Department of Transportation Opens Bidding for Made-in-America Passenger Rail Cars
First Multistate Order for Standardized Rail Cars Will Help Boost American Manufacturers
Federal Railroad Administration
WASHINGTON – Rail car manufacturers across the country will have an opportunity to submit bids to produce the first American-made, standardized passenger rail cars, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced today.
Supplier Meetings Being Scheduled Now for Rail Supply Chain
SHORT TIME-FRAME OPPORTUNITY in Next Generation Rail Supply Chain
ISO 50001: How Manufacturers Manage Energy
04/2012 -
As the first energy management standard available to U.S. manufacturers, ISO 50001 can help them be models of energy and operations efficiency while improving service to their supply chains. Looking back over the last 30 years, energy prices have risen significantly (the chart below shows that crude prices have risen 300% since 1983).
Ohio Looks to Grow its Aerospace Industry
04/2012 -
91.7 WVXU News
Ohio is looking to keep the competitive edge in the aerospace industry. A day-long conference Wednesday looks at how to keep the business and technology coming.
The name of this event gives you a couple of clues about what organizers hope to accomplish. The “Ohio Aerospace Jobs Summit and Technology Showcase” brings together government and corporate leaders to grow Ohio’s number two industry.
Boeing Co. to Increase Business with Ohio Suppliers
Dayton Daily News
EVENDALE – Boeing Co. expects to increase its business with Ohio suppliers, which could make the state more prominent as an aerospace supplier to Boeing than it already is to the French manufacturer Airbus, a top Boeing executive said Wednesday.
Wilmington Sees Potential Savior in Unmanned Drone Testing
Business First
Three years after DHL pulled out and left Clinton County with a mostly unused airport and industrial park, unmanned drones and the Federal Aviation Administration may be coming to the rescue.
The Wilmington Air Park is expected to be a prime candidate for one of six proposed test sites for unmanned aircraft and systems mandated by an FAA reauthorization bill in February. The FAA launched a formal search for the sites this month when it published a request for public comment March 7.
Ohio Aerospace Future on Minds of Portman, GE Aviation
Cincinnati.com
Aerospace is Ohio’s second-largest industry, but it will take efficient investment in the state’s workforce and aerospace institutions to grow it, according to keynote speakers at a day-long gathering Wednesday on the industry’s future and job growth at the GE Aviation Learning Centre in Evendale.
More than 160 aerospace executives participated in the Ohio Aerospace & Aviation Council conference led by U.S. Sen. Rob Portman (R- Terrace Park) and hosted by GE Aviation.
Measureable Results: TechSolve Focuses on Innovation, Efficiency and Bottom Line
Cincy Magazine
Headquartered in northern Cincinnati, TechSolve is a problem solving company that has increased sales, promoted innovation and saved money for hospitals, manufacturers and other companies throughout the region through its dedication to a single key word: efficiency.
TechSolve offers solutions to companies aimed at eliminating extraneous costs, increasing production value, and maximizing profits.
U.S. Factory Output Rises, but Construction Falls
The Columbus Dispatch
WASHINGTON (AP) -- U.S. factories stepped up hiring and production in March, the latest evidence that manufacturing is growing at a healthy pace and fueling the recovery.
But a separate report on construction spending showed that building activity declined in February for the second straight month, disappointing economists.
The reports show “that the economy is still locked on a very gradual healing trajectory,” said Steven Ricchiuto, chief economist at Mizuho Securities.
Ohio Gives Positive Report for Utica Shale
Dayton Business Journal
Early returns from oil and natural gas wells drilled by Chesapeake Energy Corp. in Ohio’s Utica shale play look promising, especially for “wet gases” such as ethane, propane and butane, a state agency reported Monday.
GE Aviation Wins $380M Engine Order
Business Courier
Kenya Airways selected GE Aviation’s GEnx engines to power nine Boeing 787 Dreamliners with an option for four additional aircraft. The firm engine order is valued at $380 million at list price, GE Aviation said in a press release Monday.
Kenya Airways is the fastest growing airline in Africa and is pursuing a network expansion strategy to link all African countries with the rest of the world, it said.
US Orders for Long-Lasting Goods Rise 2.2 percent
Source: Middletown Journal
WASHINGTON — U.S. companies ordered more long-lasting goods last month, showing businesses are willing to buy equipment and machinery even after an investment tax credit was halved.
The Commerce Department said Wednesday that orders for durable goods rose 2.2 percent in February after a steep drop in January. Greater demand for machinery, computers, autos and aircraft drove much of the increase.
