News

Not Properly Protecting Connected Environments is Unnecessarily Risky

As plant connectivity intensifies, manufacturers need to embrace best practices to address the evolving threat landscape. The benefits of connected industrial environments can be phenomenal. However, as manufacturers have continued along the digital journey, many have figured out the hard way... Continue Reading

FNA 2020: Technical Sessions Announced

It is proven that companies that have well-trained employees on trends, technology, and enhancements in their industry minimize errors, and increase productivity and morale. Knowing that, why would you pass on the opportunity to bring your top management to Furnaces North America 2020, where... Continue Reading

Coronavirus Now Possibly Largest-Ever Cyber Security Threat

The cumulative volume of coronavirus-related email lures and other threats is the largest collection of attack types exploiting a single theme for years, possibly ever. The total volume of phishing emails and other security threats relating to the Covid-19 Coronavirus now represents the largest... Continue Reading

Lean Manufacturing in a Digital World

Operational excellence never goes out of style, and done right, smart technologies enable better decisions, faster. It’s a question that crops up with amazing regularity: What’s next after Lean Manufacturing? It’s an odd inquiry, really, because it implies that you... Continue Reading

Why Relational Connection is so Important During the Coronavirus Pandemic

The novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has created the need for social distancing, quarantine, and isolation so that vulnerable individuals are not exposed to the virus and health care systems are not overwhelmed. Collectively, we understand the goodness of “flattening the curve”... Continue Reading

Safety Training Tips & Best Practices

Numerous, specific federal OSHA standards require that employees receive training. In the standards book (29 CFR 1910 for General Industry, including heat treaters and related industries), the table of contents does not list general “training” headings. However, in the 1910 index,... Continue Reading

From Surviving to Thriving: Reimagining the Post-COVID-19 Return

For many, the toughest leadership test is now looming: how to bring a business back in an environment where a vaccine has yet to be found and economies are still reeling. The 1966 World Cup marked a low point for Brazilian soccer. Although the winner of the previous two tournaments, the team... Continue Reading

Industrial Hygiene for the Non-Hygienist

Keeping workers healthy with vigilance and common sense. For many, the term “industrial hygienist” or “occupational hygienist” conjures the image of a highly trained technical wizard—part toxicologist, part engineer, part ergonomist, part chemist, with a... Continue Reading

How Organizations Can Better Manage and Prioritize Security Patches

Discovering how not to treat all vulnerabilities as equal is a key strategy in patch management, says risk-based vulnerability firm Kenna Security. Patch management can be a challenging task for any organization. With the sheer volume of hardware and software vulnerabilities regularly discovered,... Continue Reading

How to Leverage an Unexpected Plant Shutdown to Improve Your Electrical Safety Procedures

When unexpected crises, like COVID-19, cause unexpected shutdowns, safety managers should capitalize on the opportunity to reevaluate safety procedures across the board. As the old saying goes, when life gives you lemons, make lemonade. Well, there’s certainly no shortage of lemons these... Continue Reading

Key Resources Helping Members Push Through COVID-19

When it comes to any crisis, having the right information and resources at your fingertips is critical to weathering the storm and minimizing the negative forces working against your company. The key in any storm is to remember, “You can’t control the storm or the wind, but you can... Continue Reading

MTI Industry Status Report: April 28 Check-In Business & COVID-19

Starting on April 3rd, MTI began sending a “weekly check-in” to members to help gauge the operations status of heat treating companies. Here are the latest results from our three key questions requested by members as of this week: At what level of operations is your plant? These... Continue Reading