Experts are calling Industry 4.0 the fourth Industrial Revolution (hence the 4.0). The concept represents a push towards manufacturing digitization that experts say will deliver massive improvements in efficiency, costs and profits in as little as just a few years.
Danish physicist Niels Bohr once said, “Every great and deep difficulty bears in itself its own solution. It forces us to change our thinking in order to find it.” Bohr’s work was instrumental in the discovery of the electron, an elusive subatomic particle whose location, even now, we can only describe in terms of a field of probability.
A proactive approach to employee training is the foundation to Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) compliance. By creating a comprehensive, standardized program and keeping an eye out for common mistakes, companies can foster a proactive quality culture that prevents problems at their source.
ISO 13485 for Medical Device Quality Management Systems is growing in popularity, with the number of certified facilities jumping 13% from 2015 to 2016.
When it comes to solving problems that arise in manufacturing, identifying the cause of what went wrong is top priority. But what about once you’ve pinpointed the root cause of the issue? That’s when the real work starts, and you have to make a corrective action plan capable of fully resolving the problem.
You hear it all the time on Car Talk, the classic radio show where mechanics Tom and Ray (aka “Click and Clack”) dispense hilarious advice to clueless car owners. The caller’s car was smoking for months before breaking down. Or the driver taped over a flashing temperature light, continuing to drive her dad’s car until it died altogether.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires formal hazard assessments for situations such as confined space work or when a job calls for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Conducting a Job Safety Analysis (JSA) is one way to meet these requirements, and to make any dangerous job less risky.
Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) such as carpal tunnel syndrome and herniated discs are some of the most common workplace injuries. According to the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), MSDs account for 34% of lost-time injuries and every $1 in $3 spent on workers’ compensation costs.
Many of us grew up with the old-fashioned food pyramid: 6 servings of grains, 5 servings of fruits and veggies, 3 servings of dairy and so on. Today, we have MyPlate, where the basic concepts behind the old food pyramid still appear to hold sway.
Research shows a full 70 percent of organizational change projects fail, a statistic which has remained at the same level since the 1970s. It’s one reason why so many companies are hesitant to implement changes, even when the potential upside is big.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires companies to validate any software used in design, manufacture, packaging, labeling, storage, installation and servicing of finished devices. Companies must also use change control to ensure changes to IT systems don’t create unintended risks.
