September 24, 2012
There is no shortage of debate and discussion over the future of American manufacturing: From political campaigns and boardroom tables, to national newspapers and industry journals, to academic institutions and economic think-tanks, there is no shortage of ideas about how the U.S. economy in general and manufacturing in particular will evolve to meet the new challenges and realities of the 21st Century.
The United States was built on its industrial prowess; from cars and planes to soft drinks and light bulbs, Made in the USA was a brand that consumers know they can trust. While that reputation has only grown with continuous investment in quality control and efficient production methods, the last few decades have seen enormous changes as a global economy has moved many jobs overseas, taking the supply chains and labor pool of trained workers with them.
Despite this trend, a growing sense of optimism and a renewed commitment to U.S. competitive advantage seems to be taking root in the manufacturing community. During the development of the Third Annual American Manufacturing Strategies Summit 2012, an advisory board of industry experts identified a number of key questions every manufacturing executive should be asking as they work to grow their business in a still-volatile economy:
1. Are we using the best tools, tactics, and technology available to maintain our competitive advantage?
2. Does reshoring make good business sense as my company optimizes its global footprint?
3. How do we develop, attract, and retain the skilled workers we will need to succeed?
4. How can we get proactive about risk management, especially when looking at our supply chain?
5. What public and private programs, organizations, and associations exist to help us succeed in embracing new ways of doing business?
6. What can I bring to my organization as a leader to drive positive outcomes on new ideas and improved processes?
For three days in October several hundred people including a speaker faculty of over fifty industry experts drawn from some of the most successful manufacturing organizations in the United States will seek to answer these and other questions in a series of case studies, panel discussions, workshops, keynote presentations, and master classes based on their own experiences.
If you are interested in joining this discussion or would like more insight on these issues, visit: www.manufacturing-summit.com
At 30,000 feet, equipment failure is simply not an option, which is part of why additive manufacturing has been a bit slow to catch on in the aerospace industry. But according to Michael Idelchik, vice president of GE’s advanced technologies research, GE Aviation is still looking for more ways that additive manufacturing can help to create a better airplane...
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Despite reassurances of automation professionals throughout the industry, some experts simply aren't convinced that technological advancements in robotics and automation aren't negatively impacting U.S. employment rates, which is what Erik Brynjolfsson and Andrew McAfee of the MIT Sloan School of Management have been arguing over the past year and a half.
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As far as modeling and simulation are concerned, nautical transportation isn’t one of the first things to come to mind. Still, it presents a unique use case for computer-integrated manufacturing, as the focus of the modeling and simulation is on the construction process itself. By coordinating the insertion of massive hull blocks, it not only streamlines construction, but it improves safety as well.
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Jun 18, 2013 |
When it comes to testing a new line of trucks, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that automakers such as Ford aren’t afraid to be tough on their latest models. But separating the pounding the trucks can take from the test driver can get a bit tricky, which is why Ford has recently handed the keys over to robots instead of flesh-and-blood drivers.
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Jun 14, 2013 |
Last month’s news of 3D printers entering brick-and-mortar Staples stores may have represented a major step in mainstream commercialization of additive manufacturing tools, but in what is perhaps an even bigger step, online retail giant Amazon recently added a dedicated section of its site to 3D printers and supplies.
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Jun 12, 2013 |
In the wake of the economic downturn, reshoring efforts and increased emphasis on STEM, there’s plenty of uncertainty about where global manufacturing is headed in the next several years. Helping to give us a better sense of this trajectory is a group of thought leaders who have come together to try and answer the most pertinent questions about the future.
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Jun 11, 2013 |
As the U.S. manufacturing sector fights to stay competitive on a global scale, the issue of improving STEM education has been key. But in a recent study measuring how workers in STEM fields are putting their educations to use it was found that half didn't need a bachelor's degree.
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Jun 10, 2013 |
Chevrolet has added digital manufacturing technology to its arsenal. Abandoning clay for their latest Malibu, the automaker has turned to two types of additive manufacturing to meet their rapid prototyping needs.
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03/20/2013 | SAS | This white paper examines how an enterprise-wide quality platform can turn existing data into substantial and sustainable revenue growth and cost savings for global manufacturers. The paper is based on the findings of the IW/SAS Enterprise Quality Survey completed by more than 400 manufacturing executives. The objectives of the survey were to determine concerns about quality among manufacturers; investigate the tools used to measure quality; and examine how using enterprise-wide analysis on quality data improves performance.
07/19/2011 | Univa | TATA Steel Automotive Engineering’s concern grew when open source Grid Engine support and development was discontinued by Oracle. Grid Engine is a business critical application in their environment. They recognized the likelihood that product enhancements and innovations would cease. Read how TATA Steel Automotive Engineering moved from a self-support solution to Univa Grid Engine. You can get more out of your environment and your budget with Univa Grid Engine.
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