IMT Industry Market Trends: 2005 Archives

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December 30, 2005

Aforetime New Year's Wishes!

A bit too soon, sure, but we at Industrial Market Trends wish our dear readers the most pleasant of New Year's celebrations. ~~See you under the coffee table.~~ Catch you in 2006. Cheers.

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Light Thursday: Best of the Best of the Best, Part Deux

Best of the Best of the Best of 2005…continued…from Intel to Oprah, movies to wine, and sustainable corporations to things said when they thought the mics were off.

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December 29, 2005

Light Thursday: Best of the Best of the Best

If you're at work at all this week, you'll be off tomorrow for New Year's Eve, or at least heading out early. So, instead of Light Friday, we now officially have Light Thursday (With Part II of this piece to appear in tomorrow's Light Friday, just in case anyone's paying attention. 'Tis the time of year when media becomes obsessed with lists. In keeping with that time-honored tradition, we bring you some of the Best Lists of 2005.

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Reprocessing Nuclear Waste: Yucca Mountain, or a Hole in the Ground

Apparently, dealing with nuclear power plants' radioactive waste isn't as easy as originally thought to be. Yucca Mountain's big hole in the ground, wherein excess, unusable radioactive waste was decided to be deposited, is in a sort of purgatory. So an ambitious new kind of reprocessing has been proposed.

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December 28, 2005

Where is Google Going — Or Taking Us?

Wired magazine co-founder John Batelle, in an excellent article on CNN.com (The Future of Online Search), says "Search is one of the hardest computer science problems in the world." Let's take a look at where that statement is, and where it might be going.

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December 27, 2005

Senate Blocks Drilling in Alaska's ANWR

After a debaucherous holiday, we're back and diving right in to bringing you some significant info. Coming during the last few days before the Senate left for the holidays, a vote came down on Wednesday blocking drilling in Alaska's National Wildlife Refuge -- a Christmas gift for Democrats (and some Republicans) but a lump of coal for most Republicans.

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December 22, 2005

Happy Holidays, Dear Readers!

This will be our last pre-holiday post, until we return next Tuesday. From the IMT blog, we wish our dear readers a Merry Christmas (or cheer for whichever holiday you intend to celebrate). Happy Holidays! Be safe, but party hard. We sure will.

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Wal-Mart Thinks Supply Chain Issues Are Tough? Feh. Try Being Santa.

Inside is a (mostly) lighter take on Christmas: Business considerations of Santa's Global Supply Chain Ops. Hey, even Santa's heading for an RFID implementation.

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December 21, 2005

Manufacturing Christmas

Three staples of Christmas in America — the Christmas Card, Christmas Tree lighting and even Christmas Trees themselves — have their own histories of engineering, manufacturing and innovation.

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December 20, 2005

Dirty Little Secret of Holiday (Re-)Gifts

It's that efficient and practical but guilt-inducing shame that so many people take part in post-Christmas every year. The guilt is worse than ignoring that diet in favor of spiked eggnog and festively fattening sugar cookies. It's recycling that stupid snowflake sweater from a clueless relative. It is re-gifting. And, although arguably socially acceptable, there are certain rules by which to abide.

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December 19, 2005

Old Manufacturing Plants Never Die. Or Do They? Should They?

Is manufacturing really doomed in the U.S.? Or are there signs of hope? Some stats indicate that U.S. manufacturing is coming back, while most seem to indicate that we'll forever be a service economy. But look beyond the stats; look around your area.

December 16, 2005

Light Friday: Heaven on eBay, Pinched Grinch, Mashed Artichokes...

...a haunted 1992 Buick, a song for engineers, Santa Claus: An Engineer's Perspective, and so much more in this week's exclusive Getting-Close-to-Christmas Edition of Light Friday.

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Creative Baby Boomers Can Win $100,000!

We've had a great many reader comments (some decisive; some skeptical; some insightful; some, uh, "passionately obtuse") posted to recent coverage of Baby Boomers and a dubious labor gap. As such, we call your attention to this cool find -- a new contest that could win entrepreneurial age 60+ers $100,000 each.

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December 15, 2005

Congress Poised to Pass Law Regulating Security of Chemical Plants

Congress is now poised to try passing a law that regulates security both in and around chemical and petrochemical plants, which security experts say are among the most potentially deadly terrorist targets in the nation.

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December 14, 2005

Hydraulics, Servos and Gears – Oh, My!

Robotics seems to be one of the few areas of technology that makes it into the national media on a fairly regular basis. To clarify that observation, it's one of the few "hard" technologies to do so. As an engineer, what do you think of the future of robots?

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December 13, 2005

New Year's Resolution: Earned Value Management

As the deadline for development of comprehensive policies for agencies' use of Earned Value Management (EVM) rapidly approaches — December 31— the time to understand and plan for the requirement is now.

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December 12, 2005

IMT Premier Edition: The Great Engineering Gift Guide – 2005

While I typically don't get into the Christmas spirit until about 6 p.m. on December 24th, I wondered what cool gifts are available for the engineers in your midst, family, or circle of friends. If you're shopping, there's still enough time. If you're putting together a list, maybe there are a couple items here that you could highlight and pass along to Santa.

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December 9, 2005

Light Friday: Document Ruination, SUV Levitation, Cat Refrigeration...

…and much, much more in this week's edition of As the World Turns (Off Its Axis). Hey, I don't make this stuff up. I'm simply a communication conduit.

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December 8, 2005

FutureGen, DOE Partner for Coal-Fueled Power Plant Prototype

The U.S. Dept. of Energy this week entered into a cooperative agreement with the FutureGen Industrial Alliance to develop and site FutureGen, a $1 billion prototype of a coal-fueled power plant with a target of zero emissions, hydrogen production and carbon dioxide sequestration.

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December 7, 2005

Trick Engineering Question: Everyone Knows that an Iceberg Sank the Titanic, Right?

I love movies. While recently watching James Cameron's Titanic, opinions and reviews aside, I wondered, "Did an iceberg really sink the Titanic?" As it turns out — surprisingly — that was a reasonable question.

December 6, 2005

U.S. Manufacturing 2005: A Panoramic View

Throughout the year, we've covered various trends of U.S. manufacturing. Now we'll take our wide-angle lens to 2005's overall industry. Like Sergio Leone, we'll view the good, the bad and the ugly.

Report Confirms Skilled Labor Gap Already Impacting

We've frequently covered the purported threat of an impending loss of manufacturing's skilled workers. A new report now offers in-depth data that show the labor shortage is not only inevitable, but it is already affecting manufacturers.

Happy Returns In 2006: Year-End Tax Tips

Companies need to have their last-minute tax planning for the current year nearly complete by mid-December. Here we offer a few quick tips for businesses getting their finances in order.

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Top Technology Trends of 2005

Rather than the introduction of brand-new technologies, this year instead saw a number of established technologies come of age. Innovative nonetheless, these technology trends peaked or neared peaking in 2005.

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Burning Question

What's on your business' holiday wish list?

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Holiday Facts to Enhance Productivity

Your Christmas vacation is so close you can taste the cocoa, and you're quickly losing your motivation to be productive in the office. Seeing as you're not working anyhow, warm up to these fun holiday facts.

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Insects, Cabbage Can Teach Engineers

Forget textbooks. Engineers are advised to look to nature for teaching. In particular, according to scientists and researchers, engineers can learn a few things from ants, bees and Zen-fully smelly cabbage.

Volcanic Ash Mis-Prints

The mystery over when humans first populated the Americas continues to deepen. Footprint findings from July may not be written into the history books after all.

December 5, 2005

The Great Engineering Week — On Television

While the following are appearing on my local Comcast cable, most mentions within are from national stations and are included in Basic Cable, so you should be able to find them. Times, of course, will vary, so check your local listings as well as digital cable on-demand offerings.

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December 2, 2005

Light Friday: Computerized Chicken Jackets, Earth Songs (Cont.), Bionic Hands...

...interesting results of rotted wood, and even more ways to know if you're really an engineer.

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December 1, 2005

Oil Exploration and Drilling in Alaska, Part II

We've touched on just a few of the elements of drilling in the ANWR that will affect all of us. Let's resume with the people who live there...

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November 30, 2005

Oil Exploration and Drilling in Alaska, Part I

The plan for oil drilling in the Artic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) has been scuttled. It's expected that it's not over yet, though, with senior Senators likely to insist on this President Bush priority.

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November 29, 2005

2009 to See Global Motorcycle Demand Exceed 41mil Units

Global motorcycle demand is forecast to advance 4.9 percent annually through 2009 to 41.6 million units -- valued at almost $40 billion. And motorcycles will run on soybeans in 2007.

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November 28, 2005

PNN Exclusive! Part III: An Interview with My Daughter, the Six Sigma Black Belt

More on bureaucracies, fixing things without Six Sigma, and what's with this Green Belt/Black Belt stuff? A conclusion to a three-part interview series...

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November 25, 2005

Ghostly Light Friday

They're in the 'hood, the machine (pick-up truck), television, and even in civil engineering. Beware.

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November 23, 2005

PNN Exclusive! Part II: An Interview with My Daughter, the Six Sigma Black Belt

Bureaucracies, committees, and a few reasons why Six Sigma sometimes fails.

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November 22, 2005

'Digging' Boston's Highway-Tunnel System

Considered the largest and most complex highway-and-tunnel project in our nation's history, Boston's "Big Dig," in structural scale and scheme, is comparable to the great projects of the last century, including the Panama Canal, the "Chunnel" and the Trans-Alaska Pipeline.

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Innovative Eye for Cinema Design

EYE Cinema's design mixes tradition with technology, as the Galway movie theater snubs its figurative nose at conventional-designed cinemas. "A living canvas at one of the most prominent sites in the city, the traditional cinema experience is turned back-to-front."

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Ford Marries Brawn, Brains

Targeting those who do business on the road, Ford soon will offer wireless mobile offices in its F-series pickups. Innovatively packaging familiar technology, the foundation will be a mobile computer with GPS, wireless broadband and a printer, with add-ons.

