https://www.businesswatchnetwork.com/rss en-us Timely delivery of Lockheed Martin Corp.'s $29 billion CH-53K King Stallion helicopter for the U.S. Marine Corps may be jeopardized by a potential shortage of specialized metal components two years after the bankruptcy of a key supplier. In an illustration of how even the biggest defense contractor depends on its supply chain... http://www.businesswatchnetwork.com/articles/5447 Mon, 22 Oct 2018 08:04:00 -0400 https://www.businesswatchnetwork.com/articles/5447-lockheed-s-29-billion-helicopter-running-short-of-a-needed-part For manufacturers, the past several months have produced seismic shifts in the global economic landscape. Four major macroeconomic factors are at work... http://www.businesswatchnetwork.com/articles/5114 Mon, 14 May 2018 10:36:27 -0400 https://www.businesswatchnetwork.com/articles/5114-seismic-shifts-in-the-u-s-economy-impact-on-the-manufacturing-supply-chain Record increases in wages and materials costs are eating into corporate profits despite robust sales, according a survey of business economists released Monday. The survey by the National Association for Business Economics also found... http://www.businesswatchnetwork.com/articles/5078 Mon, 23 Apr 2018 09:31:16 -0400 https://www.businesswatchnetwork.com/articles/5078-record-us-wage-gains-gnawing-at-corporate-profits-survey While pop culture predicts VR will be the death of us, actual industrial use cases in research labs and industrial environments hint at its current potential: speeding design, boosting productivity, and giving workers more freedom. Immersive virtual reality has been promised for a long time, and... http://www.businesswatchnetwork.com/articles/5077 Mon, 23 Apr 2018 09:29:35 -0400 https://www.businesswatchnetwork.com/articles/5077-vr-becoming-manufacturing-reality Virtual Reality Auto Design In 2015, I took just a quick, three-year break from IndustryWeek. Before I left, I was the technology and innovation editor here, covering those fast early days of what was eventually dubbed the Fourth Industrial Revolution-among other names. Then, the IoT was just starting to make a buzz, 3D printing was about to change the world and wearable technologies seemed like a distant, sci-fi dream. Outside of that little niche, however... http://www.businesswatchnetwork.com/articles/5047 Mon, 09 Apr 2018 09:54:35 -0400 https://www.businesswatchnetwork.com/articles/5047-a-reunion-a-revolution-and-a-crossroads-for-us-manufacturing U.S. employers added the most workers since mid-2016 as labor-force participation swelled, while below-forecast wages and a downward revision to January's figure suggest the pay gains that spooked markets last month aren't yet taking hold. Payrolls rose 313,000 in February, compared with... http://www.businesswatchnetwork.com/articles/4974 Mon, 12 Mar 2018 10:52:41 -0400 https://www.businesswatchnetwork.com/articles/4974-us-added-313-000-jobs-in-february Ohio, home to some of the fastest roller coasters in the world, may soon have a high-speed transport system that will actually take people somewhere other than back where they started. Both Virgin Hyperloop One and Hyperloop Transportation Technologies have competing projects now racing to get feasibility and environmental impact studies underway. Both projects seek to... http://www.businesswatchnetwork.com/articles/4937 Mon, 26 Feb 2018 11:03:56 -0500 https://www.businesswatchnetwork.com/articles/4937-america-s-heartland-now-battleground-for-competing-hyperloops Hyperloop For two centuries, it has been a totem of America's gun culture -- a name emblazoned on frontier flintlocks and U.S. Army .45s. But on Monday Remington Outdoor Co., which traces its history back to 1816, said it would file for bankruptcy protection, succumbing to a slump in business worsened by, of all things... http://www.businesswatchnetwork.com/articles/4904 Tue, 13 Feb 2018 09:11:35 -0500 https://www.businesswatchnetwork.com/articles/4904-remington-planning-to-file-for-bankruptcy U.S. manufacturing production just had its best year since 2011, yet some argue that 2017 was as good as it will get and that a slowdown is ahead. We think the opposite is more likely: Factory output is poised to speed up. Investors worried that the equity market is stretched should take heart. Stronger growth in factory output is a good reason to remain cyclically oriented, especially in U.S. industrial stocks. Trade, one of the biggest engines of the sector in 2017, is likely to... http://www.businesswatchnetwork.com/articles/4869 Tue, 30 Jan 2018 04:35:23 -0500 https://www.businesswatchnetwork.com/articles/4869-us-manufacturing-primed-for-another-growth-year Manufacturing Ford FlatRock Michigan AI is seeping into different industries, slowly remolding the global competitive landscape. However, most business leaders still don't know how machine intelligence will impact their businesses. EY recently published a