The rising volume of aluminum in automotive production is changing the requirements for - and the means by which - those raw materials are sourced, and along with regulatory changes it is reshaping the scrap sorting and processing industry. This installment of the podcast samples a new article highlighting the benefits, limitations, and challenges of recycling aluminum from used cars, underscoring the importance of nonferrous metal recycling in a sustainability-driven world.

About the Article

Advances in Aluminum Recycling for Metalcasting The shift from abundant, cheap energy sources with minimal waste reduction to stringent global regulations focused on minimizing pollution and resource consumption presents challenges and opportunities for the foundry industry. Written by Engin Kılınç Read by Robert Brooks Read the article

Manufacturers have known for more than 20 years that they needed more engineers and science/engineering/math-oriented students to work in their shops. So, many are now starting younger, as early as middle school to expose young people to future manufacturing careers. Hear from: Megan Barrett, Director of Operations at Engineering Tomorrow Michael Gretczko, Deloitte’s Chief Business Architect David Hook, R&D Engineer at CoorsTek Inc. and IndustryWeek's Anna Smith

No one will ever accuse Dave Rizzardo, associate director of the Maryland World Class Consortia of being shy or dispassionate about lean manufacturing and operational excellence. But, on a panel discussion at IndustryWeek's recent Operations Leadership Summit, the audience got an earful from the operations expert on treating people right, listening to your employees and how it's the leader's job to make sure everyone else can do their work.

Joining Dave for this particularly lively panel discussion was his friend (well, they were friends at the start of the conversation) Carl Livesay, general manager of Maryland-based Mercury Plastics. Also speaking was Sarah Tilkens, CEO of the KPI Lab and senior manager for operational excellence at GE Healthcare. The moderator is Robert Schoenberger, editor-in-chief at IndustryWeek.

Bust your misconceptions of fiber optic cables by learning about their construction, types, terminations, costs, and advantages when used for the industrial IoT.

About the Article

A Guide to Fiber Cable Types and Cost for the Industrial IoT Bust your misconceptions of fiber optic cables by learning about their construction, types, terminations, costs, and advantages when used for the industrial IoT. Written by Henry Martel Read by Laura Davis Read the article

It’s a story so familiar that it is also a children’s proverb: “for want of a nail, the kingdom was lost.” In this new podcast episode we cover how to identify and eliminate pinch points on the manufacturing floor. Our guests this week, Jerry Nation and Hunter Price of Ingenics Corporation, talk about their experience helping plants in the automotive sector get past production bottlenecks that were dramatically slowing down production, and stressing out downstream operations teams.

Sean O’Meara is CIO of Monticello, Indiana-based heavy-duty generator and power enclosure maker Girtz Industries, and Jason Ryska is director of manufacturing technology development at one of the big Detroit Three, Ford Motor Company.

Smart Industry’s Scott Achelpohl moderated a question-and-answer session with O’Meara and Ryska at IndustryWeek’s end-of-June Operations Leadership Summit in Indianapolis, and since the chat was all about artificial intelligence applications in manufacturing, SI is bringing it to you as part of our group’s “Great Question” series.

Sean will say he knows a lot about what Girtz Industries does, but he’ll also say he’s their IT guy, meaning it’s his job to support the real experts, the engineers and manufacturing people who make it possible to do what Girtz does. He has helped Girtz overhaul its IT landscape, encompassing system integrations, network enhancements, and the adoption of robust platforms.

As the “IT guy,” part of his life has been all about AI, and how he can help Girtz leverage the use of AI in advancing its business processes and manufacturing processes. And he’s been a regular speaker at our industry conferences lately on the topic of how AI to the factory floor, including the just-concluded Operations Leadership Summit.

Jason and his team serve as intermediaries between technology companies and the automaker. His team looks at what problems need solving, the available technology and whether a technology initiative ties into Ford's larger objectives and business plan. Jason has almost 30 years of experience in automotive manufacturing.

The Reshoring Initiative's 2023 report shows jobs continuing to flow into the United States from Asia as companies look to shorten supply chains and protect themselves against ongoing trade disputes. The figure fell in 2023 from 2022's record but remains well elevated compared to pre-pandemic statistics.

At IndustryWeek and other Endeavor Business Media publications, we've seen that trend building with new battery plants, trucking hubs, pharmaceutical operations and plastic injection molding facilities popping up -- operations that might have gone to Asia a decade ago.

Discussing that trend are:

• Lynne Sherwin, managing editor of Plastics Machinery & Manufacturing
• Karen Langhauser, chief content director for Pharma Manufacturing
• Kevin Jones, editorial director of EBM's fleet group, including FleetOwner, Trailer/Body Builders, Bulk Transporter, Refrigerated Transporter, American Trucker, and Fleet Maintenance magazines and websites
• Robert Schoenberger, editor-in-chief of IndustryWeek and editorial director of EBM's manufacturing group

In this “Talking EHS” podcast episode, you’ll learn about the new tools and strategies companies are using to foster psychologically safer workplaces.

About the Article

The Psychology of Safety New tools and strategies emerge to foster psychologically safer workplaces. Written and read by Adrienne Selko Read the article