Many businesses have adapted the Japanese just-in-time system for inventory control as a way to minimize overhead and only handle products when they’re on demand by customers. This clearly leaves time and space for other aspects of the business such as repurposing physical space and cross-training employees. But how does it affect the manufacturing side…
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What does the Great War have to do with manufacturing today? When you consider the manufacturing growth, accomplishments, and advancements the First World War ushered in, it’s easy to see their connection — even 100 years later. Before the war The American Civil War, following so closely on the heels of economic gains sparked by…
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If you are in need of an additional piece of electronic equipment, you have three options. You can buy a new piece of equipment, you can buy a used version of the same equipment or you can buy a refurbished version. There are disadvantages and advantages to all three. Here are a few points to consider….
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Let’s take a walk along your manufacturing plant floor. Are some of your machines silent because they stopped working? Are you unable to find replacement parts because they’re so old? Do workers stand around other machines while mechanics fix them for the umpteenth time this week or month? And what about your remaining machines: Are…
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A happy worker is a good worker. For example, a 2015 University of Warwick study revealed productivity jumps 12% when manufacturing workers are happy. Feeling good about one’s workplace also happens when employees don’t have to be concerned about safety issues that could lead to injury — or even death. In fact, safety and happiness…
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Food contamination cost manufacturers a shocking $55.5 billion a year and the average amount of food recalls in the United States consists of 550 different types of products yearly. A product recall is a request to return a product after the discovery of safety issues or product defects that might endanger the consumer or put…
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Everyone is or has been part of a team at some point in time. It could be at your place of work, a sports team, community fundraiser, or club of some kind. The individuals on those teams had one common goal they were trying to accomplish together – to win. Teamwork is something I have…
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The process of reusing and recycling materials such as plastic and cardboard is nothing new. Businesses and consumers have been recycling for decades to help reduce carbon footprints. The bigger change is factories have been popping up that specialize in manufacturing raw materials from previously unusable material, especially materials that are difficult for the average…
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Compressed air systems are everywhere in manufacturing — transportation air brakes, inflatable buildings, and even pipe organs. When pneumatic systems fail, workers can suffer injuries and business leaders can lose money and productive time finding their causes and repairing or replacing them. If your pneumatic system isn’t operating well or has quit working altogether, follow…
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One of the most misunderstood and therefore naturally misdiagnosed failure modes is electrical noise. Often times we’ll see customers and other service centers call any unexplained failure of single board components a “noise” related failure. This is especially the case when there is not a clear path of circuit damage that leads to an input,…
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