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December 21, 2007

The Last Light Friday of 2007 (Let's Make it Count)

For the next week, you'll have to get along without us, as the IMT editorial staff is retreating to various secret bases in realms beyond the Internet. (Be brave!) Until then, we wish** our dear readers a number of (politically correct) holiday wishes (of no particular religious interpretation). Have a fun and safe New Year's, and enjoy this final Light Friday of 2007!

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December 20, 2007

The Chicago Spire: An Engineering Feat at 2,000 Feet

The 2,000-foot, corkscrew-designed Chicago Spire may well be one of the most impressive engineering feats of 2007. Here's why.

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December 19, 2007

Many Happy Returns for Customers

When a customer tries to return a purchase, minimize or eliminate the hassle to ensure he or she returns. It is much smarter to increase the probability that a customer will come back by having a clear and concise return policy.

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December 18, 2007

Tips for Public Speaking (without the Flop Sweat)

There are no less than seven major industry-focused trade shows next month, all of which no doubt will have keynotes and other speeches. That is when the sweaty palms, shaky knees, tight throat, dry mouth, flop sweat and even nausea set in. It's stage fright. Like other learned skills, though, you can nip the fear of public speaking in the bud.

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December 17, 2007

India Growth Still Tied to Outsourcing

Recent news reports indicate India has kicked up its growth yet again through its bilateral trade agreement with China. From both a manufacturing and IT services perspective, there appears to be no end in sight when it comes to growth in India. Yet outsourcing initiatives of other countries still dominate the headlines.

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December 14, 2007

Light Friday: Worst Employees of '07, Old-School Engineering Calculator, Jet Packs in '08 ...

... Common Passwords, Love to Hate Tech Jargon, No More New Year's Resolutions and When Spiders Attack Space Shuttles!!!

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December 13, 2007

Tax Tips for Entrepreneurs

Taxes are one of the most important issues facing entrepreneurs of small and growing businesses, and the days remaining to put your 2007 finances in order are dwindling quickly. If you haven't already done so, now is the time to take action.

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December 12, 2007

Steel Pipes, Subsidies, Tariffs and China

These are just a few words the U.S. Department of Commerce used last month when it found that the Chinese government has been providing improper subsidies on Chinese circular welded steel pipe exports. In its preliminary determination, the Commerce Department will impose tariffs to level the playing field.

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December 11, 2007

Unwrapping the 2007 Packaging Market

Packaging tells consumers all there is to know about the product inside. In the U.S. alone, packaging is a $130 billion market, according to the Flexible Packaging Association. And much of the market is indebted to food and beverage-driven developments.

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Chrismukkah: By the Numbers

Do you know how many farms currently produce Christmas trees? Or the height of the world's largest dreidel? Or what year the Slinky was patented? Find out these and many more "Chrismukkah" facts.

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5 Things Every Business Needs to Know about Packaging

JoAnn Hines, aka "The Packaging Diva," is recognized as one of the 50 most influential packaging leaders in the 20th century. Here she offers five crucial things every business must know to package a product that delivers.

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Burning Question

Should Christmas gifts be exchanged in the workplace?

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Oyster's Hall of Shame and Acclaim

No doubt, there are many excellent, innovative package designs out there. Unfortunately, there is a lot of lousy packaging, too. And this year's award for "Hardest-to-Open Package" goes to...

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Branding: It's What's Outside that Counts

A company's branding is basically its packaging: How it presents itself on the outside is how it entices consumers to learn more and, hopefully, to "look inside" and become customers.

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2007 Holiday Gift Guide

Here is our roundup of novel gift ideas we think would be worth giving to geeks and gadgeteers. Now Target, now Best Buy, now Wal-Mart and Brookstone! On Gap, on small stores, on Sears and eBay!

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Much More than Your Average Train Set

Running time for the 310-mile journey between London and Paris was two hours and 35 minutes. That figure is now obsolete, after the high-speed Eurostar passenger train switched services in mid-November.

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IMT Readers Tell the Story

Almost 4,000 of you took time from your busy schedules to respond in our Reader Satisfaction survey last month. As our way of saying "Thank you," here are some of your comments that will help shape our future editorial.

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Recommended Reading

Released in May, Scott Berkun's The Myths of Innovation studies innovation history to reveal how ideas become truths that people can apply to today's challenges and change the world.

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December 10, 2007

Foresight on Forecasting

As 2007 winds downs, there's a strong wish to base our 2008 plans on forecasts. Some make a living of forecasting; others feel it's foolish to try. To help you find your comfort spot on the scale between these extremes, two views follow.

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December 7, 2007

Light Friday: NORAD Tracks Santa, Plus Robots that Fight and Play Violin...

... This Week's Dilbert Mission Statement and MORE!

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December 6, 2007

Where We Stand: Manufacturing in November

Conditions in the housing industry are worsening, the dollar is in free fall and oil prices are at an all-time high. At the same time, the U.S. manufacturing sector seems to be growing -- albeit at a glacial pace.

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December 5, 2007

Extending Customer Research Beyond Arm's Length

Increased collaboration can drive more effective business results, of course. And more collaborative retailers and manufacturers have been able to cite tangible areas of progress beyond "soft" benefits.

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December 4, 2007

Will the Auto Industry Surrender to Energy Efficiency?

Congress has agreed to raise fuel-economy standards by 40 percent for cars and light trucks by 2020. Environmental groups have hailed the deal as historic, because it would be the first time Congress has taken significant action on fuel efficiency since the mid-1980s. The latest version of the measure, if it becomes law, will force radically severe changes on all aspects of the American car companies.

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December 3, 2007

How to Optimize Asset Performance

Images of machines so well-maintained and adjusted that they operate for as long as necessary to meet market demand while running as efficiently as possible — all the while producing products with (at most) infinitesimal deviations could be a dream come true.

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November 30, 2007

Light Friday: Dilbert Mission Statement, Deadliest Jobs (Revisited), Giant Turkey...

... Fighting Wildfires with Water Balloons, Bronze Fonz, Revolutionary "Huski" and MORE!

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November 29, 2007

The Ups and Downs of the U.S. Economy

Reports earlier this week confirm strong skepticism about a better economic future for the U.S. in the near term. By mid-week, the actions that manufacturers have taken became apparent.

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November 28, 2007

Demand for Industrial Controls: Trending Upward

Part of productivity-boosting automation depends on installing advanced controls. With today's emphasis on making the most of raw materials and energy to keep costs low, it pays to know what's happening in the industrial controls market.

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November 27, 2007

Top 7 Design Trends

In the face of increased challenges in recent years, global design strategies have matured significantly. Gracefully merging design and engineering with the rest of the surrounding world, the long-term trends continue.

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Lessons in the Business of Design

Consumers today are quicker to shop for style rather than focus on quality, and the best way for companies to succeed is to deliver what the customer demands. Designers can figure that out -- but not without help.

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Danger in Santa's Goody Bag

Unsafe levels of lead paint, spontaneous ignition, choking hazards, the date-rape drug GHB — all were found in toys this year. Stressed-out parents this holiday season have a heightened wariness of safety in the design and manufacture of toys.

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Burning Question

What is the most innovative design of the 21st century?

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Print 3-D Objects at Home

3-D printing can convert digital design files to tangible products in a matter of hours. And the technology is evolving so fast that retail outlets may be forced to rethink their business models just to survive, according to researchers.

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A New Look for the Global Supply Chain

Managing a supply chain has never been so challenging. In addition to automation, data handling, lower costs and minimal risk, now supply chains are demanding substantial energy savings and a lower carbon footprint.

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How to Make the Workplace Insufferable

Primetime TV comedies, popular movies and comic strips may poke fun at the irritants inherent of the workplace, but incivility and chronic rudeness in the real workplace are more pitiful than amusing.

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Rethinking the Stadium Playbook

Local businesses, team owners, players and fans win when new stadiums come online or old stadiums undergo renovation. But designing and building a successful stadium doesn't happen by chance -- it takes a game plan.

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The Nightmare Before Christmas Commerce

There are some hideous-looking Web sites out there wanting your business. With e-commerce sales growing at a rapid clip, and with Christmas right around the corner, small businesses should ensure their Web sites are enticing.

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Recommended Reading

Donald Norman's The Design of Everyday Things remains a classic, powerful primer on how and why some products satisfy customers while others only frustrate them.

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November 26, 2007

Intermodal Volume Holds its Own in Q3

Declining imports from Asia and sluggish domestic traffic demand may have taken its toll on intermodal volume in 2007's third quarter, but total North American volume in Q3 was the second-best quarter ever recorded, according to the Intermodal Association of North America this month.

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November 21, 2007

By the Numbers: Turkey Thursday, Black Friday and Cyber Monday

For many, the days between tomorrow (Thanksgiving) and next Monday (Cyber Monday) signify an acceptable time for excessive eating, drinking and shopping, not to mention the beginning of many homes turning into gaudy wonderlands of wasted fossil-fuel-generated energy. Mmmm, turkey, Christmas lights and football...

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November 20, 2007

Economic Roundup: Still Pessimistic

The Federal Reserve's recent warnings of an economic slowdown had small-business owners cutting back on hiring and spending plans, while bad weather and rising gas prices in recent months have prompted a late start to the holiday shopping season. Here's a look at recent weeks' economic developments and how they're affecting small businesses.

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November 19, 2007

Can Manufacturing Save the Great Lakes Economy?

With the incredible bout of bad economic luck the Great Lakes region has experienced over the past several years, logic dictates that the area needs nothing short of a miracle to make any sort of meaningful turnaround. Yet some analysts believe that turnaround is already taking place, thanks to the sector that made it plummet to begin with: manufacturing.

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November 16, 2007

Light Friday: The Conference Bike, Offensive Interview Questions, Lift Truck Safety Fun...

... Boeing Heat Shield, Beer is Good for You and MORE!

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November 15, 2007

Fed Lifts the Veil

What WERE they thinking? This is a response all too commonly made regarding decisions made by government organizations. Now the U.S. Federal Reserve has announced it will provide better transparency to the public to improve businesses and consumers' understanding of the central banking system's objectives and strategies.

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November 14, 2007

Analyzing Costs and Benefits

As the prices for energy and raw materials put renewed pressure on economies, cost cutting has rarely been so critical to manufacturers large and small. Here are some basic ways to analyze business costs and potential benefits. Warning: If mathematical equations frighten you, turn back now.

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November 13, 2007

The Raw Deal - Up, Up and Away

While increases in oil prices have received the bulk of mainstream attention, the prices of metals and other materials have risen much more rapidly over the past year.

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The Next Generation of Super-Strong Materials

Researchers have made some incredible advances across a range of materials -- metals, plastics, paper, composites and more -- enabling today's designers to take advantage of super-strong materials.

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Why Do Plastics Fail?

To better foresee and thus avoid failure, we must understand how a part will behave in relation to its larger product. Polymers may have come a long way over the past century, but it still pays to ensure high quality.

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Burning Question

How much of your work time is spent on low-value activity?

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Material Handling: The Big Picture

Because material handling essentially started in manufacturing and logistics, here we look at a wide range of notable developments, from transportation and logistics to forklifts, cranes and pallets.

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Science Finally Gets Fashionable

Runway models could be wearing bulletproof, glow-in-the-dark, smog-fighting and flu-preventing garments on the catwalk, as scientists work to integrate style and comfort with safety and health in clothing.

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How Much Time Must Engineers Waste?

More than half of engineers working at build-to-order companies find themselves spending too much time on low-value activities, according to research. How can firms make more efficient use of engineering time?

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Tiny Promises Unfulfilled

A lot of lip service has been paid to nanotechnology's promise. Despite some successful real-world applications in manufacturing and engineering, though, this promise has remained largely unfulfilled.

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Make Your Meetings Matter

In a perfect world, every meeting is well prepared, focused and engaging. However, this is not a perfect world and meetings are often a waste of time. Here are some tips for carrying out meetings that matter.

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Recommended Reading

Timothy Egan's The Worst Hard Time is the untold story of the Dust Bowl, the decade of brutally punishing dust storms that ravaged the American High Plains during the Depression. Told through the eyes of those who survived it, this epic won the 2006 National Book Award for nonfiction.

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November 12, 2007

Strong Supply Chain for Strong Branding

If there were ever any doubts about the validity of today's global economy, let the recent firestorm of controversy over the growing list of toy recalls be a stark reminder that it is, in fact, very real. That is why a clear view of the entire supply chain is critical.

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November 9, 2007

Light Friday: Reintroducing the Model T, Male Whale Pick-up Lines, Sporks and Knorks...

... and much more!

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November 8, 2007

How Are Relationships in Your Cluster?

Some time ago, when I promoted research and development, I attended a presentation on how clusters -- the business kind, not the candy kind -- affect a business' ability to increase productivity and improve profitability. In case you're unfamiliar with the cluster phenomena, it involves groups of industries in a geographic area or industry sector that can become allies in important ways, particularly in R&D.

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November 7, 2007

The State of Third-Party Logistics - 2007

A significant focus of the annual State of Logistics Outsourcing: 2007 Third-Party Logistics report this year is on the opportunity for improved collaboration between 3PL providers and users.

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November 6, 2007

Masters of the Universe - Global Competitiveness Rankings

TV writers may be on strike, but we're not. And we're bringing news of two huge reports. The World Economic Forum just released its annual ranking of global competitiveness, based on data from 131 countries, and the World Bank has released its own set of indicators to gauge international competitiveness among 150 countries. Here are the countries leading the world.

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November 5, 2007

Considerations When Choosing a Consultant

Sometimes we have to admit we need outside help in the form of consultant knowledge and experience. However, choosing the best consultant for a particular job can be quite daunting. Yet if succeeding in business is all about minimizing and controlling risk, you certainly don't want to risk a consultant who'll falter, leading to a poor decision and losses.

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November 2, 2007

Light Friday: eBay Find of Hallowthanksmas, Zombie Science, What You're Listening To...

...and MORE!

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November 1, 2007

Dark Days for Small Businesses

Economic confidence among small-business owners nationwide has hit record lows, marked mainly by the overall economy, increasing cash flow issues and lower selling prices, as well as costs of health care, materials and labor. Meanwhile, the U.S. Small Business Administration appears more responsive to small firms.

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October 31, 2007

Just in Time for Halloween: Pirates (Not the Fun Kind)

Tonight some Jack Sparrows and other young pirates undoubtedly will come knocking at your door expecting treats. Yet given our increasingly challenging economic straits, real pirates are wreaking havoc more frequently on the high seas, according to the International Maritime Bureau.

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October 30, 2007

Best of 2007 (So Far) - Reader Favorites

Every year, some Industrial Market Trends coverage rises above the rest. As such, we've compiled a list of your five favorite articles from IMT issues so far this year, plus our picks for 2007 posts worth checking out. Whether you're seeing these articles for the first time or re-reading a few of your favorites, we'd love to hear from you. Please leave us a comment on the blog.

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October 29, 2007

From Paradise to Ash in Days

Southern California was beautiful as only those who know the canyons and appreciate the chaparral can know. Now much of it is ashes thanks to raging fires across 800 square miles in seven southern counties.

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October 26, 2007

Light Friday: Office Games Probably Not Fit for the Office

We spend at least eight hours a day with our coworkers. Even the most serious business person needs to have a little fun — even if it's slightly absurd fun. Here are some pranks and other ways to (occasionally) lighten the mood on the job. (We don't encourage any of them.)

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October 25, 2007

24 Questions to Ask Employees

The truth may hurt, but not asking could cause even more pain.

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October 24, 2007

Getting in Sync with Your Global Supply Chain

The term "global supply chain" is often discussed in a casual manner — almost as if it's assumed all manufacturers know how to run it properly. Recent developments are putting a halt to this oversight by uncovering a lack of knowledge and awareness in this critical area of interest. So how can you sync up with your global supply chain? Here's how.

