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News, trends and assembly technologies specific to the aerospace, automotive, appliance and medical device industries.

2021 Assembly Plant of the Year: GKN Drives Transformation With New Culture, Processes and Tools

All-wheel drive (AWD) technology has taken the automotive world by storm in recent years, because of its ability to effectively transfer power to the ground. Today, many sport utility vehicles use AWD for better acceleration, performance, safety and traction in all kinds of driving conditions.

2020 Capital Spending Survey: Cautious Optimism

Slowly but surely, U.S. manufacturing is recovering from the pandemic-related slowdown.

2020 Assembly Plant of the Year: There’s No Looking Back at Murakami

Every motorist uses rearview mirrors whenever they get behind the wheel. In fact, most people look at them every few seconds as they drive. However, few ever give those ubiquitous devices much thought.

Aerospace Assembly

Articles about assembly technologies and trends in the aerospace industry.

Appliance Assembly

Articles about assembly technologies and trends in the appliance industry.

Automotive Assembly

Articles about assembly technologies and trends in the automotive industry.

Medical Devices Assembly

Articles about assembly technologies and trends in the medical device industry.

DFMA Assembly

Articles about how to design products for efficient manufacture and assembly.

Green Manufacturing Assembly

Articles about energy-efficiency, landfill-free manufacturing and other green topics.

Lean Manufacturing Assembly

Articles about how to eliminate waste and continuously improve your assembly operation.

Machinery Assembly

Articles about assembly technologies and trends in the machinery industry.

Electronics Assembly

Articles about assembly technologies and trends in the electronics industry.

ARTICLES

Capital Spending Survey: Assemblers Gear Up for Recovery

Capital Spending Survey 2021: Assemblers Gear Up for Recovery

With the pandemic subsiding and consumer spending on the rise, manufacturers are investing in their assembly operations.

December 7, 2021

In February 2020, U.S. manufacturers employed nearly 12.8 million people. Then came the COVID-19 pandemic. In an instant, the country lost 1 million manufacturing jobs as governments and businesses scrambled to figure out how best to stop the spread of the disease.

Aerospace Assemblers Look to Automate

November 17, 2021

People are flying again. Some 55 million people boarded passenger jets in May 2021. That’s an increase of 7.5 million people from April 2021 and a staggering 47.4 million from April 2020. Aerospace OEMs and their suppliers have weathered the storm, and—thankfully—have taken a long-term view on manufacturing investments. Automation is helping them cut into their massive order backlogs. In this exclusive eBook from ASSEMBLY, you’ll learn how aerospace assemblers are applying leading-edge technologies to improve output, quality and safety.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Solar Plastics LLC Expands Into Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico

October 29, 2021

DELANO, MN—Contract manufacturer Solar Plastics LLC says that it is expanding its manufacturing capabilities into Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico, and will begin operations at a new plant there by the end of 2021.

Robots Automate Testing of Nanosatellites

Jim Camillo

October 21, 2021

Satellites come in many shapes and sizes, including large, medium, small and nano. The latter are typically put into orbit by deployers on the International Space Station, or launched as secondary payloads on a carrier rocket.

IMAGE GALLERIES

Some Boeing Aircraft Designs Were Never Built

Some Boeing aircraft never made it beyond the drawing board. But, their sleek lines inspired generations. In fact, some old designs still look futuristic today.

Boeing Played a Key Role in Winning World War II

During World War II, Boeing’s factories produced a staggering number of aircraft, ranging from B-17 Flying Fortress bombers to P-51 Mustang fighters. Thousands of men and women on the homefront kept the assembly lines humming day and night.

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Boeing Has Made More Than Airplanes in the Past 100 Years

Not all products built in Boeing’s factories have flown through the air. In addition to planes, the company has also made boats, trains, and many more items.

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Early Advertising Sold the Glamour and Safety of Aviation

Back in the days when most people still traveled by ocean liner or train, the public had to be convinced that air travel was safe, enjoyable and glamorous. For decades, Boeing and Douglas promoted products such as the Stratocruiser, DC-6 and 707 with ads in various business, consumer and travel magazines.

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.