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Articles by Sara Specter
Machine Guarding: How To Determine Distance to Hazard
Machine guarding is essential for workplace safety as it protects employees from potential hazards such as moving parts, sharp edges, and points of operation. Correctly determining the placement distance of machine guarding away from the hazard is critical to their effectiveness. Improper placement can render guards ineffective or inconvenient, leading to safety violations and increased risk of injury.
Track Styles 101: Understanding Patented Track And Enclosed Track Basics
To help workers lift, handle, transport, and accurately position heavy objects overhead, assembly and manufacturing operations frequently use workstation bridge cranes or monorails. These systems incorporate load-bearing trolleys that travel upon one of two different track styles. Both patented track and enclosed track are highly configurable, thanks to versatile options and load handling characteristics.
Six Best Practices For Safely Parking A Load
Before parking a load currently suspended overhead, the Hoist Manufacturers Institute (HMI) recommends several safety best practices. These guidelines for safely lowering a load apply whether the hoist in use is manual or powered equipment. Following them will significantly reduce the risk of an accident that could harm personnel, other equipment, or facility structures.
EASE Council Panel Explains Importance Of Industrial Ergonomics At ProMat 2025
According to the , 33% of all worker injuries are due to poor ergonomics. However, these ergonomic injuries—also known as musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs)—are preventable. To help operations better understand how to safeguard workers, the Ergonomic Assist Systems & Equipment (EASE) Council will present a panel discussion on “The Importance of Industrial Ergonomics” at ProMat 2025. The education session is free to all ProMat attendees.
ProGMA To Offer ROI Insights For Protective Guarding Solutions At ProMat 2025
Too often manufacturing and warehousing facility owners view an investment in protective guarding solutions as a cost center. In reality, however, implementing the right technologies can deliver significant return on investment (ROI) through improved safety and reduced risks.
Using Ergonomic Equipment As A Hiring And Retention Strategy
The workforce shortages experienced across supply chains don’t show any signs of letting up. According to a recent Descartes survey of North American and European logistics leaders, 76% report serious labor shortfalls. Of those, 37% describe the shortage as a significant impediment to business growth. In response, companies are employing a range of hiring and retention strategies.
About To Use A Powered Hoist? Complete These 4 Steps First
To ensure the safety of both the operator and personnel in the area, there are several best practices to follow before using a powered hoist to lift a load. The topic was included in the “Dos and Don’ts of Safe Hoist Operation” webinar, presented by the Hoist Manufacturers Institute (HMI). Eric Weber, Director of Harrington and Acco Hoist Customer Service at HMI member Kito Crosby, highlighted four key steps to enhance safety.
Hoist Technologies Enhance Operational Safety
“I see where you’ll have features of cranes that can be turned on and off remotely,” Mulcahy predicted. That might mean the ability to adapt a crane originally installed for one use to match a changed warehouse process later. “Within the next five years, we will see an element of artificial intelligence (AI) built into the software where it doesn’t necessarily need hardware,” Mulcahy said. Instead, programming will be able to help the equipment adapt.
Warehouse Ergonomics: A Must For OSHA NEP Compliance, Part 2
As noted in the previous post, inspectors from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) are conducting unscheduled inspections of distribution centers (DCs) and warehouses as directed by its National Emphasis Program (NEP). Among the areas OSHA inspectors are examining is ergonomics. Should an OSHA inspector identify the presence of an ergonomic hazard, the agency may opt to conduct a health inspection of the facility.
Overhead Crane Safety Enhanced By Automated Tools
When automation first grew more widespread, the crane and overhead handling systems category was slow to adopt out of safety concerns. With time and more advances, however, that perspective has changed. Today, manufacturers are increasingly embracing automated tools for enhanced overhead crane safety. “With the technologies that are out there now, you’re much more apt to desire automation, and even require some form of automation.
Frost & Sullivan: Food & Beverage Industry Increasingly Adopts IIoT to Enable End-to-End Traceability in the Supply Chain
May 15, 2019 Frost & Sullivan: Food & Beverage Industry Increasingly Adopts IIoT to Enable End-to-End Traceability in the Supply Chain Big Data Analytics and AI to find significant application opportunities with greater digitization of the industry, finds Frost & Sullivan A rapidly growing urban population and increased consumer awareness regarding sustainability are prompting food & beverage companies and manufacturers to employ digital solutions to ensure product quality.
