Austin Weber

Once upon a time, there was a Big Three far, far away . . . in merry olde England. In a move eerily similar to the pending GM-Chrysler merger, two of the automakers united to form British Motor Corp. (BMC). The folks in Detroit should learn a lesson from it, before history repeats itself.

Many manufacturers talk about being green. But, when it comes to action, few companies can match International Business Machines Corp. (IBM). Big Blue's High-End Server Plant in Poughkeepsie, NY, which has focused its efforts on a variety of lean and green initiatives, is the recipient of the 2008 Assembly Plant of the Year award.

The four finalists for the 2008 Assembly Plant of the Year award are all world-class facilities. Although IBM Poughkeepsie won the award, the other finalists are quite impressive, becuase they all specialize in flexible, high-mix assembly.

Will the Big Three go the way of radiator caps and hood ornaments? Recent rumblings in Detroit suggest that General Motors and Chrysler are considering a “marriage.”

Traditionally, automated guided vehicles (AGVs) have lacked flexibility, which has limited their ability to quickly and easily change paths or routes. But, new technology will allow the devices to make smarter judgments and more intelligent decisions on the plant floor.

Everyone's talking about solar power these days. It's been mentioned quite a few times in the presidential debates, and it was a popular topic of conversation at the recent Assembly Technology Expo.

By implementing robots equipped with safe motion technology, manufacturers will be able to improve safety, reduce the size of workcells and increase operating efficiency.

When Charles Dickens wrote A Tale of Two Cities 150 years ago, he said, “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.” Today, the same thing can be said about two assembly plants owned by General Motors Corp. (GM, Detroit).

When was the last time that you watched a movie or read a book where an engineer was the good guy? A new film epitomizes the lone American inventor and his fight for justice despite big odds.

Conveyors and forklifts have long been synonymous with assembly lines. But, in a lean world, those types of traditional material handling tools are often frowned upon. Some manufacturing engineers believe that automated guided vehicle (AGV) technology provides a better way to reduce waste and streamline production flow.