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PdM/CM
- Lubrication|
  Mobius Institute launches CBMconnect.com media center and community
  
  CBM Connect goes online as a premier, content-rich, multimedia website serving the CBM community with knowledge and a means to collaborate and contribute
  
  Mobius Institute, the premier provider of reliability improvement, condition monitoring and vibration analysis training, certification and professional conferences today announced the launch of its content-rich multimedia website, CBM Connect, which serves the industrial professional community as a central CBM resource of high-quality videos, articles, podcasts, webinars and training tracks without cost to the subscriber. CBM Connect’s focus of condition monitoring topics include vibration analysis, infrared imaging (IR thermography), oil analysis, wear particle analysis, motor testing, ultrasound analysis, precision lubrication, alignment, balancing, and other precision maintenance techniques.Core design elements of CBM Connect were…
  Full Story
  
  Recent
  
  What's new in lubrication optimization
  
  Pentagon taps Silicon Valley firm for aircraft predictive maintenance
  
  Lubrication best practices: Store it safely, handle it right
  
  Army maintainers learn new skills at 'maintenance rodeo’
- Vibration|
  Mobius Institute launches CBMconnect.com media center and community
  
  CBM Connect goes online as a premier, content-rich, multimedia website serving the CBM community with knowledge and a means to collaborate and contribute
  
  Mobius Institute, the premier provider of reliability improvement, condition monitoring and vibration analysis training, certification and professional conferences today announced the launch of its content-rich multimedia website, CBM Connect, which serves the industrial professional community as a central CBM resource of high-quality videos, articles, podcasts, webinars and training tracks without cost to the subscriber. CBM Connect’s focus of condition monitoring topics include vibration analysis, infrared imaging (IR thermography), oil analysis, wear particle analysis, motor testing, ultrasound analysis, precision lubrication, alignment, balancing, and other precision maintenance techniques.Core design elements of CBM Connect were…
  Full Story
  
  Recent
  
  Checking your work: Maintenance validation via smart sensors
  
  Forbes releases IoT forecasts for 2018, notes 84% growth of network connections in manufacturing
  
  Pentagon taps Silicon Valley firm for aircraft predictive maintenance
  
  Perspective: How predictive maintenance fits into Industry 4.0
- Alignment|
  Mobius Institute launches CBMconnect.com media center and community
  
  CBM Connect goes online as a premier, content-rich, multimedia website serving the CBM community with knowledge and a means to collaborate and contribute
  
  Mobius Institute, the premier provider of reliability improvement, condition monitoring and vibration analysis training, certification and professional conferences today announced the launch of its content-rich multimedia website, CBM Connect, which serves the industrial professional community as a central CBM resource of high-quality videos, articles, podcasts, webinars and training tracks without cost to the subscriber. CBM Connect’s focus of condition monitoring topics include vibration analysis, infrared imaging (IR thermography), oil analysis, wear particle analysis, motor testing, ultrasound analysis, precision lubrication, alignment, balancing, and other precision maintenance techniques.Core design elements of CBM Connect were…
  Full Story
  
  Recent
  
  Pentagon taps Silicon Valley firm for aircraft predictive maintenance
  
  How misalignment messes with your machines
  
  Perspective: How predictive maintenance fits into Industry 4.0
  
  Risk-based assessments slow aging process for nuclear plants
- Ultrasound|
  Mobius Institute launches CBMconnect.com media center and community
  
  CBM Connect goes online as a premier, content-rich, multimedia website serving the CBM community with knowledge and a means to collaborate and contribute
  
  Mobius Institute, the premier provider of reliability improvement, condition monitoring and vibration analysis training, certification and professional conferences today announced the launch of its content-rich multimedia website, CBM Connect, which serves the industrial professional community as a central CBM resource of high-quality videos, articles, podcasts, webinars and training tracks without cost to the subscriber. CBM Connect’s focus of condition monitoring topics include vibration analysis, infrared imaging (IR thermography), oil analysis, wear particle analysis, motor testing, ultrasound analysis, precision lubrication, alignment, balancing, and other precision maintenance techniques.Core design elements of CBM Connect were…
  Full Story
  
  Recent
  
  How harnessing acoustics is creating a revolution in power plant maintenance
  
  Forbes releases IoT forecasts for 2018, notes 84% growth of network connections in manufacturing
  
  Pentagon taps Silicon Valley firm for aircraft predictive maintenance
  
  Perspective: How predictive maintenance fits into Industry 4.0
- IR/Therm.|
  Mobius Institute launches CBMconnect.com media center and community
  
  CBM Connect goes online as a premier, content-rich, multimedia website serving the CBM community with knowledge and a means to collaborate and contribute
  
