MFG.com has reported the latest MFGWatch survey results for the 4^thquarter and they are both interesting and heartening in some areas.  The survey represents a cross section of industries including consumer products, machinery tools & equipment, textiles, aerospace, automotive, medical, and defense.  Here’s a quick view of the highlights:

• 53% of respondents reported growth in company sales with only 18% reporting a decline.
• 26% increased their staff, 57% stayed the same (but purchased more technology), and 14% reported a decrease in staff.
• 22% returned production into or closer to North America from a low-cost country while 69% did not

Does it seem like your maintenance staff is constantly putting out “fires?” Or that your production equipment is always running to failure requiring industrial electronics repair and causing unplanned work stoppages? 

Lean manufacturing may be the answer.  Lean manufacturing concepts aren’t new but they are gaining momentum…and for good reason. 

By implementing some lean manufacturing strategies, you can track equipment breakdowns, schedule preventive maintenance, and anticipate needs for maintenance parts.   Benefits include:

• Waste elimination
• Defect reduction
• Productivity maximization
• Engaging  your work force as a team

It’s that time of year again – thunderstorms and lightning strikes.  Lightning caused by storms can produce currents as high as 500 kiloamps and voltage up to 30,000 kilovolts.  At this voltage, your industrial electronic equipment is vulnerable to damage or even downright destruction.

Lighting strikes can even cause damage through  power surges called “transients” which happen when lightning strikes nearby hitting transmitting devices such as metallic plant equipment, pipes,  or wiring.  Even the magnetic field associated with lighting can cause damage to computers that  might show up days or weeks later.

Sweet!  The smell of economic improvement is in the air!  AP reports today that industrial production rose in December 2010 by the largest amount in five months which is a great surge of momentum to start 2011.

Activity at factories, mines and utilities increased 0.8 percent last month reports the Federal Reserve.  Overall industrial activity has risen 11 percent since bottoming out in June 2009.

The biggest indicator of industrial output is factory production which rose 0.4 percent, the sixth straight monthly increase. 

Although auto production dipped, computers, electronic productions, clothing, leather, chemicals and other products all made substantial gains.

Ah, our little green friends…the printed circuit board. Taken for granted until they fail, circuit boards are key to the operation of virtually everything these days. So if you are suspicious, or even absolutely certain, that your circuit board is the problem, you may need some advice and circuit board repair or replacement.

Always remember the Electronic Axis of Evil: Moisture, Heat, and Dirt. If you can avoid these, your circuit boards will last longer.

Four Top Reasons For Circuit Board Failure and Tips to Identify The Problems & Causes:

Not surprisingly, reliability ranked the most important criteria in purchasing industrial electronics according to a recent survey by Plant Engineering & Maintenance. 

Reliability was followed, in descending order, by quality, safety, maintenance, service, price, throughput, technology, noise, speed, and “green”.

Maintenance ranked 4th out of 11 so we know it’s pretty high on your list.  Nobody wants equipment that is difficult or excessively expensive to maintain.  Downtime is lost time and lost time is lost money.  

Save money in the long run by purchasing quality industrial electronic equipment with a good warranty.  And when that warranty runs out, or the OEM does not provide responsive service, send your repairs to a reliable expert. 

It was just a few months ago that I blogged about how to make a decision whether to repair or replace your industrial electronic equipment.  It’s a question many of you probably face every day. 

With the economy just beginning to climb out of the basement, saving money is a  high priority for all of us.  The pain of this recession will stick with us for a long while (I promise I will not get political here! That would be a whole ‘nother conversation.  LOL).  

Plant safety, work site safety, worker safety -  it seems we are hearing this daily now from plant engineers around the country.  It would appear that a cultural shift is in the wind and that safety attitudes and practices are changing – for the better.  There is a realization that a safe working environment is beneficial not only to employees but to the bottom line.

The concern is there on the part of  many CEO’s and managers but the question they often have is, “Where do we start?”   You can start by thinking outside the OSHA box.  Assuming you have already met the minimum OSHA standards, do a hazard assessment.  Look at past history, look at insurance forms, reports on injuries,  where have the injuries and illnesses taken place, ask your employees what could be done better. 

We’ve been listening to our customers and have made some useful changes to our website.  You will now find the ACS Industrial Services website even easier to navigate. 

 ”Bread-crumb trails” near the top of the pages will now let you easily keep track of the pages you’ve been to and want to revisit.  Check out our upgraded website at http://www.acsindustrial.com. 

We provide services for almost all types of industrial electronics including circuit board repair, LCD & CRT Monitor Repair, and PLC repair.

Visit the website and find out more about ACS Industrial Services and all we have to offer your company to save you time and money.  We are industry’s trusted repair resource!

Getting your industrial electronics repaired rather than buying new not only saves money, but is environmentally smart too.   Both green! 

One less circuit board potentially ending up in the local land fill does make a difference!

When your industrial electronics are damaged or defective, send them to ACS Industrial.  Let us help you make a difference – for the earth and for your pocketbook!

ACS Industrial repairs most types of industrial electronics …power supplies, circuit boards, encoders, drives, servo motors, stepper motors, monitors, PLC’s, test equipment. 

Visit our website at www.acsindustrial.com or call our courteous and helpful customer service representatives at 800-605-6419.