Special Reports - Articles - Page 4

2020 Capital Spending Survey: Cautious Optimism

With a new presidential administration and an end to COVID in sight, manufacturers are ready to invest in their assembly lines.

John Sprovieri

December 4, 2020

Slowly but surely, U.S. manufacturing is recovering from the pandemic-related slowdown.

2020 Assembly Plant of the Year: There’s No Looking Back at Murakami

The Campbellsville, KY, plant excels at continuous improvement and workforce development

Austin Weber

October 6, 2020

Every motorist uses rearview mirrors whenever they get behind the wheel. In fact, most people look at them every few seconds as they drive. However, few ever give those ubiquitous devices much thought.

ASSEMBLY Capital Spending Report: Capital Spending to Increase

ASSEMBLY Capital Spending Report 2019: Manufacturers Continue to Invest in Technology

Despite some headwinds, manufacturers will continue to invest in assembly technology

John Sprovieri

December 9, 2019

In September, Toyota announced that it will invest $391 million in its truck assembly plant in San Antonio. Hyundai announced that it is investing nearly $300 million in its factory in Montgomery, AL. Brake manufacturer Bendix Spicer began construction on a $65 million expansion of its assembly plant Bowling Green, KY. And, automotive supplier Hirotec Group said it will invest $48 million to build a new assembly plant in Fayetteville, TN.

2019 Assembly Plant of the Year: Refrigerator Production Heats Up at GE Appliances

Lean manufacturing and vertical integration thrive in Decatur, AL.

Austin Weber

October 1, 2019

Refrigerators are one of the only appliances found in nearly every type of home, whether it's an apartment in suburban Atlanta, a high-rise condominium in downtown Chicago, a beach house in Hawaii or a trailer in Texas. The humble refrigerator is also the hardest working household appliance. Day and night, it's constantly running to keep all types of food and beverages cool, fresh or frozen.

ASSEMBLY Capital Spending Report 2018: Spending Increases due to Economic Growth and Tax-Cuts

Spurred by tax cuts and economic growth, manufacturers will continue to invest in their assembly operations.

John Sprovieri

December 6, 2018

The past year brought blockbuster headlines for U.S. manufacturing. Taiwanese electronics giant Foxconn unveiled plans to build a $10 billion assembly plant in Wisconsin that would make liquid-crystal display panels and employ as many as 13,000 people.

2018 Assembly Plant of the Year: Ford Shifts Flexible Assembly Into High Gear

The Van Dyke transmission plant excels at high-volume, high-mix production.

Austin Weber

October 2, 2018

One of the top transmission assembly plants in the world is Ford Motor Co.'s Van Dyke facility in Sterling Heights, MI. It's part of a network of Ford factories that mass-produce axles, engines and other power train components used in the company's cars and trucks.

State of the Profession 2018: Smart Factories Demand Smarter Engineers

Staying ahead of the curve is more important than ever

Austin Weber

July 9, 2018

Increasing demand for smart devices and embedded intelligence is driving manufacturers in a variety of industries to invest in new production tools and technologies. Additive manufacturing, advanced sensors, augmented reality, cloud-based computing, collaborative robots and digital twins are just a few of the many trends transforming factory floors today.

ASSEMBLY Capital Spending Report 2017: Capital Spending Continues to Increase

With the economy firing on all cylinders, our annual Capital Equipment Spending Survey predicts continued growth in investment.

John Sprovieri

December 1, 2017

U.S. manufacturing continued to roll in 2017. Want proof? Look no further than Toyota Motor Corp. In September, the world’s largest automaker announced that it will invest $374 million at five U.S. factories.

2017 Assembly Plant of the Year: AGCO Leads the Field With Lean Technology

Wearable devices help build better tractors in Jackson, MN.

Austin Weber

October 4, 2017

JACKSON, MN--Farmers never take a day off. Nor do their tractors. Growers rely on their machines to plow, plant, till, spray, bale and harvest a wide variety of crops in all sorts of conditions.

Special Report: State of the Profession Report 2017

Digital tools and smart technologies spark a new era in manufacturing.

Austin Weber

July 5, 2017

The era of digital manufacturing, Industry 4.0 and smart factories is here. It promises to improve productivity, drive operating efficiencies and transform the way many types of products are mass-produced. Benefits include optimized efficiency and reduced assembly line errors.