Reading Time: 4 minutes

Lean manufacturing has become a goal for many manufacturers as they aim to become more agile and less wasteful. While lean practices can have significant benefits, complicated processes like commercial boiler maintenance and a lack of visibility can make them challenging. Industry 4.0 can help.

Industry 4.0 refers to widescale industrial internet of things (IIoT) implementation. This practice combines traditional operational technology (OT) like industrial machinery with data-centric information technology (IT) like remote sensors. It involves turning industrial workplaces into interconnected, data-driven environments, providing the visibility that lean manufacturing needs.

Here are five ways that Industry 4.0 can and will enhance lean practices.

More Data for Ongoing Improvement

Continuous improvement is a central tenet of lean manufacturing. If manufacturers hope to improve their processes, though, they need to know where opportunities for improvement lie. Industry 4.0 can provide that information by collecting data from sensors and connected machinery throughout the workplace.

IIoT devices can provide data to create a digital twin of a workplace. This digital twin helps visualize each process’s impact on overall productivity or quality, highlighting areas that need improvement. After discovering which areas need to change, manufacturers can use these digital models to find the optimal path forward.

Digital twins let manufacturers run virtual “what if?” scenarios. By adjusting various processes in the digital twin, manufacturers can see which changes will result in the most significant improvements. They can then ensure their ongoing improvement initiatives will, in fact, improve workflows.

Faster Incident Response

Continuous improvement relies on historical data, but Industry 4.0 also provides helpful real-time insights. IIoT networks can provide data as they collect it, alerting workers of notable events or readings as they occur. This real-time visibility can enable faster incident response, minimizing disruptions and waste, another lean principle.

Many manufacturing issues are fixable if employees can respond fast enough. Without ongoing data collection, that’s a significant challenge since workers don’t have the time to monitor every machine continually. Industry 4.0 solves that problem by automatically collecting data to alert workers to issues as they arise.

Some manufacturers have been able to respond to incidents 75% faster after implementing IIoT systems like this. With such significant response time improvements, facilities can eliminate many disruptions. They can solve problems before they jeopardize a product’s quality or cause significant delays.

Increased Machine Uptime

This real-time data can also eliminate disruptions and waste by improving machine uptime. IIoT sensors within machines can predict when they may fail, alerting workers to maintain them before they break. This practice, called predictive maintenance, can reduce downtime by 35 to 45%, according to the Department of Energy.

Early, specific warnings are crucial for processes like commercial boiler maintenance. Feed and return pumps, for example, are designed to match specific boiler systems, so finding the right replacement part is essential. IIoT sensors can determine which part in which system is in danger of failing, then tell workers or even order the necessary part automatically.

Another advantage of these data-based repair schedules is that they enable need-based maintenance. With this visibility, manufacturers can eliminate unnecessary repairs that traditional maintenance schedules would entail. Consequently, they minimize downtime, improving overall efficiency and eliminating time waste.

Improved Inventory Visibility

Inventory management is another essential but often challenging aspect of lean manufacturing. Lean manufacturers must keep inventory to a minimum to reduce waste, but doing so requires significant visibility into current and incoming needs. Industry 4.0 provides the data and reporting tools necessary to minimize inventory while meeting ongoing demand.

Industry 4.0 technologies like radio frequency identification (RFID) provide informative real-time data about inventory numbers and location. This timely information is a prerequisite for just-in-time manufacturing, showing manufacturers how much inventory they can afford to decrease. As demand shifts over a year, data will highlight emerging trends, letting manufacturers adjust their inventory accordingly.

This inventory visibility can also reduce time waste in processes like picking. Workers can use RFID systems to pinpoint exactly where any needed items are, retrieving them faster. The results are impressive, reducing picking time by 60% or more in some cases.

Data-Driven Quality Control

Industry 4.0 also enables more effective quality control systems. At their most basic, Industry 4.0 technologies like machine vision systems can recognize defects faster and more accurately than humans by comparing items to data on quality products. Connected technologies can go further, too, preventing defects before they arise.

Data from all of the machines in a workflow can help pinpoint the root causes of defects. Over time, these interconnected systems will recognize trends in product quality, narrowing down where problems arise. This contextual data can help manufacturers address key issues, adjusting workflows to fix defects at their source.

As with many data use cases, these analytics systems will become more accurate the longer manufacturers use them. More data leads to more context and, thus, more accurate results. Consequently, the more IIoT technologies manufacturers implement, the faster and more accurately they can address defects.