Smucker acquires minority stake in Chinese oatmeal company
J.M. Smucker Co. is expanding into China, acquiring a minority interest in a privately owned oats products manufacturer and marketer based in the country’s Guangxi province, the Akron Beacon Journal reports.
Orrville-based Smucker (NYSE:SJM) made a $35 million investment in Seamild Biologic Technology Development Co. Ltd., which has a portfolio consisting mainly of oatmeal that it distributes throughout China, the newspaper reports.
CNC Machining Is The Foundation Of Manufacturing
Zelinski: “Any product you pick up and touch, it’s not too many steps away from a machining process.”
PMPA Speaking of Precision
Most of the parts in your car engine come from a CNC machine. Medical devices, your kitchen cabinets — CNC machine. Your computer case, your iPhone earbuds — well, no. But the mold that created them — CNC machine.
The growth of these machines represents the biggest change in manufacturing over the last 20 years. The people who run them are factory workers.
President Obama’s National Network for Manufacturing Innovation
Last Friday, in Prince George County, Virginia, the President announced a proposed $1B budget for a new National Network for Manufacturing Innovation. This investment announcement continues to encourage support of the manufacturing sector by promoting insourcing and creating high-tech/ high wage jobs in the U.S. – all part of the President’s Blueprint For An Economy Built to Last.
GE Harnesses Nanotechnology, Nature to Help Save Airlines Cash
GE (IW 4/500) Global Research has released a new research report showing promising results for its nanotextured anti-icing surface technology.
According to the report, the technology dramatically reduces ice adhesion and delays ice formation on flat surfaces, which could lead to some significant advantages for the airline industry.
$900M Gas-Processing Operation Planned In Ohio
A group of companies is planning a $900 million project for processing natural gas and natural gas liquids in eastern Ohio, with some operations expected to begin next year.
Effort Aims To Bring Jobs Home
Small businesswoman Lisa Pease of Indian Hill has learned the business lesson that Harry Moser is teaching.
Moser is founder and chief advocate of the national Reshoring Initiative, a growing non-profit movement aimed at reinvigorating U.S. manufacturing by showing that goods can be competitively produced in this country without sending jobs overseas.
Recap: Keys to Energy Success
For the past few weeks, we have taken a closer look at 5 key principles that are imperative to
sustaining an effective energy management system. A comprehensive management system
will help your organization achieve the following benefits:
‘Reshoring’ Touted As Savior For Ohio’s Manufacturing Industry
Ohio’s courtship of new manufacturing jobs may be more of a welcome back than a welcome to the Buckeye State.
The Multiplier Effect
The embrace of Smart Manufacturing techniques will turn conventional wisdom about indirect jobs creation on its head and change the image of the industry itself.
The Reshoring Story of GE Appliances
Perhaps I’m just an optimist, but it’s starting to seem like the discussion on manufacturing in America is changing. Just a year or two ago it was a struggle to find anyone -- outside of manufacturing that is — that believed that the U.S. could be a manufacturing powerhouse again.
Employee Training and Awareness
The success of any organization’s energy management system is driven by their employees, but often times, employee training and awareness is neglected when attempting to drive improvements. Alcoa, the world’s leading producer of primary and fabricated aluminum, is committed to making sustainability relevant for every employee. Alcoa’s Chief Sustainability Officer Kevin Anton says,
Lean and Green: Energy Savings In Manufacturing
Is your company ready for ISO 50001, which gives organizations the requirements for energy management systems, and the new energy era?
Download the news article to learn more!
Metering and Monitoring of Energy Use and Consumption
“You cannot manage what you do not measure” is a simple statement that captures the importance of data collection for any organization focused on change. Once collected, the data must be analyzed and interpreted to effectively quantify progress towards achieving your energy objectives and targets.
The following are helpful tips to keep in mind when developing your metering and monitoring program:
Cincy Magazine Announces Its 6th Annual Tristate Manny Awards
02/2012 -
Cincy Magazine is proud to host its 6th annual Tri-State MANNY awards this June. The MANNY Awards are committed to recognizing the manufacturing industry’s greatest accomplishments, and in doing so will honor local companies for their innovation and best practices. This prestigious award is given to those companies who have excelled in several areas. Past winners exemplified accomplishments in areas such as: product innovation, e-business, supply-chain management, employee safety, systems/process innovation, global business, technology transfer and quality control.