ABI Research: AI Set to Drive Global Supply Chain Technology Market to $440 Billion by 2023
May 10, 2019 ABI Research: AI Set to Drive Global Supply Chain Technology Market to $440 Billion by 2023 Over the next 5 years, revenues generated by technology in the global supply chain will increase at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11%, reaching $440 billion by 2023.
IDTechEx: Smart Cities Are Not Data-Centric Any More
May 7, 2019 IDTechEx: Smart Cities Are Not Data-Centric Any More Research firm releases report, “Smart City Opportunities: Infrastructure, Systems, Materials 2019-2029” As several US cities have shown, sensors and data processing gets us pothole counting and prediction, for example. However, it is now clear that smart cities can be zero emission, quiet and make all their own clean water, food and electricity. That beats counting potholes any day.
DuPont Sustainable Solutions Releases Findings from 2018 Global Operations Risk Survey of Corporate Leaders
May 5, 2019 DuPont Sustainable Solutions Releases Findings from 2018 Global Operations Risk Survey of Corporate Leaders Executives’ Lack of Proper Risk Governance Is Putting Their Businesses in Jeopardy Despite overwhelming evidence of business disruptions that can occur from failing to manage various risks, company executives are not adequately identifying and preparing for risks that can have potentially catastrophic implications on business operations, according to DuPont Sustainable...
To Gain Full Transportation Visibility Worldwide, Generac Leverages Network Optimization, Cloud Computing
May 2, 2019 To Gain Full Transportation Visibility Worldwide, Generac Leverages Network Optimization, Cloud Computing Although the MHI Annual Industry Report has been explaining the types of benefits transformative technologies—such as inventory and network optimization, cloud computing and storage, artificial intelligence, blockchain and more—will bring to companies both large and small, not many early adopter use cases have been published.
Supply Chain Research Calls Out the Pressing Need for Prescriptive Analytics for Decision-Making
April 30, 2019 Supply Chain Research Calls Out the Pressing Need for Prescriptive Analytics for Decision-Making River Logic, a leading provider of prescriptive analytics solutions, today announces the release of a sponsored research perspective by Ventana Research’s Robert Kugel, Supply Chain Planning with Prescriptive Analytics: Technology Enables a More Effective Process.
British Standards Institution (BSI) Reports Top Supply Chain Themes for 2019
BSI SCREEN’s new report highlights the top challenges, developments, and trends likely to impact supply chains this year BSI has identified five major themes that are most likely to impact the supply chain in 2019. The analysis of how these five themes will affect supply chains this year forms the business improvement company’s annual analysis of global supply chain risks.
Driver Shortage/Capacity Crunch Voted Biggest Challenge for Supply Chains in 2019
April 25, 2019 Driver Shortage/Capacity Crunch Voted Biggest Challenge for Supply Chains in 2019 554 transportation industry professionals surveyed on what they believe is the biggest challenge for supply chains in 2019 Transportation management system creator Kuebix has released the results of a survey querying transportation and supply chain professionals on what they believe to be the biggest challenge facing supply chains in 2019.
Walmart Rolls Out Transformative Technology—Blockchain—For Enhanced Food Safety - MH&L U.S. Roadmap
April 20, 2019 Walmart Rolls Out Transformative Technology—Blockchain—For Enhanced Food Safety While there’s been a lot of coverage of transformative technologies—such as blockchain, cloud computing, robotics, driverless vehicles and drones, and more—there have been far fewer case studies sharing the projects, and their outcomes, undertaken by early adopters. To that end, MHI Solutions magazine set out to share insights into “NextGen Technologies in Action” in the first quarter issue of 2019.
TÜV Rheinland: Cyber Hazards for Operational Technology Underestimated
April 20, 2019 TÜV Rheinland: Cyber Hazards for Operational Technology Underestimated TÜV Rheinland, an expert in digital transformation and cybersecurity, recently released the results of a worldwide study, exploring how 370 industrial organizations protect their operational technology (OT) assets from cyberattacks. The findings show that as hackers increasingly attack OT, many companies are not aware of the threats cyberattacks pose to their OT assets.
Frost & Sullivan: RFID Companies Innovate to Harness the Growth Opportunities Generated by Manufacturing 4.0
April 15, 2019 Frost & Sullivan: RFID Companies Innovate to Harness the Growth Opportunities Generated by Manufacturing 4.0 Passive RFIDs has a competitive edge over active RFID but technological advancements are helping to close the gap, finds Frost & Sullivan The growth of Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) and cloud have given a huge boost to the adoption of radio frequency identification (RFID) technology in Manufacturing 4.0. The interconnectedness of devices has resulted in massive...
