Many companies are familiar with lean manufacturing concepts and have successfully used these techniques to improve manufacturing processes. Lean techniques, while most often used in printed circuit fabrication and assembly operations, can also be applied to nonmanufacturing processes. One such process is new part number introduction (NPIP). The main thrust […]

Whilst management of the supply chain is essential to every manufacturing operation, it is how that process is managed that will make a difference to the outcome in the long term, writes David Maddison of Plexus. The application of lean six sigma principles to the production process as we know […]

Empire Precision Plastics, a precision molder of optic and intricate molded components, has hired new engineering and manufacturing managers as part of their ongoing expansion. John Meabon, an RJG Master Molder and Empire’s new Tooling & Engineering Manager, has more than 30 years of experience in plastic mold design and […]

In industry, an increased need for budget cuts can put even the best manufacturing efficiency plans under pressure. European manufacturers are estimated to spend over €400 billion every year on maintenance. With this figure in mind, could it be possible to decrease expenditure while improving efficiency? John Mitchell reports European […]

“Lean” is a very pesky word. I’ve come to suspect that it conjures images of starvation and poverty in people’s minds; which is why at social gatherings, I always wince a bit when someone asks about my business philosophy. I’ve found that as soon as I drop what I’ve come […]

The Internet of Things (IoT) promises entirely new worlds of opportunity in many industries, but chief among them is the change that IoT and the machine-to-machine revolution is delivering in the manufacturing space. The streamlined process, the end-to-end visibility, and the cost savings they deliver now and in the future […]

As part of Superior Machining & Fabrication’s expansion into the aerospace sector, the North Texas manufacturer has completed a list of upgrades to its machine shop. The upgrades are expected to prepare the company for clients in the aerospace industry. The improvements include the purchase of new CAD/CAM software, a […]

That would be a great quote from Booz Allen, if it weren’t slightly ahead of its time. New machines want to speak to us and want to be part of orchestrated processes in the factory, but we are not there yet. The mission ahead for Smart Manufacturing initiatives is to […]

Sturtevant, WI — (SBWIRE) — 02/19/2016 — Topper Industrial, a leading manufacturer of various material handling equipment, discussed the systems, equipment, and processes required by original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and Tier 1, 2 and 3 component suppliers in the automotive industries. The processes in place must support just-in-time (JIT) delivery […]

A staple of the manufacturing world, the Lean methodology has been gaining traction in healthcare. Historically, “Lean” is a set of focused management practices based on the Toyota Production System. This includes tools for prioritization and alignment, tools to see and eliminate waste, and tools for quality and structure. Clearly, […]