Manufacturing

With the principles of lean manufacturing guiding the way, Aesculap, Inc. has dramatically improved its ability to see how its business operations are performing in real time, with an eye toward reducing its reliance on costly and inefficient inventory stockpiles. Keith Regan learns how the provider of surgical kits and related medical equipment has achieved a first milestone on a long journey to excellence.

Rob Harris investigates how MFC Group is using new innovations in automation, cellular manufacturingand lean manufacturing to increase market share and customer satisfaction.

The Boeing Company is restructuring its Boeing Military Aircraft (BMA) business from 1 October, involving a consolidation from six divisions to four. Boeing’s military division makes the well-known Chinook transport helicopters, as well as the C-17 transport and F/A-18 fighter-bomber.

Automaker Nissan has announced a partnership with the state of Hawaii to promote electric vehicles (EVs) and their supporting charging network across the state.

The partnership was announced at the Asia Pacific Clean Energy Summit and Expo in Honolulu, and is Nissan’s first definitive agreement in the United States. The zero emission all-electric Nissan Leaf will be available in Hawaii beginning in January 2011.

Westlake Chemical Corporation announced today it is proceeding with the delayed construction of a new chlor-alkali plant to be located at its vinyls manufacturing complex in Geismar, Louisiana. The new unit is expected to double the company’s production from250,000 electrochemical units (ECUs) annually, to 520,000 ECUs.

Westlake, headquartered in Houston, Texas, manufactures and supplies petrochemicals, polymers and fabricated products including ethylene, polyethylene, styrene, propylene, caustic, VCM, PVC and PVC pipe, windows and fence.

The US private sector homeland security market is forecast to rise to over $11 billion by 2014, according to research by Homeland Security Research Corporation.

In its report US Private Sector Homeland Security Market - 2010-2014, the organization predicts that the US private sector HLS market will grow at a compound annual growth rate of 9.1 percent from $7.7 billion in 2010 to $11.2 billion by 2014.

Ontario-based Hitachi Construction Truck Manufacturing has a strong customer base in mega mining trucks around the world but receives surprisingly little recognition in Canada. Executive VP Bruce Murray explains to Gay Sutton how the company is preparing to raise its profile in the North American market.

Growth can come from expensive acquisitions, or as with Air Industries Machining, it can come organically by making the business ready for new opportunities when they arise, Alan Swaby learns.

Caterpillar CEO Doug Oberhelman gave a presentation followed by a question and answer session yesterday at The New York Stock Exchange to review the company's updated five-year strategy and goals with analysts and investors.

Oberhelman expressed confidence about Caterpillar's growth opportunities throughout the world and the company's strategic focus on operational execution, which will drive financial performance over the next five years.

As widely expected, General Motors has filed papers with the Securities and Exchange Commission as the first step towards an initial public offering (IPO) which is expected to be one of the largest in US history.

A GM IPO is expected to raise anything between $12 billion and $20 billion. The record for the largest IPO is currently held by Visa, which raised $19.7 billion in 2008.