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October 23, 2007

Patterns of Innovation: Matters of Size and Style

Most organizations today herald innovation, claiming its value and showcasing "best practices" in their mission statements. Yet when it comes to the overall state of innovation, according to recent scrutiny, "the only way is up."

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October 22, 2007

When You Can't Fly Solo: Preparing for Teamwork Excellence

Increasingly more innovative developments and discoveries result from team efforts. If individuals improve their teamwork skills continuously, the organization is better able to compete.

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October 19, 2007

Light Friday: CEOs Agree They're Overpaid, Cars of the 1907 Auto Show, Gripe Sheet...

... Watch Your Salary Grow Online, Programmed for Chocolate Lovin' and MORE.

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October 18, 2007

How to Manage Supply Chain Collaboration

Supply chain collaboration remains ad hoc and fragmented, according to CAPS Research, a global research center for strategic supply management.

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October 17, 2007

Nimble Product Design Determines SME Value

Businesses have struggled with this one forever: How do we develop our product cheaper and offer it to customers at a low price? Taking into account budgetary restraints, revenue goals and product cost targets, the question is even tougher for smaller companies whose budgets are typically limited.

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October 16, 2007

Auto Industry: Revved Up or Broke Down?

As compact Hondas and Toyotas continue to crash onto the scene, U.S. automakers have largely failed to recognize what today's car consumers need: an auto industry that is fast, flexible and efficient.

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Back to the Future

Today's new vehicles are loaded with electronics, communication equipment, safety features and ever-increasing engine power. Innovations in the car of tomorrow, however, will include improvements on cars of the past.

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Top Auto Recalls of 2007

The number of automotive recall issuances last year was nearly as high as it has ever been. But 2007 has also been a bad year for some surprising offenders. Herewith are this year's most recalled cars.

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Burning Question

The United Auto Workers (UAW) recently carried out mini-strikes at both General Motors and Chrysler. Is a Ford strike next?

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Working Smarter on the Shop Floor

After R&D is completed, it's up to the workers on the floor to get the vehicle out the door. What developments are driving change and enabling the rank-and-file to work smarter and quicker?

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Under the Hood of a NASCAR Racer

The thrill of NASCAR racing may be based on our need for speed. Unrestricted, NASCAR cars produce 750+ horsepower and can run at speeds in excess of 200 mph. The most crucial component: the engine.

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U.S. Infrastructure in the Emergency Lane

In addition to the tens of billions of dollars that poor road conditions cost U.S. motorists each year, this summer's bridge collapse in Minnesota has brought the nation's brittle infrastructure back into the spotlight.

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Army of Anthropologists Enters War Zones

The United States military is testing a new strategy in which anthropologists are embedded with combat units in war zones, but critics fear the social sciences are being used for political gain.

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The Road to Success for Wallflowers

Many employers are looking for workers who have very specific personal attributes. Yet being great at what you do while dispossessing that "special something" should not stop hard workers from getting ahead. There is no one solution, but a combination of strategies could do the trick.

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Recommended Reading

ZOOM: The Global Race to Fuel the Car of the Future provides readers a compelling overview of the global race to build the car of the future, as pioneers in Japan, India, China and the U.S. tackle the challenge of creating vehicles that will run on cleaner energy sources.

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October 15, 2007

U.S. Economy Deflates: Producer Prices Roundup

We don't have to tell you that gasoline prices jumped again, as you can see it on the gas stations along our streets and highways. But for the nation as a whole, the price rose 8.4 percent September over August. The approximately 13.8 percent drop in the price of gasoline we enjoyed during August just couldn't last.

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October 12, 2007

Light Friday: The Robots & Marriage Edition

New Science on Marriage: Stress, Wealth, Infidelity, Heart Disease, Testosterone and Fertility. Plus Robo-Bugs and Life-Size Transformers!

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October 11, 2007

6-Hour Strike at Chrysler

Workers yesterday walked out of all Chrysler plants nationally, except for those already idled as part of the automaker's plans to reduce inventory. They had just enough time to stand in a picket line during lunch and hear about the settlement during dinner.

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October 10, 2007

Developing a Lean Supply Chain (Successfully)

Jargonistic business/technology terms often seem like good ideas on paper that ultimately are not adopted successfully in the real world. "Lean" is one such term. But if wholly embraced, lean manufacturing is not simply a way to cut costs quickly.

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October 9, 2007

Next-Gen Lemonade Stand Enables Maximum Value from Unused Assets

Assuming lean manufacturing applies to getting the most from valuable unused physical assets, there's a new way to accomplish this. It involves referring equipment or commodities to prospective buyers. A brand new e-commerce Web site, Lemonade.com, allows anyone or any company to use its platform and delivery system as a simple means to distribute and sell products and services for free.

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October 8, 2007

Round 'em Up: Indicators and Activities

Faced with slower growth and increasing uncertainties in various markets, business owners are keeping a positive outlook for the near future. Here's a look at the economic developments so far this month and how they may affect your business.

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October 5, 2007

Light Friday: From Russia with Love...

... Awards for Silly Science and More!

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October 4, 2007

Highlights and Lowlights of Tentative UAW-GM Contract

A week after they walked off the job in a nationwide strike that lasted two days, UAW members began to vote on the union's tentative contract with GM on Monday. If union members approve the contract, within the next four years the automaker could close as many as four more factories than it previously announced.

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October 3, 2007

We're Up to the Races

Fingers crossed, the Rocket Racing League's first plane will blast off from the Mojave Desert this month.

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October 2, 2007

Losing Touch: Why DIY?

Doing it yourself enables you to get exactly what you want. But are the do-it-yourself (DIY) principles of the past in decline today? Have we lost our manual competence?

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10 Off-the-Wall Projects

To help get your creative juices flowing, here we look at 10 DIY projects that fall somewhere between remarkable and ridiculous. MacGyver would be proud.

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Burning Question

Are basic DIY skills -- building things, fixing things, etc. -- really in decline?

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Biz Startup Basics

About 7 percent of the U.S. population is in the process of starting a business at any given time, according to the National Federation of Independent Business. Here are some basic need-to-knows for starting your own.

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How to Be Good to Your Buyers

Although preferred qualities of a great supply chain partner are specific to each relationship, some characteristics are expected by most. Here are the 10 most common qualities that buyers look for in their vendors.

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DIY Home Energy Audits

Even if you and your family don't want to plunge into an "off-the-grid" lifestyle, you can put your BTU use on a DIYet. Here are some tips for performing an informal energy audit and cutting energy costs in your home.

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They Shoot Good Ideas, Don't They?

Good ideas come from doing things differently, exploring new territory and taking risks. Yet while most of us today claim to value creative thinking and thinkers, great ideas die all the time. Why?

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Patenting & Marketing 101

Having a brilliant new idea isn't enough to "break through," as there is also plenty of hard work required in filing a patent and then selling your product or service. Consider these steps, and your great idea could be the next big thing.

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How to Cope with a Dysfunctional Workplace

Today's business world is full of research that offers "no-fail" suggestions to improve various strategies, processes and relationships. Of course, most of it makes the mistake of assuming that the people and companies being addressed are functional -- which is delusional at best.

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Recommended Reading

With DIY to the Rescue: 50 Great Home Improvement Projects' tricks of the trade, taken from DIY Network's popular show, "no foyer need go without a fix-up, no garage without a makeover, no shoe collection without a sanctuary."

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October 1, 2007

Enforcing Inspection in Indian Piracy

With 12 percent of its citizens engaged in industry, India has some of the toughest copyright laws in the world. Yet knockoff automotive parts still threaten ethical manufacturers there and elsewhere.

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September 28, 2007

Light Friday: The Debauchery Edition

... Calculator Anniversary, MIT Entrance Exam, the Old Tablecloth Trick, Corporate Slogans, Cost of Living, Loonie Dollars, Dancers, Dawn and MORE.

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September 27, 2007

Employment Expectations for October '07

The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) and the Rutgers University School of Management and Labor Relations have released their monthly SHRM/Rutgers LINE Employment Expectations Report for October 2007, providing industry insights on hiring and recruiting.

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September 26, 2007

Investing in Education: The Under-/Overqualified Seesaw

A speech given by Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke to the Chamber of Commerce this week has gotten us thinking once again about education and its role in industry's future workforce.

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September 25, 2007

Follow-up: Mattel's Apology Lost in Translation

After a long, hot summer of criticism and media-flamed suspicion over the safety of Chinese-made products, an executive of the Mattel toy company met with China's top product safety official on Friday to issue an apology. What the apology was for and to whom it was directed, however, were lost in translation.

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Follow-up: No Contract, No Work

Detroit must be abuzz, as union workers at General Motors left the assembly lines yesterday after management and United Auto Workers (UAW) leaders failed to come to terms on a new four-year labor pact.**

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September 24, 2007

The China Supply Chain Bottleneck

Many companies have looked to Asia for product sourcing in the pursuit for lower costs. Yet as they rush to source from China, companies in North America and Europe could be walking into a strategic trap with higher overall costs and reduced profitability, according to a recent report. What can businesses do?

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September 21, 2007

Light Friday: Out-of-Office Replies, Custer's Last Stand, For the Four-Day Workweek...

... Boeing and Deities, Dying Languages, Unfunny Videos and MUCH MORE.

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September 20, 2007

Auto-Union Talks Labor On

Bargainers for General Motors Corp. and the United Auto Workers (UAW) have been haggling over a new contract that recently expired. Intense negotiations have stalled, restarted, recessed, came back and nearly collapsed. And that's just over the past few days. Now they continue.

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September 19, 2007

Space Race 2.0

Last week, Google and X PRIZE Foundation offered a multimillion-dollar prize to the first team to land a rover on the moon. Let's not be shy. If you have the experience, and connections for launching expertise, systems guidance robotics, telecommunications and a source for funding, this is your big chance.

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September 18, 2007

Get Safe and Sound

Between threats of natural calamities and innumerable workplace hazards, ensuring security and safety in business requires a multi-faceted focus on communication and culture.

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China Declares War on Dangerous Products

Last month the Chinese government declared a four-month "special war" against poor product quality and lack of supervision as focus on safety concerns over Chinese products continues worldwide.

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America's Deadliest Jobs

Overall, workplace fatalities edged down last year to 5,703 from 5,734 in 2005, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. For many of us, the most dangerous part of the workday is the commute, but for many others, each workday is risky business.

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Burning Question

Is national security worth compromising individual privacy?

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100% Screening and Other Cargo Insecurities

Transportation systems seem particularly attractive targets for terrorists nowadays. Growing concern over these types of attacks' catastrophic consequences has led to measures for increasing physical security.

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R U \/uln3r4bl3?

New technologies bring productivity increases and convenience benefits -- as well as new threats. When unethical people exploit computer systems and mobile devices, your business and personal data become all the more open to risk. ARE YOU VULNERABLE?

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Action at WTC Site

Six years later, the World Trade Center site is a 16-acre pit surrounded by a chain-link fence. Finally, after years of delays, construction recently began to proceed at Ground Zero, timetables now exist and exciting designs for the post-9/11 ground have been unveiled.

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Prevent Forklift Fatalities

Each year tens of thousands of injuries related to powered industrial trucks, or forklifts, occur in workplaces nationwide. Such accidents also kill more than 100 workers a year. Ensure your company doesn't add to these statistics.

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Is Driving Small Less Safe?

Older car buyers formed their impressions of small car safety at a time, decades ago, when their ability to protect occupants in a collision left much to be desired. Today that mentality is increasingly coming under question, particularly as more consumers are thinking smaller.

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Recommended Reading

Published earlier this year, the 12th edition of Social Security, Medicare & Government Pensions clearly explains what the different benefits are and shows you how to claim what you've earned. If only the system were as straightforward...

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September 17, 2007

The State of Manufacturing in Mexico

Mexican Independence Day took place yesterday, and to celebrate our amigos south of the border, we offer some facts and impressions of the country's industrial success.

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September 14, 2007

Just When You Thought Spam Couldn't Be a Bigger Pain...

As the Web evolves into an increasingly essential part of everyday life, the sheer volume of spam grows exponentially every year -- and so too do the sophisticated tactics used to send it. Now there's an even sneakier one.

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September 13, 2007

Rising Cost of Health Insurance Slowing -- But Still Rising

Despite slowing, increases in the cost of health insurance premiums continue to be greater than those of inflation and wages, the Kaiser Family Foundation reports this week. Try not to get sick, folks.

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September 12, 2007

Data-Mining Program Scrapped Amid Privacy Failings

The Homeland Security Department is ditching a controversial data-mining program that was capable of analyzing one billion pieces per hour of "structured" information, such as databases, and one million pieces per hour of "unstructured" information, such as intelligence reports, e-mail, news articles and blogs. Oh, those pesky privacy laws.

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September 11, 2007

Patent Reform: David and Goliath

If you read the legislation summary that the House passed last week, it doesn't look so bad at first glance. Yet there are unresolved issues that could change the pace of innovation dramatically and alter who gets rewarded radically.

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September 10, 2007

Economic Update: August 2007

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) recent report on unemployment noted that "continuing job losses in manufacturing and construction, slower job growth in some service-providing industries and declines in local government education" contributed to the recent weakness in payroll employment. The overall unemployment rate held at 4.6 percent during August.

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September 7, 2007

Light Friday: Harnessing Body Heat, Unlikely Mentors, Water's Early Journey...

...Helicopter Turns 100, "Cheese-Eating Surrender Monkeys," Gaming for Homeland Security, 4 billion Phone Lines and MORE.

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September 6, 2007

Top Hiring Mistakes Made by Small Businesses

Hiring the right people can make a world of difference in the success of a small business. Yet many business owners do not approach hiring effectively and efficiently. In fact, many often make the same mistakes.

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September 5, 2007

How You Look at the Figures: Exports Make All the Difference

Although growth in the manufacturing sector slowed in August, one bright spot for the U.S. economy has been the sector's exports, whose growth accelerated last month. Making the decision to export requires careful assessment, planning, marketing and financing.

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September 4, 2007

By the Numbers: In the Workforce

We're doing more with less these days. Let's see just how well we're holding up. Here we break down the employment and productivity numbers into bite-size helpings.

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Labor Crisis! Panic on the Streets! Doomsday! Really?

Interest in the labor market behavior of the Baby Boom generation continues unabated. To some, it seems to be a crisis; but like any crisis, it is also an opportunity to seize — or to squander.

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Attain, Retain and Manage Top Talent

Job loyalty is waning these days, thus the intensity of retaining top talent. Once the realm of HR departments, talent retention has expanded and is now a high priority for corporate executives.

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Burning Question

How have office politics affected your career?

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Breaking Down the Door

Do you sit at your job, watching the clock tick and wishing the day would end? If you feel it may be time for a change in your job or career path, get the ball rolling with these tips and considerations.

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How to Get a Raise

It may not buy happiness, but more money can certainly rid you of some aggravations standing in the way of happiness. Negotiating and getting a raise, however, is not the simplest of tasks.

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Understanding Employee Benefits

Neither executives nor their employees are happy with the state of company benefits programs. It doesn't help that many employees don't understand what their company is providing.

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Office Politics: Playing the Game with Dignity

Even when you're out to get something done — not to do someone in — you have to play office politics. Fortunately, you can "play the game" ethically, getting ahead while retaining integrity.

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Relax into Retirement

A high percentage of workers recognize today's retirement system is undergoing major changes, yet many are failing to adapt in ways that will leave them well positioned for a comfortable retirement.

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Recommended Reading

The new book Working IX to V details various jobs in ancient Rome and Greece: a "locarius" scalped tickets for such events as gladiatorial matches, while a "sandaligerula" ensured her mistress wore proper footwear. An "orgy planner" needs no explanation.