  Mobius Institute, the premier provider of reliability improvement, condition monitoring and vibration analysis training, certification and professional conferences today announced the launch of its content-rich multimedia website, CBM Connect, which serves the industrial professional community as a central CBM resource of high-quality videos, articles, podcasts, webinars and training tracks without cost to the subscriber. CBM Connect’s focus of condition monitoring topics include vibration analysis, infrared imaging (IR thermography), oil analysis, wear particle analysis, motor testing, ultrasound analysis, precision lubrication, alignment, balancing, and other precision maintenance techniques.Core design elements of CBM Connect were…
  Full Story
  
  Recent
  
  Infrared for PdM, upgraded
  
  Forbes releases IoT forecasts for 2018, notes 84% growth of network connections in manufacturing
  
  Pentagon taps Silicon Valley firm for aircraft predictive maintenance
  
  Smart tools: Power to your people
- Temp. Mon.|
  Mobius Institute launches CBMconnect.com media center and community
  
  CBM Connect goes online as a premier, content-rich, multimedia website serving the CBM community with knowledge and a means to collaborate and contribute
  
  Mobius Institute, the premier provider of reliability improvement, condition monitoring and vibration analysis training, certification and professional conferences today announced the launch of its content-rich multimedia website, CBM Connect, which serves the industrial professional community as a central CBM resource of high-quality videos, articles, podcasts, webinars and training tracks without cost to the subscriber. CBM Connect’s focus of condition monitoring topics include vibration analysis, infrared imaging (IR thermography), oil analysis, wear particle analysis, motor testing, ultrasound analysis, precision lubrication, alignment, balancing, and other precision maintenance techniques.Core design elements of CBM Connect were…
  Full Story
  
  Recent
  
  Forbes releases IoT forecasts for 2018, notes 84% growth of network connections in manufacturing
  
  Honeywell launches cloud-based remote monitoring system for thermal processes
  
  Pentagon taps Silicon Valley firm for aircraft predictive maintenance
  
  Perspective: How predictive maintenance fits into Industry 4.0
- Corrosion|
  Mobius Institute launches CBMconnect.com media center and community
  
  CBM Connect goes online as a premier, content-rich, multimedia website serving the CBM community with knowledge and a means to collaborate and contribute
  
  Mobius Institute, the premier provider of reliability improvement, condition monitoring and vibration analysis training, certification and professional conferences today announced the launch of its content-rich multimedia website, CBM Connect, which serves the industrial professional community as a central CBM resource of high-quality videos, articles, podcasts, webinars and training tracks without cost to the subscriber. CBM Connect’s focus of condition monitoring topics include vibration analysis, infrared imaging (IR thermography), oil analysis, wear particle analysis, motor testing, ultrasound analysis, precision lubrication, alignment, balancing, and other precision maintenance techniques.Core design elements of CBM Connect were…
  Full Story
  
  Recent
  
  Pentagon taps Silicon Valley firm for aircraft predictive maintenance
  
  Risk-based assessments slow aging process for nuclear plants
  
  Army maintainers learn new skills at 'maintenance rodeo’
  
  Problem-solving key in fast-growing industrial maintenance field
- Remote Monitoring|
  Mobius Institute launches CBMconnect.com media center and community
  
  CBM Connect goes online as a premier, content-rich, multimedia website serving the CBM community with knowledge and a means to collaborate and contribute
  
  Mobius Institute, the premier provider of reliability improvement, condition monitoring and vibration analysis training, certification and professional conferences today announced the launch of its content-rich multimedia website, CBM Connect, which serves the industrial professional community as a central CBM resource of high-quality videos, articles, podcasts, webinars and training tracks without cost to the subscriber. CBM Connect’s focus of condition monitoring topics include vibration analysis, infrared imaging (IR thermography), oil analysis, wear particle analysis, motor testing, ultrasound analysis, precision lubrication, alignment, balancing, and other precision maintenance techniques.Core design elements of CBM Connect were…
  Full Story
  
  Recent
  
  3 major shifts transforming manufacturing as we know it
  
  Forbes releases IoT forecasts for 2018, notes 84% growth of network connections in manufacturing
  
  AI is now so complex its creators can’t trust why it makes decisions
  
  Honeywell launches cloud-based remote monitoring system for thermal processes
- OEM/Embed
  Mobius Institute launches CBMconnect.com media center and community
  
  CBM Connect goes online as a premier, content-rich, multimedia website serving the CBM community with knowledge and a means to collaborate and contribute
  
  Mobius Institute, the premier provider of reliability improvement, condition monitoring and vibration analysis training, certification and professional conferences today announced the launch of its content-rich multimedia website, CBM Connect, which serves the industrial professional community as a central CBM resource of high-quality videos, articles, podcasts, webinars and training tracks without cost to the subscriber. CBM Connect’s focus of condition monitoring topics include vibration analysis, infrared imaging (IR thermography), oil analysis, wear particle analysis, motor testing, ultrasound analysis, precision lubrication, alignment, balancing, and other precision maintenance techniques.Core design elements of CBM Connect were…
  Full Story
  
  Recent
  
  Southwest Airlines engine failure investigation focuses on broken metal fan blade
  
  Forbes releases IoT forecasts for 2018, notes 84% growth of network connections in manufacturing
  
  PdM: Plant by numbers
  
  Perspective: Automation is engineering the jobs out of maintenance-intensive power plants
Equipment
- Fluid Handling|
  Smart tech comes to pumps
  
  Sheila Kennedy says digital twins and data analytics enable engineering, process improvements.
  
