Industry Week articles from August 2008

Industry Week archives from August 2008

Dow Corning drives innovation with incubator: manufacturer says incubator helps company develop products of tomorrow.(PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] There's a lot to be said for "living in the moment," but for a manufacturer looking to be around for a long time the philosophy presents some challenges. Developing products to solve tomorrow's problems requires...

PLM's natural evolution: industry-specific solutions gain renewed attention.(PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Gerber Technology and Infor recently introduced the latest versions of their product lifecycle management (PLM) solutions for the apparel and textile industry. Conformia has set its PLM sights on the life sciences...

How to plug America's innovation GAP: think tanks outline plan to boost leadership, raise productivity and create better jobs.(PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... Two think tanks are calling on the federal government to take bold measures to turn around what they call America's declining innovation leadership and thus raise productivity and U.S. incomes. The Information Technology & Innovation...

Elysium has released data verification tool CADdoctor EX3.0, which helps translate data into the most usable form for computer-aided design, computer-aided engineering and computer-aided manufacturing.(Product Development Solutions)
August 1, 2008... Elysium has released data verification tool CADdoctor EX3.0, which helps translate data into the most usable form for computer-aided design, computer-aided engineering and computer-aided manufacturing. The latest release expands...

SimManager R3, a scalable simulation content and process management solution, is now available from MSC.Software.(Product Development Solutions)
August 1, 2008... SimManager R3, a scalable simulation content and process management solution, is now available from MSC.Software. New capabilities include the introduction of Sim-Manager Workgroup Edition to provide out-of-the-box simulation content...

Dassault Systemes has released Abaqus 6.8, a unified finite element analysis software suite from Simulia.(Product Development Solutions)
August 1, 2008... Dassault Systemes has released Abaqus 6.8, a unified finite element analysis software suite from Simulia. The software provider says enhancements address core areas, including modeling and results visualization, structural analysis and general...

The Velocity Series from Siemens PLM Software is a preconfigured portfolio of digital product design, analysis, manufacturing and data management software for the middle market.(Product Development Solutions)
August 1, 2008... The Velocity Series from Siemens PLM Software is a preconfigured portfolio of digital product design, analysis, manufacturing and data management software for the middle market. Included in the Velocity Series is Solid Edge, which is the CAD...

Infor has unveiled its latest version of PLM Runtime, a product lifecycle management solution geared specifically toward the apparel and footwear manufacturing industries.(Product Development Solutions)
August 1, 2008... Infor has unveiled its latest version of PLM Runtime, a product lifecycle management solution geared specifically toward the apparel and footwear manufacturing industries. The solution addresses the very short lifecycle of the fashion industry...

HyperWorks 9.0, an engineering simulation solution from Altair Engineering, embeds grid computing management tools with compute-intensive CAE software applications.(Product Development Solutions)
August 1, 2008... HyperWorks 9.0, an engineering simulation solution from Altair Engineering, embeds grid computing management tools with compute-intensive CAE software applications. Modeling and visualization advances include HyperCrash, an automotive crash...

PLM solutions provider PTC has introduced ProductView 9.1.(Product Development Solutions)
August 1, 2008... PLM solutions provider PTC has introduced ProductView 9.1. The newest release of this visual collaboration software offers a scalable platform that can accommodate varying complexity levels of visual information, including viewing of...

Intel eyes energy efficiency.(PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT)
August 1, 2008... Like many corporations, semiconductor giant Intel is targeting a portion of its annual research budget at technological advances that improve the environment. An example of this is Intel's Platform Power Management, a collection of power...

How to evaluate a PLM/PDM provider.(PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... Selecting a product lifecycle management/ product data management solution to manage an organization as complex as the Volkswagen Group is no routine task. Just ask Volkswagen's Ing Oliver Riedel, who handles process integration and information...

The do-it-yourself guide: is it always cheaper to farm it out, or should some things stay in-house? Here are six ways to help crack the "make or buy" mystery.(PURCHASING)
August 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] In a down economy, companies must pursue any and all opportunities to drive savings and efficiencies across their operations in order to stay competitive. This often involves examining manufacturing plans for both...

