Cybersecurity continues to be a hot topic for manufacturers – and rightfully so! According to the State of Industrial Cybersecurity 2018 by Kaspersky, “Over three quarters of the companies surveyed state that it is very likely or at least quite likely to become a target of a cybersecurity attack in the operational technology and industrial cybersecurity space. Despite this, only 23% are compliant with minimal mandatory industry or government guidance and regulations around cybersecurity of industrial control systems.”
Shared by Adam McMurtrey, Industrial Field Engineer with ExxonMobil Fuels & Lubricants Company.
Written by Ashley Beaudoin, IMEC Technical Specialist
Are you planning to implement, or have you recently deployed, an employee engagement survey to your workforce? Are you unsure of what to do next or are seeing little to no improvement? From my involvement with companies as they implement and evaluate aspects pertaining to engagement levels, I have witnessed many hurdles and successes. Based upon my findings, here are five lessons I have learned for leveraging organizational success through an employee engagement survey.
This article was written by René Bonse, The Chicago Connectory
The Internet of Things, or IoT, might be one of the most used “buzz” words in the business world nowadays; but how did it become so well-known and why is it so important? IoT refers to the use of sensors and information technology to develop a better understanding of our world and enable applications that improve people’s everyday lives, dramatically.
This article was written by Adam McMurtrey, Industrial Field Engineer with ExxonMobil Fuels & Lubricants Company.
75% of all industrial equipment failures are linked to oil contamination. Therefore, maintaining proper oil cleanliness with the right types of filters is critical to the success of any manufacturing operation. Oil contamination from particulate accelerates the rate of component wear and can lead to premature component failure.
As a result of improved filtration, studies show that improving filtration, as measured by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) cleanliness code, can extend the life of manufacturing equipment by 1.3 to 3 times or more.1 Additionally, as the oil is cleaned through proper filtration, it is common to extend the life of the oil as well.
Written by Scott Czysz, IMEC Technical Specialist
Over the last couple months, I've observed a recurring theme with a few of the companies I am working with: a frustration with "them" (co-workers, factory workers, etc.) not doing what they are supposed to be doing. As I dig deeper, I have found the problem lies within:
- Poorly designed (or never designed) processes,
- Poor or no process documentation,
- Poor or no training for the people that are doing the process every day, and, not surprisingly,
- Poor results.
Written by Lori Amerman, IMEC Operations Coordinator
Hazards of machinery can cause catastrophic injuries when employees come in contact. Crushing and amputations are devastating to the employee’s quality of life. The employer is faced with many costs of medical expenses, equipment fixes and training. According to OSHA’s $afety Pays Program, an amputation on average has a direct cost of $77,995 and indirect of $85,794. At a 3% profit margin assumption these costs would require an additional $2,859,816 in sales to recover.
Antuanet Sanchez has joined the IMEC team bringing a strong background in project management and customer service skills to Illinois organizations. As a Technical Specialist with more than 15 years of experience working in a Fortune 500 project management office, Antuanet has a passion for continuous improvement and prides herself on leading cross-functional and remote teams.
The Building Clean database lists more than 2500 U.S. facilities manufacturing energy efficient products in the key energy and water efficient product sectors of appliances, HVAC, insulation, lighting, plumbing, roofing, and sealants – plus an added section on certified water filtration systems. You can search by product type, market sector, locality (both state and zip code), manufacturing tier, and the product’s material composition. Included is information on chemical hazards associated with certain products and those that are certified by third parties as healthy.
