News

Security Expert: Gamification, Encouragement Vital to Boosting Worker Engagement

Public acknowledgement and rewards for engaging in cybersecurity best practices will result in greater workforce buy-in and participation, according to a security author and expert. "You don't just make it a negative thing," said Jayson Street, Vice President of Infosec for Manhattan-based... Continue Reading

MTI Recognizes Leaders and Announces $35,000 in 2018 Scholarships

MTI’s 2018 Spring Meeting, held in conjunction with the Industrial Heating Equipment Association, April 23-25 was a huge success. Over 200 people from both associations convened in Scottsdale, Arizona for two days of energetic social connection and informative educational sessions. During... Continue Reading

Cyber Threat to Industrial Control Systems Highest Yet

The cyber threat to industrial control systems has never been greater, according to a report analyzing malicious activity aimed at such systems. Cyber security risks to the safe and reliable operation of industrial control systems have never been greater, the report said, but although numerous... Continue Reading

Don't Overlook Mobile Device Security

As remote access to plants grows, so too should your knowledge of mobile device cybersecurity. Fortunately, newer mobile networks, such as 4G LTE, inherently manage many of the risks. Industrial control system (ICS) security has been a major topic for more than a decade now. Over the past few... Continue Reading

Reinventing Machine Maintenance with Remote Monitoring

IIoT is transforming the way manufacturers identify problems on the plant floor as the latest wireless solutions address integration challenges. A flashing red light on the plant floor often signals a problem on a production line or in a work cell. It’s a familiar scene in Lean... Continue Reading

MTI Launches NEW Courses & Heat Treat P.E.A.K. Performance Program

Having adequate training in any heat treating operation is a must in today’s low labor pool and fast-paced environment. Having production line staff that have a “full understanding” of heat treating operations, technical knowledge, and how each element of production is... Continue Reading

Evolution of Maintenance: Today’s Walk is Tomorrow’s Crawl

The 20th century produced incredible advances in technology, beginning with the moving assembly line installed by Henry Ford in 1913, reducing the time it took to build a car from 12 hours to under three. One hundred years later, car manufacturers can produce over 500 cars in one hour. As... Continue Reading

NAM Manufacturers Outlook - Expected Manufacturing Growth Over Next 12 Months

In the latest Manufacturers’ Outlook Survey, 93.5% of respondents feel positive about their own company’s outlook, the second-highest reading in the survey’s 20-year history following the all-time high of 94.6 % in December. Optimism has been at historically high levels... Continue Reading

Investing in Your Plant’s Future Today

SUZANNE GILL REPORTS ON THE ISSUES SURROUNDING INDUSTRIAL DIGITALIZATION AND FINDS OUT WHY IT IS VITAL TO PUT IN THE GROUNDWORK NOW TO ENSURE A SMARTER FACTORY IN THE FUTURE. Digitalization is becoming increasingly common in the industrial sector as automation vendors develop ways to make their... Continue Reading

Predictive Maintenance: Beyond the Crystal Ball

Every manufacturing leader would love to know about a looming problem minutes, hours, and even days before it occurs to prevent or minimize the negative effects of the issue. Yet, too often operations leaders still simply adopt the scheduled maintenance intervals recommended by equipment... Continue Reading

Updated Standard Encourages Proactive Weighing of Hazards

When the new ISO 9001:2015 certification standard was announced in late 2015, it made waves in manufacturing due to its heavy emphasis on risk management. In our experience, in helping companies become ISO 9001:2015 certified, we’ve seen firsthand how the value of embracing a risk-averse... Continue Reading

Don’t Let Delaying an ERP Decision Hold Your Business Back

In a perfect world, functionality and ease of use would be the top criteria manufacturers use when deciding to purchase, replace, or upgrade their Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) solution. Unfortunately, in the real world, cost considerations rear their ugly head. Business leaders are concerned... Continue Reading