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February 29, 2008
A Concept Car for Off-Road -- Way Off-Road...
...as in, 240,000 miles from the nearest pavement. NASA plans to establish a long-term human presence on the moon by 2020. Clearly, the astronauts will need transportation to explore. If you want an idea of what they'll be driving, check out the crab-like "Chariot" concept.
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February 28, 2008
Headed Toward an International Robot Arms Race?
Many nations are now involved in developing the technology for robot weapons, with the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) being perhaps the biggest player. But robotics experts are at odds over ethical concerns in what some see as the beginning of an international robot arms race.
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February 27, 2008
Small-Biz Outlook Improves
Small-business owners' attitudes about the United States economy in February improved for the first time since July 2007. Yet major economic concerns still loom.
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February 26, 2008
RFID Cheerleading Not Aligning with Developments Transpiring
A few short years ago, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) was touted as the next big thing in the supply chain management space. Today, the controversial technology is still struggling to find true acceptance by manufacturers, retailers, wholesalers and distributors that would benefit the most from it.
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February 25, 2008
Weekly Industry Crib Sheet
Retail sales, consumer prices, labor market trends, record patent growth and intellectual-property thieves -- let's see who the past week's winners and losers were. The envelope, please.
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February 22, 2008
Light Friday: The Messiest Office, Self-Healing Rubber, GM's View on Global Warming...
... One Sick IMT Editor and MORE.
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February 21, 2008
Scarce Metals Lead to Rapid Changes in Mining
A recent survey showed that manufacturers are more concerned with high materials prices and increasingly scarce metals than anything else. Historically, passing along higher prices to customers might have worked -- but not in today's economy.
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February 20, 2008
Mixed Outlook for Manufacturing in Early 2008
American industrialists not only maintained production but raised it in January for a second consecutive month. Here we break down the latest figures on production output, capacity, inventories and orders, as well as the key concerns of raw material and energy prices.
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February 19, 2008
Engineering, Science and Tech for the Pros
Despite concerns, those with a bent toward science, technology and engineering still have large opportunities for well-paying and satisfying jobs in America and throughout the rest of the world.
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Can R&D Still Drive the Next Big Thing?
As international research and development continues to play a huge part in advancing the latest designs and products, the bearing of R&D is changing international high-tech markets.
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21st Century's Grand Challenges for Engineering
With input from people around the world, an international group of leading technological thinkers was asked to identify the "Grand Challenges for Engineering in the 21st Century." Last week, the National Academy of Engineering revealed the conclusions.
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Nothing New: High H-1B Visa Demand Expected
The same furious energy that has enabled skilled foreign workers to contribute to science and tech fields across the U.S. will soon create a rush for FY2009's H-1B work permit applications.
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Solve the CAD File Exchange Problem
Design engineers continue to wrestle with the monster of computer-aided design file exchange. As global collaboration increases in importance, overcoming file sharing assures faster conversions.
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Profiting from Innovation Now
Engineers equipped with the most suitable product lifecycle management tools can propel individual and enterprise innovation by developing new products quickly and efficiently.
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Are We Closer to a Hypersonic Age?
Whether hypersonic flight could be sustained on a scale to make it commercially viable is yet to be seen. Recent breakthroughs in scramjet engines, however, are making the race to develop them as fierce as ever.
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Strange Numbers
A new report warns that U.S. grade-school students lag behind those in other developed countries in science and math. How do we get this young crop of engineers and scientists more excited by math? One way is to help them see the fun and strange ways math is used in real-world applications.
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Recommended Reading
The Lego Mindstorms NXT Idea Book offers ideas for creating cool and sophisticated LEGOŽ robot models, as well as instructions for a number of robots you can build yourself. Inside are the fundamentals of programming and design, accompanied by CAD-style drawings and other visuals that make it easy to master the MINDSTORMS NXT system.
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February 15, 2008
Light Friday: Time Machines, Retirement Signs, Silly Patents...