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Vaccinations Without the Prick

Although categorizing it as a gadget may seem dubious, an immunotherapeutics company's needle-less vaccine gun deserves acknowledgement for its innovative design, particularly in function: PMED enables shots without the prick of a needle.

Burning Question

If you could redesign one thing — anything at all — what would it be?

Are We Lacking Engineers? Or Are Engineers Lacking? (Does It Matter?)

Many United States companies say they are facing an alarmingly growing trend; that is, a severe shortage of engineers. Contrary to this belief, however, many others say there is actually an engineer surplus. Seriously, what is going on?!?

'Gentlemen, We Can Rebuild Him. We Have the Technology.'

A 'na-na-na-na-na'-Neuro-Controlled Bionic Arm allows its only amputee user to move his prosthetic arm simply by thinking it. Whereas he once lacked an arm, the device allows the user to be "better, stronger, faster" — the world's first bionic man.

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November 21, 2005

PNN Exclusive! Part I: An Interview with My Daughter, the Six Sigma Black Belt

In this first installment of a three-part series, we explore a blog item published last week (Six Sigma: Is It Greek to You?), taking a look at Six Sigma overall, the joys of statistics, and whether or not any philosophy or methodology should be applied across an enterprise.

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November 18, 2005

Light Friday: Scotty Again Airborne, Boosting Busts, Pirate Excuses, Radish Assault, Zen and a Hotdog

OK. I'm trying to be politically correct here. There are no references to alternative lifestyles, binge drinking, or eating goldfish in this week's selection of The Bizarre But True. Here are several interesting stories — some true, some not — and even a couple of engineering and science-related items in this installment.

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November 17, 2005

Boeing Goes the Distance…Goes for Speed…Goes Nonstop.

A Boeing Co. jet arrived in London from Hong Kong on November 10, breaking the record for the longest nonstop flight by a commercial jet, a record previously set in 1989.

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November 16, 2005

What Race Takes 8 Months to Complete Over a Course of More than 35,000 Miles?

That's in statute miles; this year's Volvo Ocean Race course is 31,000 nautical miles — in sailboats. OK, yachts.

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November 15, 2005

Employees Needed: Make Money Spending Money

There is currently a shortage of people with the right skills, education and experience to play strategic sourcing roles as purchasing professionals. If you meet the above requirements, companies are willing to pay competitively for you.

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November 11, 2005

Light Friday: Prehistoric Discovery, Accident Prevention, an Ostrich and a Deer. 'These Are a Few of My Favorite Things…'

No, there is no pattern to this week's selection. Well, there is. Sort of. But, as usual, that pattern isn't consistent. But wait, if it's consistently inconsistent, then maybe there's a pattern…

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November 10, 2005

Unaddressed Standards Undressed

Earlier this week, we stripped down ISO (and, though briefly, IEC) standards to their purpose and development process. Now we will do the same with a few more organizations and their development of industry standards, particularly ASTM.

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The iPod: It's Not Just for Eminem Commercials Anymore

Hidden capabilities and available add-ons can turn your play-only iPod into a serious business tool. Read on to find out just a few ways to teach your iPod to walk and chew gum…

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November 9, 2005

The Baghdad Bomb Squad

Unless your blood runs red, white and blue — or you have a death wish — finding, disarming and disposing of bombs in Iraq cannot be a fun thing by any definition. Robots, however, have made that horrific task a little easier —and a lot safer for humans. Umm, should we cut the red wire or the blue wire?

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November 8, 2005

So You're Leaning Toward Lean ...

Like many philosophies, lean manufacturing is somewhat conceptual. But is it beneficial? Dispensable? Is there a correct way to adopt it? Where does lean stand in the industry? Is it empirically verifiable? Actually, what does lean mean?

Clarifying Just In Time ... As Needed

Oft considered one part of a "lean bundle," Just In Time (JIT) is both a comprehensive inventory/manufacturing control system and a managerial philosophy in which no materials are purchased and no products are manufactured until they are needed. It is not a technique.

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Because You've Gotta Have Standards (or At Least Understand Them)

To have products and services that universally perform, companies must have a common framework, or standards. Do you know the exact connotation of international standards? We'll clarify what international standards are, particularly ISO, as well as their contributions.

Burning Question

Create a term or acronym for your own business/manufacturing strategy.

Speculating MIL-SPEC's Meaning

Predictably similar to so many other industry terms and phrases, MIL-SPEC and its numerous synonyms are amorphous. Tasking a targeted explanation is not a simple achievement. Though it lacks that one clear-cut definition -- for you, dear readers, we'll try anyway.

Chips for Light Speed

Stanford University engineers last month reported their discovery on how to modulate a beam of laser light up to 100 billion times per second with two materials widely used in the semiconductor industry.

Houses For Sail

Due to harsh weather and a global climate change, many hydrologists, architects and city planners are seeking ways to protect lowland housing. Some Dutch architects say, "If we can't fight the sea, we'll join it." Hence amphibious housing.

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November 7, 2005

Adobe vs. Autodesk: This Is Getting Really Interesting

Both companies have the expertise and the will to create a universal format for sharing engineering drawings and, apparently, neither is willing to give a scaled inch.

November 4, 2005

Employees Needed: Make Money Spending Money

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Alaska Piping Up...Again

At an estimated $20 billion, it is being called the largest private construction project in North American history. Now the decades-long issue of pipelining Alaska's natural gas is coming to a head.

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Light Friday: Brilliant New Web Advertising Paradigm, Bezos and Google, Adhesives Update, and the Value of Anger.

This week's selection of not completely light news and a few funnies.

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November 3, 2005

Models with Warped Branes to Explain Weak Gravity?

Of Interest: Harvard theoretical physicist Lisa Randall, along with John Hopkins professor Raman Sundrum, has come up with a possible explanation of why gravity is so weak compared with the other forces of nature. It has something to do with models with warped membranes, dimensions and Oreos.

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November 2, 2005

Cutting the Cord.

I've predicted for years that phones plugged into a wired grid will go the way of the B&W television set. Hey, finally looks like I got one!

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November 1, 2005

New York Named Logistics Leader

Although the state may not be renowned as the most people-friendly metropolitan area in the U.S., New York is the most logistics-friendly. This according to Expansion Management and Logistics Today magazines' annual rankings.

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October 31, 2005

Is Broadband Over Power Lines (BPL) Viable?

While other broadband technologies seem to be getting all the attention, a citywide BPL installation in Manassas, VA, begs the question: Is BPL feasible?

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October 28, 2005

Light Friday: Halloween, Depressed Dogs, Newly Discovered Engineering Quotes, and Gigantic Mushrooms

A selection of tidbits defying both gravity and description lies within.

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October 26, 2005

Going Nuclear, Part III

Q1: What's been the safest, most widespread use of nuclear power?
A1: You might be surprised.
Q2: Should waste be buried, vitrified and buried, or reprocessed?
A2: Seems no one's quite sure.

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October 25, 2005

Biometrics Beyond Prime Time

Biometrics is no longer such a leading-edge technology as to only appear in such far-fetched circumstances as those found on TV shows such as 24, Alias and CSI. Rather, it is increasingly being incorporated into the real-world enterprise.

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Fuel Cells to Prolong Tech Toys (and the Environment, too)

Although not yet widely used, and still requiring significant refinement, fuel cells are touted as a potential power source for most things that require energy or power, including our many electronic gadgets and technical toys. "Potential" is the watchword.

Hybrid-Auto Production Jumps

Hybrid vehicles still represent less than one percent of the U.S. market, but recent signs show they are on the rise. Some analysts have said that that one percent could grow to as much as 35 percent by 2015. (Others, of course, have been more conservative.)

Nano Ballyhoo

One long-hyped technology in the fields of science and engineering is the elusively defined nanotechnology, which still promises the future ability to shrink the scale and elevate efficiency of materials and devices.

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Burning Question

Of this issue's five 'hyped' technologies (biometrics, fuel cells, hybrid vehicles, nanotechnology, robotics), which do you consider the most promising?

Blowing Up Robots

The worldwide market for industrial and service robots is forecast to be worth more than $66 billion by 2025, while analysts estimate that about four million household robots will ship in 2007. Both output of robots and the attention paid them appear to be blowing up.

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Alaska Piping Up...Again

At an estimated $20 billion, it is being called the largest private construction project in North American history. Now the decades-long issue of pipelining Alaska's natural gas is coming to a head.

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Formulating the Perfect Sandcastle

Unable to leave a children's-favorite beach activity alone, scientists recently announced "an important advance in understanding static wet granular materials." They discovered the secret formula for building the perfect sandcastle.

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October 24, 2005

Going Nuclear, Part II

A bit more generalization and reality. (OK. Maybe this really should have been Part I, a la Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill I and II…)

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October 21, 2005

Light Friday: Trains, Planes, and Girl Attacks Pit Bull

Here's this week's selection of off-beat news, along with some signs of the times.

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Industrial CEOs Eager: "Let's Make a Deal."

Like fashionable New York women and their Manolo Blahniks shoes, CEOs are eager to buy, buy, buy — but not at any price.

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October 20, 2005

Are We Old and Stubborn When It Comes to Labor?

Yesterday's item here on The Blog took a quick look at two IndustryWeek articles about 'fixing' U.S. manufacturing. Using data both from their own experience and the IW/MPI 2003 and 2004-2005 Survey of Manufacturers, a company called DDI specifically addresses the critical element of labor.

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October 19, 2005

"We Are Old and Stubborn."

IndustryWeek writer lays it on the line: "While many aspects of U.S.-based manufacturing have been debated in recent years—usually with the goal of "fixing" manufacturing—two attributes have not been widely addressed: We are old and stubborn."

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October 18, 2005

Group Purchasing: Can Your Business Play Nice With Others?

Businesses have plenty to worry about when procuring quality materials with minimal cost impact. Group purchasing is one option, as participants have often claimed power in numbers.