Alithya's 2019 Manufacturing Industry Trends Survey Report Uncovers 17% of Manufacturers Spent Over $10M on Capital Investments in the Last Year
April 10, 2019 Alithya’s 2019 Manufacturing Industry Trends Survey Report Uncovers 17% of Manufacturers Spent Over $10M on Capital Investments in the Last Year Cutting-edge industry trends expected to have a significant impact in 2019 and beyond. Alithya Group and its Fullscope division, a provider of Microsoft Dynamics 365 (formerly Dynamics AX and CRM) technology platform, have released the results and analysis for their 2019 Manufacturing Industry Trends Survey*.
Learn More About the Latest Urban Logistics Strategies in New MHI Video
April 7, 2019 Learn More About the Latest Urban Logistics Strategies in New MHI Video The last 50 feet of delivery in cities is a challenge that will only continue to grow along with urban populations and the popularity of e-commerce shopping. Yet many metropolitan areas aren’t set up to accommodate the number of delivery vehicles now entering their boundaries. They also don’t have enough loading docks and designated curbside loading zones to meet the increasing demand.
United Nations Commission to Integrate ISA Standards into Cybersecurity Regulatory Framework
April 5, 2019 United Nations Commission to Integrate ISA Standards into Cybersecurity Regulatory Framework The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) has confirmed it will integrate the widely used ISA/IEC 62443 series of standards into its forthcoming Common Regulatory Framework on Cybersecurity (CRF). The CRF will serve as an official UN policy position statement for Europe.
WalletHub Releases Findings on 2019's Best & Worst Metro Areas for Stem Professionals
April 3, 2019 WalletHub Releases Findings on 2019’s Best & Worst Metro Areas for Stem Professionals With STEM jobs projected to grow at a faster rate than other careers until at least 2024, the personal-finance website WalletHub followed up on its Best Places to Find a Job report with an in-depth analysis of 2019’s Best & Worst Metro Areas for STEM Professionals as well as accompanying videos.
How Coca-Cola Is Using Augmented Reality For Machinery Maintenance, Troubleshooting
April 1, 2019 How Coca-Cola Is Using Augmented Reality For Machinery Maintenance, Troubleshooting It can be difficult for companies—and their leaders—to envision the different types of process improvements that can be achieved by implementing next generation technologies, such as augmented reality (AR). That’s why, in the Q1 2019 issue of MHI Solutions, the publication shares four separate case studies describing the experiences of early adopters.
ABI Research: Demand for Higher Quality Parts and Products to Drive Generative Design in Industrial Applications to US$44.5 Billion by 2030
March 30, 2019 ABI Research: Demand for Higher Quality Parts and Products to Drive Generative Design in Industrial Applications to US$44.5 Billion by 2030 Generative design enables the design of lighter, cheaper components while maintaining strength and solidity, ultimately creating a higher quality product.
Talkin' Bout My Generation: Survey Reveals Manufacturing Industry Has Struggled to Keep Millennials Informed About Modern Advancements and Job Opportunities - MH&L U.S. Roadmap
March 25, 2019 Talkin’ Bout My Generation: Survey Reveals Manufacturing Industry Has Struggled to Keep Millennials Informed About Modern Advancements and Job Opportunities If you’re a member of the Baby Boomer generation or Generation X, chances are you have a markedly different view of the U.S. manufacturing industry than Millennials, according to the findings of a recent Manufacturing Index survey by Leading2Lean, a manufacturing software technology company and creator of CloudDISPATCH...
Smartphones: The Newest Cybersecurity Threat
March 23, 2019 Smartphones: The Newest Cybersecurity Threat When was the last time you used your smartphone to actually reach out and touch someone verbally, that is, to make a phone call? Chances are, not much. Research from a variety of sources says voice calls are made far less often on smartphones than texting, sending and receiving e-mail, and in-app messaging.
Supply chain visibility and social responsibility: A new study from MIT Sloan School finds consumers are willing to pay a premium for supply chain visibility - MH&L U.S. Roadmap
March 20, 2019 Supply chain visibility and social responsibility: A new study from MIT Sloan School finds consumers are willing to pay a premium for supply chain visibility Research has implications for how firms message their efforts to target customers Companies from Patagonia to Nike to Levi’s are leading the charge on social responsibility and supply chain transparency and they’ve encouraged their competitors to follow suit.