Industry 4.0 Enables Better Lean Practices

Lean manufacturing is a highly beneficial goal, but traditional processes make it difficult to implement. Industry 4.0 makes these benefits attainable, letting manufacturers experience the full benefits of lean practices. Going lean is certainly possible without these technologies, but it’s far more challenging and the results are far less substantial.

As the world becomes more digitally driven and agile, so too must manufacturers. By implementing Industry 4.0 technologies, they can take their lean practices further, meeting the growing needs of a rapidly advancing world.

Emily Newton is the Editor-in-Chief of Revolutionized, a magazine exploring how innovations change our world. She has over four years experience writing articles in the industrial and tech sectors.

[ad_2]
Originally Appeared Here

Reading Time: 5 minutes

Supply chains are the backbone of virtually all industries, but they’re prone to disruption. Transporting goods or parts across states or even nations introduces many hazards that could cause delays or losses. Extreme weather is one of the most pressing of these dangers.

Hurricanes, wildfires, snowstorms and other extreme weather events can create traffic, cause road closures and endanger drivers. As climate change worsens, these emergencies could become more common, too. The United Nations predicts that climate change will cause $2 trillion in losses by 2030.

In light of these risks, companies must ensure their supply chains are ready for extreme weather. Here are a few ways executives can plan for these events.

Move High-Value Inventory From High-Risk Areas

Most people are probably familiar with the adage that prevention is better than a cure. While businesses can’t control the weather, they can minimize their chances of encountering an extreme weather event.

No matter where warehouses are, they’ll experience some inclement weather, but some areas are more prone to disaster than others. For example, California experienced 10,341 of the 58,362 wildfires in 2020, far more than any other state. If possible, moving high-value inventory out of such high-risk areas can mitigate damages from extreme weather.

Supply chains should review the warehouses that house their most critical inventory and what risks their surrounding areas pose. If they hold much of this inventory in areas with high fire, flooding or hurricane risk, they should consider moving it. No area is risk-free, but some places will be safer than others.

Track All Vehicles

Many supply chains have implemented real-time tracking systems for efficiency, which can serve as useful emergency response systems, too. Real-time location tracking can reveal which drivers may be in harm’s way when inclement weather develops. Supply chain managers can then adjust their routes as necessary to keep them safe.

Similarly, if drivers can’t avoid a storm, supply chain managers can use their location to route them to any nearby shelter. If conditions interfere with signals and block communication, supply chain managers will still have data on drivers’ last known location. They can then help emergency responders look for and find them, if necessary.

If the weather doesn’t pose a hazard but will limit efficiency, these systems are still helpful. Supply chain managers can see when a shipment may be delayed and respond sooner, either shipping from another location or notifying the client.

Winterize Trucks

One of the most common extreme weather events supply chains face is snowstorms. More than 70% of U.S. roads are in snowy regions, with some areas seeing as much as 100 inches of snow annually. Considering how relevant the threat of heavy snow is, supply chains should winterize their trucks in colder months to prevent breakdowns.

New wiper blades can help improve visibility in a snowstorm, letting drivers navigate safely. Supply chains should also fit trucks with snow tires or chains to prevent them from slipping on icy roads. Even if a driver may not encounter snow, treating their fuel and other fluids with anti-icing solutions is crucial if they’ll drive through sub-zero regions.

Drivers should also carry spray lubricants. If anything freezes, they can use this to defrost and free it.

 Establish an Early Warning System

As with all emergencies, extreme weather responses are more effective the earlier they start. If supply chains can recognize incoming weather emergencies early, they can better ensure safety and efficiency. To set up an early warning system, organizations can take advantage of weather analytics.

Weather analytics tools study a broad range of historical and present weather data to predict future conditions. Some of these systems can provide forecasts up to 90 days in advance, adjusting as new data becomes available. With these analytics, supply chains can establish a warning to alert drivers and managers to developing storms, letting them reroute and otherwise prepare in advance.

Equip Drivers for Emergencies

Ideally, a supply chain’s other preparedness steps will ensure drivers never encounter an emergency. Unfortunately, that’s not realistic, as extreme weather events can come unexpectedly, even with the most advanced analytics and warnings. As such, all drivers should carry emergency supplies should extreme weather leave them stranded.

No matter what situation drivers find themselves in, they’ll need food. Emergency kits should include roughly 6,000 calories of non-perishable food, which should last three days. A similar amount of clean water and something to purify water with are also essential.

Drivers in cold areas should also carry warm blankets and waterproof gloves. Other necessities include basic tools, first aid supplies, road flares and a backup radio in case the truck’s radio loses function.

