Industry Week articles from February 2009

Industry Week archives from February 2009

Meeting of the minds: where process and discrete manufacturing converge: when it comes to continuous improvement, discrete and process manufacturers may have more in common than they think. A close look at the two industries shows they have opportunities to learn from each other.(TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION)(Conference news)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] What could a plant manager from a process manufacturer that makes yarns and fabrics for industrial applications possibly learn from an automaker such as Toyota? Conventional wisdom says companies should benchmark...

NAFTA: learning to love thy neighbor: trade between the United States and its two closest neighbors has accelerated under NAFTA. But there are still some rough patches to work out between the three countries.(GLOBALIZATION)(North American Free Trade Agreement)(Report)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Given President Obama's well publicized ambivalence toward the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) during the presidential campaign, it's a good time to ask: Is NAFTA working? From a U.S. export market...

OEE: the heart of the matter.(MANUFACTURER'S AGENDA)(Baldor Electric Co.)(Cover story)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Can you be a world-class manufacturing operation without a world-class focus on equipment reliability and performance? It hardly seems so, given the wealth of risks that accompanies poor or missed maintenance. The...

A tougher ceramic: researchers create material that mimics mother of pearl.(PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT)(Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Taking their cues from nature, scientists at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory say they have mimicked the structure of mother of pearl to create a tougher ceramic. "We have emulated nature's toughening...

IP assets deserve their due diligence in M&A transactions.(PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT)(intellectual property)(Survey)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... Just how important is intellectual property (IP) in the mergers and acquisitions process? Both critically and increasingly important, according to results of a survey of 50 corporate executives and private equity practitioners. Indeed, a...

Upgrading the U.S.A.'s innovation infrastructure: Chamber of Commerce delivers blueprint to improve U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.(PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] He campaigned with a message of change, and now that President Barack Obama has taken office, he does so with high hopes from many that real change will occur. Among the government entities that will require the...

Partnerships for innovation excellence.(PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT)
February 1, 2009... "The success of our research activities is determined to a decisive extent by the creativity and productivity of our employees. From year to year it is becoming more difficult to make discoveries, and more complex to create innovations....

CA clarity project and portfolio manager for new product development provides comprehensive product portfolio management, streamlined idea-to-launch management and detailed requirements planning capabilities.(Product Development Solutions)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... CA Clarity Project and Portfolio Manager for New Product Development provides comprehensive product portfolio management, streamlined idea-to-launch management and detailed requirements planning capabilities. The solution from CA provides the...

CADfeature 8.2.1 from Elysium captures design intent and remasters data from one computer-aided design system to another.(Product Development Solutions)(Elysium Inc.)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... CADfeature 8.2.1 from Elysium captures design intent and remasters data from one computer-aided design system to another. New capabilities of the feature-based software include a remastering tool that updates data to reflect the latest...

Dassault Systemes says one of the key enhancements of Abaqus 6.8 Extended Enterprise, its finite element analysis software suite from Simulia, is particularly useful for simulating welded automotive and aerospace components.(Product Development Solutions)(Simulia)
February 1, 2009... Dassault Systemes says one of the key enhancements of Abaqus 6.8 Extended Enterprise, its finite element analysis software suite from Simulia, is particularly useful for simulating welded automotive and aerospace components. The Abaqus/ CAE...

Pro/Engineer Manikin, a digital modeling solution from PTC, lets designers add a three-dimensional human to a CAD product model to simulate human and product interactions.(Product Development Solutions)(PTC Technology)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... Pro/Engineer Manikin, a digital modeling solution from PTC, lets de signers add a three-dimensional human to a CAD product model to simulate human and product interactions. One module allows users to insert, customize and manipulate...

CAM Express version 6.0.1 from Siemens PLM Software comprises the core CAM component of Siemens' Velocity Series portfolio, including synchronous technology, the software firm's history-free, feature-based design technology.(Product Development Solutions)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... CAM Express version 6.0.1 from Siemens PLM Software comprises the core CAM component of Siemens' Velocity Series portfolio, including synchronous technology, the software firm's history-free, feature-based design technology. This latest release...

Thomson Innovation 2.0 from Thomson Reuters is an intellectual property research and analysis solution that now includes enhancements such as English translations of the titles, abstracts and all claims for Chinese utility models and Chinese applications from 2007 to the present.(Product Development Solutions)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... Thomson Innovation 2.0 from Thomson Reuters is an intellectual property research and analysis solution that now includes enhancements such as English translations of the titles, abstracts and all claims for Chinese utility models and Chinese...

Running a tight ship: JDSU automates export compliance to gain more control over its growing business.(PURCHASING)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] From a purchasing standpoint, trade compliance efforts tend to focus on the buy side. In order to procure components and materials from outside the United States, manufacturers need to make sure that each order...

