Manufacturing
U.S. Durable Goods Orders Rise In April
May 24, 2013 10:18 am | by Martin Crutsinger, AP Economics Writer | News | CommentsU.S. orders for long-lasting manufactured goods rebounded in April, buoyed by more demand for aircraft and stronger business investment. The gains suggest economic growth may be holding steady this spring. Orders for durable goods, items expected to last at least three years, rose 3.3 percent last month from March, the Commerce Department said Friday.
Cheap Energy Will Bring Back U.S. Jobs
May 23, 2013 5:02 pm | by CNN Money | Videos | CommentsAnalyst Meredith Whitney says that the flood of cheap, natural gas will ultimately bring manufacturing jobs back to the U.S. Manufacturing growth in parts of the U.S. are at moving at the same rate or better than emerging markets growth, while some parts of the country are still struggling and possibly clouding the picture of growth.
Five Step Plan To Attract Next-Generation Manufacturing Talent
May 23, 2013 12:52 pm | by Bobby Rudder, Director of Marketing & Communications, Godlan Inc. | Articles | CommentsAs manufacturing specialists visits facilities throughout the U.S. each week, one consistent theme continues to come into focus: the knowledge and skill-level that is exiting the organization with retirement is becoming increasingly difficult to replace with today’s applicant pool. In fact, it’s the buzz in manufacturing media almost daily now.
Gaining Competitive Advantage Through Inventory Control
May 23, 2013 12:38 pm | by QAD Inc. | Articles | CommentsHeadquartered in Plymouth, Michigan, FNST’s North American plants are the company’s benchmark for lean manufacturing practices, with QAD Enterprise Applications as its core ERP solution. Managing more than 400 suppliers and more than 8,600 stock-keeping units (SKUs) requires a high degree of supply chain collaboration.
Increasing U.S. Manufacturing In Technology
May 23, 2013 10:08 am | by HectorRuizSlingshot | Videos | CommentsIn many industries today, particularly in technology, the U.S. is experiencing some transformational changes that will open the opportunity for the U.S. to regain a foothold in manufacturing. The U.S. lost that edge because companies were tempted by the idea that low cost labor was important forever, and moved significant amounts of infrastructure to other countries, which made it difficult to stay competitive.
Saving Time And Money With Project Management
May 23, 2013 9:58 am | by Manufacturing Business Technology | Videos | CommentsProject management is particularly effective in a manufacturing environment, considering the number of variables involved such as maintenance schedules and projects, run times, and quality control.
The Latest ERP Trends For Manufacturers
May 23, 2013 9:44 am | by Sage ERP Solutions | Videos | CommentsLearn what the three most important new trends are in ERP, and how they will play a key role in helping manufacturers run their businesses more efficiently. Sage points out what manufacturers need to do to take their ERP to the next level.
British Firms Face Ethical Dilemmas In Bangladesh
May 23, 2013 9:34 am | by NBC News | Videos | CommentsFor the first time, Tesco, one of the largest retailers in the world, opened the doors to its factory in Bangladesh. ITV News visited a production center said to be ethically run. It manufactures many of the 40 million garments made in Bangladesh every year for the supermarket giant Tesco.
A Look At ERP Software Obstacles And Trends
May 22, 2013 10:23 am | by Jon Minnick, Associate Editor, Manufacturing Business Technology | Articles | CommentsManufacturing Business Technology took some time with Pete Zimmerman, manufacturing segment manager of VAI, on selecting ERP software, the obstacles manufacturers face, and the latest functionality trends hitting the market.
Sony Mulls Hedge Fund's Entertainment Sale Idea
May 22, 2013 9:44 am | by Elaine Kurtenbach, AP Business Writer | News | CommentsSony's CEO Kazuo Hirai says the electronics giant's board will discuss a proposal by U.S. hedge fund manager Daniel Loeb to spin off up to 20 percent of its movie, TV and music division. Hirai was asked about the proposal at a corporate strategy presentation Wednesday.
New Robot Safety Standard Approved
May 22, 2013 9:32 am | by Robotic Industries Association | News | CommentsA new American national robot safety standard has been approved by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). Developed by Robotic Industries Association (RIA), the standard has been updated for the first time since 1999 and is now harmonized with the International ISO standard for robot manufacturers and integrators.
Safety Board: ATF Blocking Plant Blast Probe
May 22, 2013 9:24 am | by The Associated Press | News | CommentsFederal agents and the state fire marshal have effectively barred a federal safety panel from the site of a Texas fertilizer plant blast that killed 15 people and injured about 200 others, hampering its investigation, the panel's chairman said.
U.S. Auto Factories Cutting Back On Summer Downtime
May 22, 2013 9:22 am | by Dee-Ann Durbin, AP Auto Writer | News | CommentsThe three Detroit carmakers traditionally shut factories for 14 days around July 4 to do maintenance and change the machinery for new models. But they don't have that luxury this year. U.S. demand for new cars and trucks has been strong, up 7 percent through April, led by soaring demand for full-size pickup trucks.
