2021 November

Assembly eMagazine

The 2021 November Assembly features our cover story: Manufacturing History Comes Alive in Pullman, plus much more. Check it out today!

Manufacturing History Comes Alive in Pullman

Pullman perfected rail car production processes and pioneered the use of new materials.

Austin Weber

November 2, 2021

America's newest national park recently opened on the South Side of Chicago. The Pullman National Monument celebrates the unique history of a company that mass-produced freight and passenger rail cars at the site from 1881 to 1981.

Optimizing VMI and Kitting Processes

The success of vendor-managed inventory programs hinges on better collaboration.

Todd Grzych

November 9, 2021

Vendor-managed inventory (VMI) programs have been around for decades. But, not all programs are created equal. The difference between good and great programs involves a host of variables.

Understanding Line-Scan Cameras

Line-scan cameras excel at producing images of objects in continuous motion past a fixed point.

Klaus Riemer

November 10, 2021

Compared to manual inspection, vision systems deploying area-scan cameras offer improved accuracy and far higher consistency. Plus, they work nonstop without suffering fatigue or requiring a paycheck.

Error-Proof Screwdriving

Technological advances in manual and power tools make repeatable error-proof screwdriving an achievable goal for manufacturers.

Jim Camillo

November 8, 2021

People are imperfect, but, on occasion, they can perfectly perform a complex task. A pitcher can toss a perfect game in baseball. A gymnast can earn a 10.0 in international competition. A student can ace an exam.

Five Things: New Energy

November 3, 2021

Meyer Burger Technology AG, a manufacturer of solar modules based in Thun, Switzerland, is planning to build its first U.S. assembly plant.

Nature Inspires Wing-in-Ground-Effect Aircraft

Austin Weber

November 12, 2021

Some birds, such as albatrosses and pelicans, skim over ocean waves and fly long distances, up to thousands of miles in a few days, without hardly flapping their wings. Using this dynamic soaring method, seabirds continually harness the power of air and wave currents to conserve energy as they glide along.

Apps Help Tier 1 Parts Supplier Increase Inventory Accuracy

Jim Camillo

November 8, 2021

For many automotive Tier 1 suppliers, tracking their inventory is sometimes as challenging as manufacturing the parts themselves. Westin, WI-based Precision Replacement Parts (PRP) can attest to this statement.

Compact SCARA is the Right Fit for Brake, Suspension Manufacturer

Jim Camillo

November 5, 2021

Bottlenecks can occur anywhere on the production line. A common place for this problem to occur is the 90-degree corner, where products usually fail to move as efficiently and quickly as they do on straightaways.

Appliance Maker Implements Speech Recognition Software on the Assembly Line

November 4, 2021

The pace at which artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming a mainstream technology in manufacturing is quite impressive. Companies in many industries use AI daily to optimize assembly processes, perform predictive maintenance, improve part and product quality through enhanced vision inspection, and increase data cybersecurity.

Penn State R&D Effort Leads to New Class of High-Flying Batteries

Austin Weber

November 11, 2021

Most of the recent buzz surrounding electric vehicles has focused on cars, trucks and other land-based products. But, there's also a revolution occurring in the air with a new class of all-electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft.

Proposal Would Help Bridge the Gap Between R&D and Manufacturing

John Sprovieri

November 3, 2021

The United States is far and away the world leader in R&D spending. In 2019, the U.S. spent $612.7 billion on R&D, more than any other country. We spent 19 percent more than China, four times more than Japan, five times more than Germany, and six times more than South Korea.

As we near entering year three of navigating both a global pandemic and continued digital transformation, we come together to reflect on challenges, achievement, progress and opportunities. A lively roundtable discussion examining where we’ve been, where we’re going and how to survive and thrive in the year ahead.