Supply Facilities With Backup Power Sources

Trucks and drivers aren’t the only parts of the supply chain that extreme weather could endanger. Facilities like warehouses and control centers could also encounter extreme conditions requiring appropriate preparation. No matter what specific emergencies a facility could encounter, it should have a backup power source.

Utility lines are often some of the first infrastructure to go in a storm. Hurricane Sandy, for example, caused 10 million people across 24 states to lose power. While today’s grids are more resilient than in the past, facilities can’t afford to risk it, so they should have backup generators.

In addition to installing generators, facilities should ensure they keep extra fuel and coolant on hand. Workers should also inspect these machines regularly to ensure they’re in working condition.

Diversify Sources

Finally, supply chains should ensure flexibility by having multiple sources for critical inventory. Single sourcing may be more efficient and affordable, but a diversified supply chain is more resilient in emergencies. One study found that diversity accounts for more than 90% of how extreme and frequent supply chain shocks are in an area.

When supply chains rely on a single source or route, any disruption to that area will have rippling effects. Conversely, having diversified sources means that localized emergencies will have a far smaller overall impact. Diversification mitigates emergencies while giving supply chains more flexibility.

Emergency Preparedness Is Crucial for Supply Chains

Weather emergencies are something every supply chain will have to contend with sooner or later. While companies may not be able to prevent these events, they can and should prepare for them.

These steps will help supply chains become more resilient in the face of extreme weather. Thorough preparation may cause initial disruptions and come with some expenses, but maintaining efficiency and keeping workers safe will make up for it. As these events become more common, preparedness becomes all the more crucial.

[ad_2]
Originally Appeared Here

Reading Time: 5 minutes

A social media platform like Instagram is undeniably one of the most influential platforms out there. A strong marketing strategy should include Instagram as part of it, regardless of whether you manage social media for your business or personal brand. 

Approximately 500 million people were active users of Instagram stories as of January 2021. Close to 35% of the global audience is between the ages of 25 and 34, making it a popular target audience for marketers. Close to 80% of users follow at least one business. Each day, about 200 million Instagram users click on one or more business profiles. Instagram users search for products and services on Instagram 81% of the time. More than 90% of Instagram users follow businesses. Instagram has been a source of new products for 60% of customers. Considering its popularity, ease of use, and brilliant statistics, Instagram has proven to be an invaluable marketing tool for businesses that wish to expand their visibility and reach. Hence, here are 5 reasons why every brand should make use of Instagram to grow their business.

Visual content

Visual content is absorbed by the brain faster than the textual content; more than half of all information transmitted to the brain is visual. You can, therefore, create a visual representation that is suited for whatever brand product you have. Instagram is the perfect platform to share images related to your brand. This is a great way to express your brand’s identity creatively. You can make use of infographics, animations, gifs, and more as you provide value to your customers through the use of pictures and videos. Instagram Marketing can be used in a variety of ways. Here are some ways to create content for social media:

• Use infographics to educate your customers and provide them with useful information.
• Get to know your customers by asking them how they use your product or how it benefits them. You will gain more credibility and be more relatable to your customers if they are in the spotlight.
• Does the process you use to develop your product seem complicated? You can post a video or photo of the entire process behind the scenes. 
• By using stories, you can stand out from the crowd and have a greater impact on your audience.
• Establish an aesthetic style and colour scheme for your brand. Your brand’s identity will be reinforced in your feed, which will also help you gain more real Instagram followers. 
• Increases engagement

Apart from increasing brand awareness, Instagram is also a great platform for increasing engagement with your audience. A number of Instagram’s new features are available to users, including polls, Q&As, countdowns, hashtags, and quizzes. By taking advantage of any of these options, the brand can interact with the audience more personally. As an alternative, you can execute brand campaigns around special events like popular sporting events, Mother’s Day, etc., by offering giveaways, scholarships, and more. more. Instagram’s average engagement rate is much higher than that of Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook. Gaining Instagram likes on your photos and videos is one of the easiest ways to engage with your audience.

Unique hashtags can be used by brands to start conversations. Gaining more Instagram followers and engagement is easy with a successful Instagram contest. You should remember that in addition to marketing your products, you are trying to connect with your audience. It can be tempting to use bots to respond to comments and likes, but it lacks a personal touch. Real engagement from the brand would be necessary in order to create real customers, leads, or sales. 