  Making pumps smarter and more connected to the industrial internet of things (IIoT) streamlines condition monitoring, predictive maintenance (PdM), and engineering improvements. Digitalizing these practices reduces the risk of and costs associated…
  Full Story
  
  Recent
  
  Pentagon taps Silicon Valley firm for aircraft predictive maintenance
  
  Army maintainers learn new skills at 'maintenance rodeo’
  
  Problem-solving key in fast-growing industrial maintenance field
  
  May River Capital completes acquisition of BJM Pumps
- Motors, Drives, and Power Trans.|
  Southwest Airlines engine failure investigation focuses on broken metal fan blade
  
  Southwest CEO Gary Kelly said the airline will inspect the engines on all its planes in the next month for fatigue
  
  Federal investigators in the engine failure aboard Southwest Airlines Flight 1380 that killed one passenger are focusing on a broken metal fan that could signal a need for more inspections on the wear and tear of planes.Robert Sumwalt, chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board, said one of the 24 fan blades that push air into the left engine of the 737-700 broke off and was missing.Read the full story at kagstv.com.
  Full Story
  
  Recent
  
  To surge test or not to surge test
  
  What's causing your high motor current?
  
  Spinning into the future: Smarter management of rotating equipment
  
  Why motor monitoring matters so much
- Compressed Air|
  Compressor regulations: An update
  
  As of December 2017, we “sort of” have a regulation for … something. (Stay tuned.)
  
  In the September 2017 issue of Plant Services, I wrote about how the federal government published regulations to cover the testing of rotary screw compressors but had failed to finalize the regulations on compressor efficiency standards. That left…
  Full Story
  
  Recent
  
  Don't let the compressed air out
  
  When compressed air is the problem, not the solution
  
  When compressed air is the problem, not the solution: Case studies
  
  Compressed Air and Gas Institute handbook adds new chapters
- Robotics|
  Perspective: Robots: The automation juggernaut that manufacturers need
  
  Ask these questions to determine whether and where cobots might be most useful for your organization
  
  I work for a robotics company. I’m sure you can imagine the rush that comes when the latest predictions about the growth of the market peg the opportunity on the fast-track to exponential growth. After all, it’s how I make my living.For collaborative robots (cobots), the news seems to be all good. Last fall, a report crossed my desk touting CAGR of 57+ %, resulting in a market size of $4+ billion by 2023; another reported that 150,000 cobots would be deployed worldwide by 2020. Reading these, it’s easy to understand how one might get swept up in the head-spinning optimism. Not me, though. If there’s one I’ve learned in my career in the world of disruptive technology, it’s beware the hype.Read the full story at forbes.com.For…
  Full Story
  
  Recent
  
  3 major shifts transforming manufacturing as we know it
  
  Employee training and hiring a key incentive to locate Toyota-Mazda plant to Alabama
  
  Why China's ammunition factories are being turned over to robots
  
  Program your industrial robot with an iPad
- Additive Mfg./3D Printing
  3 major shifts transforming manufacturing as we know it
  
  Technological convergence will soon allow startups and corporations alike to personalize products at unparalleled scale
  
  As 3D printing farms, smart factories, and autonomous co-bots turn concepts into commodities overnight, we are about to witness three major paradigm shifts:1. Mass Customization: As fixed costs begin to reach variable costs in the production sphere, companies will no longer fabricate millions of the same product or part. Design driven by customer data will allow for tailor-made commodities, and one-off production will be just as cheap.2. Democratized Invention: Incubator studios and fabrication equipment labs are jumping onto the scene. Flaunting AI-aided robots and swarm 3D printers that work overnight, these urban workshops basically serve as your new testing ground—the physical hands for your digital designs.3. Smart and Autonomous…
  Full Story
  
  Recent
  
  Three game-changers for the manufacturing industry in 2018
  
  3D printing: Workforce recruiting tool?
  
  Can an old mill town become the Silicon Valley of human organ manufacturing?
  
