The incandescent light bulb: a revolutionary invention that some have recently called outdated and inefficient. Congress even went so far in 2007 as to pass legislation that would have banned the production and sales of the incandescent bulb in America, starting in the coming year. With a last minute amendment, the ban was reversed. Congress [...]
For the first time in over half a year, industrial production in U.S. factories has declined sharply. The decline was only 0.2 percent, according to The Federal Reserve, including the nation’s factories, utilities and mines. The largest decrease was in the industrial sector, which dropped 0.4 percent, mostly due to a drop in domestic automobile [...]
When you buy a prepared food product, you put your trust in the product and the company that manufactures it. A legitimate question to ask is: how do I know this food product is safe and what are the manufacturing procedures that ensure its safety? Food safety standards in manufacturing facilities have emerged gradually and [...]
R.S. Owens & Company manufactures the 13 inch golden Oscar award statues given to winners at the Academy Awards, but this year there is a slight problem—a dispute between the company’s management and workers might mean that no new Oscars will be manufactured before next year’s awards ceremony. The dispute is over a potential pay [...]
If you need to design and office space for your employees, you’re likely wondering where to start—what type of desks should I buy? Do they all need offices? Do they all even need their own desk? Is there a way to control noise even though my employees will have work in close proximity because of [...]
If you’re old enough to be reading a blog about manufacturing, you’re probably also old enough to remember one of the most well-known Mr. Rogers segments of all time—the tour of the crayon factory where we, America’s curious schoolchildren, got to watch the Crayola people make a batch of yellow crayons. It was pretty cool. [...]
The classic ballpoint pen: It’s something you probably use on a daily basis, but do you ever wonder how it’s made? If so, you’re in the right place, because this article describes the manufacturing process behind America’s favorite writing implement. Of course, there is some variation among manufacturers, but the basic process is consistent among [...]
Black Friday this year was marked by violent incidents as consumers scrambled to get televisions at low prices across the country. But it was also marked by the spread of an industry-changing rumor: that Apple was planning to launch the iTV sometime in the near future. An Apple product in the television market could mean [...]
For toy manufacturers, the holiday season means two things: high sales, and an increased scrutiny of toy safety. Public interest groups and federal organizations alike will be working vigilantly to watch for high levels of toxic chemicals, small parts that could pose a choking hazard and other potential hazards—like higher than typical volume that might [...]
Innovation and production are crucial and important parts of our economy and lifestyle in the twenty-first century. In fact, many of our manufacturing processes create a more efficient system than we had even fifty years ago. Whether insulating industrial processes, controlling the flow of precious resources, creating a repair for a failing product rather than [...]