Tailored to fit: online sourcing service launches marketplace targeted to textile and apparel industries.(PURCHASING)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Every industry has certain unique qualities. To cater to the individual needs of the textiles industry, MFG.com has launched an online marketplace developed specifically for that market called MFGtextiles com. The...

Who's keeping score? Collaborative development and meaningful metrics can unlock the potential of supplier scorecards.(PURCHASING)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] There always seems to be an audience for new statistics, however trivial they seem to be. To keep up with how suppliers are performing, many manufacturers have started using "scorecards" to record statistics of their...

Open door policies: Ford's supplier diversity initiative focuses on innovation and sharing new technology.(PURCHASING)(Ford Motor Co.)
February 1, 2009... Automaker Ford Motor Co. has launched an initiative to assist minority- and women-owned business enterprises in developing innovative products and technical expertise. Under its Joint Technology Framework (JTF) program, Ford will provide...

Top nine supply chain challenges for 2009: better make sure risk management is at the top of your to-do list this year.(SUPPLY CHAIN & LOGISTICS)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] As if a shattered economy isn't bad enough, the prospects of supply chain disruptions on a global scale have manufacturers taking a closer look at their risk management strategies. According to Bernie Hart, global...

Thomas & Betts discovers the "voice of the customer" on the factory floor: by focusing on what the customer wants, T&B has built strong, mutually beneficial relationships with its suppliers.(THE BIG PICTURE: Leadership Insights from the IW Best Plants)(Thomas and Betts Corp.)
February 1, 2009... As new successes roll in from your lean journey, you must quickly translate internal improvements into external benefits for your customers. To do that you must know what the customer truly needs from your organization. Find the "voice of the...

On demand.(WEBCASTS)
February 1, 2009... Adopting Lean Manufacturing in a Lean Economy Sponsored by Infor Senior Management briefing: What Your Lean and Six Sigma People Don't Want You to Know Sponsored by Realization Technologies Change your Processes: How Volvo CE...

Toyota Talent questions and answers with David Meier.(NEW ONLINE)
February 1, 2009... David Meier, co-author of the best-selling business books Toyota Talent and The Toyota Way Fieldbook, answers audience questions on lean, kaizen, employee training and more. www.industryweek.com/slideshows

Online poll.
February 1, 2009... WHEN DO YOU THINK MANUFACTURING WILL COME OUT OF RECESSION? IndustryWeek.com readers respond: 1st Half of 2009 7% 2nd Half of 2009 37% 1st Half of 2010 29% 2nd Half of 2010 or later 27%

21st century supply chain: perspectives on innovative supply chain management strategies.(New Blog)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... Recent entries include: * Supply chain risks. They seem to be everywhere. * P&G builds supply chain for its future self. * What's your relationship with your suppliers? Sponsored by Kinaxis

Taking the long-term perspective will pay off: a short-term reaction to the economic crisis could short-circuit your future.(CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT)(Toyota Motor Corp.)(Report)
February 1, 2009... Almost by definition, continuous improvement is a long-term business strategy to improve your business in terms of customer value and satisfaction, quality, speed to market, flexibility and reduced cost. In the economic situation most...

Healthier choices: companies' annual benefits checkups reveal cost-cutting opportunities.(FACILITIES & OPERATIONS)(Encore Wire Corp.)(Leviton Manufacturing Company Inc.)(Survey)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Healthcare costs are expected to increase nearly 10% in 2009 for employers, a drop from previous annual increases but enough to make companies consider new benefits strategies, according to PricewaterhouseCoopers...

Training doesn't have to be a budget buster: manufacturers have less money to invest in training, but affordable options are available.(FACILITIES & OPERATIONS)(Survey)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Manufacturers are slashing the amount of money they spend to train their workers just as baby boomers prepare for retirement, according to a study by engineering and maintenance training firm Business Industrial...

Automation education.(FACILITIES & OPERATIONS)(Honeywell International Inc.)(Honeywell Process Solutions)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Honeywell International Inc. is looking to boost the technical skills of process industry professionals abroad with the launch of its Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) Automation College. Honeywell Process...

Job losses.(By The Numbers)(Report)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... 6.7% U.S. unemployment rate as of November 2008 573,000 Unemployment claims filed for the week of Dec. 6, 2008 (a 26-year high) 7.8% * Annual rate at which manufacturing production declined during third-quarter 2008 ...

A bad time to fall.(FACILITIES & OPERATIONS)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... "The automotive industry is a small piece of our economy and the U.S. Big Three are shrinking as foreign manufacturers are setting up jobs in the U.S. In the long term we are seeing more of a shift in jobs from one set of firms to another and...

