Austin has been senior editor for ASSEMBLY Magazine since September 1999. He has more than 21 years of b-to-b publishing experience and has written about a wide variety of manufacturing and engineering topics. Austin is a graduate of the University of Michigan.
General Motors was formed in New Jersey on Sept. 16, 1908. At the time, automobiles were still considered to be a novelty and the industry was extremely fragmented, with more than 250 automakers in the United States.
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?
Structural adhesives are typically associated with automotive and aerospace applications. But, many appliance manufacturers are examining the pros and cons of bonding, because it offers numerous benefits. Despite those advantages, screws, bolts and rivets still remain popular with appliance engineers.
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.
In 2008, ASSEMBLY magazine is celebrating the 5th anniversary of its Assembly Plant of the Year award. The first four recipients of the award were each involved in diverse industries and were located in different parts of the country. However, they each shared something in common: a keen embrace of lean manufacturing and a desire for continuous improvement.