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August 31, 2007

Scandal, Ego and Inflated Self-Worth Deserve Big Bucks

As the nation prepares to celebrate a Labor Day holiday that will see the first increase in the federal minimum wage in a decade, a malicious new report gleefully attacks our CEO class, showing that the gap in pay and compensation between workers and bosses is growing.

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August 30, 2007

Brand Extensions Seek New Revenue Streams

With all the new products that are flooding the marketplace, shelf space is a precious commodity that has allowed retailers to call much of the supply chain shots. Can wisely executing brand extensions help businesses, well, stay in business?

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August 29, 2007

Old is New Again for Military Manufacturing

From weapons to transport, the military has long been a catalyst for new, cutting-edge technology. Now a different strategy is taking place in military forces throughout the world, as a string of recent developments involves the resuscitation or recycling of retired military machines.

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August 28, 2007

Test & Measurement Market Showing Growth

Over the past few years, the test and measurement (T&M) market has slowly but steadily worked toward rebuilding itself and is now projected to grow markedly, due in no small part to emerging application areas in communication.

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August 27, 2007

Immigration and a Reverse Brain Drain?

The huge backlog in U.S. immigration visas is leading to a "reverse brain drain" that will force skilled workers to return to their home country and result in a subsequent decline in U.S. competitiveness, a new study shows. Is what's good for business good for America?

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August 24, 2007

Light Friday: Contaminated Chicken for Children, SOX Gets Star Treatment, Rocket-Powered Arm...

...Help Organize Galaxies, DeLorean Back in the Future, Space Station's POV of Hurricane Dean and MORE!

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August 23, 2007

Tax Incentives: Worthwhile Renewed Scrutiny or Worn-out Issue?

In an ongoing effort to attract economic development to areas in the U.S. and remain competitive, states offer new and existing incentive programs for potential business and industry. Critics say it's gotten out of hand and do little for the economy. Here we go again.

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August 22, 2007

Global Supply Chain Woes from the Pros

Despite all the fancy supply chain technology that firms have implemented, or in some cases, tried to implement, there seems reason to be very concerned that even "leading-edge" manufacturers still can't get their arms around what appear to be basic concepts of supply meeting demand.

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August 21, 2007

The Right Stuff

Apathy, budget cuts and growing global competition ... despite a number of concerns, the worldwide aerospace and defense market is on track to grow by more than 19 percent by 2011.

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Does This Spacesuit Make Me Look Fat?

For the last seven years, MIT engineers have been designing a new, slimmer spacesuit that features full range of motion for the astronaut -- one small step for space fashion, one giant leap for space travel.

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Composites Taking Off

Although they represent a relatively small segment of the aerospace industry, the lightweight materials offer both enormous untapped potential and formidable challenges to designers and manufacturers.

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Burning Question

Would funding spent on space exploration be better suited elsewhere?

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To Go Where Few Have Gone Before

Space is for sale, so start saving now. Despite recent setbacks, the nascent commercial spaceflight industry continues to heat up. From civilian Moon trips to an Earth-orbit hotel, space tourism is booming.

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Tips for Tightening and Testing

Even the smallest errors in aerospace projects can prove expensive, or worse, fatal. Overtorquing or undertorquing can easily lead to malfunctions and failure, and high shaker forces caused by overtesting can damage expensive payloads.

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Complexities in the 3D Space

Designers today must be able to create designs that can be adapted to various customer needs quickly and easily while remaining profitable. Many manufacturers and engineers are turning to 3D modeling to ease the burden, but not without challenges.

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Things to Do on the Moon

NASA consulted more than 1,000 people from businesses, academia and 13 international space agencies to come up with a master list of potential Lunar objectives and, earlier this year, released a list of "181 good ideas."

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Sticky Fingers at Work

A new report says that $94 million worth of NASA office equipment has gone "missing" over the past 10 years. Whether due to worker dissatisfaction, a sense of entitlement, the thrill of the steal or plain old absentmindedness, the five-finger discount is all too common in almost every workplace.

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Recommended Reading

Released last month, Michael Belfiore's Rocketeers captures the Wild West flavor of the burgeoning group of dreamers, entrepreneurs and space buffs trying to open space to regular folks like you and me.

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August 20, 2007

Manufacturers Hungry for Tech

U.S. manufacturing technology consumption in June was up 5.1 percent from May and 0.4 percent from June 2006, according to the latest numbers reported by companies participating in the United States Manufacturing Technology Consumption program.

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August 17, 2007

Light Friday: The Cool and the Crazy in Energy

... Wearable Power Prize, Over-caffeinated, Ersatz Hurricane, Crowd Farm, Jet Beetle and MORE!

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August 16, 2007

Pumped Up Prices and Productivity

Energy prices are up, the Producer Price Index is up, and consumer imports have fallen. The trade gap dropped slightly in May, and exports rose in the first half of 2007. Can manufacturers support the economy until housing can help next year? And will IT play a significant role?

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August 15, 2007

Another Blow to the Toy Titan

Mattel Inc. has announced it is recalling more than 18 million Chinese-made toys worldwide, including nine million in the U.S., citing dangerous levels of lead paint and small, powerful magnets in certain dolls, figures, play sets and accessories. The toymaker has now issued two massive recalls in as many weeks. Here are the facts for consumers, as well as some recall tips for manufacturers.

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August 14, 2007

How Much Is that Forest Worth?

Roughly $10 billion was lost to wildfires in 2002. But aircraft can make a real difference in the fight to protect people and trees.

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August 13, 2007

Design and Replacement: Of the Collapsed Minneapolis Bridge

Investigators last week said they found what may be a design flaw in the interstate highway bridge that collapsed over the Mississippi River in Minneapolis earlier this month. Steel gusset plates are raising design and safety concerns for bridges nationwide as a plan to replace the bridge is on the fastest of fast tracks.

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August 10, 2007

Spacing Out on Light Friday: The Endeavour Edition

Teacher in Space, Shuttle Makeover, Globalization Beyond Earth, Electric Light Orchestra and Your Age on Other Worlds!

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August 9, 2007

Choose Your Fasteners Carefully

The company that provided the epoxy blamed in Boston's fatal Big Dig tunnel collapse was indicted yesterday in the death of a motorist crushed by falling ceiling panels. Testing fasteners can help avoid injury, litigation, a bad reputation and myriad other headaches. Here are some things to consider.

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August 8, 2007

Where the Offshore Outsourcers Offshore Outsource

India has long been the offshore outsourcing hot spot for companies around the world to send parts of their business to cut costs. But where do India's outsourcers outsource?

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August 7, 2007

Procurement Trends & Tips

Between mounting materials prices, skittish supply and inefficient p-card programs, today's procurement professionals are facing intense issues ... but have the tools and know-how to overcome them.

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How to Make the Relationship Work

Relationships are critical to any organization anywhere in the world. Yet when it comes to buyers and suppliers, managing and developing relationships can make or break a top-notch business strategy.

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The State of the Buying Profession

Purchasing managers, buyers and agents are key components of a firm's supply chain. The following is a rundown of salary and discipline trends, as well as the state of the sourcing job function.

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A Darker Shade of Green

As demand for environmentally preferable purchasing increases, "greenwashing" — the practice of misleading purchasers about the environmental benefits of a product or service — is reemerging as a key concern.

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Burning Question

Is buying/selling "green" worth it?

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Winning at Risk

Risk isn't a game in the supply chain, as any number of supply/demand disruptions can wreak havoc on the bottom line. That is why anticipating and managing risk is a critical skill for procurement professionals.

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Lost in the Andes

Sometime between March and May this year, the Chileans carelessly misplaced an entire glacial lake in the country's Andes. The 100-foot-deep body of water just kind of disappeared.

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Driving Down Car Costs

Small, no-frills subcompact cars are already selling in India and Eastern Europe at prices in the $7,000 range. Now the race is on to sell new cars for even less: $3,000 and under.

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Big Concerns for Small Manufacturers

The state of the economy, taxes and the cost of materials ranked as the three leading concerns of small manufacturers in 2007's second quarter, according to last month's Small Business Research Board study.

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August 6, 2007

How Much to Gamble Today for Tomorrow

Deciding how much to spend toward innovation deserves careful consideration. A company that creates an environment in which employees feel R&D is essential will result in a steady flow of new products to please customers.

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August 3, 2007

Light Friday: "Alternative" Combat, Workplace Princesses, Sideways Bike...

...Dumbo Octopus, Underwater Bots and That Friday Feeling.

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August 2, 2007

Two Tales of Terror/Tragedy

Fisher-Price last night announced a massive recall of nearly 1 million toys worldwide that are coated with paint believed to contain dangerous levels of lead. Also last night, an Interstate highway bridge in downtown Minneapolis loaded with rush-hour traffic dropped more than 60 ft. into the Mississippi River.

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Manufacturing Inched Along in July

Economic activity in the manufacturing sector expanded in July for the sixth consecutive month, according to data in the Institute for Supply Management's (ISM) latest monthly Manufacturing ISM Report On Business. Meanwhile, the overall economy grew for the 69th consecutive month, say purchasing and supply managers nationwide.

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August 1, 2007

Tax Increases: A Reader's Guide

For a decade, the focus in Congress was which taxes to cut. That's about to change — in a very big way. Meanwhile, as Congress, candidates and their campaigns focus so much of their attention on taxes, more than one-third of U.S. workers say that presidential candidates are not adequately addressing key workplace issues.

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July 31, 2007

Domestic Auto Parts Makers Bidding Farewell?

Domestic manufacturers in North America and Europe are facing even more challenges, as the high-end edge they have held now seems to be receding. As such, an increasing number of diversified manufacturers are "abandoning the U.S. automobile industry, selling off auto-related businesses and beefing up other parts of their portfolios," according to a Wall Street Journal report.

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July 30, 2007

Tit for Tat: China-U.S. Food Fight Escalates

The Chinese yuan and counterfeit products are losing out in international attention to the ongoing spat over food quality trade disputes between the U.S. and China. Shortly after China's unwelcome publicity over charges of tainted food and other products, the country retaliated earlier this month by suspending the import of poultry and pork products from several major American producers.

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July 27, 2007

Light Friday: Quadruple Sunsets, Eco-Friendly Littering, Flying Car Hits Production...

… Guttenberg Sold Separately, $207 Million in Cash and MORE.

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July 26, 2007

The Business Costs of Acts of God

Hurricane season extends through November, and despite a downgraded forecast for devastating storms, experts still expect the 2007 season to be more active than last year. Are your insurance policies up to date to protect your assets from hurricane damage? Is your business prepared?

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July 25, 2007

Process Industries Transforming Old Supply Chain Strategies

Companies in the process industries now widely realize that they must restructure their supply chains to take out costs and maintain their customer service edge. Best-in-class companies are ahead of their peers in aggressively adopting technology and making other changes, a recent Aberdeen report found.

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July 24, 2007

Is Your Lean LAME?

Lean, or the elimination of muda ("waste"), is an ongoing process; half-hearted attempts to institute it will always fail. Here are some signs that your lean effort may be L.A.M.E.: "Lean As Misguidedly Executed."

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Getting Serious about Energy Efficiency

Accepting the current and long-term trend of oil, natural gas and coal prices, increasingly more energy-hungry businesses plan to invest in energy efficiency measures to help fight rising costs and optimize power.

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Working Hard or Hardly Working?

Our workdays are getting longer, but we are squandering valuable minutes, hours -- even entire days. Although no one seems to agree on how much time we're frittering away, the unanimous conclusion is it's costing companies billions of dollars.

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Burning Question

The federal minimum wage increase goes into effect today. What impact will it have, if any?

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Designed for Efficiency and Destruction

The design, construction, renovation and demolition of buildings accounts for literally tons of wasted materials, not to mention energy. Some ways to minimize building waste start from designing for destruction.

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Waste Watchers

The following reduction tips are designed to reduce the amount of waste in the office environment, including paper, power and productivity... yes, your office can be just as lean as your factory.

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The Toyota Way Forward

A recent series of interviews with Toyota's president provides great insight into not only the fabled Toyota Production System, but also the automaker's long-term strategy, which involves a combination of kaizen ("continuous improvement) and kakushin ("innovation," or radical renewal).

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What Is Your Idea Worth?

Infringement of intellectual property rights undermines long-term progress in innovation, which is why many businesses should be realizing that their IP may be the most valuable asset they own. It may also be the most under-appreciated asset.

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Nuclear Waste in Nevada to Wait

Having faced stiff opposition since its inception, the national Yucca Mountain Repository, an underground storage facility for nuclear waste in Nevada, won't open for at least a decade.

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Recommended Reading

The Gold Mine: A Novel of Lean Turnaround weaves together the technical and human pieces of implementing lean manufacturing in an engaging story that readers will find both compelling and instructive.

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July 23, 2007

Minimum Wage Hike Takes Effect Tomorrow

In May, Congress passed and President Bush signed the first federal minimum wage increase in a decade. Tomorrow's increase, the first of three planned through 2009, is expected both to provide only meager help for workers and to have minimal impact on most employers nationwide.

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July 20, 2007

Light Friday: Hugs, Wigs and Jeeves...

... New Moon Frank, Chinook's Checkers and The Great (Fake) Internet Crash of 2007!

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July 19, 2007

Quake in Japan Causes Nuclear and Automotive Shutdowns

Monday's earthquake in Japan was not only the deadliest earthquake in the tremor-prone country since October 2004, it's also turning out to be one of the most costly in terms of the country's nuclear and automotive industries.

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July 18, 2007

Drilling Holes, Understanding Quakes, Saving Lives

Monday's massive earthquake in Japan rightly demands that we pause to reflect on many things, not the least of which is the frailty of human life. So far technology hasn't advanced enough to enable avoiding such large-scale destruction and loss of life in the future. But geologists, engineers and roughnecks are working on that.

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July 17, 2007

4 Tips for Determining the Right Lender

Smart businesses look beyond today's interest rates for a lender that can serve the broader interests of the company, according to GE Commercial Finance Corporate Lending President and CEO Tom Quindlen. Here are four key attributes Quindlen says small business owners should consider when seeking smarter capital and determining the right lender.

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July 16, 2007

The Differences Between Top Shops and Mediocre Shops

In its second annual survey of machine shops, American Machinist has identified key indicators and best practices that lead to improved productivity and profitability for machine shops in the U.S. In addition to the 15 differentiators listed, this article addresses Kaizen event factors most critical to short-term and long-term performance improvement.

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July 13, 2007

Light Friday: The Wisdom of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid

Redford and Newman on Industrial Market Trends? IMT turning into AMC? Not really, but I guess this is a little different.

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July 12, 2007

Carbon Fiber is Taking Off... Again

You'd be hard-pressed to classify carbon fiber as an exciting new material. It sure can be exciting, but truth be told, this stuff has been around for awhile. Yet exciting developments indicate that the use of carbon fiber as a safe and efficient compound to build the unthinkable continues to gain traction.

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July 11, 2007

China's Rise and Reckoning

China's economy has seen staggering growth over the past few decades, and the country's manufacturing sector has skyrocketed in recent years. Yet the growth model behind this success is showing signs of anxiety: excess capacity; trade-surplus criticism among principal trading partners; exports straining global supply chains; dramatic wage increases and, of course, the country's public image amidst lethal safety failings.

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July 10, 2007

Simmer Down Now! How Workers Can Beat the Heat

Extreme heat in the workplace is more than an issue of discomfort. Hot surfaces and steam, sweaty palms and slippery hands, dehydration, the ever-present threat of heat stress -- all of this spells danger in the workplace. Here's how you can stay safe and healthy.

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Summer Hooky

More than a third of workers in the U.S. are stricken with a case of Seasonal Absence Syndrome (SAS), i.e., calling in sick to enjoy a day off, according to a recent survey. This summertime workplace hooky is fueling the issue of employers balancing the needs of employees and the business.

