Every business has expenses — manufacturers even more so than other industries. But having a robust maintenance, repair, and operations (MRO) strategy can help keep factory expenses low. The key is making good investments in maintenance strategy that pay dividends via saved repair costs and more reliable operations. We’ve previously discussed the numerous costs that…
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Fires and explosions have long been concerns of the manufacturing industry. Since the Industrial Revolution, fire has continually been an area of focus and a cornerstone for everything from safety product development to policy and procedure. And while we’ve made great progress in mitigating the number of terrible disasters caused by manufacturing fires each year,…
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Condition-based monitoring is the new gold standard in maintaining equipment. Machines receive service before they break down, and techs respond to anomalies in real time — all but guaranteeing the avoidance of unpredicted downtime. And while no system is perfect, condition-based monitoring sets the tone for smooth, scheduled, predictable factory maintenance and repair. Unfortunately, many…
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There’s a lot to love about additive manufacturing. It has the power to lower costs, streamline repeatable processes, and take human intervention out of the equation. But as we all know by now, additive manufacturing also comes with a few barriers to implementation. This technology has never really reached its peak potential. That said, new…
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The rise of the industrial internet of things (IIoT) has come about so rapidly that many manufacturers are just now starting to understand its capabilities. Unfortunately, this also means some key aspects of integration have gone largely overlooked. Cybersecurity is among them, but it can’t be overlooked for much longer. If manufacturers want a hope…
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Downtime happens — often when we least expect it, and frequently at the most inconvenient times. In fact, nothing about downtime is convenient! It’s a mess, but it happens nonetheless. It’s best to make the most of a bad situation. The next time you’re dealing with unanticipated downtime, take a minute to look for the…
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Machine stress manifests in many different ways. Some problems are more distinct than others. Friction, for example, can be seen, heard, or even smelled! Other problems such as soft foot offer only subtle clues they’re occurring. In fact, a condition such as soft foot requires specific checking to make sure it’s not going unnoticed. It’s…
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The February 2019 Manufacturing ISM® Report On Business® has arrived, and with it comes a mixed bag of perspectives. The numbers show a continuing cool-off spanning the industry. In defiance of these figures, however, manufacturers’ spirits are up and optimism about the industry is running high. Let’s take a look at both sides of the…
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Understanding how efficient your maintenance, repair, and operations (MRO) strategy is can yield a lot of insight. Examining costs not only unlocks opportunities for improvement but can also show you where regression may be present. Specifically, an assessment can help explain why good maintenance strategies result in net negatives for your business. When they do,…
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All it takes is a single part failure or mechanical malfunction to bring your factory operations to a screeching standstill. As soon as production stops, the scramble to set things right begins. Factories without an emergency repair plan in place will quickly find themselves under pressure to remedy the issue. Unfortunately, they may end up…
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