Articles & Interviews

It's Just Business

It's just business: Manufacturing moves from Boeing, Toyota Material Handling, Motion, and more

March 13, 2025
In this industry roundup, we look at how manufacturers are advancing their business practices for greater success.
Maintenance Mindset

Maintenance Mindset: How generative AI could transform manufacturing maintenance and operations

March 12, 2025
Learn how retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) models can help large language models produce better, customized results.
It's Just Business

It's just business: Manufacturing moves from Dow, Goodyear, Swagelok, and more

March 7, 2025
In this industry roundup, we investigate the factors influencing manufacturers' key business decisions.
Shaft Alignment

How advanced alignment systems boost manufacturing efficiency and reduce downtime

March 6, 2025
Sheila Kennedy says developments in alignment technology are a boon to manufacturers.
Maintenance Mindset

Maintenance Mindset: Honoring the people and programs advancing plant reliability and operations

March 5, 2025
Plant Services has partnered with the University of Tennessee’s Reliability and Maintainability Center on the Reliability of Everything Culture Improvement Awards.
Leadership Skills

Navigating the hero’s journey in plant management: A tale of success and setbacks

March 4, 2025
Joe Kuhn says the road to excellence is not always the easy course with challenges and enemies.
It's Just Business

It's just business: Manufacturing moves from ABB, Motion, Cofactr, and more

Feb. 27, 2025
In this industry roundup, we study the strategies driving success for manufacturing companies of all sizes.
Maintenance Mindset

Maintenance Mindset: Integrating AI and human expertise for effective oil analysis

Feb. 26, 2025
AI can address surface-level efficiency, but it requires human insight to ensure it is used ethically and responsibly.
Skill Up

Skill up: Future-proofing the manufacturing workforce — How education and industry are joining forces

Feb. 24, 2025
In this news roundup, see how education and industry are working together to provide students with the necessary skills to thrive in a rapidly evolving sector.
It's Just Business

It's just business: Manufacturing moves from Stellar Industries, Silfab Solar, Peak Technology, and more

Feb. 21, 2025
In this industry roundup, we investigate how leaders are driving change in the manufacturing sector.
New Industry Partnerships

New industry partnerships: Intel, Honeywell, Rivian, and more

Feb. 20, 2025
In this business roundup, see how collaborative partnerships among manufacturers are fostering innovation, optimizing production processes, and increasing competitiveness.
Maintenance Mindset

Maintenance Mindset: 7 industry innovations, led by STEM

Feb. 19, 2025
U.S. government agencies, universities and laboratories are working to advance U.S. semiconductor manufacturing and technologies like fusion energy and material sciences.
It's Just Business

It's just business: Manufacturing moves from Honeywell, Baker Manufacturing, MetOx, and more

Feb. 13, 2025
In this industry roundup, we take a look at the innovative ways manufacturing companies are reshaping business practices.
Industrial Bearings

Maintenance Mindset: What is the CBS program, and how can it boost your bearing knowledge?

Feb. 12, 2025
The Certified Bearing Specialist program offers a comprehensive certification to enhance bearing knowledge for professionals in sales, distribution, and maintenance.
Skill Up

Skill up: Manufacturers and universities unite to train the workforce of tomorrow

Feb. 10, 2025
In this news roundup, see how hands-on training and academic courses equip students with the skills needed for today’s advanced manufacturing jobs.
It's Just Business

It's just business: Manufacturing moves from Siemens, PPG, Pentair, and more

Feb. 7, 2025
In this industry roundup, we dive into the business decisions that keep manufacturers competitive.
Electrical Systems

Common installation issues with medium-voltage cabling

Feb. 6, 2025
Proper installation makes a huge difference on cabling reliability, from bend radius management to not routing MV cable next to energized components.
Maintenance Mindset

Maintenance Mindset: It's the end of oil analysis as we know it … and I feel fine

Feb. 5, 2025
Discover the potential of AI in oil analysis while heeding T.S. Eliot's cautionary message.
Materials Handling

Materials handling innovations lift industry expectations to new heights

Feb. 3, 2025
Sheila Kennedy collects the advanced technologies that add simplicity and efficiency to manufacturing logistics.
Maintenance Mindset

Maintenance Mindset: What’s next for Trump’s tariffs, and how quickly will manufacturers feel the effects?

Jan. 29, 2025
Managing Editor Anna Townshend goes down the tariff rabbit hole to explore the process and presidential authority for enacting new global tariffs.
Artificial Intelligence

3 ways to align leadership and maintenance teams for AI success

Jan. 28, 2025
New study shows that manufacturers are increasingly turning to AI as a critical enabler of efficiency and productivity.
Leadership Skills

From worker to leader: Navigating the transition to frontline supervisor

Jan. 27, 2025
Joe Anderson maps out the essential capabilities and critical skills required for effective supervision.
Technology

Using Technology to Improve Productivity and Fill Talent Gaps

Jan. 24, 2025
This article will look at how several North Dakota-based manufacturers are using grants to leverage technology to improve productivity and fill talent gaps.
Planned Maintenance

Why quick plant floor walks miss key insights: The case for focused observation

Jan. 23, 2025
Jeff Shiver says the benefits of extended observation include identifying and rectifying issues that traditional walk-throughs may miss.
Maintenance Mindset

Maintenance Mindset: Manufacturers prepare for impact of new U.S. tariff policy

Jan. 22, 2025
With a planned 25% tariff on imports from Canada and Mexico, and potential wider implementation of a 'universal tariff,' manufacturers are preparing for significant operational...
Captain Unreliability

Corporate bureaucracy: The unsung hero of endless meetings and paperwork

Jan. 21, 2025
The Captain reminds us that if everyone provides input on a project, then no one can be held accountable!
Planning and Scheduling

The real dollar value of planning: How to turn maintenance time into money

Jan. 20, 2025
Doc Palmer crunches the numbers to identify the economic impact of proper planning and scheduling in maintenance work.
Maintenance Mindset

Maintenance Mindset: Why oil analysis fails for most — but automation can change that

Jan. 15, 2025
The shift towards automation and AI in oil analysis is already happening, and will move much of this work out of the lab and back onsite.
Fluid Handling

Choosing the right fluid handling equipment for your plant

Jan. 14, 2025
Sheila Kennedy says innovative technologies and systems target reliability, efficiency, and predictability.
Leadership Skills

Are real-time KPIs helping or hurting manufacturing performance?

Jan. 10, 2025
Joe Kuhn argues that proper time span of control can stop too much focus on metrics and emergency work.