|
|
Give Me an 'M' for Monozukuri!
Last year, Nissan Motor Co. (Tokyo) kicked off a campaign called the Nissan Monozukuri Caravan. The educational program provides 5th graders in Japan with hands-on manufacturing experience in a classroom environment.
by Austin Weber | September 2, 2008 | Comments (0)
|
All Our Eggs in the Big Three’s Basket?
Back in the 1950’s, the idea that what was good for General Motors was good for America was a matter of faith. But I wonder if that’s still the case. The same goes for the rest of the Big Three.
by Adam Cort | August 27, 2008 | Comments (11)
|
Time to Put an Engineer Back in Charge?
Back in the good old days, General Motors was often run by a person with an engineering degree and a solid background in manufacturing. Today, that's how it is at Toyota, while GM is run by a finance guy. Maybe that’s why Toyota just topped GM in worldwide sales.
by Austin Weber | August 19, 2008 | Comments (14)
|
Is the Economy on Track for Recovery?
American-made goods are hot commodities these days. According to the U.S. Commerce Dept. (Washington, DC), demand for exports recently experienced its biggest monthly gain in 5 years. But, some other news is a bit more sobering.
by Austin Weber | August 13, 2008 | Comments (0)
|
Reptiles Delay Construction of Assembly Plant
St. Patrick may have driven the snakes from Ireland, but reptiles have scored one for their side across the sea in England.
by John Sprovieri | August 4, 2008 | Comments (0)
|
Bobcat Celebrates 50th Anniversary
Tractor manufacturer Bobcat marks its 50th anniversary this month. ASSEMBLY profiled the facility in the June 2007 issue.
by John Sprovieri | July 28, 2008 | Comments (0)
|
BREAKING NEWS: VW Picks Tennessee
The verdict is in! Tennessee beats out Alabama and Michigan in a high-stakes competition for VW's new assembly plant.
by John Sprovieri | July 15, 2008 | Comments (0)
|
Are You Dying For Work?
If you think you work too much, maybe you better slow down. If not, you may end up like an engineer at a Japanese automaker who recently worked himself to death.
by Austin Weber | July 11, 2008 | Comments (0)
|
How Well Would You Do on the Line?
Assembly plant managers and line supervisors take note: At some point in their careers, your assemblers have thought, “My boss thinks he’s so smart, but I’d like to see him try my job for a while. He’d never make it.”
by John Sprovieri | July 9, 2008 | Comments (0)
|
Be Careful With Those Scissors!
Many manufacturers are faced with skyrocketing costs these days. As a result, the tendency at some companies is to cut, cut, cut. But, it may not be the best strategy to follow.
by Austin Weber | July 7, 2008 | Comments (2)
|
The Latest in the VW Assembly Plant Sweepstakes
Michigan, Alabama and Tennessee are vying to host Volkswagen’s new U.S. assembly plant and its concomitant 2,000 jobs. Who will win? Here’s the latest!
by John Sprovieri | July 2, 2008 | Comments (1)
|
Keeping the Current Downturn in Perspective
Free markets are a lot like democracy, wonderful in theory, but often very messy in practice. Case in point: the U.S. economy is looking pretty messy right now, to say the least.
by Adam Cort | June 24, 2008 | Comments (0)
|
What Happened to all Those 'Flexible' Factories?
For many years, American automakers have talked about how “flexible” their factories are. But, now that the industry is shifting its gears to produce fuel-efficient cars, why can't the same factories that assembled pickup trucks and sport-utility vehicles in the past be used to produce subcompact sedans?
by Austin Weber | June 10, 2008 | Comments (5)
|
Learn From the Experts Without Leaving Your Desk
Free webcasts will cover plastics assembly, robots, machine vision and adhesive bonding.
by John Sprovieri | June 2, 2008 | Comments (0)
|
Chinese Investors Eye ‘Cheap’ U.S. Opportunities
“There is a serious tendency toward capitalism among the well-to-do peasants.” Mao Tse-Tung
Gosh, but free markets are funny things! For some time now European manufacturers have been relocating to the United States to take advantage of our lower wages and shrinking dollar. Now it looks like China might be getting into the act too. That’s right—China.
May 27, 2008 | Comments (4)
|
The 'State' of Manufacturing
Manufacturing is still a vital cog in the U.S. economy. But, how individual states ranks when it comes to local gross domestic product may raise a few eyebrows.
by Austin Weber | May 22, 2008 | Comments (0)
|
Idle Hands...
When my sister and I were kids, we dared not let our parents catch us doing nothing. “If you need something to do,” my mother would say, “I’ll give you something.” Nine times out of 10, that something would be an onerous chore. My parents were big believers in the adage, “Idle hands are the devil’s workshop. A couple of articles in the news recently made me think about that adage in a grim new light.
by John Sprovieri | May 16, 2008 | Comments (0)
|
Sci-Fi on the Way to Reality?
