Remote work: How manufacturers are experimenting in a hands-on industry

Manufacturers are strategizing how to integrate work-from-home policies to boost retention, but doing so is tricky in an industry that requires in-person labor.

JSW Steel investing $110M to upgrade Houston-area plant

The funds will renovate the Baytown, Texas, facility to produce monopile “clean steel” plates for the expanding U.S. offshore wind energy sector.

Jeanologia opens garment tech hub in Miami

The Spain-based company anticipates that 10% of textile production will return to the U.S. within the next five years.

Italy-based Westrafo to build its first US transformer plant

The Ohio medium transformer manufacturing facility will have an output of 12 gigawatts per year starting in 2027.

DOE allocates $1.7B for auto factory conversions

Eleven shuttered or at-risk facilities in eight states will be converted to support electric vehicle manufacturing.

Employer support for flexible work remains strong: SHRM

Employers should streamline leave policies to address employee needs, the Society for Human Resource Management said.

BE&K to build $4.1B Novo Nordisk facility in North Carolina

The project will boost the drugmaker’s production of the diabetes medication Ozempic and encompass 1.4 million square feet across 10 buildings.

White House to open $1.6B CHIPS-funded R&D competition

Winners will receive awards of up to $150 million to improve domestic semiconductors’ system performance and function through advanced packaging.

3M CFO to resign at month’s end

Monish Patolawala is leaving to begin his post as the CFO and EVP at food and beverage manufacturer ADM on Aug. 1. 

FTC noncompete ban partially blocked by Texas judge

Judge Ada Brown held that the agency violated the Administrative Procedural Act and exceeded its statutory authority.

Updated July 12, 2024

Boeing deliveries improve but remain sluggish

The aircraft maker delivered only 92 commercial aircraft as the Federal Aviation Administration continues its monthly 38 production cap.

UniQure outsources Hemgenix manufacturing operations

The gene therapy developer plans to sell its Lexington, Massachusetts, facility to Genezen, a contract manufacturer that specializes in viral vector production.

Novo to spend $4B on US plant, adding to obesity drug production push

The planned facility in North Carolina is Novo’s latest multibillion-dollar investment in the manufacturing of weight loss drugs, demand for which continues to outstrip supply.

NorSun to invest $620M in first US solar facility

The Norway-based company will work with Silfab Solar to supply the manufacturing plant in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Enso to build $500M carbon-neutral EV tire factory

The London-based startup aims to phase out fossil fuel-based raw materials from its tires by 2030.

BMW expands South Carolina plant operations

The automaker opened a $200 million press shop at its Spartanburg facility ahead of its X3 SUV launch.

Boeing will plead guilty to defrauding FAA

The aircraft maker accepted the Department of Justice’s agreement as crash victim families vehemently oppose it, calling it a “sweetheart deal.”

Manufacturing costs to watch in the second half of 2024

Uncertainty in the economy is causing manufacturers to tighten their belts, as logistics and supply costs remain vulnerable.

WestRock breaks ground on corrugated box ‘superplant’ in Wisconsin

The "highly automated" Pleasant Prairie facility is one of the packaging maker's largest investments and strategically located to serve the Midwest.

American Giant, Walmart launch US-made July 4 T-shirts

The retail giant is partnering with the 100% American-made apparel manufacturer to sell in 1,700 stores across the country.

OSHA proposes rule to protect workers from extreme heat

The standard would require employers to provide water and rest breaks when high heat creates a hazardous work environment indoors or outdoors.

Chemours resumes production at Mexico plant

The chemical maker resumed titanium dioxide production at its Altamira facility after Tropical Storm Alberto brought relief amid the country’s ongoing drought.

Understanding the impact of maintenance and reliability on ROI

Manufacturers should use data and clear KPI metrics to help maintain optimal overall equipment effectiveness, writes ABS Consulting’s Tim Gilmer. 

Rogue Valley Microdevices receives $6.7M in CHIPS funding

The federal investment will nearly triple the company’s manufacturing capacity and support its Palm Bay, Florida, facility.

Agco to lay off 6% of workforce, citing ‘weakening demand’

The farm equipment maker expects to cut its salaried workforce signicantly just days after disclosing some production in Kansas will move to Mexico.