Operations

  • A Honeywell sign is displayed June 28, 2001 outside their offices in Murray Hill, NJ.
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    Spencer Platt via Getty Images
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    Honeywell to close another Ohio facility, lay off 66 workers

    The Fortune 500 aerospace and materials maker will begin the first round of layoffs Dec. 15.

    By • Sept. 27, 2023
  • A group of Bangladesh residents ride bikes across a bridge which has flooding.
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    David Greedy/Getty Images via Getty Images
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    Apparel manufacturers could lose $65B in export earnings due to climate change

    Increased flooding and extreme heat could have a sizeable financial impact on global fashion suppliers, according to a Cornell University report.

    By Laurel Deppen • Sept. 27, 2023
  • An automated assembly line in a vehicle manufacturing facility. Explore the Trendline➔
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    gorodenkoff via Getty Images
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    Trendline

    Automation in manufacturing operations

    Companies are investing in a variety of automation initiatives to enhance factory performance and save costs.

    By Manufacturing Dive staff
  • Pfizer's Rocky Mount, North Carolina drug facility after it was damaged by a July 2023 tornado.
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    Courtesy of Pfizer
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    Pfizer restarts production at damaged North Carolina site

    The pharma giant expects ongoing effects on its drug supply through at least mid-2024.

    By • Sept. 26, 2023
  • An aerial view of BorgWarner's Seneca, South Carolina facility.
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    Courtesy of BorgWarner
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    Auto supplier BorgWarner warns of potential impact if UAW strike expands

    For now the manufacturer expects modest effects as a handful of plants at the Big Three automakers stand idle. But that could worsen if workers at other plants strike.

    By Ben Unglesbee • Sept. 26, 2023
  • A row of 3M's Command Brand in red packaging on a store aisle.
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    Sara Samora/Manufacturing Dive
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    3M idles PFAS production at Belgium plant

    The chemical titan is weighing whether to temporarily pause or permanently end the manufacturing of affected products ahead of a planned phase-out by 2025.

    By • Sept. 26, 2023
  • Jim Farley (left), CEO of Ford, Bill Ford (center), Executive Chairman of Ford Motor Company, and Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer
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    Bill Pugliano via Getty Images
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    Ford reportedly pausing construction of Michigan EV plant

    The automaker broke the news a day before President Joe Biden heads to Michigan in support of the UAW strike.

    By • Sept. 26, 2023
  • A combine is displayed outside of Deere's Harvester Works factory where it is manufactured in East Moline, Illinois.
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    Tim Boyle via Getty Images
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    Deere lays off more than 200 workers in Illinois

    The agriculture equipment giant is making changes to balance its production workforce with the needs of its Harvester Works factory in East Moline.

    By Nathan Owens • Sept. 25, 2023
  • The inside of a PLZ manufacturing facility.
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    Permission granted by PLZ Corp.
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    PLZ CCO Kathy Elkey talks technology integration in contract manufacturing

    The executive is using AI and automation to boost efficiency in the aerosol and chemical production business.

    By Rebecca Heilweil • Sept. 22, 2023
  • Contract drug manufacturer Samsung Biologics' fourth plant in Songdo, South Korea.
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    Courtesy of Samsung Biologics
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    Samsung Biologics and Bristol Myers Squibb expand partnership

    The $241 million agreement includes large-scale production of an antibody cancer drug substance at the contract drug maker’s largest South Korea facility.

    By • Sept. 22, 2023
  • Bottles of Clorox bleach on a supermarket shelf.
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Clorox warns of product shortages a month after disclosing cyberattack

    The household product maker expects to return to automated order processing starting next week, with plans to ramp up production over time.

    By David Jones • Sept. 20, 2023
  • Hershey, Reese's
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    Christopher Doering/Manufacturing Dive
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    Hershey expands executive ranks with first chief technology officer

    Deepak Bhatia, who previously worked at Amazon, brings expertise in automation, supply chain and artificial intelligence to the candy maker.

    By Christopher Doering • Sept. 20, 2023
  • A white building with rectangle windows and a Joby signs on each side and an airplane on the left side.
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    Courtesy of Joby Aviation.

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    Joby Aviation to build $500M Ohio air taxi plant

    The facility will build, test and fly eVTOL air taxis that will be used for commercial passenger flights.