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When Is It Worthwhile for You to Register at a Website?

Requiring users to register for a site has killed some web efforts while making others stronger. Where do you draw the line in terms of what motivates you to register on a given site?

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October 17, 2005

Grooming Future Engineers/Scientists — While In Grades K-12

That the nation's future engineers and scientists are being groomed isn't news; there are numerous university programs dedicated to such teachings. In other research today, though, oft mentioned was that future engineers and scientists are being groomed as early as kindergarten (and upward) via interest-peaking teachings of everyday applications, such as robots, iPods, cell phones and how to "totally gross out my sister."

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October 14, 2005

Light Friday: Global Edition from Australia, Germany, Rome, New Jersey, and Texas.

Our tireless reporters have spanned the globe to bring you the latest news you can't possibly use in areas such as education, plasma and quantum physics, loose screws, weapons-grade garden hoses, and new materials…

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October 13, 2005

Going Nuclear, Part I

We recently covered viable alternatives both in energy markets and in transportation markets. Now let's take a quick look at the nuclear option.

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October 12, 2005

Report: "Sobering Look" at Manufacturers' Finance Growth and Innovation

The Manufacturing Institute and the Manufacturers Alliance jointly released a report on Oct. 11 that shows profits in five U.S. manufacturing industries are historically low, and are therefore negatively impacting the ability to innovate, create new jobs, make investments and compete in the global economy.

Industry Competitiveness: Where Do We Stand?

Characterizing and defining "competitiveness" is not a job for a novice, so we will take a look at what the World Economic Forum says.

Baby Boomer Exodus: Cost and Transformation

When the Baby Boomers retire in a large labor mass starting in the next five years, the manufacturing industry is forecast to feel the impact. However, the gap also brings potential for innovative trends.

Manufacturing's September Self-Assessment

The Institute for Supply Management issued its latest Manufacturing ISM Report On Business, bringing bittersweet tidings: while the monthly manufacturing index grew in September, prices for raw materials surged.

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Katrina and Rita Revitalize the Quest for Alternative Energy

Both in energy markets and in transportation markets, Middle Eastern crude-alternatives exploration has again become a hot topic. Is there a viable substitute within?

Burning Question

How important is it to you to source or purchase green?

It's Not Easy Being Green — But…

Due to costs and tradition, it may not be easy, but recent industry findings suggest that companies developing and purchasing green products or services can benefit more than just the environment.

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Lt., Pull This Hummer Over, I Want to Drink It.

Drinking water from vehicle diesel fuel? Learn how one manufacturer has figured out a new way to quench desert-occupying soldiers' thirst by delivering potable water converted from exhaust waste.

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Are You Ready to Trade In That SUV? Not So Fast.

With higher gas prices shocking SUV owners at the pump, some folks are downsizing. Should the trend continue, American manufacturers are prepared.

October 11, 2005

Delphi CEO: It's the Industrialized Workforce, Not Just Us.

After Delphi announced its filing for bankruptcy this past weekend, the company's CEO, Robert "Steve" Miller, has found himself further explaining and defending the decision. Delphi's troubles aren't only Delphi's troubles, nor are they the entire American auto industry's: the troubles are the industrialized world's workforce.

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October 10, 2005

Delphi Comes To Crossroads?

Speaking of General Motors and Ford —

Delphi Corp., a division of General Motors Corp. until 1999, filed for bankruptcy on Saturday reported an article in today's New York Times. The filing for Chapter 11 protection comes as the company is hurt by high wage and benefit costs inherited from former parent GM.

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October 7, 2005

When Factory Automation Just Isn't Appropriate

Producing the most, the fastest, hasn't always been a priority in automotive engineering and assembly. Some of history's most exclusive marques have foregone automation in the assembly process — from engines to entire cars. Such exclusivity is about to go just a little more mainstream.

Light Friday: Beer Drinking, Fish, Robotic Fish, and Pressurized Penguins. Oh, and Martha Stewart Rowing a Pumpkin.

There's really no reasonable way to summarize this week's selection of, um, interesting news.

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October 5, 2005

Maximum Access: Through Maximum Access LCC, and WiMax

Despite FEMA, several geek groups had post-Katrina communications up within hours, not days. Also…WiMax steps up to Challenge WiFi

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October 4, 2005

It Could Happen to You

While the Gulf Coast may seem far away even to those on the east or west coasts, the lesson remains the same: Be Prepared.

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October 3, 2005

Boeing: Steeeeerike One!

Another labor strike has been settled at 'the world's largest aerospace company,' and yet another is right on its heels.

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September 30, 2005

Light Friday: Pink Bunnies, Toilet News Update, and Being One Step Away from Spontaneous Combustion

This week's collection of weird 'n' wild 'net findings, sans engineering...

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September 29, 2005

Is There Hope Beyond Fossil Fuels?

Hurricane's Katrina and Rita have reminded the nation that we just might have to do something about rising gasoline prices. What can we do?

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September 28, 2005

INDEX: Design and Innovation That Improves Human Life

The First INDEX: awards were recently presented in Copenhagen, Denmark. What is INDEX:? 'The New World Arena for Future Design & Innovation.'

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September 27, 2005

7 Most Surprising Scientific News

From higher-than-expected sheep IQ to a "fountain of youth" hormone, some recent findings will strike some as highly unexpected, unusual and perhaps even unnerving:

Mood Sensing & Distraction Management

The desire to sense moods has gone digital with practical applications both planned and currently being test-deployed. Feeling a little stressed-out? Your car may soon play therapist and program soothing sounds for the ride home.

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A Little Piece of You on the Internet

According to one technology strategy consultancy, the next important phase of the Internet will be the Semantic Web. Operating under the direction, do what I mean and find what I mean, this new Web could transform the meaning of community building - and have supply chain applications as well.

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ExtremeTech I: Building a Better World with Terascale and Petascale Supercomputers?

In high-performance scientific and engineering computing circles—the playgrounds of weird science—petaflop supercomputing is coming. The pursuit of the petaflop is big. How big? How about 'A New Arms Race"?

Extreme Tech II: Building a Better Supercomputer Building

The average building in business, industry, or academia simply won't support the unusual requirements of the latest generation of supercomputers. Lawrence Livermore's new Terascale Simulation Facility not only supports those requirements today, but is designed to take weird science 35 years down the road.

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Submit Your Entry for a $350,000 Control Room Makeover

The Foxboro Automation unit of Invensys Process Systems and its partners are looking for the control room in North America most in need of a makeover. One lucky company, to be announced at the October 25-27 ISA Show in Chicago, will receive a soup-to-nuts design and equipment facelift. Hurry, the entry deadline is October 10th.

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Is the Mobile Workforce Working?

Flash back to 2001. In an IEEE article called Managing a Mobile Workforce, author Terrance Malkinson took a futuristic look at the workplace.

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Burning Question

If you're ABC Funding Company, which science project gets your bucks?
Designate here

September 26, 2005

Pyxos: Networking Everywhere

Today, most equipment and machines in industry are networked within, for example, various building and factory automation connectivity schemes. Some of these networks talk only amongst themselves; others, also via the Internet. The Pyxos platform addresses 'the next frontier,' according to maker Echelon.

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September 23, 2005

Light Friday: So, a Frenchman, an Englishman and a Texan Are Captured by Cannibals…

Gleaned from many months of 'round-the-clock efforts by a global staff of highly respected researchers, here is this week's assortment of news and (hopefully) mood-lighteners. Oh, a couple of the items even relate to engineering.

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September 22, 2005

Will Katrina, Rita, and Shell Oil Revive Oil Shale Possibilities?

In an eerily similar and all too familiar set of circumstances, Gulf Coast refineries were being shutdown again yesterday and oil and gas workers were being evacuated, this time because of Hurricane Rita and her now Cat 5 wallop. According to this article from ABC News…

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September 21, 2005

Last Call: Submit Your Entries for a Control Room Makeover!

(I avoid the use of exclamation points, but this is exciting stuff.) Yes, I'm serious: a Control Room Makeover. Now is your last chance to submit your entry for a chance to win.

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September 20, 2005

Extreme Engineering: Sometimes, Things ARE Rocket Science

Werner von Braun was a key element in the U.S. Space Program. Fast Forwarding to the present, IBM has recognized that U.S. students train behind their international peers from Bangalore to Beijing in math and science test scores. With the U.S. announcing a moon mission for 2018, we're going to need a cargo hold-full of math and science wizards.

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September 19, 2005

Hurricane Katrina: Helping

Friday's article presented a couple of links to lists of organizations seeking donations and volunteers to help those affected by the Hurricane Katrina Disaster. Here are those organizations compiled from those and other sources for easier reference.

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September 16, 2005

Light(er) Friday: Wooden Ducks, Confused Canadians, Cabbies in Shorts, Entrepreneurial Spies, and Much, Much More

Here's this week's Bizarro World mix of All the News That's Probably Not Fit to Print (along with some serious stuff)…

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September 15, 2005

Space Engineering on a Budget: A Really Tight Budget

Look who's joining the Space Race: Romania, Columbia, and...a high school in San Jose?

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September 14, 2005

Functional Matters: Hurricane Katrina and the Supply Chain

Woven into the innumerable tragedies that we as a nation face with every news report, Katrina not only tore apart many lives, but also the infrastructures that will help survivors continue not only to live, but to rebuild.

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Just What Exactly is the Army Corps of Engineers?

With three out of five sentences during the Hurricane Katrina disaster including the term Army Corps of Engineers, I realized that I didn't know what that was.

9/11 and Katrina/New Orleans: Is There a Comparison?

New Orleans could be facing the worst of both 9/11 and, for instance, Love Canal. I can't imagine it ever being safe for habitation unless you fill the whole city with a 3-foot-thick layer of concrete over many square miles of ultrasonically-welded barrier sheeting.

The Mississippi, Mankind, and River Control

Beyond any river's natural evolution, violent acts of nature also change a river's course. Hurricanes such as the devastating Katrina are not the only forces at work.

