We thought it might be fun to, from time-to-time, revisit some old pieces of content that have lived in the pages of the Gateway Magazine at some point in the last 20+ years of the periodical’s existence. This will also serve as a welcome departure from all the pandemic prose we seem to have been typing up for the past six-months… With that departure in mind and in the spirit of taking “a look back,” let’s move forward (as best we can)! In many ways, the industry has changed greatly, while, in others, it’s “business as usual” where we’re simply looking to continue the grind and get ourselves from point A to point B in a job cycle.
Browsing: Industry Spotlight
Reuters recently (on September 15th) announced reports on the manufacturing industry that showcased four consecutive months of growth following a stagnant, pandemic fueled period that marred the overall market for basically the first half of 2020. So, again, good news is we’ve seen more growth with data showing that manufacturing production rose 1% in August, which was preceded by 3.9% of growth in July. Numbers are obviously still way down across the board, but we’ve seen some recovery.
Piggybacking off of last month’s industry insight feature about strengthening our supply chains and tightening the reins on how far we’re spreading the cumulative links of that chain (you, know, trying to keep it “local,” and/or domestic vs. offshoring our manufacturing operations – we thought it might be an interesting conversation to talk about the foothold 5G networking is having within the industrial sector.
Supply chain.
It’s a multi-faceted topic, and, as you’re long flipped the pages of the Gateway Magazine, you’re aware that we’ve long been proponents of keeping manufacturing tasks “inhouse,” or, as it stands, “in-network,” and that network, as it were, is of much benefit if it remains in and around our direct “neck of the woods.” This couldn’t be more important right now. As the months have pressed on since the pandemic took hold back in March, supply chains have broken down, and industries far and wide have experienced tremendous cause(s) for alarm.
It’s easy to see why. A multitude of networked machines makes for more potential vulnerabilities that hackers can exploit. An industry that prides itself on efficiency and avoiding downtime means manufacturers who fall prey to cyber attacks have extra motivation to pay ransoms and get systems back online quickly. Fiercely guarded intellectual property and classified information fetches a premium on the black market.
As summer starts to set in and balmy temps get the air conditioning cranking, it’s a good time to take a look at your HVAC system to make sure that it’s operating at peak performance. As you probably know, your HVAC system does far more than cool the air and provide comfort. Your HVAC system also plays a critical role in purifying the air inside your facility to keep all that walk through your doors healthy, productive, and safe.
“Already, manufacturers are grappling with disruptions to their businesses due to the COVID-19 outbreak, with many anticipating financial and operational consequences—even before some of the developments of this week,” said NAM President and CEO Jay Timmons in his recent proclamation following the release of the National Association of Manufacture’s survey regarding the industry impact of COVID-10 on www.nam.org. “The federal government can take steps to further equip manufacturers to deal with COVID-19 by implementing the NAM’s COVID-19 Policy Action Plan Recommendations.”
There are so many different types of grinding as it relates to the manufacturing industry. So many… You’ve likely heard myriad terms associated with grinding in the daily conversations you have on the shop floor, in the boardroom, or out in the field with customers, vendors, and your competition. The advancement in grinding since the turn of the century has improved greatly and fits in to many different applications that exist throughout the manufacturing process – from inception on through finished product. Grinding is an essential part of the industry, and thus, we thought it would be helpful to put together a piece that discusses some of the more common applications/types that exist in today’s manufacturing landscape – while placing a strong focus on the finishing stage and putting the wraps on the task at hand.
We’re all the beneficiaries of the end result of manufacturing processes in our everyday life. It is the lifeblood of technological advance and, simple, everyday items that make life what it is. One piece of the manufacturing equation that we’re all subject to – we’re talking 100%* of us (*this is not a formal result of any sort of poll/report), is the thread. If you’ve got something – anything with some sort of screw in it, you’re experiencing the product of manufactured threadwork.
Recycling is not generally on most peoples’ radar when they put resolutions to paper (or at least to thought). That said, it should be. Especially if you’re managing a manufacturing facility and are dealing with a lot of post- production “scrap.” We’re sure you’ve thought about it, but now is the time to put it to action. Recycling is by no way a new, trending topic (though it is always trending…). But as we keep hearing more and more about how we need to “change our ways” in order to salvage the prosperity of the world we live in (earth), it’s coming more and more to a head that things need to change. That means all of us. From the “waste” we create at home, to our place of work…