CMTC Manufacturing Blog

Posted by Steven Brand

In a galaxy far, far away…

Well, how far exactly?

The technological advancements in the Star Wars universe may seem to be the stuff of fantasy. While Death Stars, droid armies, and flying starfighters are still the stuff of film, real world robotics has made epic advancements since Episode IV first debuted in 1977 (under the original title of  “Star Wars,” of course).

Posted by Steven Brand

Posted by Raminder Sandhu, CMTC Robotics & Automation Practice Lead & Regional Representative for the Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing (ARM) Institute.

Robots are capable of incredible feats well beyond human abilities: Guinness World Records recognizes the Fanuc Corporation’s M-2000iA/2300 Super Heavy Payload Robot as the world’s strongest, capable of moving objects that weigh more than 5,000 pounds.

Strength has long made robots a staple of assembly lines, where their immense power transcends human limitations. But companies are discovering that robots can be leveraged not just to overcome human physical limitations, but mental limitations as well.

Posted by Steven Brand

California is a food manufacturing powerhouse. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service, the Golden State has the highest number of food manufacturing plants in the nation—nearly 5,650. To continue to lead the country forward, it’s important that food manufacturers follow best practices when it comes to improving quality; reducing food safety mistakes; utilizing new technologies such as Machine Vision; monitoring consumer trends; and adopting an integrated approach to manufacturing.

Posted by Steven Brand

Photo Credit CES®

A proving ground for established companies and startups, innovators and entrepreneurs, the annual four-day Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas was decked-out with new tech this year. California was well-represented, with more than 650 Golden State companies showing up to show off.

Posted by Steven Brand

* NOTE: This blog has been updated to reflect new laws going into effect in 2021.

The Golden State began leading the way in workplace anti-harassment training in 2004, establishing a bill that required supervisors to learn about the subject. Covered under the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH), Assembly Bill 1825 stated that employers must “take reasonable steps to prevent and correct wrongful behavior in the workplace.” Since then, additional Senate Bills have been signed in an effort to make anti-harassment training more effective, which we will cover below.

Posted by Steven Brand

Conferences are a great way for you and your team to network with others, demo exciting new technologies, learn about topics that interest you, and gain valuable insights from industry experts. Thankfully, there’s no shortage of events happening in 2020! Here are 30 conferences happening in California and throughout North America that you can attend.

Posted by Steven Brand

Manufacturers in California account for nearly 11% of the total output in the state, employing almost 8% of the workforce. California is also the top exporting state in the country, shipping out hundreds of billions worth of goods and services in 2018. 

Posted by Steven Brand

As the year draws to a close, we always like to take a look back on the events and people that made a difference in manufacturing throughout the past 12 months. We celebrate successes such as Manufacturing Day and the all-new Manufacturing Month, and look at ways to overcome challenges, whether it’s maintaining growth or competing more effectively overseas. We also like to take a look at what interested you, our readers, the most in our blogs.

Posted by Steven Brand

Last year, the United States exported $2.5 trillion—yes, trillion—dollars worth of goods and services to foreign countries. Our nation is the third-largest exporter in the world, trailing only China and the European Union. Within our borders, California is by far the top exporting state, shipping out nearly $280 billion worth of goods and services in 2018. Have you got in on global trade yet, or are you letting the competition reap all the rewards? For many small and medium-sized manufacturers (SMMs), entering the exporting arena often comes down to a matter of knowledge and cost. But did you know that there federal programs available to assist you?