  Better (holiday) planning
Asset Mgmt./Reliability
- Software|
  Mobius Institute launches CBMconnect.com media center and community
  
  CBM Connect goes online as a premier, content-rich, multimedia website serving the CBM community with knowledge and a means to collaborate and contribute
  
  Mobius Institute, the premier provider of reliability improvement, condition monitoring and vibration analysis training, certification and professional conferences today announced the launch of its content-rich multimedia website, CBM Connect, which serves the industrial professional community as a central CBM resource of high-quality videos, articles, podcasts, webinars and training tracks without cost to the subscriber. CBM Connect’s focus of condition monitoring topics include vibration analysis, infrared imaging (IR thermography), oil analysis, wear particle analysis, motor testing, ultrasound analysis, precision lubrication, alignment, balancing, and other precision maintenance techniques.Core design elements of CBM Connect were…
  Full Story
  
  Recent
  
  Why culture trumps technology when it comes to continuous improvement
  
  Putman Media announces its inaugural class of Influential Women in Manufacturing
  
  Relevant
  
  Plant Services CMMS/EAM Software Review
  
  Read David Berger's column, Asset Manager
- Big Data|
  Software AG acquires technology scale-up TrendMiner
  
  TrendMiner enables domain experts, with an intuitive user interface, to analyze, monitor and predict the performance of manufacturing processes without any need for support
  
  Software AG today announced its acquisition of data analytics Scale-up, TrendMiner NV. Founded in 2008 and based in Hasselt, Belgium, TrendMiner specializes in visual data analytics for the manufacturing and process industry and will complement Software AG’s Internet of Things (IoT) and Industry 4.0 product portfolio.TrendMiner is an intuitive, web-based, self-service analytics platform for rapid-fire visualization of time series-based processes and asset data. It enables manufacturing companies and the process industries to quickly and easily recognize patterns and trends in their process data, identify production irregularities, and adapt necessary process adjustments early - without the need for support from IT specialists or data…
  Full Story
  
  Recent
  
  Making the IIoT work for you (not the other way around)
  
  Put Big Data into context in real time
  
  Is access to your data frictionless?
  
  3 major shifts transforming manufacturing as we know it
- Cloud-Based Reliability|
  Software AG acquires technology scale-up TrendMiner
  
  TrendMiner enables domain experts, with an intuitive user interface, to analyze, monitor and predict the performance of manufacturing processes without any need for support
  
  Software AG today announced its acquisition of data analytics Scale-up, TrendMiner NV. Founded in 2008 and based in Hasselt, Belgium, TrendMiner specializes in visual data analytics for the manufacturing and process industry and will complement Software AG’s Internet of Things (IoT) and Industry 4.0 product portfolio.TrendMiner is an intuitive, web-based, self-service analytics platform for rapid-fire visualization of time series-based processes and asset data. It enables manufacturing companies and the process industries to quickly and easily recognize patterns and trends in their process data, identify production irregularities, and adapt necessary process adjustments early - without the need for support from IT specialists or data…
  Full Story
  
  Recent
  
  3 major shifts transforming manufacturing as we know it
  
  Radix and Seeq to join forces to deliver on advanced analytics
  
  Simple data analytics, better beer: Cheers!
  
  GE makes a sharp 'pivot' on digital
- IIoT
  Software AG acquires technology scale-up TrendMiner
  
  TrendMiner enables domain experts, with an intuitive user interface, to analyze, monitor and predict the performance of manufacturing processes without any need for support
  
  Software AG today announced its acquisition of data analytics Scale-up, TrendMiner NV. Founded in 2008 and based in Hasselt, Belgium, TrendMiner specializes in visual data analytics for the manufacturing and process industry and will complement Software AG’s Internet of Things (IoT) and Industry 4.0 product portfolio.TrendMiner is an intuitive, web-based, self-service analytics platform for rapid-fire visualization of time series-based processes and asset data. It enables manufacturing companies and the process industries to quickly and easily recognize patterns and trends in their process data, identify production irregularities, and adapt necessary process adjustments early - without the need for support from IT specialists or data…
  Full Story
  
  Recent
  
  Making the IIoT work for you (not the other way around)
  
  Putman Media announces its inaugural class of Influential Women in Manufacturing
  
  Perspective: Reach out to disadvantaged students to fix skills gap
  
  3 major shifts transforming manufacturing as we know it
Electrical
- Electrical Systems|
  5 requirements for designing a next-generation power monitoring system
  
  How to take your plant's power monitoring to the next level.
  
  As technologies evolve, organizations increasingly are embracing the application economy. Advances in areas such as cloud services and networks have spurred a host of new data-driven applications that facilities are leveraging to enhance operational…
  Full Story
  
  Recent
  
  NFPA 70E labeling for a digital age
  
  Power quality problems that might be plaguing your plant
  
  Grace Engineered Products acquires Civionics
  
  To surge test or not to surge test
- Energy Management/Optimization|
  Trump's solar tariff could cost up to 23,000 U.S. jobs but boost domestic manufacturing
  
  Thirty percent tariff on imported panels changes the game for developers
  
  Over $2.5 billion in large installation projects have been stalled or cancelled due to President Trump’s newly imposed tariffs on imported solar panels, according to Reuters.The 30% tariff on imported panels, which President Trump announced in January, will last four years and decrease 5% each year. While the tariff may encourage investment in solar manufacturing stateside, it will cost up to 23,000 workers their jobs, Abigail Ross Hopper, president of the Solar Energy Industries Association, told The New York Times.Read the full story at fortune.com.
  Full Story
  
  Recent
  
  Strategic energy management: The power of real-world stories
  
  Solar-panel makers ramp up U.S. manufacturing plans
  
  How windmills as wide as jumbo jets are making clean energy mainstream
  
  Is your plant leading energy policy change?
- Power Quality|
  Power quality problems that might be plaguing your plant
  
  Learn how to prevent the top causes of poor power quality.
  
