New proposed tariffs on imported goods and a renewed focus on American-made products has sparked conversation as to the ramifications of an economy that produces American, buys American and sells American. Globalized manufacturing and trade will always be a part of the American economy, but an “America First” approach for the majority of industries would…
Read More
In any manufacturing plant, safety is of utmost importance. Not only does it make for a better work environment but safety is also vital to employee happiness and can enhance productivity. What do manufacturing leaders establishing or revamping safety procedures need to focus on? These three tips can help: Require initial and ongoing training. When…
Read More
In this world of international commerce, and with the balance of imports vs. exports seeming to favor foreign nations more every day, it sometimes feels there just aren’t any American products around anymore. Nothing could be further from the truth. There are hundreds of American-made products in stores, many of which you can support your…
Read More
In popular culture, one story dominates that of women in working in manufacturing: Rosie the Riveter. She was created by the United States government as a marketing campaign character for recruiting women to the workforce — especially the manufacturing industry — to fill the shortage of male workers, a result of WWII. Aside from this…
Read More
In the age of smartphones, consumers want it their way, they want it all — and they want it now. As more industries move to on-demand delivery, manufacturing needs to keep up. But how can those in the industry move to this level of need-it-now personalization, and what are the benefits — and drawbacks —…
Read More
What Does UL Mean? UL Standard Accreditation What Do Approved, Listed and Recognized Mean? What Are the Differences Between UL Listed and UL Recognized? How Do I Know Whether a Product Needs Recognized or Listed? Difference Between UL and ETL What Do Other UL Logo Markings Mean? Why Use UL Rated Products? Ensuring each application…
Read More
With a one-two punch Hurricane Harvey left much of Huston under water and, at the time of this writing, Irma has devastated much of the south and continues to churn its way through Florida up into the southeastern states. Flooding from these storms have damaged hundreds of thousands of homes and shut down many businesses….
Read More
As flood waters begin to recede and citizens begin the process of cleaning up and rebuilding, many industries are at a standstill while petrochemical plants wait to come fully back online in the wake of Hurricane Harvey. More than 80% of the country’s base plastic production is housed in the Gulf Coast region, and energy…
Read More
With smarter machines and intelligent manufacturing plants come changing roles for robots. And collaborative robots — or cobots — are the next iteration of automation on the plant floor, working alongside their human counterparts and assisting them with tasks. And with new official safety specs for these cobots, working with machines is becoming ever more…
Read More
United States consumers typically have an urge to purchase products manufactured in the USA. This fact, combined with open expanses of land and tax incentives have made even foreign manufacturers consider manufacturing operations in the United States. The southeast, in particular, has welcomed the growth from companies such as Nissan, Volkswagen and Kia. Sentury Tire…
Read More