Although the United States Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics reported the unemployment rate as “little changed” in August at 4.4%, not all industries saw lack of improvement in the latest Employment Situation Summary. In fact, manufacturing was a bright spot with job gains, having increased by 36,000 with increases in motor vehicle and…
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It is no secret that one of the cornerstones to a successful preventative maintenance program is good practices when it comes to lubricating mechanical equipment. Any device that has the potential for metal on metal contact is one that can suffer a high rate of failure if not properly maintained. Every maintenance worker we have…
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It might seem like there’s little point in educating your children about manufacturing. After all, with the continuing rise of automation, it feels like there might not be any manufacturing jobs in a few years. However, manufacturing jobs are not disappearing just yet. And we will still need people to supervise that automation and run…
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Just this week, it was announced that Alcoa, the company responsible for the widespread development of aluminum, is bringing their headquarters back to Pittsburgh where the company was founded. On the surface, the move could be seen as a resurgence in aluminum manufacturing in the United States. However, growing costs and the rise of cheaper…
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With talks Aug. 16-20 on rewriting the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and more scheduled to begin today through the Labor Day holiday, it’s a hot topic in the news — and for manufacturers. When the agreement went into effect more than 20 years ago, the goal was to make trade with Mexico and…
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Programmable Logic Controllers or PLC’s are used in a variety of applications and can range from basic to extremely complex. The question we address here today is, do you need a Safety PLC or can you utilize a Standard PLC in your design? Each piece of automation control has its own safety requirements based on…
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For manufacturers moving to the IIoT, machine learning might seem like yet another hurdle after moving to intelligent processes. But, rather than detract from their abilities to function in this new world of Industry 4.0, machine learning works alongside IIoT processes, offering manufacturers the ability to get even more out of their intelligent upgrades. Machine…
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When it comes to the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), those who aren’t yet working with connected devices daily in their manufacturing plants might feel like outsiders. Traditional manufacturing still plays an important role, but, by 2030, IIoT processes could enhance long-term career growth in the sector, grow the global economy by trillions, and bring…
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What Is ETL? ETL is a testing laboratory headquartered in London that specializes in benchmark performance testing, electromagnetic compatibility testing and product safety testing for electronics. They maintain 30+ offices and laboratories around the world. Since its original founding in 1896 by Thomas Edison, ETL has implemented revolutionary effects. ETL formed to ensure customers…
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It is no secret that Manufacturing in the U.S is now in a positive growth cycle. A few factors which include a Chinese recession, policy easing from government regulatory agencies, and a somewhat pro-jobs focus from both political parties has given U.S manufacturing an edge…for now. According to many reports this growth can stall. Why?…
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