Eastern promises: while manufacturers have found rewarding sourcing opportunities in Eastern Europe, they still need to educate themselves first.(PURCHASING)
August 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] China has long been the flagship nation for U.S. manufacturers looking for low-cost sourcing opportunities. In addition to the low wages, China offers a variety of perks such as beneficial lending rates, political...

Breathing down on the dragon: more low-cost countries are proving to be viable alternatives to China.(PURCHASING)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Eyeforprocurement's 2008 Low-Cost Country Sourcing Report reveals that while China continues to maintain a dominant position atop the low-cost sourcing hierarchy--with the same share of respondents (76%) confirming...

Cheaper or more challenging?(By The Numbers:)(Survey)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... Despite being a viable proposition for many manufacturers today, sourcing in low-cost countries still involves a number of challenges that may not be readily apparent, according to consulting firm Eyeforprocurement. In fact, according to more...

Market watch: material demand.(PURCHASING)
August 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Commodities Up In Price ABS Acrylics (2) Aluminum (5) Aluminum Extrusions (4) caustic Soda (4) chemicals (2) corn (3) corrugated containers (2) Diesel Fuel (4) ...

The low-cost learning curve: a good return is never guaranteed from low-cost sources, but manufacturers are learning important lessons to help improve their chances.(PURCHASING)
August 1, 2008... It might not be the best habit, but people have a tendency to categorize everything. The same often happens with low-cost country sourcing, which lumps totally diverse countries scattered all over the world into the same category of inexpensive...

Building a better supply chain in three not-so-easy steps: silos are fine for farms, but they wreak havoc on supply chains.(SUPPLY CHAIN & LOGISTICS)
August 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] How can you build a healthy, collaborative and profitable supply chain culture at your business? It all comes down to communication, explains Ron Cain, president and CEO of TMSI Logistics, a provider of third-party...

Portrait of a best-in-class Global Trade compliance.(SUPPLY CHAIN & LOGISTICS)
August 1, 2008... In an increasingly global marketplace for manufacturers, the role of trade compliance is taking on more prominence in separating the winners and the losers. In a recent study of 340 global importers and exporters, analyst firm Aberdeen Group...

No recession in the supply chain arena: revenues for supply chain software rose more than 17% in 2007.(SUPPLY CHAIN & LOGISTICS)
August 1, 2008... How big is the market for supply chain management (SCM) software? According to analyst firm Gartner Inc., worldwide spending on SCM solutions reached $6 billion in 2007, which was up a healthy 17.6% from 2006. The primary beneficiaries of that...

Cross-docking.(By The Numbers)(Survey)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... Cross-docking--the process of receiving product and shipping it out the same day or overnight without putting it into storage--is an increasingly popular best practice for companies as it addresses the need to become more efficient without...

The top ten supply chains.(SUPPLY CHAIN & LOGISTICS)(Survey)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... According to a survey conducted by analyst firm AMR Research, the following companies--nine manufacturers and one retailer-were deemed to have the best supply chains. Companies were graded on several criteria: input from industry peers; input...

Best practices in lean six sigma process improvement: a deeper look.(Book review)
August 1, 2008... Best Practices in Lean Six Sigma Process Improvement: A Deeper Look By Richard J. Schonberger John Wiley & Sons, 2008, 290 pages, $45 [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] What companies excel at lean? Don't assume you know the answer...

The green green advantages of home.(SUPPLY CHAIN & LOGISTICS)(Quotation)
August 1, 2008... "Balancing minimal cost, green objectives and customer delivery expectations can produce contrary results. There are many operational and 'green' advantages to manufacturing locally in the United States rather than outsourcing to Asia." ...

Descartes Systems Group has introduced intelligent Automated Vehicle Locator (AVL) wireless services, available on the Descartes Global Logistics Network.(Supply Chain Solutions)
August 1, 2008... Descartes Systems Group has introduced intelligent Automated Vehicle Locator (AVL) wireless services, available on the Descartes Global Logistics Network. Descartes' AVL services integrate on-demand delivery route planning and execution with...

The KPI Scorecard from Track-Speed is a Web-based enterprise-class application designed to enable complete control over supplier cost savings compliance.(Supply Chain Solutions)
August 1, 2008... KPI Scorecard from Track-Speed is a Web-based enterprise-class application designed to enable complete control over supplier cost savings compliance. With KPI Scorecard, suppliers have instant access to a user-friendly portal for submitting...