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Cool Vacation Spots for Geeks like Me

Before we use up our precious vacation time, we need to figure out where to go and what to do. There are so many options. A cruise? A major museum? An underwater hotel? Consider some of these classic vacation ideas for engineers and geeks like me.

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Burning Question

Does your job provide you with enough time off?

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Here Comes the Sun -- and Its Power

Demand for energy is expected to triple by 2050, and new investment and technology will be vital to easing the pressure on traditional sources. Harnessing the sun's power is one increasingly popular, if still flawed, option.

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Firing Up the Heatless Laser

Scientists have long known that ultrashort pulse (USP) laser technology could cut with precision without generating heat, but now scientists and engineers are at work shrinking the laboratory behemoths down to desktop Internet appliances that are "plug and play."

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American Workers Not Wanted

H-1B visas have lately come under fire due to abuse stemming from loopholes in the program's current form. Then there's the commotion over whether firms are deliberately not posting jobs where U.S. workers can find them. Global competition for talent is intense, yet the debate over the way to acquire talent is just as heated.

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Hug Me, Don't Hassle Me: The Hypersensitive Workplace

An article about zero tolerance for workplace jerks received sky-high readership in our last issue. Yet a number of readers also noted the benefits of tough love, pointing to rampant oversensitivity and political correctness in today's business world. This counterargument asks: Where does rudeness end and harassment begin? And when does support for employees turn into handholding?

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Taming Your On-the-Job Daydreaming

Nice days and sweltering temperatures during the summer can make it difficult to stay focused on the task at hand. Daydreaming, for one, can cut deeply into productivity. Mental clutter, head on overdrive -- we've all been there. Here is some soothing relief for your... oooh, to be on the beach!

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**Bonus** IMT at the Movies

Summer is traditionally the time for blockbuster entertainment, and this year's box office is no exception. But for a handful of movies this season, there's more than meets the eye. Here we look at a few of this summer's blockbusters and the real-world implications of the subject matter: pirates, robots, shipbuilding, health care and even cooking (for engineers).

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Recommended Reading

Drawing on decades of Gallup research and millions of interviews, How Full Is Your Bucket? reveals how positive reinforcement can powerfully boost productivity, worker satisfaction and stability in various organizations. It may be brief, but it's highly specific -- perfect summer reading.

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July 9, 2007

Making a Game out of the Big Three's Strategy

It's no secret that the U.S. auto industry is nearing the end of its once-dominant position. The Big Three's strategy now seems to be a renewed emphasis on profitability rather than blindly going after market share. The strategy might eventually pay off, not only for the auto industry but also for other big companies with big problems. Or not.

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July 6, 2007

Light Friday: The Mustard Belt, National AC Policy, Fragrant Lawsuit...

... Ethanol's Downside, Fixing the Internet, Vintage Car Race and your last chance to vote on the New 7 Wonders of the World!

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July 5, 2007

U.S. Manufacturing Expanded in June

Activity at the nation's factories, plants and utilities expanded modestly in June while price pressures eased, marking the fifth consecutive month of growth for manufacturing industries and the 68th consecutive month of growth for the overall economy, according to the latest monthly ISM report. New orders, production and employment contributed to growth, while inventories supported some contraction.

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July 3, 2007

Fourth of July: By the Numbers

Thirty-eight percent of July Fourth travelers hit the road last Friday, making a week-long trip out of the holiday. Assuming at least a handful of people are at work and biding time at the computer until tomorrow's federal holiday (i.e., day off from work), this post is for the rest of you.

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Science While You Ooh and Aah

In between the "oohing" and "ahhing" directed towards the brilliant colors, dramatic patterns and bombastic sounds of this week's July Fourth fireworks displays, you might take a moment to admire the impressive manufacture numbers and awesome display of chemistry and physics, too.

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July 2, 2007

O Canada: With Glowing Hearts We See Thee Rise

Although struggling Canadian manufacturers and their employees are worried about the future, the manufacturing sector is not quite grave. Yet it is changing, and its competitive future will likely be much smaller and more productive with a highly skilled but trim workforce — some good news as our northern neighbors celebrate Canada Day.

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June 29, 2007

Super Light Friday: We Will Not Be Reviewing the New iPhone!

We will, however, weigh in on the guy who's been on line for the much-hyped Apple phone since Monday morning, as well as discuss: a fleet of 29,000 rubber ducks helping ocean scientists; just how rich the richest of the rich are getting; exactly how to give a great man-to-man hug; and a bunch of other need-to-knows. Folks, it seemed like it'd never arrive, but Friday's finally here.

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June 28, 2007

U.S. Durable Goods Orders Tumble 2.8% in May

Orders for U.S. durable goods fell more than forecast in May, the first report to cast doubt on the strength of the rebound in business investment.

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China Food Crackdown Shuts 180 Factories

Chinese media are reporting that authorities have shut down 180 food factories and revoked 37 processing licenses of food makers after inspectors found industrial chemicals in products.

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June 27, 2007

Mixed Outlook for Hiring and Salaries

Once again, the forecast for the labor market appears mixed. Herein are the latest figures on hiring expectations in manufacturing and service sectors, the outlook for salaries and incomes, and a breakdown of annual compensation of supply management professionals.

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June 26, 2007

Weak Signals and Happy Accidents

Weak signals can be defined as imprecise, early indicators of an impending important event or trend. And in today's rapidly changing business environment, being aware of current weak signals can lead to reaping huge rewards from tomorrow's trend. This is no less applicable to managers.

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June 25, 2007

Toyota Putting Brakes on U.S. Plants

It seems Toyota has concluded that it has quite enough factories in the U.S. and it doesn't plan to build any more any time soon. Top Toyota executives are concerned the Japanese automaker may have built too many U.S. plants, in part to build political support by providing new jobs in lots of places.

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June 22, 2007

Light Friday: Pluto's Last Stand, 2007's Worst Jobs in Science, 15 Geeky Vacations...

... Fired Over Fair Pay/Paid Beyond Fair Pay, Damned Internet Terms, Brightest Supernova Ever and MORE.

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June 21, 2007

Chemical Costs and Supply Pressures Drive Up Raw Materials Prices

Raw materials prices continue to cut into profits with little relief in sight. If prices continue to rise and solutions to these problems go unaddressed and worsen, they cannot help but undermine the future health of U.S. manufacturing.

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June 20, 2007

The State of the Federal Contracting Workforce

Although the total number of contracting professionals in the United States federal acquisition workforce has continued to grow, during the past year it grew far short of the contracting growth rate, according to new government data.

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June 19, 2007

Get a Personal Life

Companies are beginning to recognize signs of employee burnout, and, as a result, they are realizing that unless people can have balance in their lives, productivity will suffer. Because of this, many organizations are redesigning work to help encourage work-life balance. Yet only you can restore harmony to your life.

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The Civilized Workplace: No Jerks Allowed

An obnoxious coworker, a malicious manager, a bullying boss — there's no getting around it: today's workplace is beset with jerks. These people deliberately make coworkers and subordinates feel bad about themselves in our day-to-day working environment, and the human and financial toll is high.

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The Mirage of Professional Gender Equality

The 21st century has been called the Woman's Century. Hillary Clinton is running for President, women are playing stronger roles in the workplace and the female profile is rising in many professional fields. So why does no one seem shocked that gender discrimination still lingers in the workplace today?

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Burning Question

How do you deal with jerks on the job?

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Multitasking Terror

Meet with clients, check your e-mail, tighten the BlackBerry e-leash — how many balls are you juggling for work? While some experts believe multitasking is a viable solution in keeping productivity on the upswing, others disagree and even suggest it could make productivity worse.

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Is Telecommuting Right for You?

Perhaps in response to the seemingly countless number of horrors in the workplace, telecommuting is continuing to gain in popularity among small and large firms alike. Could it work well for you and your employer? Here we consider the "why" and "how" to do it and do it successfully.

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Stop, Collaborate and Listen!

Meeting today's challenges of global competition means leveraging all your company's intellectual assets around the idea of unified common processes and systems. So if the knowledge shared between employees and employers plays such a crucial role in a company's future, why do so many of them continue to have poor workplace communication?

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What Was I Looking For?

Irrelevant Web browsing now has a name: "wilfing," as in "What Was I Looking For?" Meanwhile, Internet "addiction" is a growing concern to some. Plus, there's the very real threat of e-mail overload. How much Internet is too much, and what can we do about online productivity killers?

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Innovation Mastery Wins in Las Vegas

The theme of last week's Managing Automation-hosted Progressive Manufacturing Summit in Las Vegas, Nev., may have been "Connecting the Enterprise," but the underlying — and perhaps more telling — theme in experts' discussions seemed to be the tangibility of innovation: What is it, and how do companies master it? What happened in Vegas isn't staying in Vegas.

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Recommended Reading

In Nuts, Bolts, and Jolts, Rich Moran imparts more than 2,000 prescriptions to common workplace ills, developed through years of boring meetings, business trips and countless embarrassing moments. The bestselling "bullet point king" offers a roadmap to understand that work is not something to dread, as well as how to achieve life-work balance.

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June 18, 2007

Global 3PL Industry Swells

The relentless growth and expansion of global third-party logistics (3PL) now puts the industry at an estimated $390 billion. Last year, the global 3PL industry experienced double-digit growth, which is expected to continue unabated as increasingly more companies do business abroad.

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June 15, 2007

Coffeecoffeecoffee! Cappuccino! Java!

Sure, it's a drug, but it also keeps you awake and alert. It also appears to have an increasing number of potential health benefits, including protection against liver and colon cancer, type-2 diabetes and Parkinson's. And nearly eight in 10 Americans imbibe. Is coffee friend or foe? Here comes the science.

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June 14, 2007

Mixed Messages, Elusive Truths or Back-Stabbing?

According to the National Association of Manufacturers, "China's buildup of currency reserves to suppress the [value of the] yuan has doubled, from about $20 billion a month to over $40 billion a month." This is echoed in The New York Times, which reports that "China uses its export revenue to buy dollars so the value of the yuan is seen as artificially low."

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June 13, 2007

The Summit So Far: 2007 Progressive Manufacturing Event

Among the blackjack tables, roulette wheels, blue hairs and all-you-can-eat buffets here in Las Vegas, Nev., there is also an event taking place this week for technology and business managers: the 2007 Progressive Manufacturing Summit, in which experts in enterprises across industry sectors are meeting to discuss the current and future developments of manufacturing technology and processes. **UPDATED**

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RFID 'Evangelist' Still Spinning Wheels

For many CIOs, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) is still a scary technology. Having been around for decades but re-ignited a few years ago when a little company called Wal-Mart started bullying its suppliers with a flaky RFID "mandate," the unfounded hype surrounding RFID has done much more harm than good.

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June 12, 2007

Engineers Blast Away Threats to Bridges

Unlike ancient bridge builders, who used walls and roofs to keep underlying structures from rotting and rusting, today's engineers are working on ways to protect bridges from terrorists. "Government officials have acknowledged the transportation system's vulnerability to terrorist attacks. Bridges are among the most vulnerable," according to an announcement from the University of Missouri College of Engineering.

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June 11, 2007

Beverage Makers Widen Global Reach

When it comes to creating exciting new products for consumers, the beverage industry does a better job than many other verticals; the myriad flavor combinations and the creation of the popular energy drink category are proof positive. So what happens when these younger revenue streams begin to show signs of maturing?

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June 8, 2007

Light Friday: Skin Cells Behaving Like Stem Cells, Tonight's Shuttle Launch, Ford Beats Toyota (Seriously)...

... Lunar Violence, BEAR Bots on the Battlefield, Qualified but Unemployed, the Weight of the Internet, Europe's First Biodiesel Express, and we ask: Does "Heartbeat of America" Mean Anything to You?

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June 7, 2007

Almost 2 Years Later, Few Cranes Seen on New Orleans Skyline

After Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans in 2005, many developers announced plans to build high-rises there. Yet 20 months after the storm, many haven't gotten off the ground. While construction and insurance costs have soared, a more pressing issue remains: there is still no comprehensive rebuilding blueprint, and funding is falling far short of planners' expectations.

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June 6, 2007

U.S. Economy: Sinking, Stalling or Shaping Up?

The Commerce Department's first-quarter revision shows that the U.S. economy this winter stalled to its slowest pace since late 2002, due in no small part to slower business production and, in particular, a massive trade deficit. Because most economists agree that the economy probably bottomed out in the first three months of the year, the good news (if you can call it that) may be that there is no direction for the economy to go but up.

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June 5, 2007

The State of Architecture in America

Builders, suppliers, real estate agents and potential house buyers all have an ear to the ground. The numerous professions and fields associated with construction and real estate make up one of the largest components of the U.S. economy. Here we look at the current highs and lows of new construction, equipment exports and the architectural workforce.

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Built to Last ... and Dance and Heal and Think

Bridges in the near future may be able to withstand catastrophic earthquakes by literally "jumping" off the ground and "dancing." Meanwhile, a nano-polymer may enable building walls to self-heal their cracks. And what exactly does a realistic home of the future look like?

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Building for Tomorrow

Energy plays more of a role in building and design than ever before, and it has just as much to do with health and the environment as it does with operations and the bottom line. We have entered an era in which a building's energy productivity looms ever larger as a factor in business and global competition.

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Burning Question

Yay or nay to nuclear energy?

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Upward Bound

The race for the world's tallest skyscraper is not simply about civic pride, nor is it solely motivated by architects and engineers' vainglorious ambition. Sure, record-breaking skyscrapers confer prestige, and the vanity factor may be in play, but building taller also boosts business.

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Construction Cleans Up On the Road

Fuel efficiency and emissions are increasingly vital factors in the truck choice a company makes when deciding to lease or buy new or used. Whether you're a one-man show who needs a knock-around pickup or a huge enterprise hauling materials for clients nationwide with a fleet of state-of-the-art, heavy-duty trucks, consider these points.

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The Big Ditch Gets a Lot Bigger

To handle booming maritime traffic and massive ships, a $5.25 billion waterway project is underway to expand and modernize the Panama Canal, a nearly century-old engineering marvel that still handles 5 percent of today's world trade.

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A Nuclear Revival: Are We Ready, Willing and Able?

Attitudes vary widely when it comes to nuclear energy, yet as nations look to strengthen energy security, meet future electricity needs and reduce emissions of greenhouse gases, increasingly more companies are announcing their intentions to build new nuclear power plants or restart old ones. And who exactly will operate these plants?

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Small Biz Bullets: The Outlook

Ma and Pa ain't dead, despite repeated cries that mega-chains are gobbling up all small businesses. In fact, small businesses remain the lifeblood of cities and towns across the U.S. So it is comforting to know that their owners' optimism is growing, as reflected in a highly regarded survey of small-biz owners and managers.

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Recommended Reading

The Poetics of Space is as much a book of philosophy as it is of architecture, art and poetry. Gaston Bachelard's classic study of the psychological effects of domestic space -- attics, cellars, drawers, etc. -- urges architects to base their work on the experiences it will engender. It may change the way you look at your home and your relationship to it.

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June 4, 2007

China Blames Panama, Who Blames China, Whose Consequences Prove Fatal

We recently addressed the responsibility of "toxic toothpaste" and "poisonous pet food." Panama and at least three other Latin American countries recently seized tens of thousands of tubes of Chinese-made toothpaste sold under the brands "Excel" and "Mr. Cool," while the U.S. last week halted all imports of Chinese toothpaste to test for a chemical often used in antifreeze and brake fluid. The saga of wrongdoing and blame continues:

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June 1, 2007

Light Friday: Free Doughnuts Today, Top 5 Games to Play with Your Kids, Bendable TV Screen...