Researchers at Cornell University are bringing science fiction closer to reality. They have developed a self-replicating robot consists of independent motorized blocks. Their work has implications for space exploration and "lights-out" automated factories.
by John Sprovieri | May 13, 2008 | Comments (0)
|
The Sky is Falling—Not!
WASHINGTON—Two studies, two very different mindsets: Which will successfully lead U.S. manufacturing into the future?
by Adam Cort | April 28, 2008 | Comments (8)
|
Danish Engineers Create Devices for Handling Objects Invisible to the Naked Eye
The most daunting challenge of automating assembly of very small products, such as hearing aids, is how to feed and manipulate tiny screws and other parts. Researchers at the Technical University of Denmark in Lyngby have designed a gripper and an automatic screwdriver that overcome this challenge.
by John Sprovieri | April 21, 2008 | Comments (0)
|
Beware of Swinging Pendulums
Several years ago, everyone was crying about all the American manufacturers closing their doors and shipping production to China, Brazil and other countries with low-cost economies. But, Mitsubishi Motors Corp. (Tokyo, Japan) has announced that it will soon begin exporting vehicles made at its plant in Normal, IL, to China. When the Eclipse sports car goes on sale in Shanghai later this year, Chinese consumers will be eyeing a car that was assembled in the middle of an Illinois cornfield.
by Austin Weber | March 31, 2008 | Comments (1)
|
Charles Darwin’s SUV
Ever since Charles Darwin’s Origin of the Species was published in 1859, the theory of evolution has been used as a metaphor for many other disciplines, including business. Now Peter Cooke, a professor of automotive management at the University of Buckingham in England, is talking about something called the Galapagos Syndrome with reference to North America’s Big Three automakers
by Adam Cort | March 18, 2008 | Comments (4)
|
Viper No. 25,000 Slithers Out of Detroit; ASSEMBLY was there in '96
ASSEMBLY magazine reported on the Viper line when the first models were being assembled.
by John Sprovieri | March 13, 2008 | Comments (0)
|
Opportunity Village Saves Time and Money for Manufacturers Nationwide
It wasn’t all that long ago that people with intellectual disabilities were institutionalized—isolated from their families and communities. These days, thankfully, attitudes are much different. A number of organizations are providing win-win situations: enabling people with intellectual disabilities to obtain training and fulfilling employment, while helping manufacturers assemble their products for pennies on the dollar.
by John Sprovieri | February 29, 2008 | Comments (0)
|
Will Presidential Candidates Help Manufacturers Crippled by Health Costs?
While the United States leads the world in advanced medical technology and services, escalating spending on health care is taking a toll on employers. The burden of footing this bill is making U.S. manufacturers less competitive and provides a considerable incentive for moving manufacturing jobs to low-cost labor markets. Since this is an election year, it would be wise for everyone to see where the three remaining presidential candidates stand on healthcare.
by John Sprovieri | February 28, 2008 | Comments (0)
|
Mind the Gap
General Motors has offered to buy out all of its 74,000 hourly workers. Up to 56,000 workers could retire by 2011. That would help GM slash costs and catch up with its foreign rivals, but it would also create a huge knowledge gap on the plant floor.
by Austin Weber | February 20, 2008 | Comments (0)
|
Getting What You Pay For
This time it’s the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review’s turn. “Precision Factory Jobs in U.S. go Unfilled” the headline laments. The article then goes on to relate the trials of a precision parts maker in a small town in Pennsylvania that just can’t keep up with demand because of a lack of skilled workers.
by Adam Cort | January 28, 2008 | Comments (2)
|
‘Surprise’ Winner for Detroit?
Despite the current wailing and gnashing of teeth on Wall Street, there is yet more good news out of Detroit. Turns out at least one of the Big Three U.S. automakers really can make good cars and—surprise! surprise!—when it does, people will actually go out of their way to buy them.
by Adam Cort | January 22, 2008 | Comments (7)
|
Here's Comes the 21st Century People's Car
Tata Motors Ltd. (Mumbai, India) just unveiled the 21st century version of the “people’s car,” the NANO. Ironically, this year also marks the centennial of the original "people's car," the Ford Model T.
by Austin Weber | January 10, 2008 | Comments (0)
|
More Evidence of a ‘New’ Big Three
When it comes to quality, talk is cheap. A manufacturer’s products ultimately have to walk the walk if they are to convince customers to part with their hard-earned cash. For years, this has been a problem for the Big Three. Quality has become synonymous with carmakers whose headquarters lie outside the United States. However, a recent analysis by Justin Hyde of the Detroit Free Press shows that this, like so much in the automotive industry these days, is changing
by Adam Cort | January 8, 2008 | Comments (5)
|  |
Chinese Plant Starts Mass Production of the $100 Laptop
With so much negative news lately about low-cost manufacturing in China, here’s a bit of good news: Mass production of the XO laptop computer—the so-called $100 laptop designed by One Laptop Per Child (OLPC, Cambridge, MA)—began last month at Quanta Computer Inc.’s factory in Changshu, China.
by John Sprovieri | December 20, 2007 | Comments (2)
|
In Praise of "Made in the USA"
When a Chinese-made cookie press breaks down on the countertop assembly line, a trusty old product from Pennsylvania comes to the rescue and saves a Christmas tradition..
by Austin Weber | December 19, 2007 | Comments (1)
|
Window-Shopping, Robot Style
Have you heard the one about the three robots hanging out in a department store window? Believe it or not, it's not a joke.
by Austin Weber | December 17, 2007 | Comments (0)
|
Does Automaking Mix With Religion?