  Han Tran has a master of science in electrical and computer engineering degree from Georgia Institute of Technology. Currently, she is an application engineer for Fluke, collaborating with end users to better understand their workflow and uncover ways to alleviate their pain points. During the live Q&A portion of the webinar “Top causes of power quality issues in the facility and how to find them," Han tackled several attendee questions related to power quality problems and possible solutions. PS: Would you say power quality issues are most likely coming from within the facility, or are they caused by a utility? HT: That depends on where you live. Within the United States, we have a fairly decent power distribution grid. That's…
  Full Story
  
  Recent
  
  How harnessing acoustics is creating a revolution in power plant maintenance
  
  General Electric to cut 12,000 jobs in power division
  
  Pentagon taps Silicon Valley firm for aircraft predictive maintenance
  
  EASA electric motor repair accreditation program reaches milestone
- Power Generation
  How harnessing acoustics is creating a revolution in power plant maintenance
  
  The creator of a new acoustics-based predictive maintenance system plans to democratize sound as a tool to reduce downtime and increase profits for power companies
  
  A new technology that uses airborne ultrasonic sensors to detect anomalies in the sounds machines make while running is already saving power companies hundreds of thousands of dollars by preventing unpredicted downtime. Unlike other acoustics-based maintenance solutions, which either call for technicians to go from machine to machine, sampling and diagnosing problems, or require complex integrations, training and retrofitting of old industrial assets, Israeli start-up 3D Signals’ system allows for accurate and reliable coverage of a wide variety of equipment with a small number of cheap sensors. As the company’s co-founder and CEO, engineer Amnon Shenfield, summarises: “Energy production must operate reliably in dynamic demand…
  Full Story
  
  Recent
  
  General Electric to cut 12,000 jobs in power division
  
  Trion GA treatment plant spills 150,000 gallons of wastewater in two months
  
  Fall in global gas turbine demand triggers Siemens downsizing
  
  EASA electric motor repair accreditation program reaches milestone
Heating/Cooling
- Process Heating and Cooling|
  Forbes releases IoT forecasts for 2018, notes 84% growth of network connections in manufacturing
  
  The hottest application areas for IoT in manufacturing are projected to include Industrial Asset Management, Inventory and Warehouse Management, and Supply Chain Management
  
  The last twelve months of Internet of Things (IoT) forecasts and market estimates reflect enterprises’ higher expectations for scale, scope and Return on Investment (ROI) from their IoT initiatives. Business benefits and outcomes are what drives the majority of organizations to experiment with IoT and invest in large-scale initiatives. Key takeaways from the collection of IoT forecasts and market estimates include the following: The global Internet of Things (IoT) market is projected to grow from $2.99T in 2014 to $8.9T in 2020, attaining a 19.92% Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR). Manufacturing dominates the growth of IoT network connections in the last year, growing 84%. By 2022, Pressure and Temperature sensors will account for…
  Full Story
  
  Recent
  
  Analysts: Harvey has 'paralyzed' a critical part of U.S. manufacturing supply chain
  
  Blog: Move beyond the process historian via IT-OT convergence
  
  Army reaches $1 billion in energy-saving projects with private sector
  
  DMDII announces second 2016 project call for advanced manufacturing R&D projects
- HVAC and Indoor Air Quality
  Climate change poses major cost risks to manufacturing, study finds
  
  High-tech and low-tech sectors in China found to be equally vulnerable to output losses tied to rising temperatures
  
  One extra day of temperatures above 90 degrees Fahrenheit costs the average Chinese manufacturing plant roughly $10,000 in 2017 dollars in lost output, according to research released last month. The study, published in the peer-reviewed Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, tracked temperatures and daily churn at half a million Chinese plants from 1998 to 2007. In one particularly striking result, the researchers found that high-tech manufacturers ― those producing medical supplies, aerospace equipment and computer parts ― are just as sensitive to extreme temperature as low-tech sectors, such as apparel and textiles. Read the full story at huffingtonpost.com.
  Full Story
  
  Recent
  
  Risk-based assessments slow aging process for nuclear plants
  
  Problem-solving key in fast-growing industrial maintenance field
  
  Google Glass gets a second chance in factories, where it’s likely to remain
  
  Trump to execs: We think we can cut regulations by 75 percent
Op. Excellence
- Lean/Six Sigma|
  Making manufacturing great again would add $530 billion to GDP
  