... Lawyer-turned-LEGO® Sculptor, Sci-Fi Writers Help Homeland Security, Lucy and Ricky and Ford, and MORE!

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May 31, 2007

The Award Goes to the Most Creative and Inefficient

The competition to design a Rube Goldberg-like machine began in 1949 by two engineering fraternities at Purdue, and was held until 1955. It was revived in 1983, and this year's task was to create a machine that could make juice from an orange and pour the juice from a pitcher into a cup — in more than 20 steps.

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Is Ford Making A Comeback?

Say what you will about Ford Motor Company — we certainly have — but the reality is that Ford's slash-and-burn strategy is showing albeit-slight signs that it is working. At least, that's what the automaker's top analyst thinks.

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May 30, 2007

Reuse Design Or Start from Scratch?

There's a lot to be said for entirely new and original design. However, the major benefit of design reuse is that starting with an already completed design allows engineers to avoid starting from scratch. It's an easy idea in theory, yet its challenges are many. Here's how best-in-class firms respond to the challenges of design reuse.

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May 29, 2007

Global Energy Use: To Keep Going and Going and Going...

Despite high world oil and natural gas prices, demand is expected to keep growing. Demand will be especially high in Asian countries outside the Organization for Economic Cooperation Development, according to the Energy Information Administration, which expects world energy consumption to climb by 57 percent through 2030. The industrial sector alone accounts for 27 percent of the total projected increase in liquid energy use.

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May 25, 2007

Light Friday: Towel Day, Patently Godly, Rock Paper Scissors...

... Spy Drone, Ball Deglosser, Green Yellow Cabs, Purple Gets Owned, Venus Near the Moon, Memorial Day and MORE!

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May 24, 2007

Universally Cheap and Poisonous?

Without all the facts, it's hard to place blame. Yet recent allegations of Chinese manufacturers including solvents in toothpaste that was shipped to Latin American countries, and contaminated pet food arriving in the U.S., raises serious questions about inspections, oversight and manufacturing miseries.

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May 23, 2007

The Big Boom: Freight Rates, Congestion, Capacity and Trade

At one point mid-last year, overcapacity contributed to declining rates for containerized shipping. Not anymore. This year shipping lines appear to be holding firmly to their positions, without giving in to rate reductions. It's Fleet Week, and the ship may have hit the fan.

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May 22, 2007

Clever Ideas for Creative Thinking

Some ideas are brilliant and complex, while others are good and simple. Creativity may be a haughty term, but businesses need it to stay innovative and competitive. You can also approach brainstorming in a practical way. Here are some tips on how to get your creative juices flowing.

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Smart Manufacturing Machines

Tomorrow's machine tools will take the drudgery out of working with them. A smart machine can make real-time decisions about manufacturing processes, and with plenty of adaptive controls and better machine vision, operators will be able to spend more time on creative work and less time on repetitious tasks.

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Critical Biz Data: Gather, Store, Analyze, Repeat

Gathering and understanding accurate information is the lifeblood of businesses across all industries today. Critical data must be aggregated, searched, presented and analyzed -- no doubt, a complex process. Although technology is only part of the story, something big is happening in business intelligence.

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Burning Question

Will intelligent robots some day destroy us?

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With Packaging, It's the Thought that Counts

Counterfeiting may be wreaking havoc across the supply chain, but manufacturers are not without recourse, nor are they standing still. The arrival of a broad range of printable-electronics technologies, advancements in smart materials and a sizable market for RFID is making smarter packaging possible.

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Competitive Intelligence vs. Espionage

Business intelligence, corporate intelligence, manufacturing intelligence, industrial intelligence -- whatever you call it, we do it openly but prefer the target company be unaware. How do we pursue aggressive but legitimate competitive intelligence-collection activities without being liable for espionage?

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Employees Tell Managers to Shut Up and Listen

Famed French management theorist Henri Fayol said that management consists of five primary functions: planning, organizing, leading, coordinating and controlling. Yet the behavior of today's managers in several fundamental areas of practice — including listening to employees — is not meeting employees' expectations half the time, a new study says.

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Bots with Brains: Future Robotic Overlords?

Science fiction has portrayed machines capable of thinking and acting for themselves with a mixture of both anticipation and dread, but what was once the realm of fiction has yet again become the subject of serious debate as robots become more intelligent.

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Street Smarts

From self-parking vehicles to those that know when getting too close can be dangerous, cars are getting smarter. Meanwhile, one major U.S. automaker is applying AI and knowledge-based technologies to its manufacturing process, and builders in urban areas are turning to space-saving automated parking garages.

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Recommended Reading

Current business ideas of lasting value, like perpetual innovation and the commercial superiority of good design, are examined in the elegantly written and intelligent Mavericks at Work: Why the Most Original Minds in Business Win.

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May 21, 2007

Who Will Compromise, and What Will Be Left of Them?

The purchase of Chrysler has been a huge story recently. The automaker aims to return to profits in '08, but the main hurdle lies in its ability to clinch a new contract with the United Automobile Workers (UAW) union that reduces costs, particularly for health care. Will a private company be tougher for the auto union to deal with because the owners could be uncompromising, or can private equity investors fix Chrysler for good without a confrontation with the union?

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May 18, 2007

Light Friday: Found -- 585 New Species and Richest Shipwreck Treasure Ever...

... Forever Stamps, Political Food Stamp Challenge, Britain's Animal-Human Hybrids and The Mineral Moon Mosaic!

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May 17, 2007

Visibility Forecast: Occasionally Poor, Moderate or Good, Best-in-Class

While many in the service industry grouse over Sarbanes-Oxley's demand for transparency, one of manufacturing's enduring buzzwords is visibility. In the early days of the industrial revolution, the foremen carried the information about worker productivity, and perhaps supply levels, to the boss. Today it can all be automated on the plant floor.

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May 16, 2007

Revisiting Distribution Center Site Selection

Speed to market is key in logistics today, and distribution centers (DCs) are increasingly central to helping shippers achieve success. When selecting a site for the DC or warehouse, however, there are many factors that must be taken into account to ensure the right site without running into unexpected requirements that can hamper future operational costs.

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May 15, 2007

The Rise of Digital Humans in Auto Manufacturing

With Chrysler selling off 80 percent of its assets and Ford Motor Co. considering a similar deal according to analysts, where does the American car industry go from here? You do what any self-respecting car exec would do to irritate the workforce further: invest in ergonomics research!

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May 14, 2007

Going Once... Going Twice... Chrysler's Sold!

What was billed as "a marriage made in heaven" that never lived up to the name has ended in a deal that puts a major U.S. automaker in the hands of a private equity group for the first time, unwinding a 1998 merger that was meant to create a trans-Atlantic automotive powerhouse.

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May 11, 2007

Light Friday: Fiscal Affirmative Action, Wig-Wearing Cycling, an Integer for Mother's Day...

... Better Spacesuit Glove, Urine in Space, Dell Dinosaur Donated, a DIY Sugar-Sculpting 3D Fabricator and MORE.

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May 10, 2007

The Hidden Cost of Chemicals on Manufacturing

Given that most manufacturers depend on chemicals for some form of production and that, as a raw material expense, chemical costs are a key driver of profitability, the impact of rising costs is severe. In fact, if current conditions in the rising cost and availability of chemicals persist, a quarter of U.S. manufacturers will move some production overseas, according to a new report from AMR Research and NAM.

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May 9, 2007

Afterword on Adjusting Inventory

How do you adjust inventory so that you never lose customers due to delays while minimizing excessive inventory that isn't generating profit? Here is a simple view of how to forecast demand, following yesterday's IMT on Logistics & Transportation.

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May 8, 2007

Shipping: What to Look For in 2007 and Beyond

After a period of high demand and tight capacity, shippers across most modes can expect some breathing room in 2007, with demand slowing and capacity loosening as the overall economy slows. Here are some snapshots of what logistics buyers are currently facing and what can be expected in the near future.

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The Big List of Logistics Quick Tips

Fully grasping the logistics of the supply chain isn't easy. What should be priorities? What questions do you ask? Where do you even begin? Here we address these questions and more in this one-stop need-to-know guide to Logistics 101, as well as offer some basic tips and additional sources for all your logistics needs.

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Burning Question

What impact do energy prices have on your business?

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Boost Profits with Ship-It-Now Mentality

Between storage, tracking, billing and hiring, warehouse managers face myriad challenges. Although most warehouse managers strive to reduce costs for customers, 60 percent were unable to accomplish this goal between 2004 and 2006. The following are some actions you can take to be in the other 40 percent.

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Remove the Pain from 'Return to Sender' Refrain

Product returns cost U.S. manufacturers and retailers $100 billion annually and can reduce a manufacturer's profitability by 3.8 percent. That is why reverse logistics is fast emerging as a core driver of competitive advantage and financial performance among manufacturing leaders.

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Confronting Toxins, Terrorism and Other Cargo Threats

Theft, construction and congestion have threatened reliability of transportation systems for decades. Although shippers have learned to adapt to and work around these obstacles, unpredictable delays, longer transit times and higher costs associated with inspections may make the past look like the good old days.

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Sporting an Olympic-Size Material of the Future

Considered a transparent plastic cousin to Teflon, ETFE is replacing glass and plastic in some of the most innovative buildings being designed and constructed today. Far from being a new material, it seems set to surge in notoriety due to its major role in remarkable structures being built for worldwide sporting events, including the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

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French Engineers Set Rail Record — With a Bullet

In April, a French-engineered high-speed train with a souped-up engine broke the world speed record for conventional rail trains, surpassing 354.1 mph. The French engineering team is not the only one on track to provide super-fast trains, though, nor was its intention simply to break a record. It is also big business.

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Think You're Smarter Than Donald Trump?

The middle class in the U.S. is waning, and not since the Roaring Twenties have the rich been so much richer than everyone else. Yet intelligence doesn't explain it, according to a new report that says IQ has really no relationship to wealth. So the rank-and-file are likely to be just as smart as millionaire CEOs? You don't say.

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Recommended Reading

The ability to establish, grow, extend and restore trust with customers, suppliers and co-workers is the key leadership competency of the new global economy, writes Stephen M.R. Covey, whose "The Speed of Trust" offers an unprecedented and practical look at how trust functions in every transaction and relationship.

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May 7, 2007

Monitoring Supplier Collaboration: By the Numbers

Improvements in supplier performance are critical for increasingly more companies that rely on their supplier base for a huge variety of supplies and goods. Yet a recent Supply Chain Consortium survey of 100 top retail and consumer goods companies revealed that holding suppliers accountable through punitive compliance programs may not be working, as shown by the following key stats.

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May 4, 2007

Light Friday: Chevy Transformers, 5-Day Workweek, Brutal Firings...

... Engineering a Spidey Suit, Robots in Washington, Fusion Man, Middle Ages Tech Support and MORE!

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May 3, 2007

Unlimited Cross-Border Trucking: Hola o Adiós?

Saturday marks Cinco de Mayo, the Mexican national holiday — or what seems a perfect time to highlight the reemerging debate over Mexico-U.S. cross-border trucking, which transportation officials readdressed this week.

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Overhauling Innovation Funding

The Science and Technology Subcommittee on Technology and Innovation recently approved legislation to reauthorize the competitiveness and innovation initiatives of the National Institute of Standards and Technology — "the first time Congress has taken a comprehensive look at NIST since 1992." The bill would double the funding for two key innovation and competitiveness initiatives over the next 10 years.

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May 2, 2007

Report Details Crumbling Iraq Reconstruction 'Successes'

Problems with maintenance and other aspects of sustaining Iraq reconstruction projects threaten the future usefulness of some U.S.-built facilities, according to a new report. Poor construction, improper design, substandard materials and lack of maintenance have caused the failure of seven of eight such reconstruction projects recently reviewed by the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction.

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May 1, 2007

Obvious or Ingenious, Revisited: Overhauling Invention Ownership

The U.S. Supreme Court yesterday made it more difficult for inventors to get patents on works that build on previous inventions. And interested parties have a greater ability to challenge patents and a greater possibility of prevailing. As such, we could see thousands of cases asking the Patent Office to re-examine patents it has already granted.

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Canadians Feel the Pinch, Too

Many U.S. citizens have long felt the ravaging effects of globalization. Our good neighbors to the north, too, are struggling with this juggernaut in the face of plant closures and millions of industry jobs lost over the last few years. Yet Canadian manufacturers seem upbeat about production and hiring prospects.

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April 30, 2007

U.S. High-Tech Industry Adds Jobs

The high-tech industry continued to grow in 2006, adding nearly 150,000 net jobs for a total of 5.8 million in the United States, according to the American Electronics Association and based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. This growth is faster than the 87,400 jobs added in 2005. The high-tech manufacturing industry alone added 5,100 net jobs. Here are some highlights and key challenges.

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Manufacturing Orders Up, Housing Down, Consumer Sentiment Worse

New orders for manufactured durable goods in March increased 3.4 percent to $214.9 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau announced in late April. This was the fourth increase in the last five months and followed a 2.4 percent February increase. Meanwhile, recently revised 2006 housing sales figures show that things have generally been worse than originally indicated, and consumer sentiment fell to its lowest in seven months in April.

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April 27, 2007

Light Friday: Earth-Like Planet, Space Wars Revisited, Offensive Bloggage...

... Handsome Riggs, Real Kryptonite, The Mathematics of a Frothy Head and The Who Who?

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April 26, 2007

Is Wind Power Full of Hot Air?

In the U.S., as people recently poured into Earth Day celebrations, they encountered all sorts of booths and speeches extolling the virtues of wind power and other renewable resources. What participants were highly unlikely to hear were the limitations of wind power. Let's revisit wind.

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Reform Takes Energy, Too

We're an energy-hungry society, no doubt about it. With the increasing attention paid to global warming, the pressure to curb greenhouse gas emissions grows. How to accomplish this, however, remains a huge bone of contention.

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April 25, 2007

Toyota to Supplant GM as World's Top Automaker? It's Happened

Due in no small part to fuel efficiency, the prospect that Toyota might beat General Motors in global sales this year had been looming for some time, though the prospect still seemed very much in Detroit's rear-view mirror... until it happened this week.

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Chinese Textile Shipping Can't Compete with N.J. Mill's Turnaround

Like many others in U.S. manufacturing, the domestic textile industry has been shrinking dramatically over the past few years — from 1.1 million employees to 760,000 between 2000 and 2005. Amidst all the manufacturing job losses, one bright star of an experience sheds some light on improving competitiveness. Here the textile success story is attributed to lean manufacturing and employee liberation.

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April 24, 2007

Not So Quiet on the Western (or Eastern) Front

While the last couple of years have been a fruitful period for aerospace and defense sectors worldwide, the emphasis on the "global war on terror" continues to influence much of today's government spending on technology and R&D. Where and how are these funds being allocated?

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Manufacturing War Machines

Whether via tank, sub, ship or jet, taking the fight to the enemy has long been preferred. Yet transporting soldiers and equipment into battle zones safely and efficiently remains challenging for military forces all around the world. Here we look at developments and shipments in warfare vehicles on the ground, at sea and in the air.

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Lean Six Sigma Cleans Up TARDEC Shop

The U.S. Army Tank and Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center, upon identifying several types of waste recently, began restructuring the Design, Advanced Materials and Rapid Prototyping Center via a massive Lean Six Sigma project. The results are expected to save TARDEC approximately $500K a year, according to RDECOM Magazine.

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Burning Question

What is the most promising technology for bolstering military forces?

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How Manufacturers Can Learn from Marines

For Marines, teamwork and the esprit de corps can spell the difference between life and death. For manufacturers, collaborative communication, automation and innovation replace guns, grenades and bombs. Yet for both groups, cutting losses depends on better teamwork.

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Star Wars (For Real)?

