Making a good first impression is important for any business. So if your conference room or meeting space features worn, outdated or unappealing tables, chairs and other furniture, what is it telling the customers you bring there? Having an appealing conference room that defines your company’s mission is an easy and affordable way to build … Read more
What began as a chemical spill has landed a West Virginia manufacturing company in hot water. While the ban on consuming water from the public water supply has been lifted, residents of Charleston, West Virginia — the state’s capital — continue to report that the water coming from their taps has a distinct licorice-like smell. According … Read more
The way consumers are buying goods is changing due to the convenience and competitiveness of Internet shopping. Companies today need to find affordable ways to get their products to customers. But can these also be environmentally sustainable? According to a recent white paper entitled, “Packaging and the Internet” that was issued by the Industry Council … Read more
As the Midwest and other parts of the US suffer through some of the worst winter weather in decades, it’s not too early to begin planning your Spring planting. Planting flowers, landscaping public areas and other beautification projects not only can make your facility look better, it can also increase your workers’ productivity, improve the … Read more
For most people, WiFi means something that allows them to stream movies or music to their tablet or laptop at their local Starbucks or access their Facebook from their smart phone while flying in a WiFi-equipped commercial airliner. But WiFi — which is actually an abbreviation of “wireless fidelity” — is becoming more commonplace, especially … Read more
Goldman Sachs and the private US equity firm KKR announced recently that a joint holding company they own is selling its 10.8 percent share in KION, the world’s second largest manufacturer of forklifts after Toyota. The announcement comes on the heels of the 2012 purchase of a 25% stake in KION by Weichai Power, an … Read more
While it is normal to occasionally feel tired or drowsy after doing physically or mentally strenuous work over a long period of time, when that tiredness turns into fatigue it can threaten both the health of the workers and the productivity of the business. Fatigue is the acute state of tiredness that leads to mental … Read more
The human ear is an incredible machine. It detects noises by converting sound waves into nerve impulses which the brain then interprets. These sound waves are produced when air is mechanically disturbed. The ear measures sound by it’s frequency and intensity. Frequency is the high or low pitch of a particular sound and is measured … Read more
Despite their 19th Century technology, pallets remain one of the most important tools in the supply chain. Every year, billions of products are packed onto pallets and transported worldwide in trucks, trains, planes and barges. But what does the future hold for pallets? And will they continue to play such a central role in materials … Read more
Forklifts and other materials handling vehicles are enormously powerful machines that can weigh upwards of several tons. As a result, they have the potential to be one of the most dangerous pieces of equipment in any warehouse, manufacturing facility or industrial setting. According to the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration, there are approximately 35,000 forklift … Read more
