Brent Donaldson Editor-in-Chief
Contact
The Art of Maintaining Continuous Improvement
Production efficiencies, setup efficiencies, plant utilization record, safety records, on-time delivery performance — all of these metrics and more place Forest City Gear among the elite when it comes the use of ongoing improvement methodologies.
Read More
PMTS Day Two Brings Tech Talks, Demos and Crowds
The 2021 Precision Machining Technology Show is the manufacturing industry’s first event in over 18 months — and has brought the crowds to match! Today, attendees will see demos, hear presentations and visit 250+ exhibitors.
Read More
No Such Thing as Luck: A One-Person Shop Owner’s Success Story
You could say he’s a lucky Guy. He has the ideal setup for a moonlighting at-home-machinist: The perfect location, the perfect day job, and a double-threat skill set that allows him to hire himself for prototyping and low-volume production work. But Guy Driscoll’s biggest talent might be creating his own luck.
Read More
Transitioning to CNC Swiss-Type Machining? Here’s How One Shop Did It.
The introduction of CNC Swiss-type machines at Deking Screw Products brought a new and highly efficient production method to the business. But it also required learning the distinct differences inherent with Swiss-type machining, and a mindset change for the company’s leaders.
Read More
Meet the Automation That Makes Machine Tool Automation
A new manufacturing cell at Mazak’s North American headquarters is one part machine tool production unit and one part demonstration facility. And it’s here to provide a lesson about how automation can tackle skilled-worker shortages and supply chain issues at the same time.
Read More
91ÊÓƵÍøÕ¾ÎÛ– Season 1 Episode 6: The Way Forward
So far, 91ÊÓƵÍøÕ¾ÎÛhas looked into system-wide effects of broken supply chains, automation, skilled workforce issues and our perception of manufacturing jobs — examining each topic through a prism of individual experiences. For this final episode for Season 1, let’s look at one more system-wide question and bring it back to personal perspectives: Is there today a new dawn, a new moment for American manufacturing?
Listen
91ÊÓƵÍøÕ¾ÎÛ- Season 1 Episode 5: Succession - A Family Machine Shop Story
The story of Geno and David DeVandry reflects the sea change in machine shop ownership facing this country as baby boomers reach retirement age. The change in leadership from father to son at their family-owned machine ship required a new mindset, a new way running the family-owned business, and that one generation let go and allow a new one to step in.
Listen
91ÊÓƵÍøÕ¾ÎÛ- Season 1 Episode 4: Making the Case for Manufacturing
The majority of Americans want to "bring manufacturing back" to the U.S. The problem? Many of these same people do not want their children to work in manufacturing because of outdated beliefs about what a machine shop looks like.
Listen
91ÊÓƵÍøÕ¾ÎÛ- Season 1 Episode 3: The Supply Chain Knot
Through interviews with manufacturing leaders and economists, Episode 3 of “Made in the USA” explores the benefits and challenges of keeping manufacturing production within the United States — especially after major events such as 9-11 or the onset of a global pandemic.
Listen
91ÊÓƵÍøÕ¾ÎÛ- Season 1 Episode 2: The Automation Puzzle
There is a fundamental question we need to answer when we talk about automation: To what extent is automation an answer to the skilled workforce shortage, and to what extent is automation vs. Skilled labor the wrong comparison to make in the first place?
Listen
When Handing Down the Family Machine Shop is as Complex as a Swiss-Turned Part
The transition into Swiss-type machining at Deking Screw Products required more than just a shift in production operations. It required a new mindset and a new way of running the family-owned business. Hardest of all, it required that one generation let go, and allow a new one to step in.
Read More
Made in the USA- Season 1 Episode 1: How We Got Here
Episode 1 of 91ÊÓƵÍøÕ¾ÎÛPodcast examines manufacturing issues related to trade policy, global supply chains, education, automation and our ability to produce skilled workers.
Listen