Optimizing material utilization is critical to profits. Every bit of material you can save, and time you can save when fabricating it, contributes to an equation of success. Like with any endeavor, economies of scale apply. This comes into play for inventory, individual units...
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Preparing for Post Covid “Normal”
08
Dec2020
There’s no question that circumstances have been difficult over the past year. Are there any among us who anticipated the way the economy would be turned upside-down, over night? The pandemic has injected unprecedented levels of uncertainty into literally every aspect of life. The...
Read MoreWhat’s Happening with Warehouse Logistics?
01
Dec2020
Warehouse logistics are changing. Here are some ideas for improving the distribution process. Many rely on advances in technology, and will require a financial investment. Consider them carefully and analyze your options based on ROI, and then take steps to keep up with the...
Read MoreKeeping Up with IT Changes in Manufacturing
23
Nov2020
The manufacturing industry continues to faces challenges in IT (information technology). There was a time when IT was “separate but equal,” running parallel to the manufacturing process in order to track and analyze it. Now IT is often the lifeblood of a manufacturing company,...
Read MoreHealthy Workers Are Efficient Workers
12
Nov2020
Efficiency is the Holy Grail in manufacturing. While we focus a lot on efficiency of our capital investments, let’s not overlook our most valuable asset – our human capital. Manufacturing jobs are often physically demanding. They may require workers to sit or stand in...
Read MoreBoosting Efficiency During Covid-19
06
Nov2020
Manufacturing has always been driven by efficiency. As we face the challenges of COVID-19 – disrupted supply and demand, worker absenteeism, reinventing our internal systems and procedures – efficiency becomes ever more critical. Businesses everywhere have endured costly disruptions and have had to lay...
Read MoreWorkplace safety has always been critically important in the manufacturing industry. Historically we’ve been concerned with matters such as injuries and exposure to toxins. Today, in the COVID-19 era, our focus includes transmissible disease. Manufacturing facilities often face extra challenges in this arena, because...
Read MoreHow To Build A Responsive Supply Chain
25
Oct2020
2020 brought us face-to-face with major disruption. COVID 19 had a huge impact on some supply chains, and served as a vivid reminder that supply and demand are sometimes extremely unpredictable, despite our best efforts to predict them. The lesson: A responsive supply change...
Read MoreDisruption might accurately be named the theme of 2020. A sudden global pandemic threw both demand and supply chains into disarray, leaving many manufacturers scrambling. This disruption cast focus on the tension between rigor and agility. On the one hand, manufacturing has traditionally thrived...
Read MoreThe Future Of Automation In Manufacturing
15
Oct2020
While quality is a top priority for all good manufacturers, there’s pressure from all sides to do things faster, better, and cheaper. One strategy worth exploring is increasing automation. Britannica.com defines three types of automation in production: Fixed automation, also known as “hard automation,”...
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