The COVID-19 pandemic has been the largest disruption to the manufacturing in modern history, causing even the largest global manufacturers to stop production. The pandemic forced factories to minimize or stop production for the safety of the employees and often at the demand of local and federal governments.

Looking for stuff, whether it be keys, wallet, phone, meeting notes, spices in a kitchen cabinet, or pencils in my woodworking shop, is the bane of my existence. Some days, I feel as if I spend more time looking for stuff than do actually using the stuff I was looking for.

Nobody's perfect. Even the best trained, most experienced assemblers can make mistakes on the line, especially in high-mix production environments. Fortunately, a variety of software products are available to help prevent assembly errors.

As one of the world's leading manufacturing companies, Bosch strives to be both a lead provider and a lead user of Industry 4.0 technologies. Worldwide, the company has more than 70 Internet of Things (IoT) projects running in a variety of industries and applications.

There are good and bad aspects to repetition. On one hand, it's a proven way to learn to expertly perform a task. On the other, it can lead to physical problems like carpal tunnel syndrome, and bad arthritis in the hands, arms, legs and back.

At the Components and Logistics facility in Gastonia, NC, Daimler Trucks fulfills orders and sub-assembly of thousands of parts. The plant provides parts for North American truck and school bus manufacturers, as well as auto parts stores.

Traditionally, it's not unusual to see people wear goggles and other types of safety glasses in factories. But, a new class of wearable devices is becoming increasingly popular on assembly lines.

BLOOMINGTON, IN—To be successful in today's hyper-competitive global marketplace, manufacturers are constantly finding innovative ways to use technology to increase productivity.

Ergonomic upgrades are becoming a vital part of many workplaces, and assembly workstations can be especially challenging. According to data from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, ergonomic issues cost U.S. companies upwards of $54 billion annually, and they account for one-third of workplace absences.

FAIRFIELD, NJ—Jacket Media Co. will be incorporating a new series, Manufacturing Tomorrow, into its nationally recognized podcast, Manufacturing Talk Radio, which has aired since November 2013. Manufacturing Tomorrow is a podcast series by the Ohio Manufacturing Institute at Ohio State University.