The Power Of Positive
Improve productivity by accentuating the human dimension of lean Six Sigma
In 50 Words Or Less
Positive psychology suggests a qualitative human dimension within lean Six Sigma.
A cornerstone of positive psychology is the fostering of excellence in work through creativity and optimal productivity.
This psychology model provides the framework leaders can use to optimize the productivity of a culturally diverse workforce.
Bright Ideas
With a clear understanding of your current energy performance, your organization will be able to develop effective targets, energy performance indicators, and motivation.
Development of Targets, Energy Performance Indicators (EnPIs), and Motivation
Targets
Targets are meant to provide a measurable focus and direction to develop an action plan for achieving energy savings.
U.S. Market Shines Brighter
Manufacturers Look Homeward, Boosting Domestic Production and Speaking as Overseas Gains Overseas
U.S. companies, facing slowing markets and rising costs around the world, are taking a new look at their home market.
With growth slowing in China and a slump gripping much of Europe, companies are adding capacity in the U.S., replacing aging equipment and even moving overseas production back from low-cost labor markets, a sign that corporate America could be poised to take a bigger role in the economic recovery.
CEO Q&A: Joseph Morgan Jr., Standard Register
Standard Register Co. is at a crossroads.
The Dayton-based document services provider, which will celebrate its 100th anniversary this spring, is fighting hard to regain the dominance it once enjoyed. (Click here for list of historical milestones for the company.)
Last month, the company announced a restructuring effort that includes shedding as much as 15 percent of its workforce, including 75 local jobs, during the next six to nine months. Currently, Standard Register has 2,600 employees, including 614 in the Dayton area.
Michelman’s Hydrosize® PA845 Ideal for Carbon Fiber Sizing Where Thermal Stability is Required Strong
Hydrosize PA845 from Michelman is a polyamide based fiber sizing formulated for high temperature resin applications where a greater degree of thermal stability is required. It is particularly effective in high performance carbon fiber sizing applications.
Formulated with a small particle size, Hydrosize PA845 exhibits excellent film forming properties. It is solvent, VOC and alkylphenol ethoxylate (APE) free, and is also fully compliant with the EC Directives on plastics for food applications. This allows its use in far reaching carbon fiber based applications.
Bright Ideas - Focus on Energy: Keys to Success
Last week, we began a series where we examine 5 key principles for sustaining an effective energy management system. We kicked things off with a look at corporate commitment as it’s often considered the most important factor contributing to the success or failure of any energy management system.
Once top management is on board, you can begin working on developing the framework for your system. To do this effectively, you need to fully understand the current state of your organization’s energy performance.
Michelman CEO Appointed to TechSolve Board of Directors
The Greater Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce recently announced that Mr. Steven J. Shifman, President and CEO of Blue Ash, Ohio headquartered Michelman, Inc., has been appointed to serve on the TechSolve Board of Directors.
TechSolve Hits a Home Run at Edison Centers Capital Day
The Ohio manufacturing community, both large and small, is seeing signs of growth and opportunity. TechSolve, along with other Edison Technology Centers and the National Institute of Standards and Technology Manufacturing Extension Partnership (NIST MEP), traveled to Columbus to showcase their work and success that has been achieved to date to the Ohio legislators.
Bright Ideas - Focus on Energy: Keys to Success
With manufacturing in America starting to make a comeback, organizations are increasingly focused on finding ways to capitalize on the rebounding economy. Whether it’s increasing their presence in the market or maximizing capacity and revenue, it may seem difficult to focus on anything other than getting product out the door. Often times, people view energy management as something that you do when “times are good” and resources are plentiful.
This could not be further from the truth.
Flottman Company Is Recognized As A Finalist In The 2012 Green Business Awards
The Third Annual Cincinnati Business Courier 2012 Green Business Awards Names the Flottman Company as a Finalist in Green Policy and Green Marketing Strategies.
Northern Kentucky - Cincinnati, Ohio – February 3, 2012: The Flottman Company is recognized two (2) times as a finalist in the Cincinnati Business Courier and U.S. Green Building Council Cincinnati Regional Chapter, 2012 Green Business Awards.
GE Foundation Gives $18M To Improve Education
The GE Foundation announced Wednesday it will give $18 million to support the roll-out of new education standards throughout the country, including in Cincinnati.
The money will be spent primarily on tools that will help teachers to share best practices as they work to implement the new standards. The GE Foundation has already created a website, www.achievethecore.org, to provide teachers free resources and is organizing conferences where teachers can learn more about the new standards.
