How to tackle extraordinary fragility of U.S. manufacturing August 20, 2020 COVID-19 revealed some deep-rooted shortcomings in our approach to manufacturing and to supply chain design in the U.S. Well beyond the immediate and urgent need for PPE, we saw dramatic swings in both supply and demand for almost everything bought and sold here.
Welcome to drugmaking in era of AI, synthetic biology September 22, 2020 We no longer need to accept that it takes a decade to create and make a safe and effective vaccine—thanks in part to smart manufacturing.
Time to create stronger, more agile U.S. supply chains June 24, 2021 When Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute needed clear plastic to make face shields for the coronavirus pandemic, conventional suppliers were unable to provide it. “We are now one of the largest purchasers of document covers in the country,” Robert Hull, acting VP for research at Rensselaer, said during a webinar that SME and CESMII – the Smart Manufacturing Institute hosted last week.
Welcome to, yes, blended learning in manufacturing May 24, 2021 Blended learning relies on a combination of in-person classes, self-learning and interactive online tools.
From Travails to Triumphs May 25, 2021 Two manufacturers described establishing data-management systems to attendees of Dassault Systèmes’ virtual 3DExperience World in February.
In the thick of the ‘herculean’ vaccine push September 21, 2020 In January, as the new coronavirus was rapidly spreading around the world, scientists at Moderna teamed up with the National Institutes of Health to pursue a potential vaccine based on an experimental genetic technology involving messenger RNA (mRNA), a molecule in every cell that helps translate DNA into biological functions.
The Connected Machine Shop June 22, 2020 Change is hard. Whether it’s learning a new software package or setting up a new model of machine tool, many of us wonder at some point, “Is all this hassle worthwhile?” Change can also be risky, raising the specter of lost time, revenue, and reputation.
Connectivity Key to Industry 4.0 October 9, 2020 Most machining operations today have a heterogenous mix of old and new machines. To achieve a future Smart Factory means connecting existing machining centers, and GROB offers solutions.
Experts: Increased Automation Critical to Meeting Aircraft Demand October 5, 2020 Before the coronavirus pandemic upended normal life and essentially shut down commercial airliners, the aviation industry had a projected need for 40,000 new aircraft—planes, helicopters, air taxis, and unmanned aerial vehicles—in the next 20 years.
Supply Chain Safeguards October 6, 2020 The warning about the vulnerability of the aerospace and defense industry’s supply chain came buried in the pages of a report issued by the consulting firm EY two years before the COVID-19 outbreak became a full-blown global crisis.