The largest automaker in Iran, Iran Khodro Industrial Group, has just proposed that Islamic nations manufacture a “collective brand” of car to boost their economies, reduce dependency on Western countries and meet increasing local demand.
by Austin Weber | December 14, 2007 | Comments (5)
|
Assembly Outsourcing 3.0
A recent announcement from two German companies pushes the concept of assembly outsourcing and supply chain management to an entirely new level.
by Austin Weber | November 15, 2007 | Comments (0)
|
Make Cars, Not War
There are times The World is Flat author Thomas Friedman can go a bit overboard when it comes to the wonders of globalization.
by Adam Cort | November 15, 2007 | Comments (5)
|
The UAW: A Reasonable Partner After All?
Winston Churchill once famously said, “Democracy is the worst form of government, except all the others that have been tried.”
It’s beginning to look like the same thing could be said for unionized labor
by Adam Cort | November 6, 2007 | Comments (0)
|
With R&D: It’s Quality, Not Quantity
Why doesn't R&D spending correlate with financial performance?
by John Sprovieri | October 22, 2007 | Comments (0)
|
Here's A Sneak Peak at the 2057 Model Year
What will cars look like in 50 years, when ASSEMBLY celebrates its centennial? If today's designers are correct, we're all in for a wild ride ahead.
by Austin Weber | October 16, 2007 | Comments (0)
|
Death, Taxes and the Assembly Top 50
In 2006, the Assembly Top 50 paid more than $43.3 billion in income taxes to one government or another.
by John Sprovieri | October 1, 2007 | Comments (0)
|
Ten Predictions for 2057
This month marks ASSEMBLY magazine’s 50th anniversary. To celebrate that event, here are some predictions for the future. Share your own comments . . . and don’t forget to check back here in 50 years.
by Austin Weber | October 1, 2007 | Comments (0)
|
A New Era for GM and the UAW?
Although purists on both sides are crying foul, the recent agreement hammered out by negotiators at General Motors and the United Auto Workers may very well signal the beginning of a new era. However, before this era can come to pass, two very important things need to happen.
October 1, 2007 | Comments (0)
|
Stuff We Like: Reports From the Floor at ATExpo
After Day 1 at the 28th annual Assembly Technology Expo, it looks as if the strategy of co-locating the show with the Electronics Assembly Show, Quality Expo, National Manufacturing Week and Plastec Midwest is, indeed, producing the “synergies” that the show organizers expected.
We’ve seen plenty of interesting equipment at the show so far. Topping my list are a nifty press setup from PennEngineering and a new way to attach wires to circuit boards.
by John Sprovieri | September 25, 2007 | Comments (0)
|  |
Airbus Admits China Quid Pro Quo
In an interview with the Financial Times (London), Laurence Barron, president of the Chinese division of the Airbus consortium (Toulouse, France), recently stated that giving China a piece of the manufacturing action is an explicit condition of Airbus sales to that country.
by Adam Cort | September 10, 2007 | Comments (0)
|
Is This Chrysler's Full Court Press?
Chrysler LLC scored a coup today when it snatched Jim Press from the top position at Toyota Motor North America Inc. It's the latest in a recent string of announcements aimed at beefing up Detroit's No. 3 automaker. Will Chrysler once again become a formidable player or is it's new investment bank owner, Cerberus Capital Management, just trying to sweeten the pot for an eventual spinoff?
by Austin Weber | September 6, 2007 | Comments (0)
|
China’s Latest Red Flag
China’s ongoing economic growth, while globally beneficial in many ways, has always had a dark side. State-mandated currency imbalances, blatant copyright and patent infringement, a complete disregard for the environment, the possibility that one of these days those millions of low-paid workers laboring in sweatshop conditions are going to say “enough is enough”: The Chinese “miracle” has long created the unsettling feeling things can’t keep going on like this forever.
by Adam Cort | August 28, 2007 | Comments (0)
|
Will Audi Show the Way for the UAW?
As the UAW continues contract negotiations with Ford, GM and Chrysler, the union may want to take note of an automotive labor agreement signed recently in Europe.
The workforce at Audi’s assembly plant in Brussels, Belgium, agreed to measures that will lower the German automaker’s labor costs. More than 62 percent of blue-collar workers and 94 percent of salaried staff voted in favor of the agreement.
by John Sprovieri | August 3, 2007 | |
Login