Is GE's Industrial Internet the Future of Manufacturing?
You may have heard of an exciting new concept called the Industrial Internet. And no, it has nothing to do with connecting your CNC machine to Twitter. In fact, it may be the start of major innovations in the way goods are manufactured around the globe. The concept is similar to The Internet of Things, a term coined by Kevin Ashton in 1999 in reference to his vision of a world tagged with radio...
Read More »Congress Manages to Pass a Small Energy Bill That Pleases Nearly Everyone
While no one has been able to accuse Congress of being particularly functional lately, a tiny piece of energy-related legislation slipped through largely unnoticed last month. On Dec. 11, 2012, the House of Representatives passed the American Energy Manufacturing Technical Corrections Act (HR 6582) on a suspension vote of 398 to 2. The Senate approved the bill unanimously two days later, and...
Read More »14 Employment Resources for Military Veterans
Many men and women returning from military service want smooth transitions back to civilian life and employment but face a tough and uncertain job market. And vets coming back from active duty face unique challenges, among them knowing how and where to begin the job-search process and rising competition over fewer job openings. For those who are seeking to return to the workforce, the following...
Read More »ANSI Seeks Consensus and Roadmap for Energy Efficiency in the U.S.
Energy efficiency has become a buzzword term in environmental circles, and the public at large, for more than a decade. It could mean many things to many people; it could be as simple as turning lights off when you're leaving the room, or putting the thermostat at a lower setting to conserve energy. Of course, in a larger sense energy efficiency is a term thrown around by major corporations...
Read More »Girl Scouts Teams with International Sorority to Get Girls to 'Imagine Engineering'
What does an engineering job involve? Girl Scouts USA has teamed with the Sigma Gamma Rho sorority to promote Imagine Engineering, an initiative to help girls across the country get a better grasp of what it's like to have a career in engineering, and to spread awareness about the fields of science and technology. The Imagine Engineering initiative is part of a large effort to educate and support...
Read More »The Giving Spirit: Workplace Holiday Bonuses
Good news for employees this year: There's a better chance that you'll get a bonus than there was last year, and it'll probably be a nicer one. Even employees of smaller companies can look forward to more spending money courtesy of their employer this holiday season. A recent CareerBuilder study found that 46 percent of employers expect to give their employees holiday bonuses this year, up from...
Read More »Q&A with Lighting Designer Paul Gregory: Reflections of a New Year's Eve Creation
As midnight approaches on New Year's Eve, thousands of people across the world will tune in on TV to see the Times Square Ball light up and ring in another year. Paul Gregory, president of Focus Lighting, Inc., founded 1987, is part of the team that has been putting the celebrated luminescent creation together since 2006. A master of lighting design, and with a portfolio that includes restaurants...
Read More »When Community Commitment is a Business Priority
Hurricane Sandy took a terrible toll, resulting in more than 130 deaths and an estimated $63 billion in damages. Yet events like these are often springboards for great acts of humanity. One inspiring story comes from manufacturer A+ Products. In the aftermath of the superstorm, the company's staff banded together to aid victims, even as they struggled themselves. Headquartered in Marlboro, N.J.,...
Read More »Disposable Products a Natural for Bioplastics, But Composting Infrastructure Is Needed
Plant-based materials find one of their most important and obvious markets in disposable products -- things like flatware, bags, packaging, medical supplies and bottles. Their contribution to the waste stream is potentially zero, if they can be processed in an industrial composting system that decomposes them completely. Manufacturers are developing polymers that can be broken down by enzymes...
Read More »Have a Healthy Holiday (Workplace)
The busyness of the holidays can leave any employee feeling overwhelmed and worn down, balancing work and home responsibilities and rushing to get everything done before taking time off. Since a healthy workplace is a productive one - and because no one enjoys being sick - here's our dose of healthy tips from around the web. Don't Be Overcome by Stress Last-minute projects and holiday events (you...
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