Meyer Tool Gets Tax Credit To Expand
Meyer Tool Inc. received a 45 percent, five-year tax credit from the state of Ohio for its plans to expand operations in Cincinnati.
Meyer is a maker of turbine engine components and test stands used by aircraft engine manufacturing firms. According to the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber, the company will build a 30,000-square-foot facility and make renovations to an existing facility. The project
is expected to create 50 new jobs and generate an additional $1.2 million in payroll.
Bright Ideas: You Are What You Eat...Or Is It Consume?
Growing up, I would always hear the saying, “You are what you eat.” I took this to heart and it made me think twice about reaching for that Twinkie or candy bar. Instead, I would pick up a more nutritious alternative like a banana or apple. Afterwards, I would be glad that I did. If the principle behind this common phrase makes us think twice about what we put into our bodies, why should energy conservation be any different? The same principles of awareness and responsibility apply whether fueling our bodies or fueling a manufacturing process.
ThyssenKrupp Bilstein of America plans expansion
In a shocking development, automotive supplier ThyssenKrupp Bilstein of America Inc. will invest more than $5 million in its Hamilton facilities.
The German-owned manufacturer – it makes shock absorbers – is expanding capacity to accommodate new business and transfers of several manufacturing technologies from its German parent.
Intelligrated CEO Cole surpasses goals
Chris Cole co-founded Intelligrated 10 years ago and his career has in one sense come full circle since then.
The former CEO of Cincinnati-based Buschman Conveyor when it was owned by Pinnacle Automation Co., Cole and colleague Jim McCarthy left when Pinnacle was sold to UK-based FKI Logistex in 2000. McCarthy was Buschman’s president and chief operating officer, the same post he now holds at Intelligrated. Cole is CEO.
The Need to Know is Basic
An MTConnect-enabled monitoring system gives this shop a clear and simple
picture of machine tool usage.
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Modern Machine Shop
From the desk of Mark Albert
Manufacturing portal aims to funnel dollars into Ohio
A technology-based initiative designed to drive millions of dollars in additional sales at Ohio manufacturers will launch this month.
Mfrsearch.com, a free portal for manufacturing-related companies in Ohio, is slated to be unveiled at the Dayton Tooling and Manufacturing Association annual trade show on Oct. 19 and 20.
Cincinnati Jim Beam plant toasts lean manufacturing
TechSolve offers a tour showcasing the lean improvements that Jim Beam has implemented.
Industry makeover; With much to lose, or gain, Greater Cincinnati manufacturers get creative
Cincinnati area manufacturers are struggling with faster, cheaper overseas facilities, jobs have been replaced with automation, and keeping skilled workers. They have to cut cost where they can and are turning to Green movements for the answer.
Ohio to Create Innovation Hubs
TechSolve Launches Next Generation Manufacturing Study
Study will benchmark Ohio manufacturers on world-class manufacturing practices and strategies.
Spindle Probing Benefits Stack Up
To create secondary fixture offsets at key points of interest to minimize stack-up errors, machinists should continue to use the G54 coordinate system for the main setup, but use G55 to G59 coordinate systems for more localized datums. The areas for secondary coordinate systems or local fixture offsets are determined by tight tolerances relative to local datums. Examples of this could be a set hole pattern or features that have to mate precisely with another part in the assembly process.
Silfex Recognized by U.S. Commerce Secretary Locke
Award Winners Speak at MANNY Success Roundtable Hosted by TechSolve
Cincy Incubators Win Ohio Edison Funding
April workshops in Cleveland, Dayton, and Toledo planned to assist Ohio Auto Suppliers
Obama Administration Officials to Join State in Working with Auto Industry Representatives
2010 TIP Competition focuses on manufacturing technologies
The U.S. Commerce Department’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) announced a new competition for high-risk, high-reward research funding under the Technology Innovation Program (TIP)
Representative Reece announces $330,000 for Cincinnati businesses
State Representative Alicia Reece, D-Cincinnati, has announced the state will spend $330,000 to create and retain jobs in her Cincinnati district through the support of technological innovation.
Local Organizations Honored with Emerald Award
TechSolve and a large network of partners were awarded Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio’s (SWACO) 2010 Emerald Award for Innovation for their work on the E3 initiative. E3, which stands for Economy, Energy, and the Environment, helps manufacturers cut waste and promote green business practices. The program is a model for collaboration among manufacturers, utilities, local government, and federal resources.
