Articles by Genevieve Diesing

Collaborative robots, or cobots, help humans and robots work together safely. Small, medium and large companies are increasingly choosing these human-friendly versions over traditional industrial robots, which are complex to use and are typically relegated to safety cages. 

Industry 4.0-empowered solutions help manufacturers become more nimble, integrated, efficient, safe and sustainable.

As energy becomes more expensive and sustainability more prized, manufacturers are under the gun to reduce energy consumption. Process monitoring, which standardizes and optimizes manufacturing processes— helps to make this possible in the age of Industry 4.0.

Manufacturers are increasingly participating in EHSQ programs. They realize that worker well-being, operational excellence, and compliance aren’t only ethically important, they’re also good business: Organizations with excellent safety, health, and environmental programs outperformed the S&P 500 by 3-5 percent.

Handheld X-Ray Fluorescence (HHXRF) analyzers verify materials quickly, reliably and cost-efficiently. They can identify a material’s elemental makeup within seconds, making it easier for manufacturers to select the right metal grades and tolerances for their needs. 

The single most important thing manufacturing leaders can do to engage their employees is to share the ‘why’ behind their daily work, says Kathleen Skarvan, CEO at New Prague, MN-based Electromed—Quality’s 2021 Plant of the Year.

Even in a normal year, achieving high levels of quality is no small feat; it's a daily challenge that requires buy-in from everyone. This year, as COVID-19 wreaked havoc on supply chains, worker safety and consumer demand, maintaining high levels of quality became a nearly superhuman feat.

In our 21st Annual Spending Survey, we’ve looked into who will be buying what and when. Despite the economic upset resulting from COVID-19, equipment budgets look to be steady, if not growing, for the next fiscal year.