Much has been written about “shift work,” and the higher incidence of disease and other health-limiting factors among those who work irregular schedules and long hours. Multiple studies point to serious long-term effects, including higher rates of cancer, diabetes and sleep disorders. Less prominent has been the discussion of a more immediate risk to shift-worker […]
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Improving productivity and profitability are two key areas manufacturers work to perfect. This isn’t always an easy task. Creating preventive maintenance plans has long been an industrial best practice and it ensures that scheduled equipment maintenance and routine cleanings are completed. This practice alone can help reduce downtime, but there is more work to be […]
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The shortest distance between success and sustainability may not be a straight line – it’s more likely a circle. Or to be more precise, a circular economy. Today’s dominant economic approach is often described as “take-make-dispose,” meaning we take resources, we make whatever we want, however we want to make it, and then, when our […]
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The terms “hygiene” and “the Internet of Things” (IoT) may seem worlds apart – unless your world is industrial hygiene management. In that case, you may feel overwhelmed trying to sort out the hype from the helpful information. Here’s a quick introduction to the current practice and future potential of IoT in the management of […]
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Research shows that, in the U.S. alone, illness and injury cost employers as much at $576 annually. The good news? Businesses can significantly lower those costs by concentrating on the Three Ps: 1. Programs 2. Products 3. People Create programs for health and safety to keep your bottom line from getting hurt. When it comes […]
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You may be staring right at a $300 billion auto service and repair market opportunity, but not seeing it at all: women. Your competitors are starting to take note, though, which means either you do the same, or you give away your share of what is now an essential source of auto shop revenue. Pep […]
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Industrial workers aren’t afraid to “get down and dirty” on the job – but they’ll be happier, safer and more productive if their work environments are equipped to be kept as clean as can be. This requires more than a once-in-a-while initiative of posters and pamphlets encouraging your workforce to be mindful of the mess. […]
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Like many management philosophies, 5S often remains just that: a philosophy, an ideal never fully implemented on the shop floor, but given plenty of lip service from the boardroom to the bulletin boards. However, if companies just apply a little common sense, some uncommon supplies, and plenty of committed follow-through, 5S can translate into surprising […]
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Much of what we think of today as environmentally sound practices and policy is a result of decades-old thinking. On its face, the idea of reuse and recycling seems to confer obvious benefits to both the environment and to us. But as we look beyond simple household practices, a more complex picture emerges of what […]
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When the trend-spotting Huffington Post starts to write about shop towels versus industrial wipers, you know something bigger than typical shop talk is going on. One of their articles featured a study1 from Gradient, the environmental research company, exposing just how toxic even freshly cleaned cloth rental shop towels can be. And while the author […]
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