Katrina Relief Efforts: Who's Helping?

From rappers to NASCAR, it seems everyone, from individuals to multinationals and other countries, are digging deep into their wallets to help in the Katrina relief effort.

September 12, 2005

As If Windows XP Home, Professional, and Pro x64 Weren't Enough…

Expected to be offered in at least seven new flavors, Microsoft's new Vista OS will be the highlight of this week's Professional Developers Conference. Also on the agenda is how Google beat Microsoft in Vanity Fair's new 'tech leaders' ranking…

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September 9, 2005

Do We Need Another Wireless Standard?

According to the ZigBee(TM) Alliance, maybe we do. With a transmission range of 100+ meters and battery life of 1000+ days, ZigBee seems compelling right from the start.

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September 8, 2005

No More Denying It: Hurricane Katrina Confirms Global Warming II

Okay, in the interest of fair and balanced reporting, here are some views from conservative media. Please continue to keep in mind that September is Be Kind to Editors and Writers Month.

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September 7, 2005

No More Denying It: Hurricane Katrina Confirms Global Warming I

According to an article in USA Today…wait, no. Just kidding. Seriously, here on The Blog, the No More Denying It debate raged for a week last month. Hurricane Katrina has brought out the alarmists again. Or, are the 'alarmists' right?

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September 2, 2005

Light Friday: Did You Know that September is Be Kind to Editors and Writers Month?

This week's Bizarro World collection of jokes, news, sites and…

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August 31, 2005

Will an Already-Questionable Economy be Damaged or Helped by Hurricane Katrina?

Beyond the tragedies shown on the news since Katrina grabbed hold of the Gulf Coast and shook violently, damage to ports and refineries will affect the entire country. But to what extent and for how long?

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August 30, 2005

Communicating with Computers Through Gestures

No, I'm not talking about gestures involving the middle finger salute or bludgeoning your PC with a club. Try communicating with it using a 'gesture glove.'

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August 29, 2005

The State of Industry Labor

Declining manufacturing employment has been a cause for concern. Learn what the next few years hold and how industry labor compares with the rest of the country's workforce:

What's Next for U.S. Unions?

Membership has been falling for years, and three unions recently split from the largest U.S. union coalition. Is this an indication that the labor movement is no longer relevant or could it spur a resurgence?

Retiring from IMT

By my estimate, I've written over 600 stories for Industrial Market Trends in my over three years of tenure as IMT editor. It's been challenging, stress-inducing and ultimately rewarding, but now it's time to say goodbye.

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C'mon, work can't be all that bad.

Tell us the most fulfilling aspects of your job:

Shops Belabor High Cost of Benefits & Low-Wage Competition

U.S. machine shops face both rising labor costs and stiff competition from low-labor-cost countries. Here's how they can grind it out:

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The History of Labor Day

For most of us, this holiday marks our last hurrah before summer's end. Celebrate its historical significance and delve into the controversy over its true founder:

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Getting a Leg Up in the Workplace

According to recent studies and surveys, unexpected factors can come into play in getting a raise or promotion. Being tall: that's a plus. Having a cluttered desk: that's a no-no:

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Some Jobs Tied to Degenerative Brain Disease

Researchers have found that certain occupations, including aircraft mechanics and bank tellers, are linked to an increased risk of death from several forms of brain degeneration, such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease:

August 26, 2005

Light Friday: Planes, Cars, Spiders, Michael Moore and More…

What goes up must come down, perhaps except for Moore's weight. An engineer at the Pearly Gates, wacky retired folks (Part II) and so much more. Go ahead. Click on it. What have you got to lose?

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August 25, 2005

Engineering on a Wing and a Prayer

Examining and emulating nature isn't a new concept to engineers, or humans in general for that matter. Studying birds in flight, for instance—or just wondering how they do it—no doubt predates even Aristotle. Studies at the University of Florida show that emulating nature is a work in progress.

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August 24, 2005

What I Did on My Summer Vacation

Studies show that 'American workers vacation far less than workers in other countries, that they willingly pass up vacation time, and that many on vacation might still be connected to the office.' This cannot be a good thing. Can it?

August 23, 2005

Gates on Google: "They Are More Like Us than Anyone Else We Have Ever Competed With."

It doesn't matter if you're in accounting, engineering, healthcare, or insurance. What's happening on your desktop can literally change the world.

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August 22, 2005

State of the (Labor) Union

The AFL-CIO (American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organizations) has fractioned. Membership has dwindled. The AFL-CIO, Union Network International, and the National Education Association are boycotting Wal-Mart. Is this a good thing?

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August 19, 2005

Light Friday: Miscellaneous Schmiscellaneous

No ranting, no liberal whining—and one item that's actually engineering-related and fun...

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August 18, 2005

Was this Week's Worm Attack Only Collateral Damage?

"We seem to have a botwar on our hands," said Mikko Hypponen at computer security firm F-Secure.

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August 17, 2005

Wicked and Wonderfully Extreme Engineering: This Time from Germany

We've previously looked or commented about the good and evil sides of marketing. Well, here's a case in which the marketing folks just might have been brilliant—with their intent and execution of amazing engineering.

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August 16, 2005

Japanese Tradition and Loyalties: Forcing Ford into a Corner?

'Keiretsu: A set of companies with interlocking business relationships and shareholdings. In Japanese, the term means also a company that has many branches.' …Branches that Could Entangle U.S. Manufacturers.

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August 15, 2005

CAFTA Passes: Is It Good or Bad for Manufacturing?

The much-contested free trade pact recently passed with the barest of margins, but the rancorous debate is far from over. Deliberate the consequences:

Does the Energy Bill Provide a Much-Needed Jolt?

Critics charge that the newly signed bill will do little to reduce current gas prices or reliance on foreign oil while proponents point out that it will benefit the environment. Who's right?

Does Industry Money Taint Research?

Can researchers remain truly objective when their work is funded by industry? Experts argue over the influence of business interests in the occupational and environmental health field:

Should We Have a Cow Over Cow Pollution?

Factory dairies have a beef with an air district in California which claims that dairy cows, not cars, are the biggest single source of smog-forming gases. Time to clear the air:

Lean vs. Six Sigma...What's Hotter?

Both Lean and Six Sigma are lauded for driving out waste and reducing variation in many business processes. But which continuous improvement methodology is more popular?

10th Planet? The Debate's On...

Astronomers recently announced they had discovered a new celestial body larger than Pluto, prompting discussion over how to define a "planet" and whether Pluto should still be considered one:

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August 12, 2005

Light Friday: The We're-Heading-Into-The-Abyss Special Edition

Hey, did you hear? Tom Cruise is headed to the Moon on a remote-controlled lawnmower!

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August 11, 2005

The Moon/Mars Mission: "Take-Off Is Planned for the Year 2020, or Later if They Let Dubya Do the Final Countdown from 10 to Lift-Off."

With media coverage of the recent Discovery mission fresh in our minds, let's consider primarily the Moon element of President George W. Bush's plan to send astronauts to Mars.

August 10, 2005

Is the Mobile Workforce Working?

Flash back to 2001. In an IEEE article called Managing a Mobile Workforce, author Terrance Malkinson took a futuristic look at the workplace.

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August 9, 2005

This Just In: U.S.-China Trade Deficit Shifts for the Better

In one fell swoop, the U.S.-China trade deficit has shifted due to a just-inked deal between four Chinese airlines and Boeing. Has it shifted enough, however?

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August 8, 2005

Note to Microsoft Marketers

You've all heard about Longhorn, I'm sure: the next major version of the Windows OS. Let's take a moment to sit back and calmly reflect.

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August 5, 2005

Light Friday: Mountainous Toilets, Weird Engineering, and Triumph Spitfire as Woman

"The engineering challenges are in trying to build [Australia's highest toilet] in such a remote location and at that elevation."

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August 4, 2005

"Hybrids? I Got a Million of 'Em."

The above quote is from Jim Press, Toyota's U.S. president and chief operating officer. (Well, not really.) But that's his goal for early next-decade.

August 3, 2005

Top 5 Small Biz Trends

For companies of modest size, 2005 promises to be a banner year despite skyrocketing costs. Discover what else is big in the small-business world:

Must-Know Facts about Small Business

A whopping 99% of all businesses in the U.S. are small companies, and that's just for starters. Here are other stats that may surprise you:

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How to Make Sure Your Price is Just Right

Is it time to pass on rising costs to customers? Is your product or service priced too high or too low? Yes, the all-important issue of pricing can stump even the most savvy small biz owner, but these 10 tips should help:

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Is It Time to Expand Your Plant?

Your business is growing, but is your facility keeping up? Check out the three warning signs that indicate that you need a bigger plant:

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Burning Question

Are small businesses getting short shrift from the media?

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The Dos and Don'ts of Sourcing Overseas

With margins thinning in most industries, small companies are increasingly sourcing their products overseas in order to stay in business. We outline some tips and traps:

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U.S. Claims Top Spot in Competitiveness

The U.S. again took first place in world competitiveness, according to a leading business school. Here are the factors that clinched it for us:

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What Your Workspace Says About Your Personality

Is your cubicle blanketed with Post-it notes or neat as a pin? Do you prominently display or discreetly position family photographs? Psychology Today says your work area can reveal a thing or two about you:

August 2, 2005

Have You Ever Seen Inside a Model T's Engine?

Last week, I had the opportunity to sit in with a small class of students tearing down a Model T engine—not in a vo-tech school, but in an Ivy League University.

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July 28, 2005

The Science of Sensationalism

We've all seen the footage of the chunk of foam insulation breaking off of Discovery during its launch. The Big News tonight: Are the astronauts in danger?

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July 27, 2005

Hump Day Snippets

While we could (and will soon) continue such topics as global warming (Attention National Media: Yes, it's hot out. It's July, ya morons. It's not the end of the world. Wow. Wait'll they see what happens in August.), here are a variety of topics and article snippets. Find one you like—or don't—and dig in. Following each are questions for you. Your comments will be welcomed and appreciated.