A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away — no, scratch that. No country today is known to have weapons deployed in space, and many countries oppose their development. Yet from orbiting lasers that strike from the heavens to China's recent anti-satellite test, the potential to wage war from space raises startling possibilities.

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Fighting to Fill the Engineering Gap

Engineers and scientists comprise 10 percent of the Pentagon's 600K employees, many of whom will reach retirement age over the next decade. In light of current conflicts and increasing displays of advanced weapons systems in militarizing countries, maintaining an edge in science and technology is more important than ever. What is the Pentagon's plan to fill the engineering gap?

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Weapons 'R' Us: Armaments for Enemy Submission

From lasers and ray guns to drones and next-gen nuclear weapons, the science and manufacture of weaponry never ends, nor do the creative (and scary) ideas for devices to make the enemy — whoever it is — submit.

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Not Your Father's GIs: Soldiers of the Future

In the past, the armed services wanted buff young men and women in good health, preferably with good eyesight, no flat feet and hopefully a strong back. Tomorrow's military could employ robots, honeybees, cockroaches and fish, not to mention invisible armor.

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Recommended Reading

The United States Marines have refined a wide-ranging system of management practices that have evolved continuously under the most demanding conditions conceivable. Armed with straightforward principles presented in Corps Business: The 30 Management Principles of the U. S. Marines, any organization can achieve the high-impact responsiveness demanded by today's ultra-competitive, fast-changing business environments.

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April 23, 2007

Skeptical About U.S. Manufacturing's Future?

Current U.S. manufacturing is hit repeatedly with truly enormous challenges as well as numerous unchallenged myths. Although parts of it need some serious attention, the industry suffers from many people's perception that it is antiquated. A recent interview with John Layden, a developer of Six Sigma quality control at Motorola and CEO of PREVEL Consulting, addresses the public's confusion of an industry and the companies in it.

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April 20, 2007

Light Friday: Drilling In a Danger Zone, Chinese Manners, Sisters and Roses in Space...

... Drought Reveals Drowned Town, Jobs You May Not Hate, Spacecraft Force Field, Spring-Loaded Fishhooks and MORE.

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April 19, 2007

Measuring Productivity, Offshoring and Wages when Statistics Lie

A recently revised study proposes that the federal government's measure of productivity growth of the U.S. manufacturing sector may be widely overstated due to outsourcing and the shift to offshore production of goods. It also finds "a direct link" between productivity measurement, offshoring and workers' wages. Statistics can lie, so how do we measure manufacturing productivity?

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April 18, 2007

Fed Says March Manufacturing Production Up

ISM's latest Manufacturing National Report on Business showed production growth in March over February. This is consistent with the Federal Reserve's latest monthly industrial report, which this week says that production of both durable and nondurable manufacturing increased.

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April 17, 2007

Offshore Labor Cost Advantages Decline

In today's global business ecology, the offshoring issue seems to have become "if you don't do it, you won't survive," an attitude that's emerging in virtually every industry across the globe. Yet the relative cost advantage of the leading offshore destinations declined almost universally last year, while their scores for people skills and business environment rose significantly, according to A.T. Kearney's latest offshore outsourcing report.

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April 16, 2007

Recognize, Understand and Solve Design Problems

Like in his work with design engineering students, former CEO and entrepreneur Burt Swersey's recently conceived Innovation Junction blog gives a step by step for improving products and processes by helping to identify, understand and solve open-ended problems.

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April 13, 2007

Light Friday: Best Sci-Fi Movie of All Time, Fishy Blimp, Spy Gadget Design Contest ...

... DIYers, the CDC and Nail Guns; "Corrugated Iron Beef"; H2whoa; and How Many Safety Violations Can You Spot?

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April 12, 2007

GM Blames Washington

In today's post on the all-electric Tesla Roadster, blogger-in-crime Fred referred to General Motors' history with electric cars. Now, announced today, GM has suspended development of nearly all of its future performance-minded cars. And the automaker blames Washington.

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Thrilling Thursday: Driving 100 Percent Electric

Powered by 6,831 mass-market lithium-ion batteries, the Tesla Roadster has a 249-mile range and can recharge in as little as 3.5 hours. It goes from zero to 60 mph in about 4 seconds with a top speed of over 130 mph. It also costs about $92,000.

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April 11, 2007

Labor Movement Base Shifts in New Unionism

"Move over Detroit, Chicago, Pittsburgh, and Cleveland. … Unionism characterized by heavy manufacturing is giving way to a new labor movement built by service-sector employees," according to The Christian Science Monitor. This is particularly acute in Los Angeles, due to the number of immigrants, a shrinking middle class and a new model of activism.

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Be Prepared

It's the Boy Scout motto, but it's also a philosophy complementary to business profitability. What would happen at your manufacturing site if an accident or incident occurred? In addition to minimizing pain and suffering, preparedness can have a major impact on business failure, too.

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April 10, 2007

Top Supply Chain Trends

Supply chain strategy is a holistic view of demand, product and supply processes aimed at maximizing opportunity and mitigating risk. To this end, here we address both the leading high-priority supply chain initiatives and the day-to-day business processes we can expect in the near future.

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How to Manage Risk

Today's threats of natural disasters and terrorist attacks make it crucial that manufacturers have contingency plans so the supply chain continues functioning. Yet disruptions are most often caused by problems associated with supply chain partners, raw materials and the employ of illegal workers.

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Burning Question

Labor unions: power to the people or unnecessary evil?

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The Lean and Mean Supply Chain

Although we often apply lean thinking to manufacturing, lean practices are applicable anywhere processes need improvement — that is, in the entire supply chain. The following are some basic ways going lean can produce exactly how much of what is needed, when it is needed, and where it is needed.

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Asia's Major Players

Many companies have looked to Asia for product sourcing in the pursuit for lower costs. Even countries with underdeveloped logistics industries and lagging infrastructure can benefit from the advances of global players. Here is an overview of some of the movers and shakers in Asia.

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Is the Promised Land Offshore?

As supply chain managers now operate in a global business ecology, including low-cost regions in today's operations is a given. Determining which regions to access for a particular purpose and managing risks inherent to global sourcing, however, remain significant challenges.

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Biological Revolution Depends on Engineers, Too

The increasing need to fill biotechnology positions is opening up new opportunities for engineers in manufacturing. In fact, there is great demand today for engineers who can apply their physics knowledge for organizations involved in processing biologicals. The biotech revolution is too important to be left only to biologists.

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Supplying the Moon and Mars

Rapid technological change, globalization, growing population, increasing environmental issues and looming shortages are changing the world of manufacturing and the supply chain. Today's supply chain spans the planet; tomorrow it will span even farther.

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The State of the Auto Union

We no longer hear the loud, proud speechifying or witness the momentous rallies, aggressive organizing and strong political-muscle flexing. These once-common traits of one of America's most powerful movements, labor unionizing, are only whispers today after years of decline from unions' past popularity.

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The Fight for Inbox Sanity

If a renewed surge in spam continues its current track, 90 percent of all e-mail will be spam by the end of the year, according to a recent report. Yet the hustle to delete this spam immediately has an impact on legitimate small businesses and the users who depend on them, too, as results from our February survey indicate.

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Recommended Reading

Written by a master black belt/educator and neatly condensed into a 10-step process, "Lean Six Sigma for Supply Chain Management" teaches business managers how to apply the tenets of Lean operations and Six Sigma management principles to supply chain management.

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April 9, 2007

Commerce Dept. Applies Anti-Subsidy Law to China

Late last month, the U.S. Commerce Dept. announced a preliminary decision to apply U.S. anti-subsidy law to imports from China. The decision alters a 23-year old bipartisan policy of not applying the countervailing duty (CVD) law to non-market economy countries, and reflects China's economic development.

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How to Remain Lean in Logistics

In order to avoid the average 7.96 percent increase in logistics costs that the average process industry company has been hit with over the past two years, a new Aberdeen Group report suggests aping the ways of Best in Class companies.

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April 6, 2007

Light Friday: Boss Gives Loyal Employee Red Roses -- and a '65 Mustang...

... and in Automotive: KITT Car for Sale, Enviro Buses, the KillaCycle, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and MORE!

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April 5, 2007

Start Your Engines In the Race for Green

The X Prize Foundation, the organization behind the $10 million Ansari X PRIZE for private spacecraft, has announced a competition to build an environmentally friendly, super-efficient car. Interested teams — major auto companies and innovators alike — are invited to participate, and the winner gets a big sack of cash.

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Climate Change Aggravates West's Water Shortage

A Western U.S. drought that began eight years ago has continued after the reprieve of a couple of wet years. In response to the water shortages and consequent intensified competition among users in the West, major water projects are taking form.

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April 4, 2007

The Cautious Big 3 and the Asian Auto Market

The Big Three all suffered sales declines last month, while its Asian competition saw gains. (There's a surprise.) Meanwhile, despite the high potential of the burgeoning auto markets of China and India, the two markets pose high credit risks for foreign automakers due to intense competition, quality issues in local manufacturing operations and uncertainties over intellectual property rights, says a new report.

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Manufacturing Improved Slightly in March

The Institute for Supply Management's latest Manufacturing National Report on Business shows "new orders and production indexes advanced while the employment and inventories indexes declined." Here comes the math.

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April 3, 2007

Permit Me to Test My Rocket

Within the next few weeks, the Federal Aviation Administration will issue regulations concerning so-called "experimental permits" that private spacecraft owners will use to test their rockets. Essentially, the rules tell developers what they need to do once they obtain a permit, and are designed to expedite research on spacecraft.

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April 2, 2007

Manufacturing Employment to Continue Growth in April

Good news at the start of April: last month's SHRM/Rutgers LINE survey of HR executives reveals that hiring in the manufacturing sector is expected to repeat last year's substantial growth. Also, although recruiting remains a major concern for manufacturers, recruiting difficulty is down for firms in the sector.

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How Good Is the Fit?

There are many elements to running a successful business, but the workforce is what really shapes a company's future. And there remains a high demand for those who have the know-how to satisfy customers. For hiring, here are some general questions to consider long before a job candidate arrives to interview.

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March 30, 2007

Light Friday: Top April Fool's Hoaxes, Generous Execs, Ladybug Wine...

... Dad's a Diamond, Dog Dislodges Apple, Grand Canyon Engineering (again) and MORE!

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March 29, 2007

Is Business Intelligence a Boon or a Bust?

Two conflicting reports recently came to light that involves two of the biggest research firms about the future investment of Business Intelligence (BI). This incredible contradiction proves just how easy it is for analysts to sensationalize data for their own special clients, er, interests. In this case, we're no closer to finding out whether BI is a boon or bust.

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Create Harmony with Purchasing

If you're involved with processing, you have a symbiotic relationship with purchasers in your company. They need you to create a product to accrue profit and you need them to keep maintenance items, parts and sometimes service coming to you.

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March 28, 2007

First Patent Granted Under Accelerated Review

Here's an event to toast to tonight: a bureaucracy improved! A patent now issues in six months — 18 months sooner than under the regular process. Whether you invent in your garage, basement or loft or you labor in a corporation, this is good news.

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Dreamliner on Schedule, No Thanks to Olive Trees

During the first update this year on the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, Mike Bair, head of the 787 program, focused on innovative materials that will comprise the center sections and more than 60 percent of the fuselage. The airplane is "on target" to roll out in July… now that some pesky olive trees are out of the way.

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March 27, 2007

Diagnosis: Medical Device Industry Looks Healthy

As new medical devices offer tremendous promise to the world's aging population, some global trends are directly affecting the competitive industry — particularly the increasing emphasis on design and Asia's booming role in the worldwide market.

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America's Health Care Conundrum

We've all heard about the "health care crisis," so it should come as little surprise that there are more than 48 million Americans without health insurance and approximately 32 million others who are under-insured. Here we offer benefits spending trends for employers and insurance tips for employees.

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Burning Question

Should health coverage be mandated by government?

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Work Can Be a Real Pain

Employers in the U.S. alone spend nearly $1 billion a week on wage payments and medical care for workers hurt on the job. Whether it is machinists not wearing PPE or desk rats sitting all day, sometimes the best employees won't even admit they are in pain.

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Do Drugs Make Us Feel Better or Worse?

Prescription-drug spending increased 13 percent annually between 1993 and 2003; retail prescription prices increased 8.3 percent between 1994 and 2004; and pharmaceutical manufacturing in the U.S. was the third most profitable industry in 2004 alone. Should this make us feel better?

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Quality & Regulatory Compliance: Who's Responsible?

The medical device market, having grown rapidly in the past decade, shows no sign of slowing. As the output of life-saving, diagnosing and disease-treating devices increases at such a fast clip, we must not overlook quality, regulatory and compliance functions.

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To the Edge and Back: Grand Canyon Engineering

The Grand Canyon's much-hyped Skywalk is touted as a million-pound engineering marvel. In March, the U-shaped and glass-bottomed walkway that rests more than 4,000 feet above the canyon floor was inaugurated and opened to the general public.

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Need Business Space? Think Low ... Very Low

Underground storage isn't new: pioneers and some of our ancestors stored vegetables in root cellars, while some of today's back-to-the-land folk install underground culverts to store items and provide shelter. For businesses, too, "out of sight, out of mind" can have its advantages.

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I'm Not with Stupid

Our society seems to be dumbing down, and this lack of critical thinking skills results in serious business mistakes. When you convert a half-witted workforce into power thinkers, you retain your best talent and increase both customer satisfaction and product quality goals.

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Recommended Reading

Sweet and Low is the testament of an American family and its patriarch, a short-order cook who, converting his cafeteria into a factory, invented the sugar packet and Sweet'N Low™ and amassed a great fortune that would destroy his family. It is also the story of immigrants, sugar, the health and diet craze, and U.S. government regulation of food.

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March 26, 2007

The Days of Dr. Miles May Be Numbered

Supreme Court Justices today will hear arguments over one of the biggest and hoariest precedents in antitrust law — the Dr. Miles rule — revisiting caps on manufacturers' suggested retail prices. The issue at stake is the court's 1911 decision that a manufacturer's requirement that a reseller not price its goods below a set minimum is an automatic violation of the Sherman Antitrust Act.

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Senior Health Costs Could Rise 25 Percent by 2030

In 2006, almost 500 million people worldwide were 65 and older, and by 2030, that total is projected to increase to one billion. The world's workforce depends on this population. If older adults take the advice provided by the health care provider community, and motivate themselves, they can achieve two goals: live healthier and perhaps longer, and reduce health care costs.

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March 23, 2007

Light Friday: The Super Edition!

... 'Super Man' Mentality, Super Math Mapping, Super Rats (I and II), and the Super List of (Mostly) Engineers in TV and Film!

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March 22, 2007

Innovation & Emerging Markets: Perfect Together?

Everybody's talking about innovation these days, but is anyone really doing it and doing it well? Are execs really using innovation to meet revenue goals and drive competitive advantage? A new study from Deloitte says "not really."

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Gonna Be a Long Night, It's Gonna Be All Right, On the Night Shift

The majority of industrial mishaps take place during the early hours when night-shift workers are prone to doze. And increasingly more white-collar workers are working the night shift. Might we all face this change in lifestyle? If so, here are some tips to help adapt to the night shift and stay sane.

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March 21, 2007

Another N. Orleans Black Eye for Corps of Engineers

This time it's faulty pumps. In its rush to meet President Bush's promise to protect New Orleans by the start of the 2006 hurricane season, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers installed defective flood-control pumps last year — despite warnings from its own expert that the equipment would fail during a storm, according to documents The Associated Press has obtained.

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Connected to the Max

Technological advances permit maximum connectedness in manufacturing. If the plant you work at hasn't integrated all areas, the ability to report for compliance or track for recalls may not be fully realized.

