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Current Issue |
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| Cover Story: The Smart Factory |
Software system points to the path of success for automotive assembler
By Scott Bury
In order to maintain their quality commitment to Ford for assembling key automotive components, Automodular needed to make sure that all their people not only were fully qualified and certified for the processes they performed, but also that each person had all the information needed to assemble each part, at the right time.
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| Editor's Note |
By John Tenpenny
Provincial government looks to create a culture
of business innovation
Government must act as a catalyst. To some this might seem to be a controversial statement. “Let the markets rule and keep government regulations and red tape out of our business,” would be the response of many manufacturers. But wait, you haven’t heard the rest of the quote, taken from a speech given by Ontario’s Minister of Research and Innovation, John Wilkinson, at Discovery 08, the annual conference put on by the Ontario Centres of Excellence. |
| Manufacturing Matters |
What's in your wallet? Getting capital for investment is a competitive process
By John Schut
You’ve seen the ubiquitous television commercial. It’s very effective in grabbing your attention with its mocking and sardonic humour. How can you forget its catchy tag line, “What’s in your wallet?” It’s an interesting question. It’s a savvy way of planting doubt in our minds about whether or not we have what it takes to be successful. So, what lesson does a clever bit of TV advertising hold for manufacturers?
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| Automation Insights |
Selecting an automation systems integrator is about more than cost
By Chris Stergiou
Once upon a time, most plants had in-house machine design departments to develop new equipment. Alas, this is no longer the case as manufacturing doctrine is driven by a strategy of outsourcing non-core competencies. This “back to basics” approach means that in-house efforts are geared to product design and development and this has created a manufacturing process knowledge gap as in-house engineers are focused on production. |
| Lean Insights |
Collaboration is the key to unlocking continuous improvement
By Gary Loblick
One of the most commonly overlooked precepts of lean manufacturing is the principle of collaboration. It never ceases to amaze us in our consulting and coaching roles with clients undergoing a transformation to lean is how they overlook the importance of establishing collaborative relationships within and across their organizations and both up and downstream from their organizations.
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| Enterprise Applications |
IT project management in manufacturing: biggest obstacles are time and scope
By Jennifer Colasanti
Info-Tech recently completed in-depth research on IT Project Management. Data was collected from 51 manufacturing organizations representing a variety of company sizes. This gave us insight into challenges that many manufacturers face regarding delivering projects in scope and on time. There is no shortage of challenges when it comes to project management.
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