Manufacture Smarter Blog

8/19/2016 - THE CENTER
No matter which way you slice it, we live in a digital age. Now you can order pizza from your smartphone app, get a diagnosis through an email, and deposit checks without ever leaving your couch. The world is changing, and so is the way companies reach new clients.

8/12/2016 - THE CENTER
A company’s supply chain is an integral component to success. Therefore, any disruption can be a major threat to business continuity, including delays in production and distribution, reduced revenue, and decreased market share. From earthquakes and tsunamis to hurricanes and tornadoes, all have shown just how far risk can extend.

8/5/2016 - THE CENTER
On Friday, October 7, manufacturers nationwide will join together and celebrate National Manufacturing Day! The holiday was established to raise awareness about the positive impacts manufacturing has on the economy and change the prevailing perception of manufacturing careers in the U.S. for future generations.

7/29/2016 - THE CENTER
When an engineer sends a design to production, there is an area of the design where a feature or part is not clearly defined. Implanted in that area is the design’s zone of tolerance, also known as its limits of variation. The design can only tolerate a certain amount of deviation from that zone before material and money are wasted, time is lost, and productivity is diminished!

7/22/2016 - THE CENTER
By now, most are well aware of the implementation of the Food Safety Modernization Act, or FSMA. The most sweeping change in food regulations in more than 70 years, FSMA aims to prevent food borne illness rather than reacting to it.

7/15/2016 - THE CENTER
For the past 20 years, technological changes have had a major impact on both our economy and society. From the internet spike of the 1990’s to the development of Smartphones and Wi-Fi in the 2000’s, technology is constantly evolving… and at lightning speed.

7/8/2016 - THE CENTER
For years, the retirement of the baby boom generation has been a large topic of discussion and a looming economic threat. Now, that dreaded time is upon us. Baby Boomers, those born between 1946 and 1964, are retiring in droves – to the tune of about 10,000 a day!  

6/24/2016 - THE CENTER
Do you ever wonder how the Federal Government can assist your company?  Or why the perks which seem to flow to major US corporations don’t trickle down to your business?  Well, times are changing and resources are available! The National Network for Manufacturing Initiatives (NNMI) was formed to make sure that technology developed through defense and other government programs would reach small and mid-sized manufacturers (SMMs).

6/17/2016 - THE CENTER
Quality must be built in to each process, making sure each person checks and is resposible for their own work. But this is not enough to guarantee 100% quality.  It is a myth to think that “lean means no inspection”. In fact, there are multiple checkpoints – and checks of checkpoints - within a build-in-quality system.

6/10/2016 - THE CENTER
Now more than ever, customers are demanding added customization in lower volumes with shorter lead times. Read on to learn how manufacturers can improve quality, productivity and customer satisfaction, while reducing resource requirements, inventories, lead-times and defects.