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Industry News

Factory fallout: Manufacturing plant closures and layoffs from ConocoPhillips, Rivian, Saputo Cheese, and more
We examine how facility closures reflect broader shifts in demand, technology, and global sourcing strategies.
Sept. 9, 2025
Gilead Sciences invests $32 billion to build pharmaceutical manufacturing facility in California
The project is expected to create more than 3,000 jobs and generate $43 billion in economic value through 2030.
Sept. 9, 2025
U.S. manufacturing PMI falls to 48.7 in August as sector contraction continues
Orders rose for the first time in six months, but supplier deliveries slowed and inventories stayed soft as inputs declined further in August.
Sept. 8, 2025
Hitachi Energy invests $457 million to build large power transformer manufacturing facility in Virginia
The project will create more than 825 new jobs in Southside Virginia and expand domestic transformer production capacity.
Sept. 8, 2025

Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast

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In this episode of Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast, learn the difference between wireless bridges and access points to keep your industrial facilities reliably connected...
Sept. 9, 2025
Podcast: Overcoming common blind spots in preventive maintenance programs
In this episode of Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast, Joe Kuhn discusses why protecting planned work drives down emergency calls and unplanned work
Sept. 4, 2025
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Podcast: How Co-Line and Hexagon are combining robotics and human talent in manufacturing
In this episode of Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast, Denny Williams and Doug Wood discuss how Co-Line Manufacturing leverages a strong workplace culture, apprenticeships...
Sept. 3, 2025
Podcast: How AI is reshaping supply chain planning and decision-making
In this episode of Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast, Dave Blanchard reports that advanced AI integration is setting the standard for future supply chain technology as costs...
Sept. 2, 2025

Predictive Maintenance

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EASA electric motor experts explain why electric motors can trip during startup, and how to troubleshoot issues tied to wiring, load, or starting methods.
Aug. 28, 2025
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Siemens report also suggests that widespread adoption of predictive maintenance is helping to offset rising downtime costs
Aug. 6, 2025
Maintenance Mindset: What color is your grease? Discover your plant’s lubrication personality
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It may not be parachutes, but this color-coded model can help you visually evaluate your lubrication program performance and identify areas for reliability improvement.
July 30, 2025
Ask the Experts: Best practices for storing spare electric motors in industrial facilities
EASA electric motor experts highlight how improper storage can lead to expensive motor repairs and downtime.
June 18, 2025

Planned Maintenance

A Case Study in Integrity and Failure – The Challenger Disaster
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The 1986 Space Shuttle disaster highlights the importance of independent research, clear data presentation, and organizational courage in safety-critical engineering decisions...
Aug. 20, 2025
Maintenance Mindset: Tackling Air and Water Contamination in Industrial Lubrication
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Discover the hidden ways air and water degrade lubricants and cause unexpected failures in manufacturing operations.
July 9, 2025
When maintenance metrics mislead: How to spot and fix systemic reliability gaps
Jeff Shiver says that KPIs may look impressive, but only a floor-level audit reveals whether true reliability is being achieved.
June 26, 2025
Building better maintenance teams: How Mintzberg’s structures improve manufacturing reliability
Doc Palmer says coordinating maintenance through skilled staffing creates more stable and effective teams than relying solely on rules or procedures.
June 24, 2025

Motors & Drives

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Case study: AI-powered maintenance cuts downtime and costs for Fiberon’s manufacturing operations
Learn how one company avoided $274,000 in costs and 178 downtime hours over the course of an AI pilot while achieving a 2.5x return on investment
Aug. 1, 2025
The future of motor efficiency: Exploring new innovations in control and performance
Sheila Kennedy explores how modern motor technologies are creating opportunities and resolving challenges.
April 1, 2025
How corrosion affects actuators, and what you can do to prevent it
Material, coating, sealing, temperature control and maintenance all play a role in corrosion control.
Sept. 17, 2024
How to master motor and drive reliability
This strategic roadmap will help you and your team maintain smooth operations and minimize downtime.
July 1, 2024

Compressed Air

Compressor system upgrades tackle reliability and contamination risks head-on
Sheila Kennedy explores how smart technologies are boosting compressor uptime, cutting maintenance needs, and improving overall system reliability.
June 17, 2025
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Are your compressed air filtration systems getting the attention they deserve? When was the last time you replaced your compressed air filters?
Oct. 17, 2024
Ask the Experts: Best strategies to reduce compressed air energy consumption
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Compressed Air Challenge experts give advice on how to overcome everyday compressed air problems at your plant.
Sept. 18, 2024
How to maintain a reliable compressed air system: Key strategies and tips
Ensuring reliability in compressed air systems requires a holistic approach that includes regular maintenance, monitoring, proper design, and training.
Aug. 28, 2024

Lubrication

How to Mitigating Thickening in Industrial Systems
Discover the physical mechanisms behind grease thickening, the impact on lubrication systems, and practical engineering recommendations for preventing and mitigating this issue...
July 16, 2025
How poor lubrication practices contribute to contamination risks in food manufacturing
Discover how engineers are shifting from ppm limits to mechanical integrity to protect food from lubricant contamination.
July 3, 2025
Maintenance Mindset: ICML 55.1 in practice — Expert tips to advance your lubrication program
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Learn how leading facilities build structured, audit-ready lubrication plans grounded in ICML 55.1’s 12 key elements.
May 21, 2025
Maintenance Mindset: The business case for ICML 55.1 — Better lubrication, fewer breakdowns, higher profits
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Learn how implementing ICML 55.1 reduces downtime, maintenance costs, and extends machinery lifespan.
May 7, 2025

Learning Resources

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Discover why online training is more than a checkbox: it is a strategy. Learn the real strengths of online learning – and how it can boost workforce skill and performance – in...
Sept. 5, 2025
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Efficiency is a hot topic today in the industrial manufacturing marketplace. Why is motor efficiency so critical and is it enough? What other strategies can be implemented to ...
Aug. 29, 2025
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This eHandbook identifies the most common compressed air system problems encountered by facilities teams, and outlines key approaches to help you justify key system improvements...
Aug. 19, 2025
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Learn how online training with cloud-based simulations can help close essential technical skills gaps in today’s industrial facilities.
Aug. 13, 2025