Manufacturing And Warehousing IT News For VARs — September 22, 2014
By Trisha Leon, contributing writer
In the news, 3D printing, automation are focuses of the International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS) conference. Also, manufacturing growth is anticipated through 2016, and applying Lean principles can help your clients save time and money. In addition, a webcast on Wednesday will show how digital manufacturing is transforming American industry.
3D Printing, Automation Highlighted At IMTS
In an Industry Week article, “Leaving Inspired: an IMTS Wrap-up,” Douglas Woods shares his thoughts from this year’s IMTS conference. According to Woods, highlights include, notably, the world’s first 3D printed electric vehicle being started up and driven out of McCormick Place and onto the Chicago streets and the Smartforce Student Summit, the biggest and best-attended in the history of the program. In addition, visitors to the conference would have noticed the “growing presence of automation in just about every manufacturing process and the emerging uses of software, data and information for a variety of applications on the factory floor.” Overall, this year’s IMTs revealed an industry at the top of its game.
Manufacturing Growth Predicted Through 2016
Industrial Distribution reports that U.S. manufacturing is poised for steady growth through 2016. According to the MAPI Foundation’s U.S. Industrial Outlook, a quarterly report that analyzes 27 major industries, “manufacturing industrial production increased at a 4 percent annual rate in the first half of 2014 (and 5 percent in the three months ending July 2014) while inflation-adjusted GDP grew at a 0.9 percent rate.” MAPI Foundation Chief Economist Daniel J. Meckstroth sees several growth themes creating an incentive for business investment, including energy infrastructure, residential, and nonresidential construction, transportation equipment, and medical supplies and equipment. The results of this report indicate broad expansion in industry over the next several years.
Applying Lean Principles Can Help Your Manufacturing Clients Save Money
Entrepreneur magazine highlights one company’s solution to manufacturing errors and delays. By applying Lean principles to their manufacturing department, NextDayFlyers bolstered efficiency and reduced waste, which saved both time and money. Chief Executive, David Handmaker says, “Since deploying lean manufacturing techniques, NextDayFlyers.com has seen substantial financial and operational improvements.” He is no longer bogged down by everyday operations and is now able to focus growing his company. “I can now focus on my job as a leader,” Handmaker says. VARs can help their clients develop and implement Lean techniques which will reduce inefficiencies and save money.
Wednesday Webcast Focuses On Digital Manufacturing
R&D reports that since President Obama’s call for a consortium of innovators to transform American industry through digital manufacturing in February of 2014, the Digital Lab for Manufacturing has been created. The Webcast, “How Digital Manufacturing is Transforming American Industry” can teach industry leaders “how integrating design, development and manufacturing cut costs.” In addition they can learn how the “digital thread” will spur U.S. economic growth and job creation. Register here for Webcast which takes place Wednesday, September 24 at 12:00 p.m. ET and 9:00 a.m. PT.
Manufacturing And Warehousing IT Talking Points
Data is going underground. An article in Manufacturing Business Technology showcases the top three underground data centers in the U.S. Fears about natural disasters, terrorism, and security intrusions have driven many data storage facilities below ground. These data centers offer many advantages over traditional data centers like heightened security, nearly unlimited space, and more efficient and reliable climate control. Natalie Lehrer writes, “There are at hundreds of underground data centers in the United States. Many of the underground data centers are owned by private co-location companies. Some are shared locations housing the data centers operations of several private companies who have collocated space underground.” Of these she cites Iron Mountain in Butler, Pennsylvania, InfoBunker near Des Moines, Iowa, and Cavern Technologies as the nation’s top performers.
For more news and insights, visit BSMinfo’s Manufacturing And Warehousing Tech Center.