MHI to Preview 2019 Annual Industry Report During ProMat Keynote Panel
March 17, 2019 MHI to Preview 2019 Annual Industry Report During ProMat Keynote Panel MHI will preview the 2019 Annual Industry Report, “Elevating Supply Chain Digital Consciousness,” during the April 10 keynote at ProMat. During the keynote, Scott Sopher, the principal with Deloitte Consulting LLP’s Supply Chain practice will join George W.
Learn More About Integrated Technology & Workforce Solutions in New MHI Video
March 15, 2019 Learn More About Integrated Technology & Workforce Solutions in New MHI Video MHI recently published a new episode of MHIview, “Integrated Technology & Workforce Solutions.” In it, experts discuss the 11 emerging technologies that have the potential to disrupt the supply chain, as discussed in the 2018 Annual Industry Report.
The Conference Board: Blue-Collar Workers are Now Scarcer than White-Collar Workers
March 10, 2019 The Conference Board: Blue-Collar Workers are Now Scarcer than White-Collar Workers Reversing a decades-long trend in the U.S. jobs market, companies are now having a more difficult time finding blue-collar workers than white-collar workers. Conducted by The Conference Board, the new analysis forecasts that growing blue-collar labor shortages will continue in 2019 and beyond.
Frost & Sullivan: Retailers in an Omni-channel Environment Increasingly Deploy RFID for Superior Customer Experience Management
March 5, 2019 Frost & Sullivan: Retailers in an Omni-channel Environment Increasingly Deploy RFID for Superior Customer Experience Management Companies need to incorporate advanced technologies such as data analytics and cloud to attract new-age retailers, finds Frost & Sullivan The rise of the Internet of Things (IoT) has caused a sea change in the buying patterns of customers and, by extension, the market strategies of retailers.
Learn More About Digital Data Analysis and Return on Investment in New MHI Video
February 28, 2019 Learn More About Digital Data Analysis and Return on Investment in New MHI Video MHI recently published a new episode of MHIview, “Get Immediate ROI with Data Analysis,” that explores how multiple data management solutions provide digital analysis that contributes directly to the bottom line. The video offers a walk-through of how switching from manual to digital data management will bring immediate value in the analytics that are available.
Frost & Sullivan: Service-based Analytical Instruments that Improve Business Outcomes to Replace Legacy Solutions
February 24, 2019 Frost & Sullivan: Service-based Analytical Instruments that Improve Business Outcomes to Replace Legacy Solutions Strong growth opportunities exist for comprehensive, unified platforms that enable cross-organizational views The rapid proliferation of service-based models, including Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) and asset management, is attracting new market participants to the analytical instrumentation space.
Learn From Zalando's Automation Experience in New MHI Video
February 20, 2019 Learn From Zalando’s Automation Experience in New MHI Video Europe’s leading online retailer, Zalando, uses automation to drive business growth and operational success. As featured in MHI’s recently released episode of MHIview, the company has kept up with a decade of rapid growth by investing in the innovative application of automation technologies. The company shares the three key questions they ask themselves when considering the next innovation.
New Data Finds Poor Enterprise Mobility Connectivity and Performance Costs Companies $20,000 Per Year, Per Mobile Worker
Study Conducted on behalf of SOTI by VDC Research Looks at the State of Business-Critical Mobility Across Enterprises Today, more than 50 percent of the workforce (representing 1.7 billion workers) is mobile, relying on technology and mobile solutions to perform their everyday job functions. Many workers—such as nurses, first responders, field service technicians, or delivery drivers—depend on reliable mobile access in real-time to critical information at the point of interaction.
ABI Research: Auto Makers Lead Smart Manufacturing Advances with Close to 50% Automation
February 10, 2019 ABI Research: Auto Makers Lead Smart Manufacturing Advances with Close to 50% Automation The adoption of smart manufacturing technologies is growing in almost all industries within the leading manufacturing countries such as the United States, Japan, and Germany, and the automotive industry has been a pioneer for most technologies in each of them, finds ABI Research, a market-foresight advisory firm providing strategic guidance on the most compelling transformative...
STEM Students: The Future Of Supply Chain Workforce?
February 5, 2019 STEM Students: The Future Of Supply Chain Workforce? Participants in MHI’s Annual Executive Summit, held in Orlando last October 2018, were invited to meet and observe the talents of a potential labor force many had yet to consider as future employees. In a presentation from Don Bossi, President of non-profit FIRST, attendees were encouraged to start thinking as young as kindergarten and elementary school.