    By • Sept. 20, 2023
  • United Auto Workers members rally.
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    Bill Pugliano/Stringer/Getty Images North America via Getty Images
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    UAW rejects Stellantis’ 21% pay raise proposal

    The White House is sending a team to Detroit early this week to help end the United Auto Workers strike against the Big Three, according to news reports.

    By Michael Brady • Sept. 19, 2023
  • Silver industrial tools for milling and drilling machines on a white background.
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    kool99 for iStock via Getty Images
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    Kennametal to close up to 5 plants as it seeks $100M in cost savings

    The machinery maker plans to keep investing in factories and use automation where it makes sense, executives said.

    By • Sept. 19, 2023
  • An upclose of a small pile of chopped up recycled metal laying on a white ground.
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    Courtesy of BASF SE.

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    BASF, Nanotech Energy team up to produce lithium-ion batteries with recycled metals

    The companies will also work with American Battery Technology Co. and Toda Advanced Materials to build a North America-based battery value chain.

    By • Sept. 18, 2023
  • A dark blue building with glass on the front and a white Press Glass sign at its top left corner.
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    Courtesy of Press Glass.

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    Press Glass to invest $155.3M in Virginia plant expansion

    The investment is about 10 miles away from the Poland-based glass manufacturer’s North America headquarters and factory.

    By • Sept. 15, 2023
  • Two people dressed in business clothes stand in the foreground of a factory setting. The person on the left is pointing at something, the person on the right following along.
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    danchooalex via Getty Images
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    Recession fears are abating, but manufacturers are still pessimistic: NAM survey

    While many executives worry about a weak economy and tight labor market, National Association of Manufacturers Chief Economist Chad Moutray said he thinks the industry is turning a corner.

    By • Sept. 15, 2023
  • Four white rectangle-shaped Schench Process flags hung vertically in front of a five-story building.
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    Courtesy of Schenck Process.

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    Hillenbrand acquires Schenck Process’s food, materials business for $730M

    The deal is part of the machinery maker’s strategy to grow its plastics, food and recycling businesses.

    By • Sept. 14, 2023
  • Landing gear (wheels) of Boeing's 787-8 Dreamliner on a runway as a person in a yellow vest walks past.
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    Adrien Daste / Safran

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    Boeing supplier plans $65M Kentucky plant upgrade

    Safran Landing Systems is purchasing new equipment for the Walton site to meet the rising demand for its carbon composite brakes.

    By • Sept. 13, 2023
  • Electric vehicles at an EV charging station.
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    EXTREME-PHOTOGRAPHER via Getty Images
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    Southeast a ‘powerhouse’ of EV manufacturing but utility investment lags rest of nation: report

    “We're going to do a lot of education and outreach to our regulators,” said Stan Cross, electric transportation policy director for the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy.

    By Robert Walton • Sept. 13, 2023
  • The black interior front seats of Hyundai's 2024 Santa Cruz XRT.
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    Courtesy of Hyundai Motor Group.

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    Hyundai’s Georgia EV supplier network adds 3 more manufacturers

    Since the automaker broke ground last year, 11 investments by the company’s partners have totaled over $2 billion in the state.

    By • Sept. 12, 2023
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    Scott Olson via Getty Images
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    JM Smucker to buy Twinkies manufacturer Hostess Brands for $5.6B

    The purchase will deepen the jam and peanut butter maker’s presence in growing categories and consumer occasions focused on convenience.

    By Christopher Doering • Sept. 12, 2023
  • A fiber box with partitions to protect glass containers
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    tsingha25 via Getty Images
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    Sonoco adds 15 facilities in $330M WestRock deal

    The deal adds 1,100 employees across the U.S., Mexico, Chile and Argentina and expands the company's recycled fiber-based packaging capacity.

    By Cole Rosengren • Sept. 11, 2023
  • Illinois and Gotion officials on stage standing behind a podium.
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    Courtesy of Gov. JB Pritzker’s Facebook page.

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    Gotion to establish $2B Illinois battery plant

    The China-based manufacturer plans to create 2,600 jobs at the site, set to open next year.

    By • Sept. 11, 2023
  • An engineer checks and controls welding robotics automatic arms machine in intelligent factory automotive industrial with monitoring system software.
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    ipopba via Getty Images
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    Opinion

    5 ways manufacturers can execute on innovation

    At a time of immense change in the industry, companies should take manageable steps to experiment with new ideas and implement operational changes. 

    By Jerry Gootee • Sept. 11, 2023