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July 26, 2005

Q: What Carries 8 Tons and Travels at Over 17,000 Mph? A: One Helluva Sport Utility Vehicle.

About three months ago, we ran a piece here about the Shuttle launch. It didn't fly then, but it's scheduled to go shortly. At 12:30 am EDT, the astronauts were awakened to begin pre-launch activities. If you're reading this Tuesday morning, check your watch. If it's 10:39 am or earlier, RUN, do not walk, to your nearest television.

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July 25, 2005

I'm Unable to Attend this Guy's Funeral Today.

Even if deadlines permitted, funerals are always tough to go through. A bereaved crowd is never a fun bunch, except with food and drink after, which is…

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July 22, 2005

Light Friday: Top Five News Items Revealed

From Volvos to free drinks, TV Dinners to bandwidth, Homeland Security to foot tickling. Naked foot tickling.

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July 21, 2005

Geologic Sequestration: Burying the Problem of Carbon Dioxide

According to an article in the July issue of Scientific American, "When William Shakespeare took a breath, 280 molecules of every million entering his lungs were carbon dioxide. Each time you draw a breath today, 380 molecules per million are carbon dioxide. That portion climbs about two molecules every year."

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July 20, 2005

Outsourcing: You Ain't Seen Nothin' Yet

Harvard Business Review asked Thomas Friedman, author of The World is Flat, what he thinks was the most important event since the year 2000. After saying that 9-11 was an earth-shaking event, he added…

July 19, 2005

The State of U.S. Productivity

From the official word on what's been driving long-term productivity growth to unofficial survey results indicating what's been derailing it, here's our productivity scorecard:

Why We Can't Lean on Lean

One expert argues that lean manufacturing is inadequate. To compete, he urges North American manufacturers to start from scratch. Yup, that means getting rid of our entire factory infrastructure:

Burning Question

What do you think is the most productive period in U.S. history and why?

Productivity Factor Could Sink Outsourcing

As this particular case illustrates, it can make more sense to develop a product here than abroad as high offshore attrition rates and lower productivity could negate savings:

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How are We 'Netting Information?

New studies are revealing the Internet tools that users are relying on most as well as a surprising trend--we're actually spending more time on searching for information:

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The Keys to Shop-Floor Efficiency

How can manufacturers compete with low-cost producers? The answer lies in the latest advances, from faster six-axis robots to vision-based systems:

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U.S. Lags Behind in Branding Survey

Think of a "national brand" as how your country's cultural, political, commercial and human assets, etc. are perceived by people around the world. Big surprise, Brand U.S.A. falls short:

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Oops, I'm on OSHA's Most-Wanted List

OSHA now targets the most dangerous companies for inspection, but some employers are unwittingly landing on the list by over-reporting occurrences. Here are some tips to make sure you're not one of them:

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July 15, 2005

Light Friday: Take-Your-Amusing-Little-Imaginary-Friend-to-Work Day

In steadfast keeping with commenting about articles in specialized, off-the-wall, or (even little-known items in) mass media, let's relax. Forget about global warming and USA Today for but a few moments, though thoughts of Icelandic corn-on-the-cob are heartily encouraged…

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July 14, 2005

Global Warming IV: Uncle! I Give! Enough!

What a week, with global warming topping my own list of anxieties. As was the case with the original global warming article here, a recent item prompted some interesting responses…

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July 13, 2005

Global Warming III: Volcanoes, Methane, and The Administration

According to reader Mitch Edridge: "Mt. Pinatubo in May 1994 exploded more ozone depleting gases than has been put out by all mankind since God created the earth."

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July 12, 2005

Well, Yeah…It's All About the Web, But It's Not All About Sitting at Your Computer.

In keeping with Paul's Media Education Series, let's remember for a moment that it's not all about sitting at a computer screen.

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July 11, 2005

Global Warming II: The Hockey Stick

"Six hundred years ago, the world was warm. Or maybe it wasn't. What's the truth? Argue in favor of the wrong answer and you risk being branded a liberal alarmist or a conservative Neanderthal." Hey, at least the branding part continues to be true.

July 8, 2005

Global Warming I: Journalism Breakdown

Katrina's piece on global warming created quite the stir. In Katrina's defense, she referenced a (no pun intended) hot topic covered in an article in USA Today ("The Debate's Over: Globe Is Warming"). Sharing an article from "America's best-selling newspaper" simply isn't a "...leftist political smear against American Industry," as one reader responded.

July 7, 2005

So How Does it Feel to Win a $58,000 Bike?

On a Friday morning in May, Angela Stanett, a bookkeeper at Hydraulic Services Inc., in Columbus, OH, got an unexpected phone call and received the news that nearly 105,000 people had been hoping to hear.

July 6, 2005

10 Technologies with the Most Sizzle

They're new and mostly unheard of, but these technologies will soon blaze a trail through computing, energy, nanotechnology and more:

Cost Concerns Reach Boiling Point

Managing cost is on the front burner for many U.S. manufacturers. And design engineers are the ones igniting improvements across organizations:

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Are We Warming Up to Nuclear Energy?

In the past, nuclear power advocates would get the cold shoulder. But now interest in this power source is rekindling and talk of the first new reactor in the U.S. since 1973 is heating up:

Manufacturers Under Fire to Reduce Fuel Consumption

Now that energy efficiency is even more of a hot button issue, manufacturers are building products that meet the country's burning need for fuel economy:

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No More Denying It: The Planet IS Getting Hotter

Decades-long skepticism about global warming has nearly evaporated. Now, corporations and other entities are finally ready to handle the scorching issue of what to do about it:

The Real Direction of U.S. Manufacturing

Many bemoan the decline of U.S. manufacturing employment. But one economist points out that data on new plant construction is even more telling:

Robots Assume More Roles and Relevance

Once relegated to performing the most menial of tasks, industrial robots now factor into a manufacturer's global competitiveness:

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July 5, 2005

Burning Question: How Important is Anonymity When You Source Online?

We want to know how comfortable you are about giving out your information on the Web. Answer the following three questions and get the discussion started on this hot topic:

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July 1, 2005

Blogs 'n' Wikis: Business Models or Drinks at a Social Gathering? Part 5 – Your Comments

Last of this series, we share comments from both blogs

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June 30, 2005

Blogs 'n' Wikis: Business Models or Drinks at a Social Gathering? Part 4 – The Corporate Wiki

Companies are beginning to use wiki technology to create collaboration tools to save time and create centralized knowledge warehouses.

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June 29, 2005

Blogs 'n' Wikis: Business Models or Drinks at a Social Gathering? Part 3 - The Focus Group

Companies are scraping blogs across the Internet for opinions and attitudes of their potential customers.

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June 28, 2005

Blogs 'n' Wikis: Business Models or Drinks at a Social Gathering? Part 2 – The Marketing Blog

Corporations are now using blogs to communicate with the marketplace. Are they affective? What are the risks?

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Form and Function: What the Hell Happened?

I've tried making the switch from PCs to Macs several times over the years. I've been met every time with driver issues, cross-platform incompatibility, and an interface that's about as intuitive for me as would be the workings of an internal combustion engine to an alien. But, something keeps drawing me back. Is it…God forbid…the style?

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June 27, 2005

Blogs 'n' Wikis: Business Models or Drinks at a Social Gathering?

Can these technologies be the Next Big Thing for the corporate enterprise?

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June 24, 2005

Today's Light Friday: Hide-Fish-Up-Your-Skirt Day

Okay, it's official. We've all had a tough week, so Friday's around here—if the boss'll let us—are going to be light days. No engineering, manufacturing or industrial stuff. Just a time to sit back for a couple of minutes, take a load off, and stuff a fish up 'yer skirt.

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June 23, 2005

"Armed with laptops, special software and some makeshift hardware, these wireless explorers drive through cities, suburbs and business parks…"

…in search of the signals that connect computers to wired networks and the Internet. The practice is called 'wardriving,' a term derived from the 'wardialing' tactic of the movie 'War Games,' where a hacker dials every number in an area to find a modem."

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June 22, 2005

Monitoring Your Presence Has Gone Wireless—Again

It's no secret that each and every one of us is within the viewing range of a video surveillance camera countless times in a given day—according to this source, 73-75 times a day in New York City, as far back as 1998.

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June 21, 2005

7 Biggest Business Myths

Think that the customer is always right? Or that most people are influenced by facts? Think again. Here are some major fallacies that could be holding you back:

A False Sense of Security

You've installed a firewall and placed anti-virus and anti-spyware tools on your desktop. You send and store only encrypted data. You must be safe from hackers, right? Wrong. It's time to reboot:

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Debunking Gas Myths & Conspiracy Theories

Heard the one about cellular phones touching off explosions at gas stations? Or received those e-mails calling for a one-day gasoline boycott in order to lower prices? All bogus. Here's why:

Scientists Come Under the Microscope

Popular fiction tends to portray scientists in extremes, either virtuous or villainous. But a provocative new study on scientific misbehavior shows that many engage in more subtle forms of misconduct:

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That's Patently Untrue!

For many would-be inventors, patents seem like the road to riches. By acquiring a patent, they think they can easily license it to a large company and reap millions. They're wrong about that and then some:

Manufacturers Face Skilled Labor Crisis

As soon as five years from now, manufacturers will confront a shortage of skilled labor, according to a new study. And the costs will be an average $50 million:

Don't Know what Customers Really Prefer? Scan their Brains.

Forget focus groups and questionnaires. The burgeoning research dubbed "neuromarketing" is looking into brain-scanning technology to analyze how people make buying decisions:

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June 20, 2005

Something Old, Something New (to Me, and Perhaps You)

RSS feeds have been around since 1997, a couple of years before Al Gore invented the Internet.* Only recently, though—with, for example, the RSS button on the Industrial Market Trends blog—did I wonder what RSS was all about.