Fix Your Enterprise Application Performance Issues — Before They Fix You
May 21, 2013 10:38 am | by Kieran Taylor, Director of Product Marketing, Compuware APM | Articles | CommentsDue to the importance of the work and functions they support, fast, reliable enterprise resource planning (ERP) applications are the lifeblood of a well-oiled manufacturing business. However, heightened end-user expectations combined with the increased complexity of modern application delivery environments make it very difficult to ensure strong performance.
MBT Manufacturing Newswire - Remaking American Security
May 21, 2013 10:20 am | by Manufacturing Business Technology | Videos | CommentsIn this episode of MBT’s Manufacturing Newswire, remaking American security, Amazon eyes the smartphone market, and a blow to the nation’s labor unions. We’ll also updated you on Window’s Blue, take a brief look at the uncertainty in U.S. manufacturing, and the liability surrounding 3-D printed guns.
Economists Predict Increase In Consumer Spending
May 21, 2013 10:07 am | by The Associated Press | News | CommentsThe economists predict that the U.S. economy will grow 2.4 percent this year and 3 percent next year. That's unchanged from their forecast in February. But they are more bullish on consumer spending and housing than they were three months ago, in part because of a more positive view about unemployment.
Judge Gives Final Approval To A123 Bankruptcy Plan
May 21, 2013 10:04 am | by The Associated Press | News | CommentsA Delaware bankruptcy judge has given final approval to the reorganization plan of failed battery maker A123 Systems Inc., which was the recipient of a $249 million Department of Energy grant. Monday's court hearing resolved minor outstanding issues following the sale of most of the company's assets to the U.S. arm of Wanxiang Group Corp. for nearly $257 million.
Walmart Pushing For More Ark. Product Makers
May 21, 2013 9:40 am | by Chuck Bartels, Associated Press | News | CommentsWalmart Senior Vice President Michelle Gloeckler said promoting in-state vendors will improve sales and help the world's largest retailer sell more U.S.-made products. Presently, 44 Arkansas suppliers produce 73 brands and 1,700 items for Walmart, according to the company.
Panel: Apple Uses Firms Outside U.S. To Avoid Taxes
May 21, 2013 9:37 am | by Marcy Gordon, AP Business Writer | News | CommentsThe strategies Apple uses are legal, and many other multinational corporations use similar tax techniques to avoid paying U.S. income taxes on profits they reap overseas. But the report found that Apple uses a unique twist, and lawmakers are raising questions about loopholes in the U.S. tax code.
GM Giving Paid Internships To 110 HS Students
May 21, 2013 9:31 am | by The Associated Press | News | CommentsGeneral Motors is kicking the tires on a unique new internship program for Detroit-area high school students. GM has hired 110 students for paid summer internships, the automaker said Monday in announcing the formation of the GM Student Corps, a program that combines service, education and mentoring.
Advances In Mobile Collaboration: Virtual Presence Brings Experts To The Problem
May 20, 2013 11:22 am | by Marieke Wijtkamp, Vice President of Marketing and Client Services, Librestream Technologies Inc. | Articles | CommentsEquipment downtime, lost production, delays in product reviews and high travel costs to troubleshoot problems can kill the bottom line. Time is money and it’s never been truer for companies with operations spread across the globe. When the best expert is located in New York and the assembly line is in the Far East, costs mount quickly when decisions are delayed.
Go Inside A Bangladeshi Garment Factory
May 20, 2013 10:55 am | by CNN Money | Videos | CommentsGarment factory owners struggle to shake off the stigma of poor working conditions after the tragic collapse of a rented facility that was not equipped for factory use. Garment workers now question how safe they are at their own factory jobs.
United To Restart 787 Flights
May 20, 2013 10:28 am | by Joshua Freed, AP Airlines Writer | News | CommentsUnited Airlines is getting its 787s back in the air. The planes are returning after being grounded for four months by the federal government because of smoldering batteries on 787s owned by other airlines. The incidents included an emergency landing of one plane, and a fire on another.
3-D Printers An Emerging Industry
May 20, 2013 10:24 am | by Jared Hunt, Charleston Daily Mail | News | Comments3-D technology isn't just for movie theatres and comic books anymore. In fact, it may very well reshape the landscape for American manufacturing. It's all thanks to advances in 3-D printing, also called additive manufacturing, which has seen tremendous growth in the last few years.
1 Millionth Jeep Wrangler Built At Toledo Plant
May 20, 2013 10:07 am | by The Associated Press | News | CommentsAuto workers in Toledo celebrated a milestone this past week. The 1 millionth Jeep Wrangler rolled off the assembly line at Chrysler's assembly plant that opened in 2006. Chrysler marked the occasion Friday with a ceremony at the production line.
