Tag: productivity

July 18, 2024

All too often, conversations about the industrial workplace focus only on safety and regulatory compliance rather than employee satisfaction and attraction. While safety and compliance are paramount, industrial settings also convey larger messages about a corporate brand and culture — […]

July 10, 2024

SPS Technologies, a world-leading specialist fasteners, assemblies and precision components manufacturer for the aerospace sector has increased productivity by 23%, which equates to 273 additional productive hours per week across 15 machines, after utilising smart technology from FourJaw Manufacturing Analytics. Employing […]

January 2, 2024

In the dynamic world of semiconductor manufacturing, staying ahead in technology and efficiency is paramount. The integration of SECS/GEM protocol on ASM Eagle 60 via EIGEMBox is a game-changer in this landscape. This powerful combination not only enhances the capabilities […]

November 7, 2022

Two-and-a-half years after Covid-19 emerged, reported infections are way down, pandemic restrictions are practically gone and life in many respects is approaching normal. The labor force, however, is not. Researchers say the virus is having a persistent effect, keeping millions […]

March 14, 2022

Maximizing productivity is a critical goal for every manufacturer. However, many companies may not realize this is an ongoing process, not a one-time adjustment, as there is always room to improve. Addressing lost productivity is particularly critical in today’s climate. […]

November 30, 2021

In recent articles, I have written about how businesses that lack a defined and unifying purpose experience lower productivity; shared my thoughts on how companies can drive growth through the unification of purpose; and offered a methodology for driving value […]

August 19, 2021

The IHS Markit/CIPS Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) value for May 2021 demonstrated that UK manufacturing is growing at its fastest rate in almost 30 years. Manufacturers must increase production to capitalise on the record growth in new orders. However, […]

April 27, 2021

Google Cloud and Siemens have announced a new cooperation to optimize factory processes and improve productivity on the shop floor. Siemens intends to integrate Google Cloud’s leading data cloud and artificial intelligence/machine learning (AI/ML) technologies with its factory automation solutions […]

July 23, 2019

Backed by £30mn (US$37.3mn) of funding, the competition is for projects to improve productivity and agility in UK manufacturing. Business Secretary Greg Clark said: “We want to support companies of all sizes who want to develop new digital capabilities, and […]

February 22, 2019

By applying lean tools and techniques and empowering the shop floor we have seen real improvements in manufacturing performance. However, with the rise of the connected and integrated shop floor we are now seeing a new revolution in factory productivity. […]

December 20, 2018

Computer systems, such as CRMs, can help you plan out your workload as efficiently as possible, while analytics allow you to judge what updates are needed and when. Technology is evolving across every business, allowing companies to become more productive […]

October 6, 2017

Sponsored by Rockwell Automation. How smart manufacturing can help improve productivity, yield and efficiencies in food and beverage operations. The food and beverage industry is complex and rapidly evolving. Markets and tastes are changing. Consumers are more connected, informed and […]

September 26, 2017

Even as global automakers build new facilities and look to surpass producing 90 million light vehicles for the first time this year (Global Light Vehicle Production Summary, IHS Automotive, March 2016), their workforces are being strained on a number of […]

May 11, 2017

Although there is a lot of hype about robots taking jobs away from humans, the truth is today many industries still rely on human processes. According to the Boston Consulting Group, only 10% of tasks were performed by robots in […]

April 19, 2017

Christine Lagarde, International Monetary Fund (IMF) managing director, said in a recent speech that the global economy is showing multiple positive signs, although more work is needed to ensure continuing growth, including policies that will reinvigorate productivity and build inclusive growth. “When […]

March 30, 2017

Manufacturing jobs are in the spotlight once again. The federal focus on bringing manufacturing jobs back to American workers has stirred up the topic, along with the related issues of off-shoring, trade tariffs, gaps left by retiring Baby Boomers, and automation. […]

March 23, 2017

The pharmaceutical industry is anything but stable. While an aging population and emerging technologies offer an optimistic outlook, downward pressure on pricing and new competition are creating new challenges. To be successful, companies urgently need to optimize costs and efficiency […]

March 13, 2017

When Lean manufacturing concepts first gained attention in western manufacturing, ERP solutions were entirely different than they are today. In those early days of Lean adoption, some purists considered ERP solutions as secondary tactics for reducing waste. Today, almost 30 […]

August 10, 2016

The productivity of American workers declined — unexpectedly — for a third straight quarter, deepening efficiency woes that have characterized the economic expansion. The measure of employee output per hour decreased at a 0.5% annualized rate in the three months […]

June 21, 2016

In a recent post, I examined the differences in productivity across small and large manufacturing firms and noted that there were differences across manufacturers in terms of size, but it is also clear from the literature that productivity differs across companies […]