How do labor unions and tariffs impact our economy and manufacturing in the US? I’ve heard statements that tariffs are generally assumed to favor corporations where labor unions favor the worker. Both of these ideas usually lead to politically charged discussions where the opinion on the effectiveness of each usually tends to follow political party […]
Attention South Carolina manufacturers looking to expand operations, grow local jobs and tap into the state’s illustrious tax incentives while building an innovative and patented technology. With over 4000 units already sold, “Prevent”, a uniquely designed product attaching to dryer exhaust vents, has proven to not only stop home fires due to a variety of […]
Eighty Clemson University freshmen are participating in a new program that gives them a chance to ease into the challenging math courses that too often derail students’ dreams of becoming engineers. The program, Boyd Scholars, targets freshman engineering majors who need a little extra time for the…
The recent reports about production short cuts, blind-eye approvals, optional safety devices, and corporate management failures have been painful to read. I can’t comment on the truthfulness of the statements made about Boeing and their senior managers as I certainly don’t know all the facts. I spent…
To keep up with the pace of production and satisfy customer demand, today’s manufacturers have gone digital. Although Industry 4.0 and the increasing use of automation and robotics on the manufacturing floor space have plugged them in, the daily barrage of cyber-attacks on their supply lines have them on their heels. “Cyber-attacks have become a […]
One can’t attend an economic development forum, technical college recruitment, or any chamber of commerce meeting without hearing the mention of high paying jobs in South Carolina. In addition, employers (large and small) continue to scream for skilled workers. I’ve heard comments like, “Attend a trade school;…
Ask any manufacturing executive across South Carolina to name the sector’s most critical need and the answer is almost always, workforce. No doubt, the state’s economy and manufacturing firms benefit from recruiting employment from all over the world and bringing them here to live, work and play….
Manufacturers are prepared for what they can see coming, whether it be a broken machine, a logistical snag due to weather or workflow patterns. But gaps in production and the delivery of those goods are not tolerated here. However, the emerging threat of cyber attacks can hit…
I received my first recreational drone for Christmas three years ago. It was a pretty simple system. The frame was light weight plastic with four independently powered props. It had an on-board camera that could take still pictures and videos. It also had colored tip lights to…
German chemicals giant BASF is stepping up operations at one of its Upstate facilities in 2019 to enable production of pearlizers and opacifiers used in cosmetic products. The capacity addition will allow the company to meet the increasing demand for pearlizers and opacifiers, improve supply reliability, and…