Generate leads 

A consumer’s purchase decisions can be strongly influenced by social media. Through Instagram’s direct messaging feature, your audience can easily get in touch with you. With Instagram, you can easily link to your products in your posts and stories. This makes it easier for a customer to purchase your products. The content you put in your bio has become more important to generate sales. You can achieve better conversion rates by using a paid ad campaign, which allows you to reach a broader audience. 

With Instagram, you can emphasize the human aspect of your brand and interact with individuals while increasing the value of your brand. Besides increasing engagement, you can access current customers and buy Instagram followers at the same time. Additionally, studies have demonstrated that the response rate of social media leads to conversions is 100 percent higher than that of outbound marketing. You can interact with your audience through every post, whether it is a blog, infographic, or video. It is a gateway for future conversions. Gaining Instagram likes and followers is a great way to prove your credibility as a source. In turn, this increases the chances of improving conversions. Partnering with a reputable influencer can also lead to increased business leads.

Wide reach/ Increases blog traffic 

Increased blog traffic is another reason why you should leverage Instagram Marketing. You can reach a large number of people using social media platforms like Instagram. Each new user who joins the platform daily can potentially become a customer. It is likely that without Instagram, your blog will only attract people who know about your brand or are already familiar with your website. Instagram helps you reach an entirely new group of prospective clients. It is an excellent way of driving traffic to your blog or website. You will gain more Instagram likes if you post regular content and engage with your audience.

You can do this by including attractive visuals in your Instagram posts. Participate in their social media activities by conversing with them. Consider conducting contests that require the contestants to visit your blog or website. You should also include a link to the blog in the post. Take advantage of Instagram Stories and share ‘behind-the-scenes’ clips that highlight the faces and personalities behind your brand.

Valuable customer insights

As a marketer, you know that you need to monitor the conversation about your brand and products on various platforms. You should monitor mentions on other platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, or blogs. However, tracking similar metrics on Instagram is just as necessary. Your business will still be discussed on this platform whether you are on the platform or not. Users could make use of it to publish pictures of products they bought or to make videos. It is important to not ignore this since it can provide valuable information.

Instagram Analytics also provides information such as how many times your story has been viewed, the age group of your audience, and which posts have gained more Instagram likes. Conduct tests and campaigns to track metrics and determine which content performs best on your platform. There are endless possibilities. 

 Conclusion 

Instagram is a highly popular social media platform for sharing photos and videos. You can share photos and videos through the app; use temporary stories which are available for 24 hours; use Reels, which are short-form videos that can be produced in 15 seconds; and find IGTV videos. You can even shop directly from e-commerce brands. 

Instagram was designed from day one to be an application, instead of being a browser-based site like Facebook and Twitter. In addition to having a cleaner feed than Facebook, Instagram tends to be a favorite among smartphone users. It is also possible to buy Instagram followers in order to gain more Instagram followers and hence, more exposure. The reasons mentioned above should push you to include Instagram in your marketing strategy right away. 

 

[ad_2]
Originally Appeared Here

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Like every other industry, the home design industry is constantly evolving from one year to the next. For the latest in home construction trends, you’ll find environmental consciousness and clever, space-saving design at the forefront of buyers’ minds. 

In today’s housing market, building custom becomes more and more attractive every day. When you build or remodel yourself, you can have whatever kind of home you like, so why not take tips from what other buyers are gravitating towards? For the trend-savvy builder, here are the top six new home construction trends of 2021. 

Energy efficiency

Energy-efficient homes are a favorite among consumers for their dual purpose: by saving on energy consumption, these homes are better for the environment and your monthly power bill. 

Energy consciousness is one driving factor behind the tiny house craze. That’s because these tiny house plans are energy-efficient, sustainable, and budget-friendly.

A recent survey by the National Association of Home Buyers (NAHB) (NAHB) confirms that out of 3,000 homebuyers surveyed, energy efficiency was one of the top wish-list items. 

To raise trees and slash power bills, consider your house plan’s energy star rating of windows, appliances, and other components. 

Combining building materials

Maybe the three little pigs story would’ve gone differently if the pigs had lived together. Combined material houses are taking the market by storm for their charm and durability. For example, many people are mixing brick first floors with wooden second floors, and so on. 

With modern construction technology, your mix-and-match potential is endless. There are no boundaries as to how you can design residential properties or cottages. If it’s in your budget, the sky’s the limit. 

Use of recyclable materials

Buyers today have the advantage of environmental knowledge when building their homes. As a result, eco-friendly home designs are more popular than ever before. For example, many consumers are opting to use recyclable materials in their build. 

