Bob Vavra, Content Manager
Articles
2015 Product of the Year Finalists: Vote now!
Read about the 111 Finalists and cast your vote; voting concludes Jan. 8, 2016.
The art of motion control
Everyone talks about motion control as a way to deliver precision machine movement throughout a variety of manufacturing uses.
Industrial automation finally ready to accelerate growth, IHS reports
Improving global economy will drive market to $185.3B in 2014
Two ways to improve manufacturing, and three big issues at Hannover Messe
Investment will be needed to realize all the great innovations available at this year’s show.
Siemens, McAfee team up to address industrial cybersecurity
The partnership is intended to develop new manufacturing data security solutions.
PMI Index increase part of the spring thaw
As weather improves, index rises for second straight month
‘Trust, but verify’: A motto we can live with
Safety is becoming more and more important as counterfeit goods continue permeating the market
Providing a saner approach to maintenance
Conflict with operations can be solved with better data, better communication
The 2012 Election: Where do Romney, Obama stand on manufacturing issues?
A closer look at some of the plans President Barack Obama and Presidential nominee Mitt Romney have in mind for the manufacturing sector.
Tell the world about your world-class products
How can we define manufacturing in the U.S. and globally in the world we live in today?
‘We turned our employees loose’
Ingersoll Rand’s Southern Pines plant measures winning and losing on a daily basis—and it’s piling up the victories.
U.S. manufacturing rebound driving optimism for global growth
Despite challenges, economists at MFG Meeting find "a bright future"
Partly sunny with a chance of manufacturing growth
Content manager Bob Vavra shares his views on the similarities between weather and manufacturing in his January/February 2012 In Conclusion column.
In the Plant: The right mix for success
Energy and maintenance excellence deliver uptime at the Chelsea Milling plant.
Grasp control, and find the power to change
Every manufacturer has the same goal of creating a productive plant – and each faces the same hurdles to achieve it.
Empowered workers deliver value
In all of the best practices discussed throughout 2011, it is the practice of investigation and discovery that is at the core of all of them.
New energy efficiency rules
The U.S. Dept. of Energy's energy efficiency legislation that goes into effect in 2012 will mandate that lighting manufacturers cease the production of non-efficiency lighting and related products.
Have you heard? U.S. manufacturing is back
The Boston Consulting Group has confirmed when the total cost of manufacturing is calculated, the U.S. is as attractive a place for manufacturing as anywhere in the world.
‘Near net-zero’ plant sustains profits, productivity
Frito-Lay, inspired by the idea of taking one of their plants off the energy grid, turned their Casa Grande, Ariz. manufacturing plant into a 'near net-zero' facility, running on renewable resources.
AME Manufacturing Excellence winners take many roads to improvement
Seven companies honored at annual conference in Dallas
Think everyone is using PPE? Think again.
It’s a simple choice – of COURSE we want to be safe at work. No one wakes up each morning and says, “Can’t wait to get to the plant today so I can injure myself!”
Recruiting manufacturing’s new ‘Dream Team’
We’re not only competing against the rest of the world for manufacturing, we’re also competing against other U.S. companies for talent. And some people just don’t want to play on our team any more.
Plugging the Skills Gap
From industry awareness to mentoring students, everyone has a role to play in workforce development.
Virtual Summit brings the world of manufacturing together
Sept. 8, 2011, live event to focus on energy, safety, automation, and maintenance.
2011 Mid-Year Report: Question 3
Manufacturing leaders share their challenges within their operations that needed to be addressed in order to grow as a company.
2011 Mid-Year Report: Question 6
Manufacturing leaders share their outlook for 2013.
2011 Mid-Year Report: Question 5
Manufacturing leaders share their near- and long-term goals for energy management.
2011 Mid-Year Report: Question 4
Manufacturing leaders discuss the characteristics that successful manufacturing operations have in common.
2011 Mid-Year Report: Question 2
Manufacturing leaders share their views on the economy’s warning signs and what still needs to be done.
2011 Mid-Year Report: Question 1
Manufacturing leaders share the ways in which 2011 has met or exceeded their expectations.
On the floor: Making magic by keeping machines running
The machine maintenance department is a plant’s backbone.
On the floor: Putting focus on continuous improvement
A series of incremental improvements is the secret to a plant’s success.
In depth: Partnerships as a growth opportunity
Plant Engineering asked Doug Woods, president of AMT, about productivity, manufacturing recovery, and the challenges he’s faced in 2011.
In depth: 2011 so far, according to Hiram Urbina
Plant Engineering asked Hiram Urbina, plant manager for Eaton, about productivity, manufacturing recovery, and the challenges he’s faced at his plant in 2011.
In depth: 2011 so far, according to Bob Spence
Plant Engineering asked Bob Spence, plant manager/operations for Schneider Electric, about productivity, manufacturing recovery, and the challenges he’s faced at his plant in 2011.
In depth: 2011 so far, according to Jason Speer
Plant Engineering asked Jason Speer, vice president and general manager of Quality Float Works, about productivity, manufacturing recovery, and the challenges he’s faced at his plant in 2011.
In depth: 35 years in a competitive global market
Wildeck Inc. marked its 35th anniversary with a community open house and celebration. Plant Engineering sat down with Keith G. Pignolet to learn more about the plant’s success.
Don’t generate energy before you generate a plan
The matter of generating energy is well-engineered and well-understood. How we use energy, and how much of it we use, on the other hand, is still mostly a mystery for most end users.
Find the value of tablets on your plant floor
"Get ahead of the curve," Syclo's Kleban suggests at Mobile Conference.
It’s “Take a Congressman to work’ month
Plant Engineering Content Manager and Editor, Bob Vavra, discusses his experience at the 2011 Manufacturing/Automation Summit in Chicago, IL.
Innovation, education key themes at 2011 Summit
The overriding theme of the 2011 Manufacturing/Automation Summit was to help manufacturing professionals operate more efficiently and collaboratively.
Schneider Electric pushes into energy management
Realignment and new message announced at Editor's Conference; 'We're going to show you a Schneider Electric you may not know...'
Video: IMTS 2010: Mobil Industrial Lubricants talks 50 years at IMTS
Dan Kellen of Mobil Industrial Lubricants discusses Mobil’s 50 years at the IMTS Show and some of the key maintenance issues facing today’s manufacturers.
Video: 2010 IMTS: Yaskawa’s two-arm robot plays Blackjack
So programming a two-armed robot to deal blackjack is a pretty nifty trick, but what practical use does it have for manufacturing? Erik Nievesfrom Yaskawa and Motoman Inc. gives Plant Engineering content manager Bob Vavra a look at how to use robotics in a variety of applications to improve manufacturing efficiency and safety during the 2010 International Manufacturing Technology Show in Chicago. Also read: IMTS 2010: Yaskawa sees strength in merger .