News from PLANT ENGINEERING: Week of May 8th

May 2, 2006

Web exclusive:

Manufacturing approach to reliability excellence

Click here: https://www.plantengineering.com/article/CA6324018.html

FEATURES

Finding labor savings — high- to no-cost solutions

Before higher investment options are implemented, lower investment alternatives should be considered. Many options require little or no investments but can lead to substantial labor savings.

Click here: https://www.mhia.org/articles/4_10_06.cfm

Survey indicates optimism about manufacturing growth

Chromalox, Inc. surveyed manufacturing engineers and engineering management, with one-third of the 85 respondents working outside of the U.S. Of the respondents, 76% expect plant production volumes to continue to increase this year.

Click here: https://www.plantengineering.com/article/CA 6332142 .html

Case study on environmental issues

The importance of a strong environmental program in manufacturing — and the importance of management ownership of such a plan — is covered in a new case study available at www.plantengineering.com .

Click on the ‘Research’ link of the Engineers Resource Guide and look for the Hazardous Waste case study.

Click here: /community/918/Research/44102.html

NEMA’s Primary Industrial Controls Index increases 6.1% during first quarter

NEMA’s Primary Industrial Controls Index increased 6.1% between the fourth quarter of 2005 and the first quarter of 2006, making it the tenth consecutive quarter of year-over-year growth in the index and its highest reading since the first quarter of 2001.

Click here: https://www.plantengineering.com/article/CA 6332144 .html

Siemens grows with new 30,000-sq.-ft. manufacturing facility

Siemens Energy & Automation, Inc. announced at a groundbreaking ceremony that it is investing $7.2 million to expand its New Kensington, PA manufacturing facility.

Click here: https://www.plantengineering.com/article/CA 6332145 .html

Latest poll at plantengineering.com

The latest reader poll at https://www.plantengineering.com asks:

What area of your plant operation will receive the least amount of attention this summer: capital improvements, employee training, automation upgrades, energy management or equipment maintenance? Log on and cast your vote.

NAM remembers Alexander B. “Sandy” Trowbridge, former president and former head of U.S. Department of Commerce

Trowbridge served as NAM President from 1979-89. He died April 27 at his home in Washington, D.C.

Click here: https://www.plantengineering.com/article/CA 6332146 .html

MRO spending: plan for the unplanned

Unplanned maintenance needs can wreak havoc, both on the plant engineer and the bottom line. Plant Engineering senior editor Kevin Campbell talked with W.W. Grainger’s Ken House about solutions for these unplanned events.

Click here: https://www.plantengineering.com/article/CA6328312.html?stt=001&text=mro+spending

EVENTS

Registration Open for BE Conference 2006

Bentley Systems, Inc. announces that registration is now open for BE Conference 2006, to be held at the Charlotte Convention Center in North Carolina, May 21-25. The BE Conference is an annual gathering of Bentley software users and their managers who want to sharpen their skills and expand their knowledge.

Click here: https://www.plantengineering.com/article/CA6326953.html

Astronaut among keynotes at ABB’s Automation World

ABB’s 2006 Automation World event, which will be held May 8 through 11 at The Hilton Americas in Houston, offers solution-focused seminars, work groups and keynotes.

Click here: https://www.plantengineering.com/article/CA6326954.html?stt=001&text=abb

ARC conference to focus on enterprise performance

Top industry visionaries will share their experiences and best practices for driving manufacturer enterprise performance at ARC Advisory Group’s Fourteenth Annual Forum, “ Driving Enterprise Performance through Next Generation Manufacturing Concepts ,” to be held June 26 to 28 at the Marriott Long Wharf Hotel in Boston.

Click here: https://www.plantengineering.com/article/CA6329081.html

Matrikon MVP group meeting in Alberta

Matrikon’s Most Valued Partners North American user group event will be May 8-10 at the Rimrock Resort Hotel in Banff, Alberta, Canada.

Click here: https://www.plantengineering.com/article/CA6329083.html?stt=001&text=matrikon

Nanotechnology and Manufacturing event is August 23-24

The Society of Manufacturing Engineers has moved the Emerging Technology Forum, “The Next Industrial Revolution: Nanotechnology and Manufacturing” to August 23-24 at the PollardTechnologyConferenceCenter in Oak Ridge, TN.

Click here: https://www.plantengineering.com/article/CA6326958.html