University of Cincinnati wins $3 million in Third Frontier funding
The University of Cincinnati will use nearly $3 million in Ohio Third Frontier Wright Projects Program funds to research microfluidics technology. The project is one of seven across the state that will share more than $20 million in funding.
Marion Chapter Sponsoring Technology Workshop
The Marion Area Chamber of Commerce in cooperation with the Manufacturing and Technology Small Business Development Center at Braintree and TechSolve will have a lean simulation workshop geared toward the small manufacturer from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 18 at the Chamber, 205 West Center Street.
Innovation Expert Coming to Columbus
“America’s #1 Idea Guru,” Doug Hall, will be in Columbus, July 12-14, to help Ohio organizations change the way they do business. He will lead his Innovation Engineering Leadership Institute for three days at the Crowne Plaza in Worthington.
Region Named Innovation Hub
In the next few weeks, Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland is expected to announce that Cincinnati’s consumer-marketing cluster has been chosen as a “Hub of Innovation” by the Ohio department of Development.
“I can’t put a dollar value on it, but this provides a much better opportunity to get funding through the Third Frontier,” said Sandra Degen, vice president for research at the University of Cincinnati.
TechSolve Hosts Awards Roundtable
A roundtable forum that includes local award-winning manufacturers is slated to be hosted Thursday by Bond Hill-based TechSolve.
The third annual Manny Success Roundtable is slated for 7:30 a.m. at TechSolve’s headquarters at 6705 Steger Drive.
Moderated by Grant Thornton’s Wally Gruenes, the forum will also highlight this year’s local Manny Award recipients. The awards spotlight local companies for top accomplishments, innovation and best practices.
Forum panelists include:
Manufacturing Show to Feature GE Aviation at Supplier Event
Officials from GE Aviation will be in town next month to reach out to manufacturers that want to do business with the company.
GE Aviation, the Cincinnati-based aerospace company, will have a supplier event at this year’s Advanced Manufacturing and Technology Show, which takes place Oct. 20 and 21 at the Dayton Airport Expo Center. GE Aviation plans to use the event, which will be held the second day of the show, to showcase its buying needs and identify potential new small business suppliers.
Conference to Cover the Current, Future States of U.S. Manufacturing
Pennsylvania State University-Erie-Behrend College issued the following news release:
What do 400 CEOs and business executives from around the world think about the state of U.S. manufacturing and its prospects for the future? Their perspectives, presented in a talk by Jack McDougle, senior vice president of the U.S. Council on Competitiveness, will be among the topics covered at the American Society of Mechanical Engineers’ manufacturing Science and Engineering Conference, to be held Oct. 12-15 in Erie.
Reducing Risk in New Product Development
Doing something new is always daunting when money is involved. But industry leader Mike Collins has 6 simple questions to help you figure out if that new product’s return-on-investment will justify its funding.
Getting Food Products to the Market
Creating a food product involves many steps. From actual production of a product, to labeling, and later, selling to the consumer – there are countless steps involved throughout the process.
What Do World Class Innovators Do That Others Don’t Do?
When it comes to innovation, are you willing to take the risks that are necessary in terms of new ideas, processes and methodologies, even if we might still be faced with economic uncertainty?
Jim Carroll Blogs About his Time at TechSolve
08/2011 -
“It was a tremendously fun keynote, because my talk was being transmitted — with both video and slides being shown — to remote locations in Cleveland, Dayton, Akron and elsewhere.” Read more...
Article by Richard Ruhe
Organizations who fight to maintain a current equilibrium may find themselves classified as dinosaurs.
Local Manufacturers Visit DC
Three Ohio manufacturers, including two from the Dayton region, visited Washington, D.C. last week to meet with political leaders.
OMNI Rolls out to Give Manufacturers, Partners, Connection Point for Information and Collaboration
Businesses looking for information or project partners now have an easier way to connect with industry experts, federal labs, universities, Ohio’s Edison and Wright centers and even other for-profit companies.
Management Series
The Manufacturing and Technology Small Business Development Center at Braintree, North Central State College and TechSolve are sponsoring a Management Leadership Series video-teleconference from 8 to 11 a.m. April 21 in Room 127 of NCSC’s Fallerius Hall.
Ball State U. gives Ohio an A, West Virginia a C, and New York a D
The manufacturing rating report is based on total income earned by manufacturing employees in a given state, the wage premium received by manufacturing employees relative to those of other states, and the per capita share of manufacturing employment.
Innovation Job News
Cincinnati’s TechSolve partners with manufacturers to up productivity, foster innovation.