Winter 2009 - vol. 4, no. 3

THE INDUSTRMARK BLOG
Want to learn more about happenings within the industrial manufacturing industry? How about reading up on trends, news and business tips that could help you run your manufacturing operation better? Then check out The Industramark Blog today.

Here is a sample of some of the recent posts that provide insight into your manufacturing operations:


JOIN US ON TWITTER AND YOUTUBE
Industramark is taking the Social Media world by storm! Not only can you subscribe and gain industry insight from our blog, but you can follow us on Twitter as well. Look for us under @Industramark--in a follow and we'll do the same for you.

And follow the Industramark Channel on YouTube for some informative and FUN videos about the business unit and our lovable mascot, Marky the Frog.

 


NEXT GENERATION MANUFACTURING
The Wisconsin Manufacturing Extension Partnership (WMEP) provides six attributes of a next generation manufacturer. Do you demonstrate any or all of these in your operations? Find out more through WMEP's overview of Next Generation Manufacturing.

BEST PRACTICE

 

Company Changes in Mexico Result in Consolidated Suppliers Throughout North America

In today's ever-challenging economy, mergers, divestures, Scooter acquisitions and the like are becoming more and more commonplace. Yet, despite hearing about them regularly in the financial news, the true impact of these types of corporate transformations oftentimes occurs once the newly independent company hits the street and establishes a plan to attack their market. One plan of attack that is regularly followed is expansion.  

An excellent example of this can be found with a major worldwide manufacturer and provider of medical technologies and related services for the healthcare industry. Find out how Industramark helped to excel the company's expansion efforts in Mexico through supply chain consolidation of printed production parts.


FEATURES

EPA Tightens Engine Standards on Surf and Turf
EPA LogoFrom lawn mowers and weed trimmers, to personal watercraft and speedboats, gas-powered engines will soon contribute to healthier and cleaner air for Americans. The Environmental Protection Agency has set strict new standards for gas-powered lawn equipment and marine engines, enhancing public health by substantially reducing the amount of gas fumes, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons and smog-forming pollutants emitted from a wide range of engines.

Learn more about these new regulations, which are due to take effect in 2010 and 2011, and what you need to do to prepare to meet the EPA's new exhaust emission standards.

Warnings and Instructions-Part 1
As product liability law has evolved over the years, three defects Ross article lead-in photo have been identified as the main components of a product liability lawsuit. These are manufacturing defects, design defects and defects in warnings and instructions. The test for determining when there is a manufacturing defect is objective. However, the test for defects in design and warnings and instructions is very subjective and based on reasonableness factors to be decided by the jury.

Read more to determine when there is a duty to warn or instruct and how far that duty extends in Part 1 of this article by attorney Kenneth Ross.

The Right Choice of Label Material is a Critical Component of Successful IUID Marking
BarcodeScannerThe use of IUID--Item Unique Identification--is growing as an asset management tool, not only by OEMs to fulfill the mandates of the Department of Defense, but increasingly by other federal agencies, state governments, police departments and commercial enterprises that see the advantages of IUID for asset tracking, inventory management and related uses.

The advantages and success stories of IUID are well known and documented, and programs that have used the IUID system have been shown to lower their program risk significantly. Learn how you can use IUID and ensure its marking is sufficient for the product's intended use.

  Standard Register