December 2015

Just-in-time inventory (JIT) helps manufacturers to curb waste and control costs. By receiving goods as they’re needed during production, JIT reduces inventory overhead. There’s a catch, however. Manufacturers must forecast demand with accuracy. Suppliers must deliver on potentially tight timetables. Amazon Prime Air promises deliveries in 30 minutes or less, but will this service meet the needs of manufacturers?

What will the factories of the future look like? Energy-efficient buildings and advanced production technologies are part of the plan, but what about product design and development? For technology futurist Jordan Brandt, four manufacturing trends will change how designers do their jobs. Is your company ready for meta materials, more powerful platforms, greater personalization, and hyperconnectivity?

Each year, thousands of manufacturers participate in Manufacturing Day. MFG DAY, as this international event is also known, is when companies like yours open their doors to students and educators. The results of this year’s October 2 MFG Day are now available, and you might be surprised by what the survey says.

Are you reading this on your smartphone? Did you access this information while using your computer keyboard instead? Either way, ultraviolet (UV) and electron beam (EB) curing helped make this experience possible.

Nassau County, New York is where manufacturers like Nordon Composite Technologies make the most of composite materials. The Long Island county is also home to a new training program that will connect 100 unemployed or underemployed workers with opportunities in composite manufacturing. “This exciting new program,” announced Nassau County Executive Edward P. Mangano, “will train students with hands-on composite manufacturing skills and assist program graduates with finding employment in the field.”

3D printing isn’t just for prototyping. Additive manufacturing supports product design and development, but companies can also realize cost-savings on production runs. Moreover, 3DP is capable of creating parts in in almost any shape or size. Eliminating geometric constraints is powerful, but is it enough to convince industry that 3D printing is the way to go? For manufacturers, there are five areas to address.