Production and Operations
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.
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.
Timken Panel To Review Steel Business Strategy
June 11, 2013 9:26 am | by The Associated Press | News | CommentsTimken Co. said Monday it has formed a strategy committee to consider separation of steel business from its bearings businesses. The committee is made up Joseph Ralston, who will serve as chair of the panel, and the other eight independent and non-Timken family members of the board of directors. Goldman Sachs will assist the committee in its evaluation.
Canada Charges Nestle, Mars With Price Fixing
June 7, 2013 9:42 am | by The Associated Press | News | CommentsThe accused in a chocolate price-fixing case could face a bitter fate if convicted — millions of dollars in fines for the companies and potential jail time for the individuals.Canada's Competition Bureau said Thursday it is laying criminal charges against Nestle SA's Canada arm, Mars Inc.'s Canada division and ITWAL Ltd., a network of independent wholesale distributors.
Lenovo Marks First U.S. Manufacturing Plant
June 7, 2013 9:33 am | by Emery P. Dalesio, Associated Press | News | CommentsThree business reasons — quicker, closer and custom — prompted computer maker Lenovo Group to open its first U.S. manufacturing operation in North Carolina instead of low-cost foreign locations like Mexico or China, its North American president said.
Lenovo Ramping Up Jobs At PC Manufacturing In NC
May 29, 2013 9:52 am | by The Associated Press | News | CommentsLenovo Group is ramping up its first American manufacturing operation for personal computers. The No. 2 computer maker said Tuesday its new production line near Greensboro is on track to meet its hiring target of about 115 jobs by the end of June. Lenovo is based in China but has executive headquarters in Morrisville, where about 2,000 work.
OECD: Europe Remains Threat To World Economy
May 29, 2013 9:31 am | by Greg Keller, Associated Press | News | CommentsThe OECD again slashed its forecast for the 17 European Union countries that use the euro, saying it will shrink by 0.6 percent this year, after 0.5 percent drop in 2012. The OECD had predicted a 0.1 percent decline for the eurozone in its report six months ago — and this time last year, it forecast growth of nearly 1 percent for 2013.
Trailblazing Israeli Electric Car Company To Close
May 28, 2013 9:46 am | by Josef Federman, Associated Press | News | CommentsIt was an audacious idea that came to symbolize Israel's self-described status as "Start-Up Nation," a company that believed it could replace most gasoline-powered cars with electric vehicles and reduce the world's reliance on oil — and all within a few years. But it all came crashing down.
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.
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.
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.
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.
U.S. Factory Output Falls In April
May 15, 2013 10:39 am | by Martin Crutsinger, AP Economics Writer | News | CommentsU.S. factories cut back sharply on production in April, as auto companies cranked out fewer cars and most other industries reduced output. The Federal Reserve said Wednesday that manufacturing output dropped 0.4 percent in April from March. It was the third decline in four months and the biggest since October.
China Beefs Up Law To Fight Food Safety Scandals
May 3, 2013 9:21 am | by The Associated Press | News | CommentsThe Supreme People's Court said Friday that the guidelines will list as crimes specific acts such as the sale of food excessively laced with chemicals or made from animals that have died from disease or unknown causes. China's penal code, which forbids unsafe and poisonous food, does not specify what acts are considered in violation of the law.
Handmade In Detroit
May 2, 2013 12:14 pm | by NBC News | Videos | CommentsWillie J. Holley III and Lakishka Raybon, employees of the watchmaker Shinola, share their pride in creating watches by hand. Heath Carr, CEO of Bedrock Manufacturing, explains why it is important to be in Detroit, a city with a rich manufacturing history.
PLM As Strategic Corporate Asset
April 15, 2013 10:44 am | by Kevin Prendeville, Managing Director, Accenture’s Product Lifecycle Services | Articles | CommentsAn analysis by Accenture has found that large high-tech companies can spend one billion dollars or more per year on Product Lifecycle Management processes. By improving these crucial processes to deliver products to market on time that meet customers’ requirements, these firms can substantially increase revenues and reduce costs.