brief, which... http://www.businesswatchnetwork.com/articles/4841 Thu, 18 Jan 2018 09:42:44 -0500 https://www.businesswatchnetwork.com/articles/4841-ai-has-a-foothold-in-business-now-for-the-next-steps Two styles of Kidde plastic handle and push-button Pindicator fire extinguishers made between 1973 and 2017 have been recalled. These units incorporate black plastic nylon valves that may degrade over time, and may result in the valve spontaneously separating from the cylinder. Kidde is recalling about... http://www.businesswatchnetwork.com/articles/4757 Mon, 27 Nov 2017 05:53:31 -0500 https://www.businesswatchnetwork.com/articles/4757-kidde-recalls-40-million-faulty-fire-extinguishers-some-used-on-trucks The manufacturing sector has shown some growth over the past few years. Since 2011, the sector has created jobs every year, a 6-year expansion that exceeds the 5-year expansion experienced 1994-1998, according to a new report from consulting firm Headlight Data. The report showed that... http://www.businesswatchnetwork.com/articles/4726 Mon, 13 Nov 2017 09:52:33 -0500 https://www.businesswatchnetwork.com/articles/4726-where-the-jobs-are-the-fastest-growing-sectors-for-manufacturing The United Auto Workers filed an unfair labor practice claim against Tesla Inc. saying the company harassed, intimidated and eventually fired some workers who had supported unionizing. The claim was filed Wednesday with the National Labor Relations Board, alleging... http://www.businesswatchnetwork.com/articles/4672 Fri, 27 Oct 2017 07:03:31 -0400 https://www.businesswatchnetwork.com/articles/4672-uaw-files-claim-that-tesla-fired-workers-who-supported-union "I know from very hard won experience that start-ups are enormously difficult and risky and chances are you're not going to succeed," says Kevin Czinger, the CEO of Divergent 3D, a company developing new technology for the automotive industry. "You're always playing against the odds." Czinger's "hard won experience" is based on... http://www.businesswatchnetwork.com/articles/4628 Thu, 12 Oct 2017 10:21:38 -0400 https://www.businesswatchnetwork.com/articles/4628-manufacturing-entrepreneurs-tales-of-taking-the-leap ABB Ltd. agreed to buy the industrial solutions business of General Electric Co. in a deal valued at $2.6 billion that will strengthen the Swiss company's business in the U.S., its largest market. The transaction is expected to generate cost savings of about $200 million annually, the Zurich-based company said... http://www.businesswatchnetwork.com/articles/4589 Mon, 25 Sep 2017 10:46:12 -0400 https://www.businesswatchnetwork.com/articles/4589-abb-bolsters-us-business-with-2-6-billion-ge-unit-deal Manufacturing is in the midst of a new Industrial Revolution. 3-D printing, the Internet of Things, robotics, artificial intelligence. These technologies are present in a wide range of sectors -- from automaking to medical devices. The possibilities have reinvigorated interest in the art of making things. Meanwhile,... http://www.businesswatchnetwork.com/articles/4588 Mon, 25 Sep 2017 10:43:51 -0400 https://www.businesswatchnetwork.com/articles/4588-the-iw-us-500-the-cloudy-state-of-manufacturing It was already 102?, the air thick with smoke from some distant wildfire by the time I arrived at KEEN Inc.'s Portland boot factory last month. Perfectly absurd conditions for a factory tour. But the absurdity felt right. I was, after all, walking into a shoe factory in the United States. Moreover,... http://www.businesswatchnetwork.com/articles/4545 Mon, 11 Sep 2017 12:55:28 -0400 https://www.businesswatchnetwork.com/articles/4545-heart-and-sole-keen-makes-a-case-for-american-manufacturing Hurricane Irma has knocked out power to at least 4.7 million customers, paralyzed tanker traffic and shut about 6,000 gasoline stations. As the storm heads up Florida's west coast, it's also threatening more than $1 billion worth of crops. NextEra Energy Inc.'s Florida Power & Light utility warned Sunday that some customers may go without power for weeks, and... http://www.businesswatchnetwork.com/articles/4544 Mon, 11 Sep 2017 12:51:54 -0400 https://www.businesswatchnetwork.com/articles/4544-irma-cuts-power-to-4-7-million-shuts-ports-imperils-crops The information contained in this nearly 70-page, data-packed Statistical Profile presents a composite picture of IndustryWeek's Best Plants winners and finalists for the past five years from 2012 to 2016. During these years IndustryWeek selected 33 winning facilities and 44 finalists. This report was prepared from... http://www.businesswatchnetwork.com/articles/4488 Mon, 28 Aug 2017 14:51:05 -0400 https://www.businesswatchnetwork.com/articles/4488-the-industryweek-best-plants-winners-and-finalists-statistical-report-2012-2016 The state of the economy will often dictate how much growth certain industries are experiencing, which can influence their business decisions and modernization requirements. Consequently, Ultra