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June 17, 2005

Today is Take Your Headlines to Work Friday

No, this has absolutely nothing to do with industry, engineering, or manufacturing. Take a break and see if you can match-up these actual CNN headlines (one from Column A and one from Column B), maybe having a laugh along the way. Enjoy your weekend!

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June 16, 2005

Fun with Patents: How Do People Come Up with This Stuff?

According to Ralph Waldo Emerson, "Build a better mousetrap and the world will beat a path to your door." I'm not sure that's true unless, of course, he was referring to The Merchant of Death 2000.*

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June 15, 2005

Do Artists and Engineers Live in Different Worlds?

"The rapid expansion of technology in the last two centuries has led to the widespread perception of artists and engineers as inhabitants of different worlds…"

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June 14, 2005

Federal Procurement Overlooks Small Biz

Small businesses are getting short shrift from federal agencies, receiving only 20% of their contracting dollars last year, far below the government's goal. And the problem goes beyond one lackluster year:

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Manufacturers Excel at Fostering Leadership

General Electric Co. is acclaimed for its ability to nurture future leaders. Now, research shows that manufacturers as a group are skilled at preparing the most promising for top positions:

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June 13, 2005

Flying Pigs, Guantanamo Bay, the Geneva Convention, and PLM.

I can't even begin to summarize this one in thirty words or less. You're just going to have to read it.

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June 10, 2005

Rise of the Machines

In Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines, the war between man and machine was possible only after the world's technology was interconnected. Are we there yet? Are we there yet? ...

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June 9, 2005

You Might Be An Engineer If…

This is some funny stuff. Several have been around for awhile, but revisiting classics for a laugh or a chuckle is a worthy pursuit, kinda like watching Duck Soup for the 33rd time. Others actually seem new. Compiled and edited for your reading pleasure…

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June 8, 2005

Stupid People Are Always Good for a Chuckle

The stupid (or daring?) have for at least a decade been recognized for their concerted efforts to stop their genes dead in their tracks, so to speak, sparing future generations of their own characteristics.

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June 7, 2005

Top 20 Engineering Breakthroughs

Life without engineered products would be a lot more treacherous, tedious and tiresome. For proof, check out the greatest engineering accomplishments and how they've altered our lives:

Newsflash: There is NO Engineering Shortage

Many commentators lament that there won't be enough engineering students to fill future openings because of the profession's image problem and a declining interest in math and science. But hold up--there's something terribly wrong with that statement:

What's the Bright Idea?

What is the most important engineering innovation of the last few years? Give credit where it's due:

Project Prototype

Engineering students from around the country are unveiling some nifty senior projects, including devices that could ease discomfort (from a shock-absorbent walking cane to a lightweight wheelchair) or at least fix us a drink (a robotic bartender):

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Guess Who Is/Was an Engineer?

Surprise, surprise. When people think engineer, they often think researcher or inventor or designer. But as this list shows, engineers are also heads of state, world-class athletes and acclaimed film directors:

Overcoming the Challenges of Customized Engineering

The term "engineer-to-order" describes thousands of small and midsize manufacturers in North America that design and build custom equipment. It's a tough gig but some ETO firms are finding ways to gain efficiencies:

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High-Tech Shirt Reveals if You're Fit to Fight

This T-shirt doesn't just show what shape you're in by hugging the contours of your body, but actually uses sensors to monitor and transmit your vitals. And it's already being enlisted by the U.S. military:

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Engineers Build Tsunami-Resilient Houses

A team of researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard University have designed and built homes that, according to computer models, will be five times more resistant to a tsunami than conventional houses:

June 6, 2005

Survival of the Fittest

Readers have commented here in the past about bad managers. Yeah, they're everywhere. Some worse than others. Still others are actually pretty good managers, in completely intractable situations.

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June 3, 2005

When There's Nothing to Add Since Readers Have Said It So Well…

Sometimes, just because of scheduling, articles here cycle away from the home page. The disturbing part isn't that the articles fall away, but so do your comments.

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June 2, 2005

Memorial Day, Star Wars, Deep Throat, and U-Boats?

Funny how articles sometimes start out…and end up…especially here.

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June 1, 2005

Death, Blame, and Product Liability

Was it the manufacturer's fault?

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May 31, 2005

Revisted: Engineering, Marketing, and Money. Who Wins?

Your brand-spanking new, $150,000 exotic, fire-breathing sports car—for which you paid $200 large—is fresh and comfy in your garage. Your phone rings. A manufacturer's representative tells you, simply, "Do not drive the car under any circumstances." How could this happen?

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May 27, 2005

Saying Goodbye to a Dear, Old Friend

Yeah, I've written about NASCAR and taken some heat here for being a Nextel Cup fan. It didn't start out that way. My grandfather owned and built "Model B"-engined dirt track cars in the '30s…

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May 26, 2005

When We Close the Doors for Security, Are We Keeping 'Em Out or Locking 'Em In?

More often than not, the daily news includes a story about a new computer virus, trojan, spyware, or scam. Identity theft is also big news. Is our focus on keeping others out distracting us from who's already in?

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May 25, 2005

Want to Be a Guest Contributor to IMT?

Are you just dying to get something off your chest? Would you like to share an insight or tell us your opinions/thoughts/maybe even feelings? You're exactly who we're looking for.

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The Real Upside & Downside of Outsourcing

Offshore outsourcing has been both hailed as a powerful way to cut costs and derided for shrinking the U.S. manufacturing base. But new research suggests that we've got its benefits and disadvantages all mixed up:

Making a Friend of Your Foe: Risks & Rewards

Some of the biggest names in manufacturing are forming alliances with their direct competitors. Unexpected? Counterintuitive? Yes and yes. But many are finding that the advantages beat the drawbacks:

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Burning Question: Yea or Nay to CAFTA?

The Central American Free Trade Agreement will open markets between the U.S. and six countries: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic. Does the pact's merits outweigh its drawbacks? Take a side.

Single Sourcing: Pros & Cons

Herbert C. Shields, a long-time purchasing professional, lays out the arguments for and against relying on a single source and tells you how to make a smart choice:

Reader's Perspective: "The Ups & Downs of My Engineering Career"

Carlos E. Garcia, a civil and structural engineer with over 20 years of experience, examines the most rewarding and vexing aspects of his long career:

Promises & Pitfalls of a Hydrogen Economy

The idea of a hydrogen economy--cars and facilities running on clean-burning hydrogen--suggests an end to our dependence on fossil fuels. Sounds great...but we're forgetting a few things:

U.S. Chemical Production Suffers Reversal of Fortune

Just 10 years ago, the U.S. was the preeminent chemical producer in the world, with cutting edge plants and an abundance of affordable natural gas. Now, the landscape has changed completely:

Reduce MRO Costs by "Freeing" Your Distributor

To cut costs and boost productivity, you should let your distributor help you with value-added for-fee support, says one industry expert. Find out how working to "free" your distributor is good for your bottom line:

May 24, 2005

So, You Want to Be an Engineer… (Final)

Objective: Increase enrollment of U.S. students in U.S. engineering programs.

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May 23, 2005

So, You Want to Be an Engineer… (Part V...Almost Done)

Let's take a look at some of the things that need to be considered—and, more importantly, acted upon—to make U.S. engineering a better place. Your feedback is not only appreciated but crucial.

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May 20, 2005

So, You Want to Be an Engineer… (Part IV)

Don't worry. We'll be wrapping up this series next week. Today, let's look at some particularly valuable comments readers posted in response to Katrina's original blog.

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May 19, 2005

So, You Want to Be an Engineer… (Part III)

Let's assume, for a moment, that—generally—the disgruntled are more likely to comment than the contented. That is, engineers who are going or have been through difficult times are more likely to opine than those for whom things are going well.

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May 18, 2005

So, You Want to Be an Engineer… (Part II)

Today, let's take a look at other issues that you raised last month in a blog article by Katrina, such as family, teachers, and education, as a start. Mainly family, for now.

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May 17, 2005

Smart Buy Proves to Be a Smart Move for Oregon

The state's strategic sourcing initiative has saved state residents millions of dollars by leveraging Oregon's purchasing power:

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Purchasers Turn to Demand Management to Curb Buying Costs

They've already reduced costs in the office supplies buy with spend analysis and contract compliance tools. Now, purchasing managers are seeking more savings through demand management tools:

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The Procurement Paradox

In order to spend less on procurement operations, you have to spend more on procurement technology. Here's why:

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Distributors Beef Up Value-Added Services

The key to driving growth this year? According to a recent survey, distributors believe it's value-added services coupled with new products:

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May 16, 2005

So, You Want to Be an Engineer… (Part I)

You've voiced many important opinions about whether or not you would encourage someone to be an engineer. Engineering is indeed a risky business, but is it riskier than any other job? Is engineering even the problem?

May 13, 2005

Press Release: Harley-Davidson Presents Prototype Noiseless, Electric V-Rod

In a surprise announcement, Harley-Davidson has unveiled 'the next generation' of street bike performance: A quiet, electric-powered V-Rod capable of sub-3-second 0-60 times.

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May 12, 2005

Must Responsibility Be Legislated?

Kyoto? The Administration? Politics? Feh. Is it possible—or feasible—to put the rhetoric aside and just do what's right?

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May 11, 2005

How to Have Fun at Work

And we're not talking about goofing off but taking pleasure in what you do and actually becoming better at it in the process. Yes, it's possible:

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May 10, 2005

7 Biz Acronyms You Should Learn ASAP

From MTM to SCES, here's the lowdown on the latest letter clusters that are headed for VIP status:

Rethink R&D or RIP

Research and development has achieved near-ubiquity as an acronym. But it's not receiving the TLC it deserves from many companies, and the consequences will be calamitous as an estimated 70% of today's manufactured goods will soon be obsolete:

Invent Your Own Acronym

Some say MBA really stands for "Mediocre But Arrogant." (See Mark's story Fading Into Acronymity). Make up your own acronym or give us an alternative explanation for others.