  Digitalization, customization, and education will be key for propelling the industry forward, report suggests
  
  The U.S. manufacturing sector has weathered a bumpy road over the course of the past two decades – but successfully righting the country's industrial ship would mean an economic windfall of $530 billion, according to a new report from The McKinsey Global Institute. By utilizing new and technologically advanced design tools, adding greater emphasis to digital and online capabilities, offering more customization rather than focusing simply on mass production, and further embracing factory streamlining and automation, the report suggests manufacturing's footprint on the U.S. economy could expand 20 percent by 2025. Providing more resources to smaller manufacturers and implementing nationwide advanced manufacturing skills training…
  Full Story
  
  Recent
  
  Tesla purchases Minnesota-based Perbix, supplier of automation equipment
  
  Secret sauce for improving processes
  
  Lean performance: For no surprises, standardize it
  
  Kobe Steel, aluminum supplier to Japanese automakers, admits it falsified data
- Supply Chain|
  Trump's solar tariff could cost up to 23,000 U.S. jobs but boost domestic manufacturing
  
  Thirty percent tariff on imported panels changes the game for developers
  
  Over $2.5 billion in large installation projects have been stalled or cancelled due to President Trump’s newly imposed tariffs on imported solar panels, according to Reuters.The 30% tariff on imported panels, which President Trump announced in January, will last four years and decrease 5% each year. While the tariff may encourage investment in solar manufacturing stateside, it will cost up to 23,000 workers their jobs, Abigail Ross Hopper, president of the Solar Energy Industries Association, told The New York Times.Read the full story at fortune.com.
  Full Story
  
  Recent
  
  A steelworker's union on Trump's tariffs
  
  U.S. economy extends its hiring spree in May; 95,000 manufacturing jobs added so far this year
  
  Trump hits Canada, Mexico, EU with metal tariffs
  
  Can a 'small giants' philosophy help revitalize American manufacturing?
- Digital Manufacturing
  Software AG acquires technology scale-up TrendMiner
  
  TrendMiner enables domain experts, with an intuitive user interface, to analyze, monitor and predict the performance of manufacturing processes without any need for support
  
  Software AG today announced its acquisition of data analytics Scale-up, TrendMiner NV. Founded in 2008 and based in Hasselt, Belgium, TrendMiner specializes in visual data analytics for the manufacturing and process industry and will complement Software AG’s Internet of Things (IoT) and Industry 4.0 product portfolio.TrendMiner is an intuitive, web-based, self-service analytics platform for rapid-fire visualization of time series-based processes and asset data. It enables manufacturing companies and the process industries to quickly and easily recognize patterns and trends in their process data, identify production irregularities, and adapt necessary process adjustments early - without the need for support from IT specialists or data…
  Full Story
  
  Recent
  
  Siemens and Bentley Systems collaborate on Process Industries Academy initiative
  
  Five questions with Saar Yoskovitz, CEO of predictive maintenance specialist Augury
  
  Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama preparing for next generation engines
  
  Can a 'small giants' philosophy help revitalize American manufacturing?
Safety
- Industrial Safety and Security|
  Perspective: OSHA's most frequent violations and how you can address them
  
  Tackle these often-ignored trouble spots to better protect workers and avoid violations and penalties
  
  The top 10 violations recorded by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) - among them violations related to lockout/tagout, machine guarding, and powered industrial trucks - are fairly similar from 2015 to 2017. And the reason is that these are often-ignored trouble spots. Without a doubt, the most common noncompliances that I see are the employer has no written safety program required to meet the basic requirements of the standard, has failed to provide adequate relevant safety training, or has not enforced the standard.As an employer, you must have written safety programs specific to the OSHA standards that are relevant to your industry, and the job tasks in your workplace.Read the full perspective at…
  Full Story
  
  Recent
  
  Tesla workers say factory paint shop has had multiple fires
  
  After zero deaths in 2017, Caterpillar reports factory fatality in Wisconsin
  
  Forklift explosion at P&G plant in Louisiana kills worker
  
  21 injured after explosion at Texas chemical plant
- Electrical Safety|
  NFPA 70E labeling for a digital age
  
  Smart labels may be coming to a plant floor near you – here’s what you need to know.
  
  The advent of digital technologies is allowing for quicker, more-efficient, and safer work across a number of industries, and managers of plants and other facilities should take note: Digitization no longer means just implementing building…
  Full Story
  
  Recent
  
  Grace Engineered Products acquires Civionics
  
  To surge test or not to surge test
  
  Obsoleting the absence-of-voltage test?
  
