Revolutionary change doesn’t sweep through overnight. It often takes years of slow progression marked by big milestones — until one day a new norm exists. Such is the case with Industry 4.0. We’ve been inching towards it for years now — starting with automation and integrated technologies — but today barriers still exist that keep…
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Our world is a mobile one and increasingly, manufacturing operations are trending that way as well. Managers govern today’s facility floors with tablets and techs service machines with smartphones — technologies that provide on-demand information, wherever it’s needed. More than just being a convenience, these mobile technologies are changing the way manufacturing managers handle facility…
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The rise of automation within the manufacturing industry has meant a learning curve for many workers. Many once feared losing their jobs to machines that could perform their precise, repeatable tasks at a faster pace. While, at one time, the prospect scared many away from even considering a career in manufacturing, many of those same…
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It’s a well-known truism in industrial and organizational psychology that happy employees are more productive employees. Researchers discovered years ago that there is a meaningful employee happiness impact on your company’s success. Over and over again, we have seen companies with comprehensive employee happiness programs succeed, sometimes beyond anyone’s wildest dreams. It’s great for owners…
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Machine learning and artificial intelligence are becoming crucial to how we function as a society today, both in our daily lives and in industrial sectors like manufacturing. Those who are wary of this rise in the value placed on machine learning express concerns about machines “taking over,” or replacing human jobs. The truth, however, is…
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Last weekend, the governments of the United States, Canada and Mexico came to agreement on a new trade deal to replace the North American Free Trade Agreement. Known as the United States-Mexico-Canada-Agreement (or USMCA), the deal sees most changes coming to cars, labor standards, digital trade and intellectual property. Let’s focus on the portions of…
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Maintenance backlogs are a standard part of operations. You can’t possibly perform all required maintenance on the same day for your entire scope of equipment — logistics simply don’t permit it. Instead, you end up with a maintenance backlog: a trailing list of tasks that are approved and need to be completed. For streamlined operations,…
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Of the many reasons for mechanical failure in heavy machinery, simple threaded fastener failure accounts for a disproportionate amount of maintenance. Bolts once secured tightly rattle loose by vibration or strip during service, leading to eventual failure and associated problems. Worse still, identifying compromised fasteners isn’t always an easy task, making it hard to thwart…
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Audit is one of the most dreaded words in the manufacturing realm. Most managers instantly associate it with a time-consuming process that frivolously breaks down their operations and points out every little detail that they could improve. Well, in fact, that’s what an audit is all about: improvement. Maintenance audits are no exception to the…
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Factory managers and maintenance specialists have a lot to keep track of when it comes to routine machine maintenance. Holding to precise schedules, keeping diligent records, and staying current on each equipment piece’s status are all paramount at maintenance time. While paying close attention to each machine’s needs, it’s crucial not to overlook the techs’…
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