DBD Gives Engineers Decision-Making SOS

Design engineers have to make many tough decisions to do their job. Fortunately, decision-based design, which estimates the market impact of those choices, can provide some guidance:

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RFID Gains IQ Points

Companies are moving beyond the ABCs of radio frequency identification technology. Taking a step forward from pilot projects and slap-and-ship solutions, many are seeking intelligent tag readers that can make decisions:

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Fading Into Acronymity

Most acronyms started out with good intent, value, and meaning--simple ways to express big, sometimes complex things with fewer syllables. Has all of that changed?

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High Tech Sneakers Represent Engineering Feat

Or should we say feet. The world's first computerized shoes, Adidas 1, measure compression on impact and can make 5 million calculations per second. All to cushion your feet like never before:

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May 9, 2005

Windows XP Pro x64 Released to Manufacturing: Do You Care?

At the recent Windows Hardware Engineering Conference, Microsoft's Bill Gates said that the 64-bit transition will happen "rapidly."

May 6, 2005

"American Chopper" Designer Shares Technique

Dig the sleek, striking look of the ThomasNet.com chopper and other "American Chopper" creations? A designer from Orange County Choppers, the shop featured on the popular TV show, reveals how he puts his design concepts into overdrive:

Motorcycles Gain Traction with New 2WD System

The world's first two-wheel drive production motorcycle roars to life, thanks to a groundbreaking 2WD system that uses hydraulics to deliver power to the front wheel when the rear wheel slips. And the system can be installed on almost any bike:

May 5, 2005

First Fuel-Cell Motorbike is Snazzy but Silent

ENV Sure, the revolutionary new bike looks cool and is nearly emission-free, but potential customers point out that it's too quiet and thus, potentially dangerous:

Building Bikes is a Labor of Love

At the Harley-Davidson plant in Kansas City, Missouri, legends such as the Dyna Glide and V-Rod are made. And that's not the only thing that makes the factory unique:

May 4, 2005

"See that there piece of equipment? It done rumbled, hissed, snapped, and fell over."

I really thought all the sensors that could possibly be invented have already been invented. (Yes, much like the Commissioner of the U.S. Office of Patents said, in 1899, "Everything that can be invented has been invented.") Then Honeywell comes along with 10—count 'em, 10—new sensors.

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May 3, 2005

Engineering, Marketing, and Money. Who Wins?

Doing what's best or at least right in engineering—and doing what's marketable for sales—are at odds, at best. At worst, watch for more meeting room brawls.

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May 2, 2005

The Living Computer: Will Norton AntiVirus Catch This Stuff Gone Awry?

You can program a computer. Or your VCR, a thermostat, a PLC, a process control system. What if you could program living cells to do something you wanted them to do?

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April 29, 2005

"Hey. I know. Let's Get Some Engineers Together and Go for a Land Speed Record."

Okay, that's the abbreviated version. It really happened like this: "Hey. I know. Let's get some engineers together, build a 32-foot long, mustard yellow, electric racing vehicle and go for a land speed record."

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April 28, 2005

Do Technology, Creativity, and Fun Really Mix?

Being fascinated by the efforts of engineers isn't a difficult thing to do. Countless examples abound. I wonder, though, just how difficult is it to have fun as an engineer?

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April 27, 2005

Engineering and Manufacturing, vis a vis Things that Work

A reader recently commented that the previous list of Top Twenty Things that Work, well, didn't work. He would rather see articles here about such topics as lean manufacturing, global trade, and marketing. In particular, the reader questioned how the iPod, healthcare, and pets tie into engineering.

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April 26, 2005

Defense Biz Takes Off But Some Lag Behind

Sales are soaring, but not all military contractors are capturing big profits. Find out why it's the big-name manufacturers that are under the gun:

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Contract Reforms Under Fire

Because of recent procurement scandals and other developments, top officials are gunning for the return of older-style, stricter defense contracts. Will a decade of reforms tank?

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Unmanned Machines to Redefine Warfare

Autonomous vehicles are already earning their stripes in combat. Now, they're being fine-tuned as part of the military's goal to save lives by removing humans from the battlefield:

Burning Question

Which defense industry development should we bombard with the most praise (or criticism)? Engage here.

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Can Plans for a 21st Century Navy Remain Afloat?

The Pentagon's goal of building a high-tech armada is in rough seas. Political wrangling and a non-competitive shipbuilding industry are driving up costs and threatening to sink the Navy of tomorrow:

Defense Industry & Hollywood Take Cues from Each Other

In two productions co-starring the defense industry and Hollywood, movie-inspired technology is addressing one of the military's biggest problems--information overload--and an aerospace engineer is redefining movie model-making:

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NASA Building Nanobot Swarm

It's something you only see in cartoons--shape-shifting clusters of microscopic robots with amazing powers. But it's not pure sci-fi after all. NASA is already testing the robot predecessor for these nano-sized swarms:

April 22, 2005

Think Outside the Chasing Table Paradigm

Far too many office sayings seem empty at best, offensive at worst. What if we just communicated with each other as knowledgeable, sane, talented individuals?

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April 21, 2005

Motivational Marketing and the Smell of Team Spirit, Revisited

As a professional, intensive, well-researched follow-up (of global proportions) to the Smell of Team Spirit article, I respectfully offer the following.

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April 20, 2005

Win One for the Gipper: The Smell of Team Spirit

The 'Team.' It's everywhere. It's in memos. It's in engineering and manufacturing articles in countless places. Employment ads. Books. Small meetings. Big meetings. Themed meetings. Big, themed meetings.

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April 19, 2005

Long-Time Purchaser Shares Lifetime of Lessons

30-year purchasing veteran Herb Shields looks back at the changes that have redefined his profession throughout the years:

April 18, 2005

Blogging in the Industrial Marketplace

It's not just about sludge pumps and flush-o-meters. A publisher's perspective.

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April 15, 2005

Assignment Completed: Twenty Things That Work.

Wireless? No, too many glitches. Computers? Ditto. The cable company? Too arrogant. The vast right-wing conspiracy? Well, yeah, but it didn't make the list. Hope you enjoy, and feel free to add your own. Could we come up with 50 Things That Actually Work by '06?

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April 14, 2005

Things That Work, Continued: Is that 10,000 Songs in Your Pocket or Are You Just Glad to See Me?

The iPod works. The minds behind it work extremely well. iTunes works. iTunes even works in Windows(TM). I've never liked Macs, though System X (and later) is tolerable. Arguably, that works, too. I don't want to like anything related to Apple, but I love my iPod.

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April 13, 2005

It's Easy to Think of Things That Don't Work; Much Tougher to Come Up with Things That Work.

As mentioned on Monday, my recommended task (MRT) for this week is to talk about things that are working. That's a tough one. Agonizing over this, I talked with a friend about MRT. She thought a moment.

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April 12, 2005

Sprucing Up Engineering's Status

U.S. students are losing interest in studying engineering and science--a trend we can no longer afford to ignore, warns the CEO of Cisco Systems. Here's what we need to do to mend the trend:

A Jam Over PB&J Spreads Word of Soggy System

A sticky situation involving a patent for the lunchtime staple has critics lamenting the state of the U.S. patent system. Discover why a facelift is in order:

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Burning Question: Who/What's in Need of a Serious Tune-Up?

In this issue of IMT, we've covered a few things--from our educational system to New York City's subways--that could stand some rethinking or improvement. Any other candidates for a makeover?

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Mixer Maker Puts the Fix in the Mix

A veteran manufacturer, which holds the record for building the world's largest industrial mixers, recently made a radical change and started to focus exclusively on repairs. Find out how that move proved to be the ultimate fix:

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Hybrid Cars Get "Green-Tuned"

The no-plug-in-needed feature of the new gas-electric cars is supposed to be a good thing. But many enthusiasts are "rewiring" their cars claiming to get up to 180 mpg. How are automakers responding to such remodeling?

Overhauling an Ancient Subway System

A recent New York City subway fire exposed the extent of the system's disrepair, revealing it's so outdated that it's surprising that it functions at all. Find out what's derailing a much needed renovation:

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Pollution-free Trams on the Fast Track

Minitrams are ultra-light people movers that can travel autonomously on the road or along dedicated lines. Hop on the transportation system of the future:

April 11, 2005

The Paperless Office is Here. Well, Not Really, But It's Closer.

Katrina asked me this week to consider blog items about things that work. Not my thing, really, but as a start here's something that's been promised for twenty years: the paperless office. No, it's certainly not something that's worked. DocumentMall, however, offers hope that maybe it could.

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April 8, 2005

The Rock: A Very Good Movie, Starring VX Nerve Agent.

The Rock was excellent. Great guy movie. Cool car chase. Alcatraz. Stuff blowing up. Nick Cage. People trying to blow up Nick Cage. The star of the movie wasn't Cage, Ed Harris, or even Sean Connery, however. VX Nerve Agent stole the show.

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April 7, 2005

Coming Soon to a Television Near You: Human Greatness and Accomplishment. For a Change.

When engineers do amazing things, everyone notices. Unfortunately, 'amazing' and 'horror' often move on the same tracks of both insanity and intensity.

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April 5, 2005

It's Been a Rough Several Months for the Global Village. Was Our April Foolery Issue Enough?

Think about it. What are the chances of a tsunami and an 8.7 quake on the same fault line within three months? Another school shooting. Looming terrorist attacks. Lots of nasty stuff lately, indeed. No wonder so many people are twitchy.

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April 4, 2005

Did Engineers of the 1953 Buick Ever Foresee that Their Creation Would Be Worth $1.5 Million?

What makes things valuable? To a buyer at this past weekend's Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach Collector Car Auction, a particular 1953 Buick was worth $1.5 million, plus fees. Why?

April 1, 2005

Yet Another Reason Why We Love Our Readers...

In this week's April Foolery edition of Industrial Market Trends, we poked fun at others' slip-ups--and inadvertently blundered ourselves, sending many of our readers duplicate copies and flubbing our greetings as well. We promptly apologized and were touched by the slew of e-mails from you, our valued readers, not only saying "Don't worry about it" but expressing your support and enjoyment of our attempts to lighten up for a change. We want you to know how much we appreciate your feedback – and your readership.