  Is ineffective training compromising electrical safety at your plant?
- Arc Flash
  Perspective: How predictive maintenance fits into Industry 4.0
  
  Two key benefits of leveraging IIoT tools in the context of predictive maintenance are technical assistance and decentralized decision-making
  
  In the manufacturing space, IoT technology is a crucial enabler for predictive maintenance. Through the use of IoT sensors, smart factories are coming to life, with connected machines that can communicate with each other and with humans, who can take action when necessary. This technology can catch changes and faults that are unseen by the human eye. Instead of solving a problem after it happens, predictive maintenance will alert the system ahead of time, so humans (or machines) can take the necessary action to ensure no problem occurs at all. The two key criteria in the context of predictive maintenance are technical assistance and decentralized decision-making. Regarding the first, predictive maintenance drastically improves technical…
  Full Story
  
  Recent
  
  Vertiv sells ASCO to Schneider Electric
  
  How to improve the safety of your motor control centers
  
  Avoiding electrical hazards: Stay safe, not sorry - Part 3: How context-aware technology is helping protect workers
  
  Avoiding electrical hazards: Stay safe, not sorry - Part 2: How the IIoT is changing electrical safety
Automation
- Mobile Tools/HMI|
  CSIA releases Best Practices and Benchmarks Manual v5.0
  
  Manual is industry standard for successful management of a control system integration business, and acts as cornerstone of CSIA Certification program
  
  The Control System Integrators Association (CSIA) is pleased to announce the release of the Best Practices and Benchmarks Manual v 5.0. The CSIA Best Practices and Benchmarks Manual is the industry standard for successful management of a control system integration business. It is also the cornerstone of the CSIA Certification program and the tool against which the audit for Certification is measured. On an ongoing basis, the manual is tested by a committee of CSIA members, auditors and clients as part of a continuous review and improvement process.With version 5.0, the CSIA Best Practices and Benchmarks Manual has been updated to reflect new material, including a new chapter on cyber security. The entire manual was reviewed for…
  Full Story
  
  Recent
  
  Don't "set it and forget it" when it comes to your automation systems
  
  Build it better next time
  
  What to watch for in automation in 2018
  
  Microsoft adds location awareness to its Azure IoT app development platform
- Network Infrastructure|
  CSIA releases Best Practices and Benchmarks Manual v5.0
  
  Manual is industry standard for successful management of a control system integration business, and acts as cornerstone of CSIA Certification program
  
  The Control System Integrators Association (CSIA) is pleased to announce the release of the Best Practices and Benchmarks Manual v 5.0. The CSIA Best Practices and Benchmarks Manual is the industry standard for successful management of a control system integration business. It is also the cornerstone of the CSIA Certification program and the tool against which the audit for Certification is measured. On an ongoing basis, the manual is tested by a committee of CSIA members, auditors and clients as part of a continuous review and improvement process.With version 5.0, the CSIA Best Practices and Benchmarks Manual has been updated to reflect new material, including a new chapter on cyber security. The entire manual was reviewed for…
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- Controls|
  CSIA releases Best Practices and Benchmarks Manual v5.0
  
  Manual is industry standard for successful management of a control system integration business, and acts as cornerstone of CSIA Certification program
  
  The Control System Integrators Association (CSIA) is pleased to announce the release of the Best Practices and Benchmarks Manual v 5.0. The CSIA Best Practices and Benchmarks Manual is the industry standard for successful management of a control system integration business. It is also the cornerstone of the CSIA Certification program and the tool against which the audit for Certification is measured. On an ongoing basis, the manual is tested by a committee of CSIA members, auditors and clients as part of a continuous review and improvement process.With version 5.0, the CSIA Best Practices and Benchmarks Manual has been updated to reflect new material, including a new chapter on cyber security. The entire manual was reviewed for…
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- Services
  CSIA releases Best Practices and Benchmarks Manual v5.0
  
  Manual is industry standard for successful management of a control system integration business, and acts as cornerstone of CSIA Certification program
  
  The Control System Integrators Association (CSIA) is pleased to announce the release of the Best Practices and Benchmarks Manual v 5.0. The CSIA Best Practices and Benchmarks Manual is the industry standard for successful management of a control system integration business. It is also the cornerstone of the CSIA Certification program and the tool against which the audit for Certification is measured. On an ongoing basis, the manual is tested by a committee of CSIA members, auditors and clients as part of a continuous review and improvement process.With version 5.0, the CSIA Best Practices and Benchmarks Manual has been updated to reflect new material, including a new chapter on cyber security. The entire manual was reviewed for…
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  Three game-changers for the manufacturing industry in 2018
  
  Employee training and hiring a key incentive to locate Toyota-Mazda plant to Alabama
  
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Workforce
- Training and Career Development|
  Seminar announced on shutdown, turnaround, and outage optimization
  
  Marshall Institute shared roadmap for STO success in two public seminars in 2018, to help plant teams eliminate scope creep, and avoid the "me too" jobs that affect timeline and budget
  
