Manufacturing Tag

The Amazon Effect is Changing Manufacturing

January 14, 2019

The “Amazon Effect” is a term many have heard, but what does it mean? While it can mean different things to different people, in general, it refers to the phenomenon of how consumers’ interactions with Amazon are driving new expectations for how buyers and suppliers…

More Seeking Outside Provider Assistance and Collaboration

January 10, 2019

Today’s opportunities require cooperation across the ecosystem at large. As indicated by Forbes Insights research, transportation-focused executives will not only be looking to hire outside providers for a wider array of services, but they will also be seeking closer collaboration with suppliers, customers and even competitors….

Driverless Car Bill Needs Adjustments

December 19, 2018

There are many different industry and interest groups that have a stake in the outcome of the driverless car bill. The bill passed the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee by a voice vote in October, and a companion bill sailed through the House last year….

Metal vs. Plastic

December 07, 2018

Plastics.  They are everywhere from packaging to automotive body parts. It is no wonder that according to a research report by Global Market Insights, Inc. that the automotive plastics market size is set to surpass 50 billion by 2024. Anything plastic can be made by plastic…

How to Decode a VIN

December 03, 2018

There are 17 numbers and letters (17 positions) in a vehicle identification number  (VIN) and you can divide them into three groups: World Manufacturer Identifier, Vehicle Descriptor Section, and Vehicle Identifier Section. Typically, the VIN is stamped into a plate that may be located in…

Benefits of Virtual Prototyping

November 19, 2018

Virtual reality is not as new as one may think. In 1935, Stanley Weinbaum released Pygmalion’s Spectacles – a science fiction story. The story’s main character wears a pair of goggles which transports him to a fictional world which stimulates his senses aptly and features…

Democrats May Control NAFTA’s Fate

November 12, 2018

November elections are finally complete and now the fate of President Donald Trump’s proposed replacement for the North American Free Trade Agreement may rest in the hands of Democrats who won control of the U.S. House of Representatives last week. Reclaiming the House for the first…

Quality is More Than Creating a Good Product

October 30, 2018

Quality has been defined as fitness for use, conformance to requirements, and the pursuit of excellence. Even though the concept of quality has existed for some time, the study and definition of quality have been given prominence only in the last century. 1920s: quality control….

Smart Safety Increases Productivity and Up-Time

October 22, 2018

Smart safety uses the same concepts as smart manufacturing or Industry 4.0. As with smart manufacturing, connectivity and real-time analytics can also extend to industry safety. Smart safety can help not only monitor and manage your safety performance, but also transform operations. By connecting safety…