NAM survey showed that “manufacturers have proven that with our grit, determination, and patriotic spirit, we can overcome any challenge facing the nation.” As an industry that has dealt with adversity many times, manufacturers are facing the current pandemic with the same... Continue Reading
Start your meeting off on the right foot, and you'll be much more productive. "How can I get my team to engage? I'm doing everything right, but they're still just sitting there." I was talking with a frustrated leader at a healthcare facility. Her team meetings had always been lackluster, so... Continue Reading
Inventories of raw materials and finished components are diminished because of the COVID-19 pandemic, yet many manufacturers don’t realize the cost of downtime caused by stock-outs and other production-related problems. In fact, some companies underestimate factory downtime by as much as... Continue Reading
Stabilize operations, optimize throughput, and maximize your profits. Restarting a manufacturing operation is a huge undertaking in calm times. When you factor in the complexities of the post-pandemic environment, it can be overwhelming. Follow these six steps for a clear path to stabilize... Continue Reading
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
