Component parts become obsolete. You can’t avoid it. Diminishing natural resources, technological developments, and changing market demands make obsolescence inevitable. But that doesn’t help plant and floor managers. If the parts are essential, obsolescence can be disastrous. They’ll have to scramble to find replacements somewhere. They could search for cross-use parts that fit to succeed…
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Self-driving, completely driverless cars aren’t just a thing of the future – they’re already here. Advances in the technology allowing cars to maneuver streets without human involvement are in testing and development and could be offered to consumers as early as 2018. The crux – both regulation and ancillary industries like insurance need to keep…
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A breakdown in communication at a manufacturing facility can cause extreme turnaround time and great expense. Who is in charge and how does equipment get purchased? Is it the maintenance team’s responsibility or the purchasing department’s responsibility to ensure that the facility will continue to operate in the best environment possible? Who is to blame…
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A common dilemma manufacturers face is whether they should repair broken machines or replace them with new equipment. A traditional rule of thumb is the “50%” rule, which states you should replace if the repair cost is more than 50% of the replacement cost. But that begs the question: Does replacement cost refer to similarly…
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Manufacturing has evolved over the centuries with key strategic additions from various groups. Prefabrication has been a manufacturing technique for millennia. Guilds date back as far as the 11th century when tradesmen created rudimentary business networks to control the production and practice of their craft. The Ford Motor Company introduced the assembly line, fabricating cars…
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Driven by technological and material advances as well as a demand for more energy-efficient transportation and tools, “lightweighting” has become an important trend that’s significantly impacting manufacturers. It affects virtually all manufacturing, maintenance, and repair involved in the transportation industry along with business involving products people carry by hand, such as luggage, electronics, chainsaws, and…
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The Programmable Logic Controller or PLC can be found in a variety of applications worldwide. From vending machines to the space shuttle, the PLC has filled a huge void in automation technology. While many companies use PLC’s in some form or fashion, many have no idea of the origin of this innovative piece of technology….
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It can be hard to grow your business when you’re constantly putting out fires. Managers as well as plant and maintenance supervisors may wear many hats on any given day. Complying with governmental regulations relevant to your industry can feel like a full-time job by itself — but you’re likely in charge of hiring and…
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Plans are starting to formulate for international companies to locate some of their factories in the United States in order to avoid President Trump’s proposed import tax on goods coming into the country. While building and maintaining facilities in the U.S. tends to be much more expensive than other countries, some companies are weighing the…
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Maintenance is an extremely important part of any manufacturing business small or large. Without a regular inspection and repair schedule for your equipment, things can quickly fall apart. In fact, not keeping track of this information can lead to productivity loss, income reduction, and client base elimination — not a good trifecta if you’re trying…
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