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That employee engagement decisively contributes to manufacturing success has long been known. However, many studies show there is a deep and broad lack of employee engagement in our nation’s manufacturing industry. This lack is known as the Engagement Gap. Though manufacturing leaders agree that the gap urgently needs to be closed, the fact remains that for at least two decades, it has
remained relatively constant and by some measurements has even widened.

When Aly Pinder Jr. came across an article that explored how a luxury auto manufacturer looked to achieve 100 percent customer satisfaction, he thought that it seemed like a goal on a billboard or a goal found on a motivational poster in a contact center. But this manufacturer truly believed that it can and should have this as its target. Pinder writes that he doesn’t think 100 percent customer satisfaction should be the goal for a manufacturer looking to scale and grow its business.

It is certainly not news that, more and more, dedicated gages are being placed at the point of manufacture. Tight-tolerance measurements that were once performed in a semiclean room by a trained inspection technician are now being done right next to the machine, often by the machinist. But just because shop floor gaging has become commonplace, doesn't mean that just any gage can be taken onto the shop floor. To assure good gage performance, there are a number of specifications and care issues which need to be addressed.

When the topic of energy efficiency comes up, energy-efficient machine tools don’t immediately spring to mind. Yet machine tools contain motors and auxiliary components whose energy demand varies widely during machining operations. Happily, a new series of ISO standards can help measure energy supplied and improve machine design and performance.

When manufacturing environmental equipment like pumps, samplers, and other measuring equipment, manufacturers frequently outsource the machining of their products’ individual parts. Machining equipment is typically complex and expensive, so most manufacturers contract with outside vendors to machine their parts, and then assemble parts into finished products in-house. While the cost barrier of in-house machining for environmental equipment manufacturers may be high, it can result in huge benefits. After making the investment in advanced machining equipment to bring machining in-house, QED has improved quality and reduced lead time while also achieving cost savings.

When it comes to achieving high material-removal rates in even the toughest materials, it’s hard to beat helical cutters. With the correct insert grades and cutting data, these cutters can achieve far greater depths of cut than non-helical milling tools without sacrificing reach or the ability to hold tolerance. This means higher rates of metal removal at speeds that reduce the time the inserts spend in-cut, simultaneously minimizing cycle times and maximizing tool life.

Looking back, two kinds of people lived in the United States in 2016: those who believed Donald Trump and those who believed data. But all was not as it seemed.

Many consider 2017 the "worst year ever” for data breaches and cyberattacks, largely due to the rise in ransomware. And IT experts predict it’s only going to get worse.

A survey by the Associated General Contractors of America concluded that approximately 62 percent of firms are unable to fill skilled trade positions--jobs that require a set of skills and knowledge but not necessarily a postsecondary degree. Seventy four percent of firms also predict a deficit of qualified skilled trade workers as baby boomers retire over the next five years. The good news is that employers are not sitting on the sidelines.

Weiler Abrasives Group announced the launch of a national fundraising campaign, Leading a Warriors’ Charge, in partnership with Workshops for Warriors, a nonprofit school that trains, certifies and helps place veterans, wounded warriors and transitioning service members into advanced manufacturing careers. Weiler donated $25,000 to kick off the year-long campaign that will support machining and welding training programs at the nonprofit trade school, as well as contribute to long-term growth of the organization.

Big Data! The Sensor Revolution! IoT! Industry 4.0! These terms are flying about with promise of improvements in capacity and efficiency, ushering in the “Third Industrial Revolution!” There is always hype when talking about what new technologies can deliver, but I see real and significant potential advances and will come to those who have the boldness, vision, and technical talent to effectively and efficiently develop these new technologies.

To achieve the quality and productivity requirements for most precision grinding operations, it is necessary that the grinding wheel is trued and dressed prior to grinding and periodically during the grinding operation. The truing process is initially carried out to correct for any wheel runout, create the required profile on the wheel, and condition the grinding wheel face.

To build cars, appliances and airplanes, it takes tools made in Idaho. At Micro 100 Tool Corp., a cutting-edge operation helps create cutting tools. "We make carbide cutting tools that are used in all machining and manufacturing operations around the world," said Dale Newberry, president of Micro 100 Tool.

ZOLLER Inc. inaugurated its new North American Headquarters on May 18, 2018, in the presense of the Zoller family, esteemed architect David Gebhardt, and Paul Krutko, president and CEO of Ann Arbor SPARK. The entire North American employee base and their families and friends also attended the gala celebration event. The new facility encompasses more than 44,000 sq. ft. and houses the U.S. corporate offices including sales, service and administration. In addition, the facility features an 8,800 sq. ft. Industry 4.0 Tech Center.

While manufacturers around the world have reached new heights in technology adoption and equipment innovation, there are still many pain points that hinder optimization, efficiency and even safety on the plant floor. Sensai, an augmented productivity platform for manufacturing operations, unveiled a list of the top five plant floor risks that reduce efficiency, drain productivity and negatively impact business results if left unattended.

Myths and debates swirl around the questions of using robots to automate CNC operations. From “Should we automate?” and “Can we automate?” to “How should we automate?” Are they true or not? Let’s look at a few of the most-discussed topics regarding robotic CNC automation.

On April 10, 2018, CNC Software Inc. hosted local Girl Scout troop #65023 for a tour of its corporate offices. Area Girl Scouts in 5th and 6th grades were able to see where Mastercam CAD/CAM software is developed and learn how it is used by thousands of companies worldwide to manufacture products they see and use every day.

State sales tax bases are both too narrow and too broad.

U.S. factory output rose in April, although new estimates of manufacturing and overall industrial production showed less growth in prior months than initially believed, casting a shadow over the economic outlook.

Avantech recently added two new, large bridge-style CNC machines, significantly enhancing its capability to provide large-scale tooling for customers.