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March 20, 2007

Airbus Lands Super-size Private Aircraft

For years, the wealthy elite around the world relied on aircraft such as Learjets to get from point A to point B quickly with a modicum of comfort. Now they buy much larger aircraft with special features, like the Airbus A380 "Flying Palace."

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Free Access to Massive Civil Engineering Archive

Two centuries' of civil engineering knowledge has been made available free to colleges and universities in the United Kingdom. The Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) Virtual Library contains every peer-reviewed technical paper published by the ICE between 1836 and 2001.

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March 19, 2007

How NOT to Proceed with PLM

While some organizations think Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) isn't worth the time to spell it, others live and succeed by it. Looking at someone else's mistakes provides us with knowledge of the traps to avoid and thus helps us shorten our own time and costs to achieve success.

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March 16, 2007

Light Friday: Whiskey PC, Tea and Bots, Biodiesel Boy ...

... Highway Havoc (Tech AND Unicorns), Marble Meteor, Pedal-Powered Roller Coaster, and MORE.

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March 15, 2007

U.S. Deficit (Only) $195.8 Billion

The United States racked up its fifth consecutive record trade imbalance last year, yet an improvement toward the end of the year could mean that the country's import-export gap will start to close, according to the Commerce Department this week. The deficit may narrow this year for the first time since 2001 as U.S. exports rise and oil prices stabilize.

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March 14, 2007

Design a Tech Lab, Win $250K

Calling all architects and designers: in a new contest, the Open Architecture Prize will be awarded to the architecture firm or individual with the best design of a computer lab "that can be adapted to local needs and built in communities around the world." Build a lab — if not for the sheer challenge, enjoyment and humanitarianism, then how about for the $250,000 winnings?

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March 13, 2007

How the Heck Does That Get Funding?!?!

Over the past decade, research and development funding has undergone significant changes relative to past marginal predictability. Herein is a comprehensive guide to the scope and strategy of current federal, industrial and academic R&D investment in the U.S., Europe and Asia.

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Mad Machines and Deviant Devices

Smell-o-Net, Earwax Cinema, Mechanical Tiger, Silent Speaking Translation, Better Nut Shelling, Walking/Throwing Bots, Shake-and-Sweat Exercise, Robotic Parking Garage, Deep(est)-Sea Diving, a Giant Spiderbot and Your Own Techno Sanctuary! Here we offer an array of oddly interesting machines and tech toys.

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Maniacal Medicine

Fractures, osteoporosis, diabetes, cancer, brain surgery and organ growth — all of these may someday take only a quick stop by the doctor's office. Beyond the sci-fi of Luke Skywalker reattaching his hand and wiggling his fingers, the following medical advances intend to not only make our lives more convenient; they are meant to enable longer, healthier lives.

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Burning Question

What's your favorite gadget?

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Mind-Boggling Materials

Spray and Bomb-Resist, Scented Tires, Stretchable Wonder Thread, Black Hole Coating, Modern-Day Dark Age Technique, NASCAR Lifesaver, Tips from the Twinkie and "Cheerio, Silicon?" The more materials and their applications advance, the wilder they get. What follows is an assortment of far-out material developments.

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Be a Catalyst for Creativity

Without the imagination to apply new or previous thoughts to solving a problem, creativity cannot exist. And in business and manufacturing, creativity can surely provide a competitive edge. But is it innate? Or is it something that can be taught and nurtured? Here we address these questions and more as they relate to meeting today's challenges.

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Eccentric Engineering

Earthquake-Reducing Bacteria, Revolving Doors and Human Behavior, Engineering Sexiness, Shipbuilding, Space Oddity, Fab@Home, Phenomena Beyond Imagination, WowWee da Vinci and Bananas! Here are some quick takes of unique engineering projects, processes, circumstances and devices.

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Weird in the Workplace

Napping On the Job, Robotic Receptionists, Customer Service Psychosis, USB BBQ, 24-Carat Gold Printer, Desk-Treadmill, Bad Posture's Benefits and Seriously Cool Workplaces! The daily grind can elicit interesting insight and creative ideas in the name of health, productivity or simply to spice up the banality of the everyday workplace... as you'll see here.

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Kooky Energy

Expert guessers think the world's oil supply is on the decline, and with more than 6 billion people competing for resources, is it time to think about spending less for gasoline? Beyond a resounding "Yes!" some people will go to any length looking for energy.

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March 12, 2007

RFID Gets Help from Fluidic Self-Assembly

Microfluidics is a technology in its infancy, and its potential for manufacturing very small products will certainly attract investment and spark advances. But will it change manufacturing industries in a way similar to the transition from electronics to microelectronics? Fluidic self-assembly itself may lead to smaller and less expensive RFID tags.

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March 9, 2007

Light Friday: Daylight Savings Comes Early (Everybody Panic!), Suicidal Cancer Cells, Human-Rice Hybrid ...

... Chic Bulletproof/Stabproof Coat, Hijacking the Easter Bunny, How Astronauts E-mail in Space, Stone Age Offends, and MORE.

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March 8, 2007

Appealing to the Future Manufacturing Workforce

Without question, fewer young people are interested in pursuing a professional future in manufacturing than in the past. How does industry appeal to this slipping-away future workforce, particularly high school students? Here are some ways in which hands-on experience is being utilized to engage these young students.

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Bill Gates Addresses U.S. Competitiveness

Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates testified before the Senate Health, Energy, Labor and Pensions Committee yesterday to spur science education and research. On the discussion of competitiveness in the 21st century, he recognized that "many of the most important advances in computing, healthcare, telecommunications, manufacturing, and many other fields" have originated in the U.S. However, his pride is mixed with deep anxiety.

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March 7, 2007

Embattled Car Brands Try to Bounce Back

Recalls and other roadblocks are preventing U.S. automakers from realizing their turnaround strategies. When will it end?

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March 6, 2007

U.S. Economic Outlook Upbeat, Manufacturing Not So Much

Increases in productivity have helped create an environment in which "employment is up, real wages are rising and inflation is under control," emphasizes the chairman of President George W. Bush's Council of Economic Advisors. Amid the optimism, however, others are less cheery about the future due to rising healthcare costs and other issues.

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March 5, 2007

'Going, Going, Gone' is a Myth, but Concern is Essential

The UK government's perception of manufacturing is out of date. This according to Richard Wilson at Electronics Weekly, at least. Could the same be said of the U.S.?

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March 2, 2007

Light Friday: New IMT Blogger, Industrial-Strength Junk Food, Americans Hate their Jobs ...

... Time is Not on Your Side, Smoking Saps Security, Ice Cream and Infertility, and More.

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March 1, 2007

Indirect Procurement: The Challenges and How to Make it Work

In many organizations, indirect procurement has been a low priority compared with direct procurement, according to NelsonHall, a Boston-based business process outsourcing (BPO) analyst firm whose recent study reveals that more than half of companies think reducing costs and managing large numbers of suppliers were the bigger challenges of indirect procurement.

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February 28, 2007

Toyota's Battle of Perception and Backlash

Toyota is winning share from U.S. automakers and is winning on the profit sheet. Part of this can be chalked up to the Japanese automaker's remarkable job over the years of selling itself as an American company. Now it is bracing for possible political and consumer backlash caused by its rapid U.S. growth.

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February 27, 2007

Follow the Leader

Let's face it: leadership, that ever-elusive quality, can be hard. Yet leadership and competitiveness are interrelated. Leadership can breed innovation, and innovation is the driving force of today's competitiveness.

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Show Some Love ... But Not Too Much

The disconnect between a supervisor and team members can be a recipe for disaster. Small differences become bitter disputes and fester into grudges. What is less clear is how the "jerk employee" and the "idiot supervisor" can accomplish a good working relationship while staying effective with the task at hand.

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Slaying 6 Myths of Leadership

A leader does not have to be larger than life. Nor is a project manager necessarily the project leader. Here we tear down these and other misconceptions about leadership, including: that only managers are leaders, that a leader cannot be made, that it is about control, and, of course, the old "Complete Leader" myth.

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Workers: Rate your boss!

Here you can give praise to a manager, supervisor or chief executive who, to you, represents great leadership. Or you can rant about a crummy boss you reported to in the past, report to now* or are loathe to even imagine reporting to in the future. Leave your comments in the section below.

*We don't recommend including too many details (e.g., names).

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Managers: Rate your team!

Is there someone on your team who goes above and beyond to motivate other team members? Has the team you manage done something particularly noteworthy within your organization? Here you can provide a brief performance review of your team. Or simply rant* about a lazy or bullying worker you supervise. Leave your comments in the section below.

*Again, we do not recommend including too many details (e.g., names of lousy workers).

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To Empower or Not to Empower

The lives of managers and their workers are getting more complex in today's business environment. Empowering supervisors who give employees room to think and to behave independently are often perceived as more effective than those who traditionally bark out specific orders. Here the two management styles face off.

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Modern Corporate Leadership: A Dinosaur's View

Jerome Alexander, author of the book 160 Degrees of Deviation: The Case for the Corporate Cynic, tells IMT readers that accepting responsibility speaks volumes about character — an individual's and an organization's. Yet today responsibility and character no longer seem important, he writes.

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The Ol' Ball and Chain vs. the Mud Volcano

A mud volcano in Indonesia has spewed the equivalent of a million barrels of mud a day for nine months, leaving more than 10,000 people displaced and scores of factories shut down. As attempts to alleviate the problem have so far failed, the government's new plan will take balls of concrete — steel chains of it, in fact.

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Grumpy is Good

Bad moods may not be so bad after all. A new study claims that grumpy workers are the most creative; that those cranky moments can be used to identify potential problems and think of ways to improve things. However, like yin and yang, both positive and negative moods are necessary for optimal productivity.

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On-the-Job Stress Tips

Stress at work is normal, even healthy. When the stress becomes too great, however, or when it goes unmanaged for too long, it can be harmful to both productivity and health, negatively affecting not only the individual, but also business. Here are some usable tips to stymie career-related stress.

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Recommended Reading

"The Five Dysfunctions of a Team" is a compelling fable with a deceptively simple yet powerful message for those who strive to be exceptional team leaders. Patrick Lencioni's narrative tale serves as an unremitting reminder that leadership requires as much courage as it does insight. Suggestions and exercises are included after the story to help bring about change.

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February 23, 2007

Light Friday: The Colonel and the Pope, Filet-O-Fish and the Flock, Coffee is a Lifesaver ...

... NASA and Ear Hair, Island of Women, Google Mars, Project Excelsior and the Coolest Parachute Jump You May EVER See!

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February 22, 2007

Outsourcing Still Strong In Buyer's Market

The negative impact that offshore outsourcing has on national and local job markets is a debate that will perpetually rage on. Yet there seems to be a growing belief that, after all is said and done, outsourcing doesn't save much money due to breakdowns and snafus generated by third-party providers. Either way, and despite all of its controversy, new research says outsourcing is still a hot commodity because it's a buyer's market.

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February 21, 2007

Manufacturing Slip-ups Provide Food for Thought

Peanut butter, rib-meat and chocolate — whoa! Major American food manufacturers ConAgra, Tyson and Hershey are dealing with significant supply chain slip-ups right now, and while their efforts to turn things around sound ambitious, only time will tell if they will actually work.

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February 20, 2007

Divorce and Fanning the Auto Rumor Mill

The issue for DaimlerChrysler now seems to be how it will spin off its ailing U.S. subsidiary, whose billions in losses pose a threat to the company's German core business. Last week DaimlerChrysler announced it was cutting 13,000 jobs in the U.S. Even worse, company management may be heading to divorce court. And speculation about potential partners, or even a buyer, has the auto industry rumor mill abuzz.

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February 16, 2007

Light Friday: Sanitary Speed Record, Chinese Space Potato, Leadership in Engineering ...

... RIP Microsoft's Clippy, Germs on Your Desktop, Helix Nebula & the Eye of Sauron, and MORE.

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February 15, 2007

The President's Review of the U.S. Economy

The White House this week released its annual "Economic Report of the President." Much of the report explores the role of productivity and productivity-related issues in the expansion of the United States economy. Here we offer an overview of the key points.

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February 14, 2007

Happy Valentine's Day. You're Fired!

Sooooo, today is Valentine's Day. What is supposed to be a rather unassuming holiday full of roses, Hallmark sap and edible underwear will instead be a rather chilly one this year for thousands of U.S. workers now forced to pound the pavement in search of new jobs.

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February 13, 2007

How to Get Top-Shop Equipment Efficiency

By making cycle times as short as possible, a shop floor can deliver jobs faster and handle more work without having to invest in new equipment to do it. To do so, however, companies must pay close attention to the state of their equipment — which directly affects production, downtime, slow cycles and defects.

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Fast Tips for High-Speed Machining

Demands for ever-shorter lead and production times, lower costs and improved quality make high-speed machining as important in today's machine shops as it was a decade ago. Yet even now, machinists continue to face challenges due to the many factors involved in high-speed machining operations.

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Work Near Machines? Don't Hold your Breath

Potential costs of indoor air problems are too high to ignore. Poor indoor air quality can harm productivity, disrupt business processes, impair human health and lead to costly litigation. As such, IAQ has become a big issue for building operators, HVAC engineers and technicians, industrial hygienists and, of course, the workers inside.

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Burning Question

How do we prepare tomorrow's workforce for the factory floor?

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6 Common Quick Die Change Challenges

Flexibility and change have become critical components for success in manufacturing. The concept of quick die change is basic: minimize the time from the last good hit on one die to the first good hit on the next one. The following are six common tool-changing challenges for stampers, and some tips to solve such pains.

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What You Should Know About Data on the Floor

Shop floor data today is being integrated into all facets of the enterprise, from equipment maintenance to quality assurance to improved decision making. And tomorrow's productivity gains may come from driving plant/enterprise information down to the manufacturing floor, where operators can use it to make on-the-fly decisions.

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Engineers: '122 U.S. Levees at Risk of Failing'

Ever since Hurricanes Katrina and Rita struck the U.S. Gulf Coast in August 2005, levee failure has been all the rage, with blame directed every which way. Yet, according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers this month, 122 levees from Maryland to California remain at risk of failing. With National Engineers Week beginning in just days, perhaps we should listen to them.

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Automation that Will Make a Difference in 2007

After several years of stagnation, the industrial automation market is growing again. During the coming year, several new products and technologies will begin to emerge. Here are industry analyst and technology futurist Jim Pinto's top picks for automation technologies that will make a difference in 2007, courtesy of Automation.com.

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Benefits for the New Workforce

The purported talent shortage, together with a tightening labor market, is forcing organizations to adapt to the changing demographics of the workforce. They are being held more accountable. They are using rewards and recognition. In some cases, they are even offering to buy homes for their employees. Find out just what benefits you might be lucky enough to reap in 2007.

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Recommended Reading

From basic to advanced machining, "Machine Shop Trade Secrets" covers the range of topics of most concern to the home shop machinist and the trade machinist. Filled with practical tips, both conventional and CNC, James Harvey's comprehensive collection of hints and shortcuts aim to get the job done quickly and easily. Included is a chapter on help for engineers from a machinist's perspective.

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February 12, 2007

Avoiding Supply Chain Slip-ups During M&A

A recent report shows that approximately 30 percent to 50 percent of the savings generated in a merger or acquisition can come from supply chain synergies. It stands to reason, then, that one of the first areas looked at during M&A activity should be the supply chain. That isn't happening.

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February 9, 2007

Light Friday: Engineering the Grand Canyon's Edge, 1867 Nanomachine Now Reality, Making Marbles ...

... Bad Gift Ideas for Valentine's Day, Top 10 Refinery Sources of Carcinogenic Air Emissions, and MORE!

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February 8, 2007

Effective Recalls and the Perilous Easy-Bake Oven

Earlier this week, we reported "a few product recall zingers" that revealed their ugly faces over the past week or so. As a follow-up, here we bring more product recall news — this time of the iconic toy the Easy-Bake Oven — and ways by which manufacturers can conduct an effective and comprehensive product safety recall.