takes a huge interest in world economic affairs, with special focus on the U.S. manufacturing and distribution industries. August's state of the economy update includes facts and figures captured in July,... http://www.businesswatchnetwork.com/articles/4487 Mon, 28 Aug 2017 14:46:57 -0400 https://www.businesswatchnetwork.com/articles/4487-state-of-the-economy-update-august-2017 Ask the Expert: Lean Leadership: Have a question about lean leadership? Let Larry Fast tackle it for you... http://www.businesswatchnetwork.com/articles/4443 Mon, 14 Aug 2017 12:54:52 -0400 https://www.businesswatchnetwork.com/articles/4443-what-is-world-class-manufacturing-and-how-do-you-measure-it The truth is that bringing manufacturing prowess jobs back to the United States is not as easy as signing an executive order. When we lost those jobs, primarily to Asian countries, we lost our expertise in the process. It didn't happen overnight. By allowing extensive... http://www.businesswatchnetwork.com/articles/4441 Mon, 14 Aug 2017 12:31:52 -0400 https://www.businesswatchnetwork.com/articles/4441-reclaiming-america-s-manufacturing-prowess-is-no-simple-job Anyone who has been in private business long enough has likely observed a key vendor or customer suffer some form of financial distress or, even worse, file for bankruptcy. Upon learning that a key customer is on shaky financial ground, while perhaps sympathetic to their customer's situation, many businesses respond by... http://www.businesswatchnetwork.com/articles/4349 Fri, 30 Jun 2017 09:52:14 -0400 https://www.businesswatchnetwork.com/articles/4349-as-retailers-falter-manufacturers-and-suppliers-need-to-plan-ahead An unexpected decline in May factory output after the biggest gain in three years shows U.S. manufacturing is leveling off, Federal Reserve data showed Thursday. Highlights of Industrial Production (May):... http://www.businesswatchnetwork.com/articles/4302 Fri, 16 Jun 2017 09:17:10 -0400 https://www.businesswatchnetwork.com/articles/4302-decline-in-us-factory-output-shows-manufacturing-leveling-off Lean manufacturers have a leg up on speeding products to market, reducing costs and keeping customers happy. In this overview, I'll share how to engineer, set up and manage the project for a lean factory that works for your specific requirements. Why set up a lean factory?... http://www.businesswatchnetwork.com/articles/4266 Mon, 05 Jun 2017 11:44:23 -0400 https://www.businesswatchnetwork.com/articles/4266-how-to-set-up-a-lean-factory-that-works-part-1 Funny thing about that CIO sitting next to you at Interop ITX this week or at some other conference. You have a lot in common with each other, more than you might think. The commonalities aren't just about how you started your careers as developers or admins, or about your mid-career MBA. According to Khalid Kark,... http://www.businesswatchnetwork.com/articles/4224 Wed, 24 May 2017 09:32:42 -0400 https://www.businesswatchnetwork.com/articles/4224-for-cios-it-s-nature-v-nurture-revisited Sometime in the next couple of months, the Dodge Challenger SRT Demon and its 808 horsepower will show up in dealership windows like some kind of tiny, red, tire-melting factory. Yes, 808 horsepower. There's no typo... http://www.businesswatchnetwork.com/articles/4205 Mon, 22 May 2017 08:11:31 -0400 https://www.businesswatchnetwork.com/articles/4205-america-s-cars-are-suddenly-getting-faster-and-more-efficient The manufacturing world's quest to connect its full value chain and to integrate man and machine is on display at Hannover Messe, the huge industrial trade show in Germany. Members of the press got a sneak peek at some of the technology, which ranged from... [Slideshow] http://www.businesswatchnetwork.com/articles/4120 Mon, 24 Apr 2017 06:27:06 -0400 https://www.businesswatchnetwork.com/articles/4120-manufacturing-s-new-technology-making-the-future-accessible-now Last month, President Trump submitted a "Skinny Budget" with the goal of removing some of the "fat" within Washington, DC. Unfortunately, one of the programs eliminated in his budget is not "fat." The Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) is the only federally funded national network dedicated to serving small and medium-sized U. S. manufacturers. The MEP program was reauthorized by... http://www.businesswatchnetwork.com/articles/4117 Mon, 24 Apr 2017 06:11:25 -0400 https://www.businesswatchnetwork.com/articles/4117-meps-are-essential-to-rebuilding-american-manufacturing-competitiveness The Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) and smart manufacturing initiatives are accelerating the creation of new technologies, transforming global manufacturing. Like most innovation, competitive advantage and measurable, improved economics will be... http://www.businesswatchnetwork.com/articles/4076 Thu, 13 Apr 2017 11:49:59 -0400 https://www.businesswatchnetwork.com/articles/4076-smart-manufacturing-for-smart-materials