The end is near. After enduring the most nerve-wracking economic boom-to-bust period since the Great Depression, assembly professionals finally see light at the end of the long, dark tunnel. While the automotive and housing markets remain flat, they are beginning to show signs of life. Confidence is slowly starting to return, according to ASSEMBLY's 2009 State of the Profession survey.
According to ASSEMBLY's 2009 State of the Profession survey, the average salary for assembly professionals is $75,317. But, the average CEO makes that much in less than a week!
Today, determining what is and is not a truly “domestic” vehicle is getting harder and harder. For instance, is a car assembled in Michigan with a Canadian-built engine and a Mexican-made transmission really American? Here's an interactive graphic that helps sort things out.
The historic bankruptcy of General Motors Corp. has set off a seismic wave of activity in the auto industry that promises to reshape the manufacturing landscape. During the last few weeks, some intriguing new players have emerged. Will the auto industry survive all the turmoil?
A private 12-car train called the Science Express is touring Germany this summer to showcase state-of-the-art engineering and technology. The goal is to educate the public and encourage tomorrow's generation of scientists and engineers.
Unlike many other industries these days, the United States is a leading exporter of ovens, refrigerators and other commercial appliances. Growing demand for energy efficiency is creating numerous challenges and opportunities for food service equipment manufacturers.
Every so often, I come across an industry where the majority of manufacturers still assemble their products in the United States. It’s always a refreshing breath of fresh air. It also reaffirms what ASSEMBLY has been preaching for many years – despite reports to the contrary in the mainstream media, there’s still a tremendous amount of world-class manufacturing that occurs every day in the USA.
To increase throughput and reduce production costs on the new F-35 Lightning II , engineers at Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems are using commercial six-axis robots for drilling and fastening applications.
Every year, BEST Robotics Inc. organizes a competition for more than 10,000 students at more than 700 middle and high schools. The nonprofit organization encourages kids to learn about robotics and pursue careers in engineering. During the 2008 competition, students were challenged to develop the best way to assemble an aircraft using robots.
Traditionally, commercial and military aircraft are assembled with large gantry machines. However, those device are expensive. And, they typically have limited throughput and require a large amount of space on the plant floor. Unlike gantry systems and other large, heavy pieces of fixed automation, robots are more flexible, less expensive and can be quickly deployed.
