Tyson Foods is harnessing its predictive technology to model the potential effect of the coronavirus pandemic on its meat processing plants and employing computer vision to detect employees who arrive at work with an elevated temperature. Investments in monitoring and data analysis have proven their worth during the current crisis, says Chief Technology Officer Scott Spradley.
Airlines have idled thousands of planes, but their maintenance departments are still hard at work keeping them in working order. Parked aircraft must be checked regularly, with engines covered to prevent wildlife from entering and air conditioning systems running to prevent increased humidity within cabins.
Major manufacturing states California and Michigan have allowed factories to reopen. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said manufacturers could resume operations earlier this week, while California Gov. Gavin Newsom released rules that let manufacturers restart work as early as last Friday.
Wearable devices that sense location could be used in tandem with personal protective equipment to keep workers safe, writes Jen Miller. Some devices already notify workers when they're getting too close to another person or something dangerous, although ones that track biometric data pose privacy concerns, she writes.
Companies can use digital twins to improve offshore wind monitoring and ultimately reduce operations and maintenance costs, says Hans Petter Ovrevik of Aker Solutions, whose company recently won a $2 million grant in conjunction with Cognite to develop a digital twin model for floating offshore wind turbines that may be used in California. "You can constantly adjust and optimize how you operate and how you maintain the asset," Ovrevik says.
Seventy percent of premature equipment failure is due to using the wrong lubricant or an inadequate lubrication program, writes Nathan Wright. This most commonly leads to mechanical wear or corrosion and ultimately, unreliability and failure.
Manufacturers should consider several types of insurance to mitigate the cyberrisks posed by digital manufacturing, writes Robert Brewer of the Hanover Insurance Group. He recommends coverage for data breaches and manufacturer errors and omissions, among other offerings.
The coronavirus pandemic is just the latest trend pushing manufacturers to adopt digital tools help humans connect and collaborate, which is especially in demand with physically distancing being a priority, according to this McKinsey analysis. Such tools can also preserve knowledge from older workers and improve employee training, the authors write.
Manufacturers need to balance privacy and safety as they establish protocols for workers returning to factories amid the coronavirus pandemic, writes David Sparkman. Experts recommend practicing social distancing, regularly cleaning high-traffic areas and being ready to respond if a worker tests positive for the virus.
Electronics manufacturers are facing supply chain disruptions, increased safety costs and issues regarding workers' location and oversight because of the coronavirus pandemic, writes Instrumental CEO Anna-Katrina Shedletsky. Companies should empower teams to respond quickly and make decisions, as well as "streamline procurement, legal, and security review processes," she writes.
This Thursday at noon EDT, join us for a live webinar titled, "Enough is Enough Maintenance and Reliability Hiring Managers!" When searching for potential candidates, many maintenance and reliability leaders often prioritize job stability without considering the dynamics of the workforce. As a top thought leader in the industry, Joel Crawford will review common hiring challenges by taking a realistic look at today's candidate pool. Webinars are free to SMRP members, $35 for non-members. Don't miss out, register today!
SMRP provides multiple opportunities for students in the maintenance and reliability fields of study to earn scholarship funding for the 2020-2021 school year. Students will have the chance to apply for scholarships ranging from $2,000 to $10,000 each. If you or someone you know is eligible for one or more of these scholarships, visit our website for more information. The deadline for submissions is June 17.