The Infor SCM Warehouse Management Business Edition is a warehouse management system (WMS) tailored to the requirements of small to midsized businesses (SMBs).(Supply Chain Solutions)
August 1, 2008... The Infor SCM Warehouse Management Business Edition is a warehouse management system (WMS) tailored to the requirements of small to midsized businesses (SMBs).The solution provides built-in best practices for key warehouse functions like...

FlexNet Warehouse Management for Manufacturers from Apriso integrates warehouse operations with production processes to help eliminate idle inventory, provide complete traceability across production and the supply chain, increase quality and drive lean initiatives.(Supply Chain Solutions)
August 1, 2008... FlexNet Warehouse Management for Manufacturers from Apriso integrates warehouse operations with production processes to help eliminate idle inventory, provide complete traceability across production and the supply chain, increase quality and...

ILOG Inventory Analyst 7.0 and ILOG Product Flow Optimizer 7.0 are the latest versions of ILOG's Logic-Tools suite of supply chain applications that help companies reduce costs while maintaining high customer service levels for manufacturers, retailers and distributors.(Supply Chain Solutions)
August 1, 2008... ILOG Inventory Analyst 7.0 and ILOG Product Flow Optimizer 7.0 are the latest versions of ILOG's Logic-Tools suite of supply chain applications that help companies reduce costs while maintaining high customer service levels for manufacturers,...

TradeMaster Global Trade Management System from Questa Web Inc. includes a new ePOD feature, which stands for electronic proof of delivery, that's designed to enable any supply chain participant to use any mobile device with Internet access to record worldwide pickups and deliveries in real time.(Supply Chain Solutions)
August 1, 2008... TradeMaster Global Trade Management System from Questa Web Inc. includes a new ePOD feature, which stands for electronic proof of delivery, that's designed to enable any supply chain participant to use any mobile device with Internet access to...

Supply Chain Guru, a supply chain network design software solution from Llamasoft Inc., includes advanced transportation modeling capabilities.(Supply Chain Solutions)
August 1, 2008... Supply Chain Guru, a supply chain network design software solution from Llamasoft Inc., includes advanced transportation modeling capabilities. Users will now be able to optimize the number of transportation assets required (containers,...

The three keys of careerism: becoming a highly paid, do-nothing executive isn't as easy as it looks.(BRANDT ON LEADERSHIP)
August 1, 2008... Many young people look at CEO lifestyles--writing corny rah-rah's for the corporate newsletter, blathering non-sequiturs on CNBC, signing off on the odd budget or regulatory form--and then ask a plaintive question: John, they say, how can I get...

Capital challenges: turbulent economic conditions are forcing small to mid-sized manufacturers to look harder and longer for financial solutions to help them grow. but access to capital hasn't dried up for companies doing all the right things.(SMALL & MID-SIZED MANUFACTURERS)
August 1, 2008... Oh, the toll the subprime mortgage crisis has taken. Not only on the former home owners who defaulted on their subprime mortgages when the housing market took a dive, or on the financial institutions that suffered huge losses as people grew...

What's continuous improvement worth? Focus on how operational excellence can help grow your business while increasing the revenue line.(CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT)
August 1, 2008... Many of the practitioners involved with continuous improvement, lean transformation, operational excellence, world-class performance or any other moniker you care to use are often asked by the financial people in their organization to put a...

Oil and vinegar: the only thing worse than the rising cost of oil is not having enough of it to stay in business.(JUST IN TIME)(Conference notes)
August 1, 2008... I recently attended an international conference for the oil & gas industry, held in Germany (where, by the way, it costs about $8.00 for a gallon of gasoline, roughly twice what it is here in the United States). For those convinced that the...

Talent incubators: inexperienced workers from a variety of backgrounds could fill the looming talent void if manufacturers are willing to invest the time and money.(FACILITIES & OPERATIONS)
August 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] To the average person, talk of a workforce shortage probably sounds ridiculous when, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 8.5 million Americans out of work in May. That's a full percentage-point...

