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The Fourth Industrial Revolution Emerges from AI and the Internet of Things

Big data, analytics, and machine learning are starting to feel like anonymous business words, but they're not just overused abstract concepts—those buzzwords represent huge changes in much of the technology we deal with in our daily lives. Some of those changes have been for the better,... Continue Reading

How to Safely Implement Collaborative Robots

As collaborative robots continue to be introduced in manufacturing, some key safety hazards need to be addressed before collaborative robots can be safely implemented on the line. The introduction of collaborative robots (cobots) in manufacturing has presented some unique safety challenges for... Continue Reading

Use Technology to Accelerate Through Uncertainty

Digital investments can help your company be resilient amid changes in the economic environment. There is a high level of uncertainty surrounding the pace of economic growth. The International Monetary Fund predicts that global growth will have slowed to 3.0% by the end of 2019, down from 3.6% in... Continue Reading

Robotic Exoskeletons: Coming to a Factory, Warehouse, or Army Near You…Soon

Robotic exoskeletons, from single-joint systems to full-body kits, are beginning to be deployed across industry and the military. Exoskeletons have been a staple of the sci-fi imagination for decades: think Tony Stark's Iron Man outfit, or Aliens' Ripley suiting up to shift containers (and battle... Continue Reading

NAM Achieves Year-End Victories on Trade, Health Care, and Taxes

The NAM scored significant legislative wins for manufacturers this week, many of them years in the making. Recently the House approved the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement, in a strong bipartisan vote of 385-41, sending it to the Senate for a vote in early 2020. Both chambers... Continue Reading

When Your Face is Your Key

Is manufacturing ready to embrace facial recognition technology? Whenever the topic of facial recognition surfaces, it tends to garner immediate reactions. For instance, according to the Center for Data Innovation, one in four Americans think that the government should strictly limit the use of... Continue Reading

NAM Global Manufacturing Economic Update

Global Economy Shows Signs of Stabilization Despite Ongoing Weaknesses. The global economy remains weak, but there are signs that manufacturing activity has stabilized. Indeed, the sector continues to grapple with slowing growth and trade uncertainties, but there are also... Continue Reading

Is Succession a Dirty Word?

Planning for a key employee's departure is not inviting turnover or expressing disloyalty to staff. It's a necessary step for long-term success. Job growth and unemployment rates continue to hold fairly steady in the US, spurring ongoing conversation about a tight market for talent. Many of... Continue Reading

Monday Economic Report

Essential Takes on Leading Economic Indicators By Chad Moutray, Ph.D., CBE – December 9, 2019 – SHARE A Solid Jobs Report Ends 2019 The Weekly... Continue Reading

An Evolutionary Approach to Supply Chain Digitalization

Implementing connected supply chain solutions iteratively helps to start getting a payoff earlier, as even a basic IIoT solution can already drive operational improvements. According to the recent survey conducted by Geodis, 77% of enterprises claim to have limited visibility into their... Continue Reading

Siemens Takes a 'Zero Harm Culture' Approach to Safety

Culture change is a continuous journey. Do a Google search on the words "zero harm," and the results that pop up are not entirely rosy despite what on the face of it sounds like a worthy workplace safety aim. While the concept has its proponents, it also has detractors. Critics suggest the... Continue Reading

Kristen Speer Joins MTI Management Team

MTI’s Management Company, Tom Morrison & Associates, is pleased to announce Kristen Speer has joined their team as Director of Member Experience and Financial Administration. Kristen is a University of Tennessee alum with a Bachelor’s in Interdisciplinary Studies with a... Continue Reading