Manufacturing
-
How Important is Ongoing Safety Training in a Manufacturing Operation?
- February 10, 2021
- Posted by: David Marshall
- Category: Manufacturing, Safety
No Comments
Ongoing safety training is critical in any manufacturing operation. It’s not just a one-and-done, set it and forget it type of operation. Safety training is absolutely essential because your first priority in your business is human life. You absolutely, positively have to protect that above everything else; there are no two ways about it. Protecting
-
What’s Stopping Additive Manufacturing in the Factories?
- February 3, 2021
- Posted by: David Marshall
- Category: Digital Transformation, Manufacturing
I’ve been interested in digital manufacturing and additive manufacturing ever since we tore down and rebuilt an entire factory to take advantage of the latest in digital manufacturing technology back in 2007–08. So I like to keep an eye on the latest trends and developments in the field, especially around measurement, hiring, and, of course,
-
Should Manufacturers Use Blockchain
- January 27, 2021
- Posted by: David Marshall
- Category: Digital Transformation, Innovation, Manufacturing
You’re no doubt hearing more and more about blockchain and how it’s being used in new and different applications. For one thing, you’re probably hearing more about Bitcoin, and you may even know that it operates on the blockchain principles. But what is blockchain? Is it important? Can manufacturers use it? Should we use it?
-
5 Manufacturing Predictions for 2021
- January 6, 2021
- Posted by: David Marshall
- Category: Business, Digital Transformation, Innovation, Manufacturing
Sometimes we’re so close to the trees that we can’t see the forest. We’re so focused on this one tree, not realizing that the forest is growing and changing all around us. I feel that way when I think about all the manufacturing technology changes that have been going on around us in 2020 and
-
Embrace Cloud Computing for Manufacturing
- December 2, 2020
- Posted by: David Marshall
- Category: Digital Transformation, Management, Manufacturing
A few months ago, I talked about how cloud computing may be a solution for manufacturers to embrace the latest in manufacturing technology. I wanted to dive a little deeper into the idea and talk about some of the ways manufacturers can use the cloud to save time and money and protect their intellectual property.
-
Additive Manufacturing is the Next Industrial Revolution
- November 25, 2020
- Posted by: David Marshall
- Category: Digital Transformation, Manufacturing
I recently saw an article that called additive manufacturing the next industrial revolution, and I thought they couldn’t be more right. Of course, we all know about the original Industrial Revolution and how it has shaped society today, including working hours, salaries, trade unions, and even the idea of the weekend. Robotics and digital manufacturing
-
How Do You Make Data-Driven Decisions for Manufacturing?
- October 28, 2020
- Posted by: David Marshall
- Category: Business, Manufacturing, Measurement
There’s a big push in a lot of different industries, especially in marketing, that they have become solely data-driven. They look at all their past performances and make decisions about new initiatives based on what their old efforts did. They either throw more resources at a flagging campaign (or product) or drop something that just
-
How Can Manufacturers Achieve Zero Waste? Does It Even Make Sense?
- September 23, 2020
- Posted by: David Marshall
- Category: Innovation, Manufacturing
Have you heard about manufacturers that have achieved Zero Waste? That means they have absolutely zero garbage leaving their plants. For instance, the Subaru plant in Lafayette, Indiana is certified Zero Waste. They recycle everything they can, and they reuse many of their packing materials by sending them back to their Japanese suppliers for refills.
-
The Problems With Outsourcing Manufacturing
- August 26, 2020
- Posted by: David Marshall
- Category: Leadership, Manufacturing
I’ve never been a fan of outsourcing manufacturing, especially to overseas providers, for a couple of reasons. For one thing, you can very quickly lose control of the quality of your product. Your supplier can make several thousand units but slip on the specs even a little. Something’s a little off, or they used a
-
How Does Digital Manufacturing Help You Become Agile?
- August 19, 2020
- Posted by: David Marshall
- Category: Manufacturing
If you’ve ever made pancakes on a Saturday morning, you probably know the first one is always the throwaway, the mistake, the burnt offering to the breakfast gods. It’s the one you either throw in the garbage, or sneak eat while everyone else is still getting ready. You burned it or undercooked it, or something