ISM Survey Shows How COVID-19 Effects Worsened for Businesses

A survey by the Institute for Supply Management indicates the supply chain impact of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) worsened over March. ISM released its first survey results on March 11. Results of a followup survey were released last week. In early March, 80 percent of respondents said their organizations would have some impact from COVID-19 disruptions. In the second survey, almost all respondents (95 percent) said they would be or already had been...

Toolholding Systems: Stay With Tried and True? Or Go With Something New?

Many job shops hold onto traditional, inexpensive tooling systems. ER collets and Weldon flats are tried and true; they work and are proven. At the same time, newer, advanced machining technology, such as multi-axis machines, may perform better when newer, advanced (and more expensive) toolholders are deployed. As a result, job shops face more choices and more analysis is needed.

Cutting Tool Orders Fall in February

U.S. cutting tool consumption totaled $188.2 million in February, according to the U.S. Cutting Tool Institute (USCTI) and AMT – The Association For Manufacturing Technology. That was down 4.2 percent from January and 8.5 percent from February 2019. The figures are from data reported by companies participating in the Cutting Tool Market Report collaboration.

Ford Expects to Report $2 Billion Net Loss for First Quarter

Ford Motor Co. said in a regulatory filing that it expects to report a net loss of about $2 billion for the first quarter, The Detroit News said. The automaker also said it would issue additional debt to raise another $8 billion in cash. Ford, like other automakers, has been slammed by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). The company previously said it expects...

Survey: Quality Now Seen as Growth Driver

Companies are now interested in quality as a driver of growth, according to results of a survey conducted by ETQ, a provider of management solutions. Respondents indicated that quality initiatives result in "a significant return on investment," ETQ said. The company commissioned the study to uncover trends about quality management.

How Bright Is the Future of Automation? Very

Lights-out manufacturing, where robots work in autonomy for extended periods of time, is a reality. "Generally, robots work more slowly but more consistently than humans," writes Mark Howard, United States country manager for EU Automation. "They don’t get tired, bored, distracted or sick." But Howard says...