GREENE, NY—The Greene, New York, operation consists of 28 departments and over 2,900 employees who submitted at least one kaizen. More than 80% of kaizens submitted have so far been implemented. In total, 5,427 days were saved by eliminating waste and improving processes through kaizens.

In the interview, Barnett says Boeing began cutting corners during his employment by removing inspection operators and experts from assembly lines.

LEMONT, IL—In an effort to improve medical isotope production, scientists at Argonne National Laboratory have embarked on a project that harnesses the power of computer-driven robots. The project aims to increase safety and reproducibility, while driving down cost.

PEACHTREE CITY, GA—A German drug packaging and medical device maker says it will expand in suburban Atlanta, investing $88 million and hiring more than 200 new employees.

KALAMAZOO, MI—Stryker recently announced that the first shoulder arthroplasty surgeries using Blueprint Mixed Reality (MR) Guidance have been successfully completed by Dr. Joaquin Sanchez-Sotelo, MD, PhD, Consultant and Professor of Orthopedic Surgery at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., and Dr. George Athwal at St. Joseph’s Health Care London, Canada.

ATHENRY, Ireland—DexCom's new facility is expected to create more than 1,000 jobs and provide a steady supply of real-time continuous glucose monitors (rtCGM) in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA).

SENDAI, Japan—A research group from Tohoku University has replicated human-like variable speed walking using a musculoskeletal model - one steered by a reflex control method reflective of the human nervous system. It's a breakthrough in biomechanics and robotics that sets a new benchmark in understanding human movement and paves the way for innovative robotic technologies.

TROY TOWNSHIP, OH—On January 19, First Solar announced that it acquired a 1.2 million square foot facility in Troy Township, Ohio.

Hyundai recently opened a facility in Singapore that is a 21st century version of Fiat’s famous Lingotto assembly plant in Turin, Italy, complete with a banked rooftop test track.

FRANKFURT, Germany—The United States ranks 10th in the world in robot density, the number of operational industrial robots relative to the number of employees.