Timken opens new small-bar mill.(Global Sitings)(Timken Co. (Canton, Ohio))(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... The Timken Co. has opened a $60 million small-bar steel rolling mill that enables the company to produce steel bars down to one inch in diameter for use in power transmission and friction management applications. The company expects this...

GM expands production in Russia.(Global Sitings)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] General Motors Corp. has begun operations at a $300 million flexible assembly plant in St. Petersburg, Russia, where the company will build the Opel Antara, the Chevrolet Captiva and in late 2009 the Chevrolet Cruze....

Stereo equipment manufacturer opens China plant.(Global Sitings)
February 1, 2009... Stamford, Conn.-based Harman International Industries Inc. has opened a manufacturing facility in China to produce automotive audio and infotainment systems. The plant, which opened on Nov. 17, employs approximately 320 people in the Suzhou...

Dow Corning and Hemlock to build plants in Tennessee.(Global Sitings)(Hemlock Semiconductors Inc.)(Dow Corning Corp.)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... Dow Corning Corp. and Hemlock Semiconductor LLC plan to invest up to $3 billion in additional manufacturing capacity to accommodate polysilicon production for the solar industry, according to Dow Jones Newswires. The companies will invest $1.2...

The future of machining arrives early: the 'factory of the future' is already here and offering significant competitive advantage.(FACTORY AUTOMATION)(Ford Motor Co.)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] It's time to begin relabeling "Factory of the Future" as "Potential for the Present." As evidence, consider the technological capabilities already emerging in today's machine tools. One example is the strategic...

Secrets of 5-Axis Machining.(Brief article)(Book review)
February 1, 2009... Secrets of 5-Axis Machining By Karlo Apro Industrial Press Inc., 2009, 176 pages, $54.95 [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Are you utilizing 5-axis machining? Could your shop benefit from the efficiency and power that 5-axis machining...

Cutting Data for Turning of Steel.(Brief article)(Book review)
February 1, 2009... Cutting Data for turning of steel By Edmund Isakov Industrial Press Inc., 2009, 316 pages, $49.95 [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Here is an essential reference to one of the most important processes in manufacturing-machining. What...

The cutting edge of waterjet cutting: waterjet cutting tools can now cut virtually any material.(FACTORY AUTOMATION)(Flow International Corp.)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The experts call waterjet cutting the fastest growing major machine tool segment in the world. The reason? "With the advent of abrasive waterjet methods, the technology has quickly evolved to efficiently and...

Top 10 IT strategies for 2009: virtualization and cloud computing will be among the most frequently heard IT topics in 2009.(INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] What technologies should manufacturing enterprises be focusing on in the coming years? According to IT research firm Gartner Inc., they should pay particularly close attention to any strategic technologies that can...

Watch out for these duds in 2009: not every technology trend will pan out this year.(INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY)
February 1, 2009... Just as some technologies will have a bright and sunny future in the near term, others could be in for a rude wake-up call in 2009. Vince Kellen, senior consultant with IT analyst firm Cutter Consortium, offers the following five "anti-trends"...

It budgets are sliding, but not drastically.(INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY)(Survey)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... The financial crisis, not surprisingly, has had an impact on companies' IT budgets and staffing levels, although the impact so far appears to be minor. According to research firm InfoEdge, 35% of U.S. and Canadian organizations surveyed in the...

A new generation of RFID.(INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... The first generation of active radio frequency identification (RFID) was the conventional battery-powered active RFID. As Peter Harrop, chairman of research and analyst firm IDTechEx, explains, the power source enables the tag to initiate a...

Lean you can believe in: the hits just keep on coming for manufacturers but don't give up on continuous improvement.(JUST IN TIME)
February 1, 2009... What a way to start the new year. According to the Institute for Supply Management's index of manufacturing activity, new orders have fallen for 13 straight months (through December 2008), and are at the lowest level on record, which dates back...

Strong medicine.(FEEDBACK)(Letter to the editor)
February 1, 2009... Although I agree with a lot of your sentiment in your commentary ("Just In Time: The Big None," Jan. 2009, page 9), it is interesting that the Big Three U.S. automakers are facing such difficulty when the world market is seeing record auto...

Quality needs to be in the product, not just on paper.(FEEDBACK)(Letter to the editor)
February 1, 2009... I believe you omitted one important thing in your commentary: the auto workers are being paid (with benefits) a gross amount that hinders the Big Three from being competitive in general. Making $55 (or more) an hour is completely absurd, and...

Re-establishing American industrial superiority.(FEEDBACK)(Letter to the editor)
February 1, 2009... Re: "The Competitive Edge: Bridging the Divide Between Wall Street and Main Street," Jan. 2009, page 14 The absolute fastest way to re-establish our American industrial superiority is to manufacture in the United States. How simple. Why...