Taking lean beyond the plant floor.(FACILITIES & OPERATIONS)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Since 2000 McClarin Plastics Inc. has increased its revenue five times while keeping plant-floor space at a minimum. The company says this is due in part to bringing different work processes together into one...

Process safety isn't automatic: automation can help, but isn't foolproof.(FACILITIES & OPERATIONS)
August 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Several disastrous incidents over the past few years within the process industry have reinforced the importance of proper safety procedures. One factor to consider in the safety equation is automation. The technology...

On the hot seat.(FACILITIES & OPERATIONS)
August 1, 2008... "If OSHA had acted and if the industry itself had paid more attention possibly this incident would not have happened. It should not have happened. These people should not have been killed." --Carolyn Merritt, former head of the U.S....

New Siemens plant to produce wind turbines.(Global Sitings)
August 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Siemens Energy & Automation Inc. is responding to increasing demand for wind energy by building a $20 million plant near Chicago. The business unit of German electronics and electrical engineering firm Siemens AG...

Toyota expands in Thailand.(Global Sitings)
August 1, 2008... Toyota Motor Corp. will build a diesel engine plant in Thailand for US$162 million to meet rising demand for its IMV vehicle series, the Reuters news service reported on June 10. The company plans to churn out 150,000 units a year at the...

Fiesta time in Mexico.(Global Sitings)(Getrag)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... The new Ford Fiesta for North American consumers will be built at an assembly plant in Cuautitlan, Mexico, that will be transformed to accommodate small-car production. The plant currently is used to make F-Series pickups for the Mexican...

Church & Dwight hammer-out site.(Global Sitings)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... The maker of such popular household brand names such as Arm & Hammer baking soda and Aim toothpaste plans to begin construction in September on a new 1.1-million-square-foot plant and distribution center in York County, Pa. Church & Dwight Co....

Daimler to build in Hungary.(Global Sitings)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Daimler AG will invest US$1.2 billion in a new plant located near Budapest, Hungary, where the company will build class A and B Mercedes cars beginning in 2011, according to Dow Jones Newswires. The plant will be...

Paper manufacturer: banks on biomass.(FACILITIES & OPERATIONS)(Smart Papers Holdings LLC)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... By early 2009 fossil fuel will truly be a thing of the past for Ohio paper maker Smart Papers Holdings LLC. The company, located near Cincinnati in Hamilton, has begun construction on a $30 million cogeneration facility that will utilize yard,...

Cutting tools for robots: how much could you save if some of your machining operations were performed by robots?(FACTORY AUTOMATION)
August 1, 2008... "In their early days robots were more limited by their controller technology than by their physical capabilities," explains Roger Christian, vice president marketing and international groups with robot producer Motoman, noting the growing...

Allocating responsibility for manufacturing cost: hypertherm's implementation of DFMA software offers a business model for improving U.S. global competitiveness.(FACTORY AUTOMATION)
August 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "We in the United States have mistakenly allocated the responsibility for [production] cost to the manufacturing folks. We forget that the cost has already been designed into the product." That's Mike Shipulski,...

Rethinking supplier relationships with tool providers: collaborating in advance with cutting tool providers can pay off in improved productivity and quality.(FACTORY AUTOMATION)(Company overview)
August 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] As advances in cutting tool designs proliferate, cutting tool providers find that performance optimization means partnering with users and machine tool builders. Payoff: productivity and profitability. ...

The Necessary Revolution: How Individuals and Organizations are Working Together to Create a Sustainable World.(Brief article)(Book review)
August 1, 2008... The Necessary Revolution: How Individuals and Organizations Are Working Together to Create a Sustainable World. By Peter Senge, Bryan Smith, Nian Kruschwitz, Joe Laur and Sara Schley Doubleday, 2008, 432 pages, $29.95 In his...

The Innovator's Guide to Growth: Putting Disruptive Innovation to Work.(Brief article)(Book review)
August 1, 2008... The Innovator's Guide To Growth: Putting Disruptive Innovation To Work. By Scott D. Anthony, Mark W. Johnson, Joseph V. Sinfield and Elizabeth J. Altman, forward by Clayton M. Christensen Harvard Business Press, 2008, 320 pages,...