Kubota Corp. Opens New Plant In Ga.
April 9, 2013 9:40 am | by The Associated Press | News | CommentsGeorgia Gov. Nathan Deal Monday announced the grand opening of the new Kubota Corp. plant in Jefferson — about 20 miles northwest of Athens. Deal says the 522,000 square-foot plant has brought 200 jobs to the city. Officials say the plant will produce Kubota's 30 to 50-horesepower compact tractor models.
Judge Approves Twinkies Sale
March 19, 2013 4:03 pm | by Candice Choi, AP Food Industry Writer | News | CommentsA bankruptcy judge has approved the sale of Twinkies to a pair of investment firms, one of which has said it hopes to have the cakes back on shelves by summer. Hostess Brands Inc. is selling Twinkies, Ding Dongs, Ho Hos and other brands to Apollo Global Management and Metropoulos & Co. for $410 million.
Ericsson, STMicroelectronics To Cut 1,600 Jobs
March 19, 2013 8:56 am | by The Associated Press | News | CommentsSwedish wireless equipment maker Ericsson and Switzerland's STMicroelectronics say they will lay off up to 1,600 workers globally as part of a plan for splitting up their unprofitable joint venture. STMicroelectronics, one of Europe's largest chipmakers, announced in December that it wanted out of ST-Ericsson as it struggled with a downturn in global demand.
Google Cutting 1,200 More Motorola Jobs
March 8, 2013 8:22 am | by The Associated Press | News | CommentsGoogle says it's cutting an additional 1,200 jobs in its Motorola division as the unprofitable cellphone maker struggles to compete. The latest reductions come on top of the 4,000 Motorola job cuts that Google Inc. announced last year, and they will be in countries including the U.S., China and India.
Replacing Outdated Worm Gearboxes
March 6, 2013 2:53 pm | by MIHow2 | Videos | CommentsMarathon Electric shows us the advantages of using the Hera Max drive system over outdated worm gearboxes to increase efficiency and lower energy costs by up to 40 percent. Worm gearboxes are used in many manufacturing facilities working at efficiency levels that could be costing companies money.
Chrysler To Invest $374M In The U.S.
February 28, 2013 4:18 pm | by Tom Krisher, AP Auto Writer | News | CommentsChrysler said it will invest nearly $400M and create 1,250 new jobs at transmission and metal casting factories in the Kokomo, Indiana, area. CEO Sergio Marchionne confirmed that Chrysler will spend $162M and add 850 new jobs at a former Getrag Transmission plant in nearby Tipton. The company will spend another $212M for equipment and tooling at three other factoring, creating 400 new jobs.
Valerus Partners With Brilex Industries For NE Production Equipment Manufacturing
November 14, 2012 9:59 am | News | CommentsValerus, one of the world’s leading providers of oil and gas handling and processing solutions, has partnered with Brilex Industries, to manufacture oil and gas production equipment for building surface facilities in the Marcellus and Utica shale plays. Valerus will ship its first order of locally-manufactured equipment to customers this month.
Lockheed Martin Ousts New CEO For Relationship
November 13, 2012 9:55 am | News | CommentsLockheed Martin Corp. has ousted its president and future CEO over a relationship with a subordinate. The defense company said Friday that its board of directors asked for and received the resignation of Christopher Kubasik from his role as vice chairman, president and chief operating officer.
Microsoft Says Windows Head Sinofsky Leaving
November 13, 2012 9:52 am | News | CommentsMicrosoft Corp. said Monday that Steven Sinofsky, the president of its Windows and Windows Live operations, is leaving the company. Sinofsky's departure comes just weeks after the Redmond, Wash., software company launched Windows 8, which represented a major overhaul of its ubiquitous computer operating system.
