscribe ) for handling everything from supply chain shortages to natural disasters. We’re fascinated by the photos and video of the earthquakes and tornadoes – both during the event as well as in the wake of their destruction.
Using Technology To Optimize Workstation Performance
August 12, 2011 7:03 am | CommentsOne company employed solutions to address system noise, heat, and dirt issues, while leveraging its bus extension technology so operators can run SCADA system software across multiple monitors without any image quality, latency, or system performance concerns. A2A Reti Elettriche Spa, a company within the leading Italian multi-utility group A2A S.
Manufacturing Technology Orders Up 103.9% From June 2010
August 11, 2011 11:09 am | CommentsAt $61.82 million, June manufacturing technology orders in the Northeast Region were down 2.9% when compared with the $63.68 million total for May but up 18.3% when compared with June a year ago. The year-to-date total of $367.33 million is 72.1% more than the comparable figure for 2010. Southern Region June manufacturing technology orders in the Southern Region totaled $65.