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What's the Best Advice Anyone Ever Gave You?

Since it's Friday, I'll keep it relatively light again. (I'm back in for a full schedule next week, so be ready with your trigger fingers…)

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March 31, 2005

In Search of the Next American Inventor

Finally, inventors and entrepreneurs are getting their shot at reality show fame. Should we look forward to a smarter, savvier set of contestants?

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March 30, 2005

7 Funniest Biz Blunders

To err is human. So is snickering at others' mindless mistakes. Have a giggle over these manufacturing mishaps and silly snafus:

Wacky Industrial News

From a factory worker with otherwise employed fingers to a manufacturer's fixation with fruity bowling balls, here's some offbeat industrial news from around the globe:

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Lost in Translation

Say what? Managers utter one thing and engineers hear something else. Consult this handy managerese-to-engineerese "dictionary" for the true meaning of some business directives:

No Gag, Improv Comedy Can Inspire Innovation

Don't laugh. Engineers can actually improve the quantity and quality of their design ideas by taking some cues from improvisational comedians:

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Who Were the First 'Fools'?

April Fool's Day has inspired many clever pranks and jokes over the centuries. Discover the folks who were the very first to receive some good ol' fashioned ribbing:

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Managers Encourage Steroid Use to Boost Productivity

With productivity increases due to automation starting to level off and companies desperate to wring out more output from a dwindling number of employees, some firms have taken the unusual measure of urging the use of anabolic steroids:

Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates Takes Over NASA

Microsoft responds enthusiastically to NASA's cry for help: "Everything Must Go!" Watch your local BestBuy for Windows XP Final Frontier Edition:

Burning Question: Who Should be Crowned the Biggest Fool?

Any recent public displays of inanity stand out in your mind? Single out the silliest of the silly.

March 28, 2005

'Printing' an Object Instead of an Image Isn't Sci-Fi—It's Reality. But is 3D Printing Ready for Primetime?

Various forms of Rapid Prototyping have been around since the '80s. Compared to manufacturing a prototype through traditional means, RP was all the rage. It's never become, however, a daily-use engineering tool as was expected. Is all that about to change?

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March 25, 2005

Engineering a Song: A Lighter Way to Start the Weekend

No politics. No religion. No NASCAR. Just a lighter topic to ease into Spring after enduring the frozen tundra that, this year, had been the East Coast.

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March 24, 2005

The Beat Goes On: Outsourcing, Baby Boomers Retiring, Filling Jobs Here with Foreign Nationals (In-and-Outsourcing?)

Job Market Radar shows multiple storm systems positioned to combine. The employment forecast includes rain, snow, sleet, wind, famine, earthquakes, locusts, and an Easter Peep shortage.

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March 23, 2005

Tackling the Talent Crunch

Workers will soon retire or walk away from their professions en masse, creating a brain drain for many companies. Fortunately, some firms are getting wise about recapturing the know-how of their older employees:

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March 22, 2005

Procurement's Progress

The bright side: more companies are promoting top buyers to the 'C' or 'VP' level. The downside: procurement must still battle the perception that it's just a cost center. Here's how purchasers are gaining notice for their department:

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March 21, 2005

Would You Ever Sit in an Airport Lounge, Engineering Drawings Sprawled Out on a Table?

Of course not. Well, if your flight's running late and you're tweaking that design on your Wi-Fi-equipped notebook while you wait, you could be broadcasting your Latest and Greatest to nearby competitors.

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March 18, 2005

Engineering a Nation

Generally, are engineers liberal or conservative? Why have so few been a part of public service?

March 17, 2005

RFID: EZPass and SpeedPass Poised to Bypass All that Is Right and Good with the World?

One might think that we're living in Orwellian times, what with terrorism, shootings, vaccine shortages, and other threats bombarding our national psyche. There may even be a shred of legitimacy in the idea that some of these 'threats' are well-orchestrated scams to keep people living in a constant state of fear. Control isn't in fear, however. Control is in the data.

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March 16, 2005

It's Tough to Find a Good, Nonpartisan Motivational Speaker

No matter what your field, from engineering to publishing, we've all seen them: motivational speakers. Some earn our time, some give us no choice but to douse ourselves in Poland Spring just to stay awake. Still others—the rare, chosen few—actually motivate.

March 15, 2005

The State of Renewable Energy

Mounting energy concerns are fueling industrial interest in clean energy. But despite the white-hot growth of solar and wind power, the country's total renewable energy consumption actually hasn't budged for years:

On the Road to Recyclability, Auto Industry Steps on It

When it comes to increasing fuel economy and reducing emissions, carmakers have managed a rapid pace. Now, their efforts to reduce waste are picking up speed:

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Coal Comes Clean

High in sulfur, coal is too polluting to burn under U.S. emissions laws in many power plants. But new clean-burning technology is promising to make the fossil fuel the best bet for satisfying our ever-growing energy needs:

Burning Question: Who Needs to Clean Up Their Act?

In recent weeks, we've asked you to point out the overrated and overhyped. Now, we want to know--who do you think should change their ways? And how?

5 Essential Facts about Green Buildings

The U.S. Green Building Council is reporting rising interest in its program for awarding existing facilities with an eco-friendly certification. Still, says the group, many people have the wrong idea about what it takes to be green:

Mining the Oceans' Natural Gas

Below the ocean floor lies a vast reserve of frozen natural gas--200,000 trillion cubic feet, geologists estimate. The big question is--could this be the clean and abundant fuel source we've been searching for?

Green Tea Polishes Up Computers

It turns out that what's good for your health is also good for your hard drive, as scientists use green tea to give computers a thorough cleaning:

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Two Plane Tickets to Mars, Please

Space travel and colonization are not as far-fetched and far-off as many would believe. Here's why:

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March 14, 2005

The Robot Arm That Rocked the Cradle

What happens when robotics evolves beyond mechanical and hydraulic actuators? It still gets its butt kicked by a girl. For now.

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March 11, 2005

The Upside of Manufacturing? Look to Wisconsin.

Some of you had a few choice words for NAM's efforts to convince students that manufacturing is a promising career. But Wisconsin's turnaround story gives us hope for the future of the sector:

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March 10, 2005

Superconductivity: Been There, Killed It in Texas. At What Expense?

A recent ABC News headline reads "High-Tech Leaders: U.S. Risks Losing Edge," citing lack of significant new inves

December 30, 2005

Aforetime New Year's Wishes!

Light Thursday: Best of the Best of the Best, Part Deux

December 29, 2005

Light Thursday: Best of the Best of the Best

Reprocessing Nuclear Waste: Yucca Mountain, or a Hole in the Ground

December 28, 2005

Where is Google Going — Or Taking Us?

December 27, 2005

Senate Blocks Drilling in Alaska's ANWR

December 22, 2005

Happy Holidays, Dear Readers!

Wal-Mart Thinks Supply Chain Issues Are Tough? Feh. Try Being Santa.

December 21, 2005

Manufacturing Christmas

December 20, 2005

Dirty Little Secret of Holiday (Re-)Gifts

December 19, 2005

Old Manufacturing Plants Never Die. Or Do They? Should They?

December 16, 2005

Light Friday: Heaven on eBay, Pinched Grinch, Mashed Artichokes...

Creative Baby Boomers Can Win $100,000!

December 15, 2005

Congress Poised to Pass Law Regulating Security of Chemical Plants

December 14, 2005

Hydraulics, Servos and Gears – Oh, My!

December 13, 2005

New Year's Resolution: Earned Value Management

December 12, 2005

IMT Premier Edition: The Great Engineering Gift Guide – 2005

December 9, 2005

Light Friday: Document Ruination, SUV Levitation, Cat Refrigeration...

December 8, 2005

FutureGen, DOE Partner for Coal-Fueled Power Plant Prototype

December 7, 2005

Trick Engineering Question: Everyone Knows that an Iceberg Sank the Titanic, Right?

December 6, 2005

U.S. Manufacturing 2005: A Panoramic View

Report Confirms Skilled Labor Gap Already Impacting

Happy Returns In 2006: Year-End Tax Tips

Top Technology Trends of 2005

Burning Question

Holiday Facts to Enhance Productivity

Recommended Reading

Insects, Cabbage Can Teach Engineers

Volcanic Ash Mis-Prints

December 5, 2005

The Great Engineering Week — On Television

December 2, 2005

Light Friday: Computerized Chicken Jackets, Earth Songs (Cont.), Bionic Hands...

December 1, 2005

Oil Exploration and Drilling in Alaska, Part II

November 30, 2005

Oil Exploration and Drilling in Alaska, Part I

November 29, 2005

2009 to See Global Motorcycle Demand Exceed 41mil Units

November 28, 2005

PNN Exclusive! Part III: An Interview with My Daughter, the Six Sigma Black Belt

November 25, 2005

Ghostly Light Friday

November 23, 2005

PNN Exclusive! Part II: An Interview with My Daughter, the Six Sigma Black Belt

November 22, 2005

'Digging' Boston's Highway-Tunnel System

Innovative Eye for Cinema Design

Ford Marries Brawn, Brains

Vaccinations Without the Prick

Burning Question

Recommended Reading

Are We Lacking Engineers? Or Are Engineers Lacking? (Does It Matter?)

'Gentlemen, We Can Rebuild Him. We Have the Technology.'

November 21, 2005

PNN Exclusive! Part I: An Interview with My Daughter, the Six Sigma Black Belt

November 18, 2005

Light Friday: Scotty Again Airborne, Boosting Busts, Pirate Excuses, Radish Assault, Zen and a Hotdog

November 17, 2005

Boeing Goes the Distance…Goes for Speed…Goes Nonstop.

November 16, 2005

What Race Takes 8 Months to Complete Over a Course of More than 35,000 Miles?

November 15, 2005