A serious lack of standards is hindering high-volume deployment of new technology in the auto industry.
But, two leading standards organizations, the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) and Underwriters Laboratories (UL), recently announced plans to create industry guidelines.

Kudos keep rolling in for Ford Motor Co. these days. The automaker recently reported that it is has turned a corner and is profitable once again-third quarter profits were up 5 percent. The company also got good news from Consumer Reports, which proclaimed Ford as “the only Detroit automaker with world-class reliability.”

Anyone who’s ever applied lean manufacturing principles knows that Toyota Motor Corp. is like the sun. The lean world revolves around the Japanese automaker. No other manufacturer is more synonymous

A steel casket is more than just a large metal box. The 2009 Assembly Plant of the Year uses many different manual and automated assembly processes to create a dignified product with an elegant look.

The casket industry traces its roots back to ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia, where wood, cloth and paper were used to make sarcophagus-style burial boxes. In the United States, casket manufacturing developed in the late 19th century. Today, it is a $1.2 billion industry and Batesville Casket Co. is the leading manufacturer.

Safety is something that’s taken very seriously at the 2009 Assembly Plant of the Year. In fact, Batesville Manchester’s large water tower sports an outline of the state of Tennessee with the slogan “Volunteer for Safety.” Communication and education also play a key role in the process.

The 2009 Assembly Plant of the Year strives to be a lean and green facility. Batesville Manchester has an active environmental program that focuses on waste disposal and efficient use of energy.

By implementing lean manufacturing initiatives, Batesville Casket Co.'s assembly plant in Manchester, TN, has streamlined its operations. Assemblers use continuous improvement activities and lean tools to identify and eliminate waste in the production process.

Demand for ophthalmic devices that enable minimally invasive surgery will grow dramatically during the next four years. In particular, the implantable device sector will surpass the market share of contact lenses, glasses and ophthalmic drugs, predicts a new study by Frost & Sullivan Inc.