IIE Solutions articles from February 1997

IIE Solutions archives from February 1997

Manufacturers meet customer demands.
February 1, 1997... Today's midsize manufacturers are adopting a variety of operational changes in order to address such trends as mass customization, customer outsourcing, and an increasing emphasis on international markets. Grant Thornton, a Chicago-based...

Funding for technology development.
February 1, 1997... Approximately $25 million is being made available to industry for companies interested in pursuing risky, challenging technologies that have the potential for a big payoff for the nation's economy. The funds are being provided by the United...

IE training provides skills for success. (Herm Reininga, VP/Operations at Collins Avionics and Communications Div. of Rockwell International)
February 1, 1997... They say timing is everything, and that has proven key in Herm Reininga's successful pursuit of an industrial engineering career. In 1965, he joined Collins Radio Co. (now a division of Rockwell International) as a line industrial engineer. Since...

Logistics: a challenge for today.
February 1, 1997... We live in a global economy, where the pace of change is unbelievable, and the demands of customers are more and more difficult to meet. Today's customer is not satisfied with just quality products. Today's customer demands quality products,...

Life at the contact points. (manufacturing)
February 1, 1997... A client once asked me how our consultants managed to drive up performance at plants where we were working, while his consultants - although equipped with similar skills, knowledge, goals, and determination - could not. I told him that the reason...

Constructing an effective suggestion system.
February 1, 1997... Although employee suggestions always have been heard in one form or another, the active pursuit of employee involvement in substantive decisions is relatively new to American business and industry. A recent survey of manufacturing companies...

Simulation modeling: some programming required.
February 1, 1997... Simulation software advertisements often claim simulation models can be built quickly with "no programming required." It is our view, however, that building a valid simulation model of real systems does require some programming. Programming...

From here to reliability. (equipment reliability)
February 1, 1997... The road to increased reliability and equipment availability can be a long and winding one, with many steep climbs, abrupt downgrades, and an occasional washout. Although some of these obstacles can be blamed on the process of learning and...

Solutions '97 Conference to set new directions for profession.
February 1, 1997... What do industrial engineering and Miami Beach, Florida, have in common? Both are dynamic and both are enjoying a vibrant rebirth. Appropriately, Miami Beach will serve as host of the Industrial Engineering Solutions '97 Conference & Expo -...

Distribution system supplies seats on schedule. (Setex Inc.)
February 1, 1997... CHALLENGE: To improve delivery times and accuracy of product orders. STRATEGY: Install a material handling system that combines conveying equipment with PC-based warehouse control software. RESULTS: Since installing the new system, Setex has...

Planning software helps manufacturer keep its promises. (Herman Miller Inc.)
February 1, 1997... CHALLENGE: To synchronize production at multiple plant locations, as well as compress cycle times and reduce inventory and costs. STRATEGY: Install a software solution that can extract information from the company's proprietary order entry,...