  Marshall Institute, Inc. has released a new training course titled Shutdown, Turnaround, and Outage Optimization.Whether you call them shutdowns, turnarounds, or outages, the point is that you are extensively and invasively maintaining and repairing a line, system, unit, or even a plant. This is a resource and capital intensive project that can not only make or break your annual maintenance budget, but it can massively impact production targets.For the first time, Marshall Institute is sharing the roadmap for STO success in a public seminar, to help plant teams eliminate scope creep, and avoid the "me too" jobs that affect timeline and budget.This seminar is designed for the key roles in STO: managers, planners, schedulers, area…
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  Expanding and maintaining diversity in manufacturing: Ideas and best practices
  
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- STEM|
  Expanding and maintaining diversity in manufacturing: Ideas and best practices
  
  Where and how a company recruits matters, and the job isn't done when new hires walk through the door
  
  Jennifer Scanlon, president and CEO of building materials manufacturer USG Corp., can vouch for the wealth of career opportunities available in manufacturing to skilled, hard-working, eager-to-learn individuals."I've had at least five careers in USG" since joining the company as a VP for supply chain management and customer relationship management in 2003, Scanlon said in Chicago this month. "Manufacturing offers a tremendous variety of career paths." Last year, she noted, 160 USG employees changed roles internally for "better, more interesting jobs, advancing their careers."Jennifer Scanlon, president and CEO, USG Corp. That breadth of roles and career possibilities within the U.S. manufacturing industry today – whether a person wants…
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  Perspective: Increasing the ranks of women in manufacturing
  
  In search of workers, Connecticut manufacturers reach into high schools
  
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- Changing Workforce|
  Expanding and maintaining diversity in manufacturing: Ideas and best practices
  
  Where and how a company recruits matters, and the job isn't done when new hires walk through the door
  
  Jennifer Scanlon, president and CEO of building materials manufacturer USG Corp., can vouch for the wealth of career opportunities available in manufacturing to skilled, hard-working, eager-to-learn individuals."I've had at least five careers in USG" since joining the company as a VP for supply chain management and customer relationship management in 2003, Scanlon said in Chicago this month. "Manufacturing offers a tremendous variety of career paths." Last year, she noted, 160 USG employees changed roles internally for "better, more interesting jobs, advancing their careers."Jennifer Scanlon, president and CEO, USG Corp. That breadth of roles and career possibilities within the U.S. manufacturing industry today – whether a person wants…
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  How content are you in your job?
  
  In auto talent war, GM hires 9,000
  
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  Help (still) wanted: Manufacturers struggle to fill open jobs
- Outsourcing Services|
  Study: China really is to blame for millions of lost U.S. manufacturing jobs
  
  Upjohn Institute report suggests introduction of China into the global trading system is main culprit, not automation
  
  Millions of Americans who lost manufacturing jobs during the 2000s have long ”known” China was to blame, not robots. Evidently many academics who’ve studied the issue are finally drawing the same conclusion.For years economists have viewed the increased role of automation in the computer age as the culprit for some 6 million lost jobs from 1999 to 2010 — one-third of all U.S. manufacturing employment. Firms adopted new technologies to boost production, the thinking goes, and put workers out of the job in the process. Plants could make more stuff with fewer people.The study's findings boil down to this: The government for decades has vastly overestimated the growth of productivity in the American manufacturing sector. It’s been…
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  Recent
  
  Employee training and hiring a key incentive to locate Toyota-Mazda plant to Alabama
  
  Perspective: "Retrain or retreat" is the the next battlefield for U.S. manufacturing
  
  Case study: 19MW generator refurbished in 30 days
  
  Perspective: Automation is engineering the jobs out of maintenance-intensive power plants
- Leadership
  How content are you in your job?
  
  Plant Services' 2018 Workforce Survey finds the answer is "mostly," with some reservations, according to Thomas Wilk.
  
  The results of the 2018 Plant Services Workforce Survey are in, and you know what? Despite the scope and variety of challenges facing you and your facilities, I have to admit, you are a fairly content bunch.The survey data indicate that you’re…
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  Help (still) wanted: Manufacturers struggle to fill open jobs
  
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Power quality problems that might be plaguing your plant

Learn how to prevent the top causes of poor power quality.
Smart Industry 2017: What not to miss for maintenance and reliability professionals

Get the inside track on 4 upcoming MRO-centered highlights at next week's event
Adding a VFD? How to treat it like a VIP

Be aware of potential power quality problems on both the line and load sides.
Operational benefits of power system upgrades

How to retrofit older equipment with modern components.

News

How harnessing acoustics is creating a revolution in power plant maintenance
General Electric to cut 12,000 jobs in power division
Pentagon taps Silicon Valley firm for aircraft predictive maintenance
EASA electric motor repair accreditation program reaches milestone

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Fluke's 438-II Power Quality and Motor Analyzer monitors electrical and mechanical performance
CAS DataLoggers and AEMC's three-phase power quality analyzer travels anywhere
Epistron Eco power supply now in three-phase option
Fluke's 430 Series II three-phase power quality analyzers use an algorithm to measure energy waste

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Plant Services Webinar: Energy monitoring and power quality
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