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Meeting production goals with remote conditioning monitoring
Abhishek Jadhav ManufacturingHitting production goals are key to driving revenue and growth for any manufacturer. But there are many unknown factors in the road to production. Equipment failure and downtime have no place in plants with aggressive goals. In this article, we will discuss how conditioning monitoring can help diagnose potential problems and prioritize addressing those issues by revealing the presence and development of defects. By taking advantage of remote condition monitoring, those same manufacturers can gather the insights necessary to safely maximize production while minimizing disruption.
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AI, IoT converge to create a new technology superpower: AIoT
Joseph Zulick Science & TechnologyWhen people hear the terms artificial intelligence (AI) and internet of things (IoT), most think of modern advances in a futuristic world like those that have been depicted in science-fiction franchises. Many of those predictions are now coming to fruition in this Fourth Industrial Revolution that is currently transforming the way the world works. Even though the full capabilities of AI and IoT are still in their relative infancies, these two technology superpowers are now being combined across every industry to provide scenarios where information and problem-solving can improve outcomes for all stakeholders.
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Response to Boeing Max 8 groundings includes new aviation leadership
Michelle R. Matisons ManufacturingThe Boeing 737 Max 8 airplane model was the most common plane flying the friendly skies — until recently. After several high-profile crashes killing hundreds of people, this model has been withdrawn from use so it can undergo an upgrade with new safety features for its alert system, which is rumored to have contributed to the crashes. Costing American Airlines $185 million in the second quarter, this aviation development has sent more than ripples through financial markets and manufacturing hubs.
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Emphasizing creativity, living role models boost girls’ interest…
Sheilamary Koch EducationFor the first time, the number of female college graduates in the labor force has surpassed that of their male counterparts, per a new Pew Research Center analysis of 2019 first-quarter data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Yet, the number of women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) jobs remains steady and below 30%. To shed light on how we as educators can help shift these stats, I spoke with international educator and STEM author Erin Twamley. Here are some of her strategies that empower female students.
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Visiting America’s industrial past
Dave G. Houser Recreation & LeisureIf you’re growing tired of conventional vacations — the beach, mountains, amusement parks, etc. — here’s an option to consider: exploring abandoned factories and industrial sites. Yes, it sounds a bit wonky, but an increasing number of folks are doing it. The Society for Industrial Archaeology (SIA) seeks to help preserve the nation’s industrial heritage by sanctioning and salvaging important manufacturing sites. The National Park Service has done its part as well by recognizing and preserving some of these industrial works as National Historic Sites or Landmarks.
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Proposed California plastics law could be a game-changer for fighting pollution
Seth Sandronsky Waste Management & EnvironmentalCalifornia is the most populous state in the U.S. and the world’s fifth biggest economy. If enacted, the proposed California Circular Economy and Plastic Pollution Reduction Act could be a game-changer in reducing plastic production and promoting a clean recycling economy. "The legislation will establish a comprehensive framework to address the pollution and waste crisis, and sets a statewide goal that manufacturers reduce the waste generated by single-use packaging and products by 75% after 2030," according to a statement from state Sen. Ben Allen, D-Santa Monica.
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Manufacturing slowdown sparks new political strategies
Michelle R. Matisons ManufacturingThe White House's official optimistic manufacturing narrative has been seriously disjointed from real-world production and employment issues in the very important and inherently political manufacturing sector. President Trump hung his hat on increased manufacturing jobs to get elected, but a persistent trade deficit haunts his administration — increasing by $100 billion under his watch. Now that this harsh reality can’t be ignored, we see some politicians initiating new strategies to address the slowdown.
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STEAM education for English learners
Erick Herrmann EducationEducators all over the world are familiar with the importance of STEM as critical skills in the 21st century. Employers around the world are looking for students who are proficient in these content areas as pathways to college and career readiness. Some have included another letter acronym in this abbreviation, an "a" for "art." This iteration creates the acronym STEAM: science, technology, engineering, art, and math. While it is easy to recognize the importance of integrating these areas into instruction, when working with English learners, teachers may feel that there are challenges or issues that arise for implementing deep STEAM instruction with this population.
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Department of Energy: Renewables create massive savings for facilities
Scott E. Rupp Facilities & GroundsFor business organizations, renewable energy can be a costly capital investment, but more companies are experiencing the successes of their efforts to reduce the energy used within their buildings and plants. One program created to help facilities leaders explore the opportunity of renewables is the Better Buildings Initiative from the U.S. Department of Energy. According to the agency, the program is meant to work "across industries to provide guidance and to document effective approaches for installing renewable technologies including solar, wind and geothermal." Per the government’s reporting on the issue, many organizations are making headway with solar.
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FAA confirms more Boeing 737 Max problems
Michelle R. Matisons Transportation Technology & AutomotiveIt has been almost three months since a Boeing 737 Max 8 crashed in Ethiopia in March. Subsequent months have produced an especially tense safety review process since the 737 Max 8 plane model is the most common in the world. After three high-profile incidents within the past nine months, Boeing is in the midst of a greater discussion on airline regulations and safety standards. Now, it looks like the 737 Max will be grounded until at least August. What went wrong?
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