Domestically imposed costs, such as health care insurance and litigation, harm American manufacturers more than offshore competition from China and other low-cost countries. But, other factors also affect the ability of our assembly lines to compete in today's global market.
According to most forecasts, 2009 is shaping up to be one of the most difficult years that manufacturers have faced in the last seven decades. To survive and thrive in this challenging economy, engineers must renew their efforts to reduce production costs, increase productivity, shorten time to market and improve product quality. Here are some practical tips and suggestions from leading experts.
Flexible assembly lines allow companies to react quickly to shifting customer demands and short product life cycles. As markets increasingly become less predictable, flexibility will become even more critical to manufacturers.
In the fast-paced world of packaging lines, success or failure depends on the ability to make quick changes. Like death and taxes, changeover is inevitable, and the need for speed has never been more crucial to the consumer goods industry.
These days, it seems that just about everyone is trying to get in on all the federal handouts and economic stimulus incentives that are being kicked around the marble halls of Washington, DC. How about an “Accelerated Retirement of Inefficient Assembly Lines Act”? It would allow American manufacturers to receive some type of monetary (or tax) incentive for scrapping old conveyors, fixtures, parts feeders, robots, screwdrivers, workstations and other production equipment.
Two previous U.S. presidents had the courage, vision and foresight to change the transportation landscape, and transform the economic climate, by spearheading mega-construction projects: the transcontinental railroad (Abraham Lincoln) and the interstate highway system (Dwight Eisenhower). The new Obama administration can make history by creating a world-class high-speed rail network in the United States.
At the recent North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Chrysler, Ford, General Motors, Toyota and other automakers unveiled a wide variety of all-electric vehicles that they hope to have on the market in just a few years. However, the auto industry may remain dominated by cars powered by traditional internal-combustion engines (ICEs) for several more decades.
The manufacturing world is in the midst of its worst downturn in 75 years, with companies are trying all sorts of strategies to cut costs and prop up revenues. However, manufacturers can achieve major cost savings beyond the traditional budget cuts and salary freezes . . . if they rethink and redesign their global manufacturing operations for optimal performance.
Ergonomic guidelines have always been important. However, they are even more critical now because of the changing demographics of the work force. For instance, today’s assembly line workers are often older and more diverse than in the past.
Numerous ergonomic guidelines exist. Unfortunately, they are not always followed correctly on the plant floor. Some manufacturers are indifferent to guidelines because of a lack of understanding, cost-cutting pressure or lean manufacturing initiatives.