Welcome back U.S. manufacturing: it's too early to tell whether high fuel prices and the falling dollar will be enough to bring offshored operations back home, but some recent moves suggest it's possible.(INSOURCING)
August 1, 2008... A small wave is lapping at the U.S. coastline, washing ashore a few manufacturing jobs that have drifted back from other continents. The homecoming could be a glimmer of hope for U.S. workers who have become casualties of globalization. The...

IT performance translates to top financial performance: best-in-class manufacturers have very different IT profiles than their peers.(INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY)(Cover story)
August 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] If your company excels in IT, will that proficiency translate into improved financial performance? Yes, according to research from strategic advisory firm The Hackett Group. Companies that are top performers in what...

So you think you want to outsource your IT? Five key questions to answer before making the outsourcing decision.(INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY)
August 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Outsourcing key information technology (IT) functions is becoming increasingly popular for manufacturing companies, but the ultimate decision of whether to outsource still requires an in-depth evaluation of your...

Manufacturing better, stronger and faster.(INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Remember Steve Austin, TV's "Six Million Dollar Man," whose shattered limbs were replaced by bionic components? Consulting firm EntryPoint asserts that a bionic business is "the optimal combination of people and IT...

Software license compliance: most IT executives believe their companies would fail a software audit.(By The Numbers)(Information technology )
August 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] That ticking sound you hear is the time bomb waiting to go off in your company's IT organization, where more likely than not your company is at risk of failing a software audit. According to a new study conducted...

Wireless for process industry to reach $1b by 2012.(INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY)
August 1, 2008... Within five years, process manufacturers will be spending more than $1 billion per year on wireless devices and equipment, according to a study from analyst firm ARC Advisory Group. That represents an annual growth rate of 32% through 2012. ...

A chocolate assist: IBM helps sequence the cocoa genome.(INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Chocolate and IBM make an unusual pair. Nonetheless, Big Blue will be putting its supercomputing powers to use in research that may one day help create better cocoa crops. The U.S. Department of Agricultural...

Focus on the top priorities.(FEEDBACK)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... >Re: "Just In Time: Running on Empty," Page 7, July 2008 It is nice to see that the message that I have been preaching to all of our employees for several years is also now in black and white. Too often employees waste considerable time...

Wisdom to know the difference.(FEEDBACK)(Letter to the editor)
August 1, 2008... I thought your editorial "Running on Empty" was excellent and right on the mark. I enjoyed reading it, especially about the need for people to focus on what actually is important, not on things that are out of their control. Brad Slye,...

The four-day work week.(FEEDBACK)(Letter to the editor)
August 1, 2008... Re: "The Zero Effect," Page 36, July 2008 Another way to "go green" is to get onto the four-day work week. Paragon Industries, L.P., where I work, has been on the four-day work week since the 1970s. There is very little employee...

Not ready for take-off.(FEEDBACK)(Letter to the editor)
August 1, 2008... Re: "Just In Time: If Supply Chain Management Is the Answer, What's the Question?" Page 7, June 2008 I just came from a lean conference where I was a speaker and there were a lot of Boeing folks there. The lean efforts that they are taking,...

Online poll.(Letter to the editor)
August 1, 2008... Has the high price of gasoline caused your company to change any workforce HR policies (e.g., shift changes, work from home, encourage carpooling)? IndustryWeek.com readers respond: Yes, we have already done so. 31% Not yet, but...

The NAM/IndustryWeek manufacturing index.
August 1, 2008... David Huether, chief economist for the National Association of Manufacturers, offers quarterly statistics and analysis on key economic metrics. http:www.industryweek.com/EconInsight/

You write the caption.
August 1, 2008... Congratulations to Mark McLaughlin, who has achieved the lofty title of CWE (Caption Writer Extraordinaire). You, too, can earn fame (but, alas no fortune) by joining in the latest "You Write The Caption" contest, featuring gags from cartoonist...

A material world: the growth of the global economy continues to change the landscape of the raw materials market. Realizing that the old rules no longer apply, manufacturers are looking inward for opportunities to drive costs back down without making their customers foot the bill.(MANUFACTURER'S AGENDA)
August 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] How many times in the past year were you certain that what you were paying for raw materials couldn't possibly go any higher? It's probably more than you would care to admit. Having been proven wrong on that point on...