... How to Get the Most from Your Morning Coffee, 5 Things Honest Abe Might Say if Alive Today and MORE.
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February 14, 2008
Tightening the Belt: Revisiting Cost Cutting Areas
If we're not already in recession, one may be arriving shortly. Manufacturers may need to hunker down until the economy is no longer teetering on the brink. Here are a few areas to revisit as you consider ways to cut costs.
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February 13, 2008
As the Economy Goes, So Goes Tech Spending
Citing fears and risks of a recession, two major research firms this week readjusted their forecasts for 2008 global spending on technology.
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February 12, 2008
Innovation at Forefront of Profitable Growth Strategies
Increasingly more companies are realizing that there is only so much cost-cutting that can be tolerated. As such, innovation again comes to the forefront as a means to drive sustainable, profitable growth.
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February 11, 2008
Weekly Industry Crib Sheet
Last week, the U.S. government gave us more suspense than the TV scriptwriters. While Congressional members fought over an economic stimulus package, other global developments were taking place. Our (third) weekly industry crib sheet offers some timely news briefs.
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February 8, 2008
Light Friday: Office Romance, Secrets Lips Reveal, Paper Planes in Space...
... The Future of Fast-Food Tech, Bad Days Banned and MORE.
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February 7, 2008
Lease or Buy in 2008?
In our economic uncertainty, does leasing look as attractive if Congress and the President sign and pass an economic stimulus package for businesses?
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February 6, 2008
U.S. to Join Asia-Pacific Trade Talks
The U.S. next month will join negotiations about an investment treaty between the "P-4" treaty partners of New Zealand, Chile, Singapore and Brunei.
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February 5, 2008
The Philosophy of New Leadership
In today's fluid global environment, the approach to effective leadership is becoming more complex and dynamic than simply developing a required leadership skill-set or honing skills and behaviors.
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5 Ways to Manage Your Boss
Successfully managing a boss is a challenge but often achievable. Here are some practical things you can do to manage your boss without sabotaging your job.
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Can Good Engineers Make Good Managers?
The world today needs creative leadership and technological entrepreneurship. So why do so many companies still believe that effective, science-minded engineers invariably will fail as good managers?
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From Dictator to Dimwit: 12-˝ Types of Bosses
Some possess every quality you could ask for in leadership. Many have achieved a masterful balance between professionalism and personality. No doubt, there are plenty of good bosses out there. None of those types is listed here.
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Team-Building Basics
Business success often depends on forming teams to improve innovation, project completion and much more. Here are a few ideas to consider for building truly effective teams.
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Europe and Africa to Reunite by Rail
After millions of years of separation, Europe and Africa will reunite via a tunnel under the 8-mile ocean stretch at the Strait of Gibraltar. Work on the ambitious project is expected to begin this year.
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Chinese Subsidies Hobble U.S. Steel Industry
The Chinese government has boosted its steel output over the last three years through massive, trade-distorting energy subsidies, according to a new report by the Alliance for American Manufacturing.
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Talking Politics at Work
With the 2008 presidential election fast approaching, political passions are flaring. What may pass as an offhand political remark in a social setting, however, can create a nightmare scenario in the workplace.
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Recommended Reading
In What To Do When You Become the Boss, international organizational consultant Bob Selden draws on his experiences as a first-level supervisor, line manager and senior manager to provide a practical "how to" for all managers, not only new ones. Topics include most, if not all, aspects of management, including a chapter on how to select your new boss.
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February 4, 2008
Weekly Industry Crib Sheet
The week-long build-up to Sunday's Super Bowl almost had us convinced nothing else newsworthy was happening last week. The reality, however, is far different. Once again, we've scoured online resources for the week's top news and analysis in business and manufacturing to bring you this recap — our second weekly working crib sheet.
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February 1, 2008
Light Friday: Work-Related Stress, LEGO Assembly Line, Win a Nano Bowl Trophy...
... Surprising LEED Certification, Patent No. GB191127119, Bare Travel and MORE!