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February 7, 2007

Engineers Develop Robotic Microhand

Early this winter, two engineers announced they had developed a tiny pneumatic hand with the ability to grasp objects smaller than a millimeter across. As it runs on gas pressure rather than electricity, it can be used in both wet and dry environments, making it safe for biological environments — good news for surgeons who hope to use the tiny tool in minimally invasive surgical techniques.

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February 6, 2007

Is 20-in-10 Enough?

President George W. Bush last month outlined energy proposals that emphasized the importance of energy independence and energy security. He highlighted a new proposal to cut U.S. gasoline usage by "20 percent in 10 years," to be accomplished primarily by mandating higher proportions of alternative fuels and increasing the fuel efficiency standards for cars and light trucks.

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February 5, 2007

Product Recalls: Why So Many?

America. Home of the brave? Check. Land of the free? Check. Sometimes-maker of shoddy, hazardous products? Check. While this statement might anger a few IMT readers, let's get some serious debate going on this blog as to why product recalls have become so commonplace. Who's to blame? What can be done to improve the safety and satisfaction process?

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February 2, 2007

Light Friday: Punxsutawney Phil & Global Warming, Engineers Wanted to Build Rocket Ship, Manufacturing Racing Wheels ...

... NASA Still Stumped, Stonehenge Village, Spider-bots, Ghostbusters Ecto-1 for Sale and MORE!

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February 1, 2007

U.S. Manufacturing: Up, Down, All Around

Employment is up, new orders are down, inventories are flailing, and imports/exports are all over the place. Just as manufacturing lost momentum in the second half of 2006, it is starting 2007 in a less-than-robust fashion, according to the Institute for Supply Management's latest numbers. Here comes the math.

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January 31, 2007

Supply Chain Risk Management: Flirting With Disaster?

It's called Supply Chain Risk Management (SCRM), and while the concept isn't new, it has been gaining more attention lately, as it aims to help ease the blow of a natural disaster or terrorist attack should one interrupt your business. Sounds good on paper, but is it necessary?

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January 30, 2007

The State of Small Business

We know it's tough for businesses out there, particularly because of layoffs, intense competition and a sluggish economy. Yet entrepreneurs have created most of the 6.8 million new jobs in the U.S. since 2003 — and the trend shows few signs of abating. Here we examine small-business owners' confidence, concerns, expectations and other small-biz trends for 2007.

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Benefits for Small-Biz Healthcare

Health insurance is not only the most sought-after employee benefit; it's also the most expensive one. As this is especially true for small businesses, many such employers and their employees cannot afford healthcare coverage today. Here we look at why this is the case, how to pick a plan, and new legislation that aims to improve the health benefits of both employers and employees alike.

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Big Numbers for Small Business

Do you know the percentage of U.S. workers who say their company is making cost-cutting efforts that negatively affect its quality of goods or services? Or how many office product purchasers say a clean breakroom is directly related to business success? Read on to find out these and other statistics related to small business.

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Burning Question

What is the biggest hurdle facing small businesses?

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Pricing and Collections Need-to-Knows

Collecting on overdue accounts and determining the true value of your offerings can be frustrating for a start-up's owner. So what is a small business to do? When it comes to collections and pricing, consider some of these basic tips, methods and strategies. But remember: each policy and process should be tailored to your industry and business.

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The Taxes of Being an Entrepreneur

For businesses, taxes affect location decisions, job creation and retention, competitiveness, and the long-term health of the state and nation's economy. While entrepreneurs and small businesses constitute a larger portion of today's workforce, they also contribute a larger share of tax revenue. Here are some facts and developments every entrepreneur should know.

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Avoid Dr. Frankenstein's Fate

How you release your creation into the world is just as important as actually concocting it. If you can be as smart about the business side of launching the product as you were about the creative side of inventing it, you can avoid the common mistakes that ambitious inventors make when it comes to providing a successful — and profitable — product.

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Gridiron Gumption

No professional sport has embraced technology quite as American football has. Here, only days before the sport's pinnacle game, the NFL Super Bowl, we highlight some innovative "technology touchdowns" that have made the game safer, more competitive and more entertaining — both for players and for fans.

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Normal Traffic Rules Apply: Racing Robots in 2007

The dust has long settled since the 2004 and 2005 Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Grand Challenges, in which unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) were navigated through the open desert. For DARPA's third Grand Challenge competition, in November 2007, the rules have changed: 89 UGVs will be unleashed on a peaceful mock city inhabited by mannequins and drone traffic.

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Recommended Reading

Heralded as one of the top business books of 2006, "Creating Competitive Advantage" is a brilliantly obvious manual that ought to be required reading for every person thinking about opening a business. In it, the two authors reveal how identifying your competitive advantages and trumpeting them to the marketplace is the most surefire way to close deals, retain clients and stay miles ahead of the competition.

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January 29, 2007

Theft, Arson and Bomb Threats -- At Your Workplace

Most security coverage these days surrounds the online world and the Middle East and, more recently, protection against natural disasters. Of course, such security concerns are well justified and necessary. Yet today people continue to just walk right in and steal from, set fire to, or worse, threaten to blow up manufacturing plants, warehouses and other industrial workplace infrastructures.

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January 26, 2007

Light Friday: Lonely Pet Patent, 8 World-Saving Technologies, Working in Bed Ergonomically...

...This Week in History: Robots and Canned Beer, Meatlifting and Retailers, No Green Card = No Free Car, Study Says "Downsizing Has Negative Effects," and Test Your Knowledge of Roman, Victorian and Modern Engineering Feats!

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January 25, 2007

Private Labels Continue to Gain Ground

Pfizer's recent announcement that it would lay off 10,000 workers amidst tough competition from generic drug makers is sending a shockwave throughout the global manufacturing community. Private label manufacturers are not only here to stay; they are also getting stronger.

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January 24, 2007

The Rise of Synthetic Instrumentation Test Equipment

The synthetic instrumentation test equipment market is in its early stages of development, according to Frost & Sullivan. Although the SI market has several drivers, it also witnesses several restraints and challenges. The market potential is immense, but it will take significantly more commercial end users' awareness of the benefits before it will grow.

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January 23, 2007

Australia-U.S. Collaboration Explores Hypersonic Flight

The militaries of Australia and the U.S. have joined forces to develop and test ultra-fast missiles based on hypersonic flight technology designed to strike targets around the globe. The Hypersonic International Flight Research Experimentation program, or HIFiRE, will explore propulsion for hypersonic aircraft traveling at speeds greater than Mach 5 and will run 10 test flights over the next five years.

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January 22, 2007

New Rules for Employee Performance and Compensation

An Aberdeen Group report last year revealed that when performance management and compensation are linked and strategically aligned, pay-for-performance programs can effectively improve revenue and profit per employee while enhancing retention of a company's MVPs. For all the lip service paid to pay-for-performance, though, there aren't many organizations doing it very well. Here are five new rules to help organizations make this compensation model work.

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January 19, 2007

Light Friday: 'New 7 Wonders of the World' edition

Plus our laser-related remainders and one of the first images taken by NASA's STEREO mission.

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January 18, 2007

The State of Aerospace

A surging civil aircraft market boosted the aerospace industry last year, taking sales to another record level, according to recent industry analysis. Meanwhile, experts address preparing the next generation of the aerospace workforce. And does recent acquisition activity point to a new phase of consolidation in the industry?

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January 17, 2007

Rude Realities of Innovation (These are Not Rules)

When it comes to the innovation process, there may not be steadfast rules. There are, however, lessons to be learned from experience. Here we look at entrepreneur and inventor Dean Kamen's "rude realizations and somewhat serious suggestions" for innovation. These aren't instructions, he said, as unexpected differences that work are what make innovations interesting.

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January 16, 2007

Staking Claim in a Globalized World

The signs are clear. The U.S. may still play a large part in the global economic boom, but strong economic demand and investment in Asia and elsewhere also play an ever-increasing role. What we can learn from recent years, especially last year, is that the pace of global competition is unrelenting, producing both real benefits and immense challenges.

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The Big Picture: India, China and U.S. Trade

Rising global trade numbers reflect changes at home and abroad, simultaneously highlighting the growing international importance of developing countries. As countries' economic prospects shift their roles in global trade, relationships between nations continue to evolve. Meanwhile, the WTO and trade policies such as NAFTA and CAFTA matter even more.

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Forge Your Global Supply Chain

Global supply chain excellence is more than just an emerging skill. For most companies, it will be a key determinant of overall company success — even survival. In 2007's global trade environment, a number of potential issues loom that can disrupt global supply chains, sourcing strategies and the flow of working capital.

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IT Outsourcing Hits Home

Noticeable shifts are taking place in the way IT offshore outsourcing is done. A number of companies are dedicating their outsourcing business to smaller budgets, smaller contracts and smaller destinations. Meanwhile, many IT professionals are aiming closer to home, with an average of 9.3 percent of IT budgets this year earmarked for outsourcing within their borders.

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Revised Credit Rules Impact International Business

Bankers and traders, take note: Effective July 1, 2007, the Uniform Customs and Practices (UCP) 600 will become the operating set of globally recognized guidelines and practices for letters of credit. International trade may depend on it, as approximately 14 percent of world trade was settled using letters of credit — almost $1 trillion dollars — last year.

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Burning Question

When it comes to international trade: deregulation or protectionism?

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In Your Own Words: Introducing ThomasNet Forums

"Online community" is a phrase we are hearing more and more these days. This in mind, ThomasNet.com has opened ThomasNet Forums, an online environment for industry professionals to connect, network and share information and opinions. We encourage you to engage with your peers in this new venue — where your voice will be heard.

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Immigrants Become Founding Fathers

Foreign-born entrepreneurs were behind one in four U.S. technology and engineering startups over the last decade, according to a new study on the effects of globalization on the U.S. economy. The findings offer new information into the debate over foreign workers and specialty visas.

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Don't Trust Your Boss? Join the Club

A new report says that nearly half of employees don't trust senior management. It gets worse. Employees are not simply losing confidence in their senior managers — many workers think their front-line supervisors are flat-out callous liars stealing credit for anything good that happens. Ouch.

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Recommended Reading

Nobel Prize winner and former World Bank chief economist Joseph E. Stiglitz's overall objection is not to globalization itself, but to how globalization is managed. Drawing equally from his academic expertise and his time spent on the ground in dozens of countries around the world, Stiglitz's "Making Globalization Work" identifies six existing indications that globalization has yet to live up to its promise.

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January 12, 2007

Light Friday: Buy a Nation (Caveat Emptor), Spy Coins, Visual Nano Promotion...

...Human Error and the Mars Probe, RFID for Branding People, Alcohol and Mutant Genes, and More.

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January 11, 2007

Expansion Everywhere: What Does It Mean?

A spate of recent news indicates a number of manufacturing sectors are making major investments to expand their infrastructures. Yet cost cutting, sky-high energy prices and fickle consumer demand have been dominating the headlines. We can't help but wonder how much of this may be nothing more than a figment of the media's imagination.

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January 10, 2007

Trucks and Trains, Supply Chain Pains

Despite some recent leveling off of energy costs, manufacturers are still seeking new ways to offset last year's impact. And they're looking to transportation. For manufacturers, the cost of shipping goods by truck will grow only slightly, while the cost to ship by rail remains on the rise.

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January 9, 2007

Continued U.S. Car Troubles?

Much of IMT's coverage surrounding the domestic U.S. car industry has rightly painted a bleak picture -- not only regarding Ford's missteps, but also the general lack of excitement and demand toward most U.S autos. Now comes word that Toyota has its sights set on building its eighth assembly plant in the U.S. More global car trouble for domestic automakers?

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January 8, 2007

EU Energy Crackdown and Action Plan

Considering the mysterious gas-like odor permeating Manhattan, New York, and parts of New Jersey, we think it apt to again look at the energy situation. Here we focus on the European Union, where its biggest energy companies face an intensified crackdown by regulators following an inquiry into the sector that has found evidence of severe market failings.

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January 5, 2007

Light Friday: The Sky is Falling, Vibrating Vest, Metamaterial for Visible Light...

...Genetically Engineered Cows, Disney Joins New Club, Ping Pong for Three, Attend MIT for Free, and MORE.

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January 4, 2007

Manufacturing's Mark on 2006

Many people turned to skyrocketing fuel prices, manufacturing layoffs, plant closures and jobs offshored to illustrate industrial woes in '06. Despite the much-publicized problems, however, the U.S. domestic manufacturing sector is in some ways flourishing. Global manufacturing sure is. A number of 2006 industry trends deserve highlight.

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Tech Promises: Booms and Busts

On the technology front, a number of trends that had their beginnings several years earlier played out in significant ways for manufacturers and engineers this past year. Let's look at a few standouts, whether because they made major gains toward fulfilling their promise or because they were such disappointments.

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Energy Takes Its Toll on Industry

As fuel prices soared to record levels, 2006 was a banner year for the energy sector. Yet demand likely will continue to outpace supply, especially in the U.S., due to the country's inability to tap its own resources. The cost of doing business continues to rise, and logistics and trucking may be in a bit of quandary.

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Burning Question

What affected your job most in 2006?

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Non-Story of the Year: RFID

Radio frequency identification tag volumes came in well below expectations in the last year, due in part to manufacturers' struggles with ROI and over-optimistic or unclear objectives. Not that the technology was a complete bust. In fact, some observers consider RFID a success in several key areas — most notably with Gen 2.

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Your Pay vs. Your Boss's

Corporate America's scandal of the year may have been suspect timing of option grants, with more than 150 public companies under investigation by the SEC or the Justice Department, more than $5 billion in profit erased by restatements and 18 CEOs swept from office. And the chasm between executives' salaries and the pay of rank-and-file employees continues to widen.

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We the Web of 2.0.06

Whether it was watching a video clip on YouTube or an iPod, creating and updating a MySpace page or Netflix queue, making a Skype videophone call or blogging about the World Cup, the past year was one in which technology became more personal, accessible and interactive. These same participatory technologies likely sowed seeds for new business opportunities in 2007.

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Reconstructing Iraq: Corruption Hinders Ambitious Engineering

Tens of billions of dollars have flowed into Iraq to boost reconstruction efforts. Although the mainstream media tends to make it seem as though the effort in Iraq is a futile one, the U.S. Army Corps. of Engineers paints a different picture. Let's take a look at some of the setbacks and successes.

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Industrial Ethernet for Automation Networks

When Ethernet first arrived a couple of decades ago, its use for industrial automation networking was dismissed, writes industry analyst and Automation.com contributor Jim Pinto. Yet usage has steadily increased in the automation environment. In Pinto's mind, there is no doubt that Ethernet will continue to play a significant role in industrial networking.

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Recommended Reading

The start of a new year is a time when many people take stock of their lives and think about looking for a new job. "What Color is Your Parachute?" has been the best-selling job-hunting book in the world for more than three decades. This revised edition for 2006 offers new, practical techniques to help job seekers find meaningful work and mission.

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January 3, 2007

That is Patently Litigious!

It's getting increasingly difficult to distinguish between what is a patent troll and what is a legitimate complainant. Is it too easy to pursue such litigious action? Or are patent rules in serious need of an overhaul? With so many such tech disputes constantly in the news, let's take a closer look at a few significant patent lawsuits that have been filed in only the past couple of months.

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January 2, 2007

Have a Hand in Health and Safety Standards!

Recent wishes for a safe holiday season and a healthy new year sway our focus toward OSHA on this first business day of 2007. OSHA is now seeking your comments on the third phase of its Standards Improvement Project (SIPs III) — the third in a series of rulemaking actions. The agency is seeking to improve its standards by revising requirements that are confusing, outdated, duplicative or inconsistent.

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