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 just Hollywood creations, real world robotics have 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 Steven Brand

The seventh annual Manufacturing Day was a resounding success in California! MFG DAY continues to draw more and more participants each year, and 2018 was no exception, with nearly 2,800 events held across the country. In the Golden State, which boasts the nation’s largest manufacturing sector, it was all hands on deck in celebration of MFG DAY; over 250 sites registered as event hosts and an additional 330+ manufacturers and support organizations, including schools, stakeholders, and other organizations, participated in or sponsored events throughout the month of October.

Posted by Shekhar Chandrashekhar, SMART Manufacturing Practice Lead

What is smart manufacturing? Essentially, smart manufacturing is the practice of making information about manufacturing processes available when and where it is needed, in the form it is needed, so that smart decisions can be made about the course of critical business operations.

Posted by Steven Brand

It’s just one month away! Manufacturing Day 2018 officially arrives on Friday, October 5. This annual celebration gives small and medium-sized manufacturers (SMMs) the chance to showcase their products and capabilities to students, educators, businesspeople, politicians, and the media.  The annual event also helps to dispel misconceptions about modern manufacturing in order to aid in the recruitment of the next generation of talent.

Posted by Steven Brand

Losing workers from the factory floor is never easy, especially for small and medium-sized manufacturers (SMMs) where the output of every employee can be critical to maintaining production quotas and keeping customers happy. When an employee leaves, it’s then critical that SMMs are able to attract skilled workers and onboard them quickly and adequately to minimize production disruptions and ensure a smooth integration that will lead to higher employee retention (after all, the less often you have to do this, the better!).

Posted by Steven Brand

Additive Manufacturing (AM), or 3D printing, has evolved rapidly in recent years. As new industries have begun to embrace the technology, they are discovering the many ways in which the technology is impacting their business.

Posted by Steven Brand

Sensors have played a role in manufacturing for years, but until recently they have been largely constrained by issues such as system noise, signal attenuation, and response dynamics. Today, integration of local computing power and the Internet of Things (IoT) has transformed ordinary sensors into smart sensors, enabling them to carry out complex calculations on measured data locally within a sensor module.

Posted by Steven Brand

It’s no longer just for gaming! Virtual Reality (VR), sometimes referred to as Augmented Reality (AR), is shaking things up across all industries, including manufacturing. While the technology is currently being employed mainly by large manufacturers, like additive manufacturing and the cobots before it, growing acceptance of the technology is likely to cause prices to drop, allowing small and medium-sized manufacturers (SMMs) to take advantage of its powers as well.

Posted by Steven Brand

When seeking out a new job, potential employees want to understand what will be expected of them and how they will be evaluated if brought onboard; on the other hand, employers want to be sure they are interviewing the right candidates for the right job, and not wasting valuable time interviewing under- or over-qualified individuals. One way to ensure each party gets what they want is to craft a well-thought-out and detailed job description.