Survey Finds U.S. Manufacturers Optimistic Despite Challenges
February 2, 2019 Survey Finds U.S. Manufacturers Optimistic Despite Challenges Leading Edge Alliance’s 3rd Annual Manufacturing Survey Report Shows Companies Expect Revenue Growth in 2019 with a Focus on Improving Profitability and Growing Sales Eight out of 10 U.S. manufacturers expect to grow sales this year, buoyed by their optimism about the strength of regional, national and global economies, according to the 2019 National Manufacturing Survey Report prepared by Leading Edge Alliance...
Learn More About Prescriptive Analytics and Big Data in New MHI Video
January 30, 2019 Learn More About Prescriptive Analytics and Big Data in New MHI Video In the 2018 Annual Industry Report, 63% of respondents noted an intent to adopt predictive analytics within then next five years; yet just 19% have it in place currently. But, as noted in MHI’s recently released episode of MHIview, in five years the ability to predict future trends may no longer be enough to remain competitive.
Frost & Sullivan: IIoT Technologies Integration Creates Growth Opportunities in the Industrial Cybersecurity Industry
January 25, 2019 Frost & Sullivan: IIoT Technologies Integration Creates Growth Opportunities in the Industrial Cybersecurity Industry High penetration of Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) technology in critical infrastructure and the manufacturing sector has resulted in a growing number of potential cyber-attack surfaces. According to a recent analysis from Frost & Sullivan, cyber-attacks within the energy and utilities industries alone cost an average of $13.2 million per year.
The Robot Revolution: Micropsi Says These 5 Trends Will Make a Difference in 2019 and Beyond
January 22, 2019 The Robot Revolution: Micropsi Says These 5 Trends Will Make a Difference in 2019 and Beyond Micropsi Industries, a robotics software company, today announced trends that will affect manufacturing and industrial robots this year. “Smart industrial robots aren’t science fiction anymore,” said Ronnie Vuine, founder and CEO.
ABI Research: Spurred by Digital Transformation and Smart Technologies, Blockchain Revenues to Hit US$10.6 Billion by 2023
January 20, 2019 ABI Research: Spurred by Digital Transformation and Smart Technologies, Blockchain Revenues to Hit US$10.6 Billion by 2023 Blockchain and related distributed ledger technologies are already making a big bang outside of the finance and insurance space from which they emerged. Promising new use cases are being trialed in a number of digitally transforming sectors, notably supply chain management, retail and consumer, arts and entertainment, and public services.
Teradata: Transportation Predictions for 2019, 2020
January 15, 2019 Teradata: Transportation Predictions for 2019, 2020 Transportation has been on a transformative tear for the past few years, boosting the use of digital platforms to do more for shippers, carriers, logistics companies and other stakeholders. Teradata’s Bob McQueen, Industry Consultant in Government and Transportation, says to expect the following trends in 2019 and 2020.
Six Experts Weigh In On Cybersecurity Threats To IoT-Enabled Supply Chains: Part 2
January 10, 2019 Six Experts Weigh In On Cybersecurity Threats To IoT-Enabled Supply Chains: Part 2 This is the second of a two-part blog sharing insights from six experts about biggest internal and external risks posed by IoT, and the cybersecurity steps that can be taken to mitigate those risks. Part 1 of the post can be read here.
Six Experts Weigh In On Cybersecurity Threats To IoT-Enabled Supply Chains: Part 1
January 5, 2019 Six Experts Weigh In On Cybersecurity Threats To IoT-Enabled Supply Chains: Part 1 Although widely expected that the Internet of Things (IoT) will be a source of competitive advantage or industry disruption for supply chains within the coming decade, many companies remain concerned about managing the cybersecurity aspect.
ABI Research: Mobile Robots Are The New Soldiers On Factory Floors
January 2, 2019 ABI Research: Mobile Robots Are The New Soldiers On Factory Floors Complementary robotics technologies help push revenues of commercial robotics to US$22 billion by 2027 The industrial robotics sector is seeing robust growth as manufacturers increasingly embark on the journey of automation.
ABI Research: Balancing Edge and Cloud Computing Will Unlock the Potential of Digital Factories
December 28, 2018 ABI Research: Balancing Edge and Cloud Computing Will Unlock the Potential of Digital Factories New Report Identifies Leading Edge Intelligence Use Cases in Manufacturing ABI Research, a market-foresight advisory firm providing strategic guidance on the most compelling transformative technologies, has identified several trends and use cases whereby edge intelligence augments cloud platforms in the manufacturing sector.
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