Author: Peggy Smedley
Manufacturing is changing because of a number of factors, one of which is the invasion of AI (artificial intelligence) into materials. Called materials informatics, this is the application of data-driven methods such as machine learning to the field of materials science—and it is going to change manufacturing processes in the future. Personally, this is very intriguing, as we put more data into manufacturing and information for good. Hopefully we are not talking data for data sake. Let me state this upfront. Sometimes we are our own enemies as we get lost in the data and the hyperbole, but if we…
When the IIJA (Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act) was announced in 2021, Americans were promised a lot. Now, we are beginning to see this unfold across the country. But will it help solve some of the challenges we face when it comes to EVs (electric vehicles)? It’s still a big question mark for many so let’s take a look at what is coming. I recently had an opportunity to gain a better understanding of where we are at with the CFI (charging and fuel infrastructure) discretionary grant program from Michael Culp, team leader for sustainable transportation, Federal Highway Admin., in…
Do you want a digital representation of the future physical asset that you are going to be constructing before you ever put a bucket in the ground during the planning phase of a project? Everyone is going to answer that question yes, according to Andy Kaiyala, vice president of construction technology and controls, WSB. “Do we have the technology to enable that to happen? The answer is yes. So, if we want it and the technology is available, it becomes a question of timing. Not if, but when,” he explains. The good news is the next evolution of construction is…
Many vertical markets, such as the manufacturing industry, are ripe for innovation and a new way of working. We are living in an era where inflation is high, many say there is an impending recession, and remote work is a common phrase, as workers demand flexibility. But are the tables starting to turn, even slightly? Is it once again becoming more of an employer’s market? One new report suggests there is a lot shifting at the moment—and businesses need to be aware of the transition that is happening. The new report comes from Morning Consult and looks at how employed…
Smart homes are advancing, with a sustainability twist. Consider the example of HVAC-R (heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration) systems, which on average runs two to three times an hour for 10-15 minutes, using about 3,500 watts, which is costing homeowners big dollars every month. Another consideration is if as a society we want to meet the objectives of the Paris Agreement and move the needle with global warming to remain under two degrees Celsius, then we must become more sustainable in many areas—including HVAC in homes and buildings. The good news is the systems themselves are advancing to become…
The construction labor shortage persists in 2023, as construction companies continue to search for skilled workers and come up empty. In fact, one organization suggests the construction industry will need to attract an estimated 546,000 on top of the normal pace of hiring in 2023 to meet the demand of labor. This number comes from ABC (Associated Builders and Contractors). The research also shows the construction industry averaged more than 390,000 job openings per month in 2022, which ABC says is the highest level on record. For reference, the industry unemployment rate of 4.6% in 2022 was the second lowest…
With the rise of Industry 4.0 comes the convergence of IT (information technology) and OT (operational technology), which opens a new world of opportunities for critical organizations and manufacturers. More often, we see these two areas coming together, with the objective to improve efficiencies, safety, business acumen, and so much more. It will enable realtime decision making, a more coordinated response to business, shared resources, eliminate unplanned downtime through predictive maintenance, all while making better use of use of data. Quite frankly, I am not sure it makes sense to have these two areas of our business siloed anymore. But…
In 2015, Gills Creek broke through dams, flooding homes and businesses, and destroyed much in its wake. According to Bailey Parker, executive director, Gills Creek Watershed Assn., much of this could have been avoided if we would have been better stewards of watersheds—which she was kind enough to spend time explaining—which is a catch basin for where every bit of water comes into one point. Quite simply, a watershed is an area of land that channels—or sheds—rainfall and other water runoff into a single body of water. Everyone lives within a watershed, whether we know it or not, and our…
Construction is an industry that has been mobile by nature since the dawn of time. With the emergence of mobile devices and the cloud, BYOD (bring your own device) is something we talked about long before the COVID-19 pandemic. But now with the rise of remote work, it is a topic that is talked about more widely and broadly. As such, there is more research about the rise of enterprise security risks in an era of remote work and BYOD. Such is the case with a new report from Lookout about the State of Remote Work Security. Looking across all…
Wearable and hearable devices have grown significantly in the past decade. In fact, just from 2021 to 2022, the growth rate was 41.51% and it is anticipated to rise another 18% compound annual growth rate through 2026. Still, challenges remain such as energy density and charging capabilities—and many tech companies and manufacturers are working to solve existing hurdles in this market. Li-on (lithium-ion) microbattery has limitations that prevent product manufacturers from meeting demand for new features and better charging capabilities. Recently I discovered a company called, Ensurge Micropower that hopes to be at the forefront of solving this problem with…