The use of robots in distribution centers is expected to ramp up substantially in the coming decade, but a leading industry analyst said recently that the first wave will probably look more like driverless forklifts than R2D2 or The Terminator. Tom Bonkenburg — a partner with St. Onge Co., a leading consultancy firm that works … Read more
Depending on your work environment, you may or may not already allow personalization of workspace. For the longest time, particularly in open offices where everything can be seen, facilities managers have discouraged personalization. There is the idea that a neat, orderly environment with identical workspaces promotes efficiency – even though studies over the years have … Read more
In anticipation of a record number of packages this holiday season, the US Postal Service announced earlier this month that — for the first time ever — it will be making deliveries to homes and businesses in major cities and high volume areas seven days per week until Christmas. Every day mail delivery began Monday … Read more
Deep in the chiseled, rugged steppes of Lemhi Pass in the Beaverhead Mountains — a portion of the Bitterroot Range that straddles the border of Idaho and Montana — lies the Last Chance mine. In the 1950s, the Last Chance was first worked as part of the US Defense Department’s Minerals Exploration Administration. But by … Read more
As the US economy recovers and new construction rises, the use of compaction rammers is becoming more common. Rammers are used to compact soil before building materials are placed on top of it. They look almost like jack hammers, except they have a flat plate that impacts with the ground rather than a drill bit. … Read more
Two of the biggest shippers in the US — UPS and FedEx — plan to start charging based on the dimensions of a parcel rather than using the traditional weight/distance formula that has been an industry standard for more than 80 years. The change is forcing companies such as e-retailers, to find new, more efficient … Read more
You would think that the recent drop in fuel prices would mean that the price of shipping freight would also go down or at least stay the same. You would be wrong. Three more carriers have announced general rate increases in recent weeks: Con-way Freight, ABF Freight and FedEx Freight. They join UPS, which recently … Read more
Traditionally, engineers live and work in an abstract world that is composed of mathematical equations, physical laws, and other academic entities. Operators of heavy equipment like bucket loaders and dump trucks have a better understanding of how materials as coal, ores and soil actually behave and “feel” in real world applications. New co-simulation software created … Read more
A few years ago, trying to emulate the Japanese style of business was all the rage. A lot of what was brought over from corporate folks going on trips to Japan has faded in and out, and not really taken hold. One thing that has taken hold, and is a recommended idea for any business … Read more
Officials at Central Transport found out the hard way that when inspectors from the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration order you to make changes to improve safety at your trucking terminal, you should probably do it. On October 23, the federal regulatory agency hit the trucking firm with a fine of $145,420 for multiple … Read more
