The manufacturing world has been buzzing for a few years now about the tech-driven, digitally-empowered, sky-is-the-limit transformation called The Fourth Industrial Revolution. There’s only one catch – there aren’t enough revolutionaries to go around. The manufacturing shop floor may be all Internet of Things, but the manufacturing workforce is still just trying to figure out […]
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In an industrial world where the reality of plant maintenance is, for many, still defined by 19th century resources like shop rags (versus plentifully available high-tech industrial wipers), it may seem strange to discuss seemingly futuristic innovations such as Augmented and Virtual Reality (AR & VR). But new research from global management consultancy PwC points […]
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If your company is not among the 75% of manufacturers projected to be using industry clouds as soon as 2020, there is just one question you need to ask yourself: “Why in the world are we letting ourselves fall behind?” The use of vertical industry clouds is exploding as a trend, given the ability to […]
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Managers may not always think of the words “manufacturing” and “hygiene” in the same sentence – but management experts at leading institutions like Harvard and The George Washington University certainly do. In fact, they and other leading thinkers and practitioners are helping shape the discipline known as industrial hygiene. This is a field that extends […]
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People are keeping their cars longer and longer – an average of nearly 12 years according to one industry survey. That means that auto shop owners can significantly boost the lifetime value of each and every customer if they master these five keys to keeping customers happy today…tomorrow…and farther into the future than ever before: […]
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It’s the $11 billion question – how can US industry avoid slip, trip and fall (STF) accidents on the job? That’s how much those types of workplace accidents cost manufacturers and other employers each and every year. Fortunately, this costly question has a few relatively easy answers. One: Take advantage of the right materials and […]
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Technology is transforming every facet of modern life, and nowhere is the impact more dramatic than in manufacturing. The pace of change is so rapid, and the technologies so complex, that it is easy for manufacturers to become overwhelmed. One way to achieve a sharper focus as we head toward Industry 4.0 is to first […]
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Food recalls are up dramatically, with a four-fold increase in just the last few years. This situation not only threatens public health, it also undermines the financial health of affected corporations. The average food recall in the U.S. costs food processors $10 million in direct costs, while long-term financial impacts can be even greater, due […]
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Since the introduction of Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI) in the 1980s, it has rapidly evolved into a way to control costs, improve process and strengthen the vendor and customer relationship. Given the impact that effective integration can have on the bottom line, and the rate at which the processes and technologies behind it are changing, […]
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The recent excitement around consumer-grade 3D printers may make it seem like there is a hot new tech fad emerging. In fact, 3D printing began in the 1980s, and has been heating up in the manufacturing space for some time. It currently represents a six-billion-dollar industry – one that is set to grow exponentially. The […]
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