Although we are still in the early days of 2018, recent economic data can be used to shape projections for the year ahead and provide a sense of how manufacturing is likely to be impacted. The industry outlook appears strong for 2018 with plenty of room for growth opportunities. But what indicates economic stability and…
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In the millennial era, customer service is more important than ever. Providing good customer service has always been good business, but in a world where so many services are available on demand, being able to provide a good product fast just isn’t enough anymore. In fact, with many companies, it seems there is a bit…
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When sizing a motor for any application there are a lot of factors to consider. Requirements such as speed, torque, frame-size, ramp-up and load all need to be carefully considered. But the first consideration when choosing a motor is understandably how much work can be performed by said motor. The amount of “work” an electric…
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Amazon has been vetting cities to be the home of its second headquarters after its Seattle-based facilities. More than 230 cities in the United States and Canada submitted bids to the ecommerce giant, hoping to lure the company and the potential of 50,000 new jobs and $5 billion in investments to their area. After careful…
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By taking a look at what’s happening in the 12 U.S. Federal Reserve Regional Districts’ manufacturing sectors, you can get a good idea about the state of the industry nationwide. Analysts use this regional information, with some regions reporting on a monthly basis, to form accurate insights and chart progress for the sector. In December,…
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In every industrial facility, operators face tough decisions from time to time regarding the state of certain machines, parts, tools and devices. In the midst of forecasting overhead budgets and mulling over profit margins, a machine part might suddenly show symptoms of irregularity. When it comes to a crucial part of the manufacturing line, such…
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December was another good month for manufacturing as the economic rebound continues. While the picture is not 100% rosy and industry challenges still exist, manufacturers have many bright spots to consider. ✅ Positives The most important manufacturing number is the U.S. Institute for Supply Management (ISM) monthly purchasing manager index (PMI). In December, the index increased…
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So far, 2018 appears promising for continued manufacturing job growth bolstered by factors such as the new tax reform. But the low unemployment rate — holding steady at 4.1% — shows manufacturers who are hiring are having difficulty finding skilled laborers. These factors further prove job growth is a fluid situation that requires constant monitoring if company…
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Development in the manufacturing industry is becoming a huge issue. Many of the most skilled workers in manufacturing are retiring, and it’s getting harder and harder to find new young workers with the skills to replace them. What can we do to attract more talented people to the manufacturing industry? It is clear that sitting…
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Due to their cost, outfitting maintenance personnel with a thermal imaging camera was once too expensive to be practical. But as technology advances, thermal or IR cameras are becoming increasingly affordable and have a definite place in any maintenance managers arsenal. Of all the inspection tools we could cover, it is hard to beat the…
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