Downtime is the worst. It’s an incredibly frustrating feeling knowing that every time the second hand moves, you are hemorrhaging money, and there’s nothing you can do about it. The automotive industry typically experiences more downtime than any other manufacturing industry. It’s been reported that downtime in the auto industry can cost as much as… Read more »
Servo motors and automation have increased the speed of packaging production beyond what people could have imagined even a decade or two in the past. Even so, human decision making continues to be key to efficiency in packaging. The physical components of your line are just one one of the things you need to think… Read more »
Robots are becoming increasingly common in manufacturing. Machines have been used in manufacturing for ages, but the number of jobs being automated is rapidly increasing. But this boom in robotics isn’t limited to just manufacturing. Automation and robotics are growing fields that reach to many industries. Robots have been replacing everything from bank tellers to… Read more »
Think of a construction site. Depending on how familiar you are with construction, you might get an image of a bunch of guys wearing yellow hats wielding hammers and drills. Or maybe you visualize those famous images of construction workers fearlessly traversing I-beams hundreds of feet up in the sky. However, you probably aren’t picturing… Read more »
You might have heard the term additive manufacturing being thrown around recently. Additive manufacturing, or AM, is another word for 3D printing. 3D printing is a process that involves continually adding layers to create an object. The name additive manufacturing basically signifies that the manufacturing process is additive, unlike the traditional process that involves the… Read more »
3D printing is becoming an increasingly important technology. What started out as a limited means of creating plastic models and prototypes has evolved into something much more sophisticated, and much more valuable. 3D printing is a technology that can improve a person’s quality of life. Healthcare is just one of many industries already benefiting from… Read more »
The Internet of Things is more than a just buzzword. The term buzzword refers to something that is important, but it’s not necessarily going to continue to be important. Everybody’s talking about it one minute, and it’s gone the next. However, the Internet of Things is more than just a fleeting buzzword. It’s rapidly becoming… Read more »
What is Facebook’s role in Industrial Automation? Well, right now it doesn’t really have one, but the world’s largest social network might be looking to change that. Facebook has advertising for an electrical engineer who has “10+ years designing electrical systems for industrial automation, vehicles, or robotics”. Facebook isn’t the first tech company to try… Read more »
Oil prices have dropped significantly over the past few months. June of last year saw crude oil prices of $107 per barrel. Now, prices are nearing $80 a barrel. That’s a pretty big difference for just half a year’s time. On the surface this seems like nothing but great news. Cheap gasoline means more spending… Read more »
Manufacturing has been on the rise here in the United States. It’s all that anyone can talk about. But who can blame them? The U.S. was a major player in manufacturing, fell off the map, and is experiencing a manufacturing renaissance. Government and private interest is breathing new life into the industry, and poising the… Read more »