Manufacturing has always been the backbone of the U.S. economy. In recent years, however, its status as an economic powerhouse has seemed to be threatened. In 1953, the industry made up over 28% of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP). In 2015, on the other hand, it dropped to just 12%. Because of these trends, many…
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Deciding where to live and work can be a difficult decision to make. For manufacturers, immediate concerns may include good pay and reasonable living costs — but there is much more to choosing a great location to work in manufacturing. For example, industry professionals may also consider long-term aspects such as potential income growth in the coming…
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Happy New Year everyone! We hope your holidays were relaxing, memorable and full of joy. We decided to collect a few wish list items that should make it on any maintenance departments New Years Resolution list. Gather and Store All Machine Documentation Machine data is most commonly seen in three layers. The first is on paper…
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Living in modern times lets us enjoy access to advanced technologies that make us happier and more productive. But along with these modern conveniences come new opportunities for would-be thieves and criminals to exploit what you’ve built and us it for their own purposes. In the wide world of various manufacturing industries, one such avenue…
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Earlier this year, we made note of the announcement of a Foxconn manufacturing facility in Wisconsin and the estimated impact the plant would have on the local community. Recent news has shown the incentives package to woo the Taiwanese company to America’s Dairyland has grown. Foxconn manufactures a range of electronics, including Apple’s iPhone, and…
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Both preplanning and planning are foundational steps in the shift to smart manufacturing. These two steps lay the groundwork for company leaders to institute smart manufacturing plans to elevate their companies’ competitiveness in the industry and benefit both their customers and investors. To implement those plans, however, it’s important to understand the value of a firm foundation,…
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What Is a CNC Machine? What Are Some Things That Can Cause Issues in CNC Machines? How Does CNC Machining Work? CNC Troubleshooting Tips Have your CNC machines been behaving oddly lately? Do you notice a strange tick in their output, or in the way the machines are acting? If so, you’re in the right…
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Preplanning for the shift to smart manufacturing includes recognizing its benefits, understanding how smart manufacturing fits in a particular company, and preparing employees at all levels for a lengthy transition. What’s the next step? After the preplanning thought process, it is time to develop a comprehensive plan. Why plan? Planning is essential when preparing to move…
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Many tout the smart occurring manufacturing revolution, but the truth of the matter is the recent boom of interest in smart manufacturing is more an evolution than a revolution. Improving processes and expanding company reach have always been priorities, and employees have been using technology to address those concerns for decades. However, past technology was…
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Cyber-hacking is one of the most significant threats to the security, production, profits and reputation of companies throughout the manufacturing sector. Despite this, many insurance companies have balked at offering cyber-insurance, due to the high costs and frequency of data breaches. Why Cybersecurity Is So Important in Manufacturing The problem is most of all troubling…
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