Y-Blog

My master’s thesis dealt with job satisfaction in the workplace. At the time I wrote my thesis, I was working for a global manufacturer of aircraft parts. In the mid-1990s, I watched my employer go through massive layoffs, reducing its workforce by more than 60 percent in three years. Watching the turmoil made me aware of how important it is to consider people when dealing with shifting economics, production needs and skill gaps.There is no single best answer when evaluating your need for talent because every manufacturer’s situation, even when it appears similar, is unique. Take these situations for example. Read More

Many manufacturers nationwide are having a difficult time finding quality welders. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor statistics, the American Welding Society (AWS) estimates a welder shortage of 372,000 in the U.S. by 2026. In order to stay in business and be competitive, forward-thinking companies are now looking into automating their processes. Read More

Yaskawa America, Inc. will soon be headed to Chicago, IL for Pack Expo International. In 2016, Pack Expo is the world’s largest processing and packaging industry show with more than 2,000 exhibiting companies and over 45,000 attendees. It will again be co-located with Pharma-Expo, which is the leading and dominant pharmaceutical event for comprehensive innovations. Read More

At this year’s IMTS in Chicago, I had a number of discussions with manufacturers that were looking for ways to improve their manufacturing process.

• Some were part of an industry experiencing stagnant growth, and they were looking to prepare for future growth opportunities.
• Some were looking to address the cost of reworking parts so that they could maintain costs.
• Others were investigating ways to increase production levels since their business is booming.

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Like the veracity of the 3,000-mile oil change, some people view maintenance schedules with skepticism. Today’s synthetic oils can keep car engines running perfectly well and safely for up to and beyond 5,000 miles between oil changes, but the old 3,000-mile standard still lingers.

One-size-fits-all maintenance standards really don’t fit at all. In regards to capital equipment, some organizations take a run-to-failure approach; others are fastidious about not only the repair process but also preventive maintenance.

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