Recyclable materials commonly used in home construction are wood, concrete, gypsum, asphalt, and metal. 

Using these materials ensures there won’t be any waste after construction concludes, making them an excellent option for any tree-hugging homeowners out there. 

Multi-functional spaces

The pandemic forced many consumers to reevaluate how they use their homes. Houses are no longer just dwelling places but offices, schools, recreation areas, and gyms. 

As such, multi-functional spaces are the next big trend of 2021. 

For instance, people with an eat-in kitchen and a separate dining area can look for a place to store the dining table and transform the room into a working space. Similarly, one can transform a shed into an office space. Those building new homes are ditching the strict boundary lines for a home that’s as fluid as they are. 

Increase in material costs

As the use of hemp and recyclable materials continues to increase in popularity, standard materials are getting more costly. Changes in importation tax tariffs and job shortages are adding fuel to the inflation fire.

Luckily, a combination of different materials and innovative building methods are helping balance the rising cost of materials. These new materials and technology can only keep strengthening the commercial construction industry.

Floor-to-ceiling windows

Another trend on the rise is the upgrading of homes to accommodate floor-to-ceiling windows. Opening a room up to the outside world lends space, light, and calm. 

While it may not be the easiest of upgrades, more and more homeowners are embracing it as a year inside reminds us of the importance of having space to breathe. 

Final thoughts

The past two years have changed the way we view life, work, and our homes. These 2021 hot construction trends show that life stops for no one, and innovation will continue to liven up the housing market. 

 

[ad_2]
Originally Appeared Here

Reading Time: 3 minutes

There are few things harder to quantify than the number of online retailers. This is a statistic that’s ever-changing, and that’s due in part to the rapidly increasing number of shops opening on the internet.

In 2021, figures from digitalintheround.com suggest there could be as many as 24 million of these online stores. The number of internet shoppers is even higher, with around 2.14 billion of us globally.

These are some astonishing statistics, but is it really so surprising that online industries are thriving? With widespread access to technology and an ever-improving customer experience online, those who shop on the internet experience numerous benefits.

Here, we take a look at some of the most pertinent factors driving this online revolution.

Widespread access to tech

If someone were to ask us for the single biggest factor driving this shift, our answer would be increasing and widespread access to technology – specifically, the sort that allows us to get online.

According to bankmycell.com, there are 3.8 billion smartphone users in the world today. These individuals are spread across the globe, but what almost all of them have in common is access to the online world. That’s not even beginning to account for all those who own laptops, tablets, or other devices that allow them to get online.

For internet businesses, this makes their audience bigger than ever. Seventy-two percent of internet searches are now conducted by mobile users. This means almost everyone has access to the online world and the purchasing opportunities it presents.

Convenience

While this tech facilitates our need to get online, the desire to do so is largely driven by the convenience of internet retail. Whether shopping for goods or services, it’s far easier to do so via a mobile or laptop than it is offline.

This applies to all manner of industries, from grocery shopping to digital marketing. Irrespective of whether users want to carry out their weekly food shop or enhance their SEO, the easiest place to find an array of retailers is online.

Competitiveness

On that last point, the online world provides consumers with greater choice too, and this forces industries to become more competitive. An example is the online gambling sector. Not only are there innumerable providers to choose from, but they’re accessible to users regardless of their location.

This means two things: their products are available to a global audience, and every online casino is in competition. Indeed, there are so many in existence that sites like bonusfinder.dk have been specially set up to help consumers choose between them. They do so by comparing rival providers based on everything from bonus offers to payment methods.

The same is true of, for example, clothing retailers. No matter how remotely someone may live or the limited number of local options available to them, they can order from an infinite number of businesses online.

When it comes to the commercial world in 2021, it’s no longer contentious to state that the online sphere has overtaken its offline counterpart. People want the choice, convenience, and competitive pricing of buying over the internet, and online industries are booming as a result.

[ad_2]
Originally Appeared Here

Reading Time: 2 minutes

The new city founded on “Equitism” and the ideals of 19th century economist/philosopher Henry George doesn’t have a location yet, but it does have an architect. The Barkje Ingels Group has signed on to design Telosa, a planned sustainable city dreamed up by former Walmart e-commerce CEO Marc Lore.  

Telosa, based on the Greek term “telos,” meaning “the highest purpose,” is most likely to be situated in the American Southwest and hopes to welcome its first 50,000 inhabitants by 2030. It would have a 15-minute city with wide streets for walking, biking, and automated public transportation.  

Lore hopes to start building on 1,500 acres before expanding to 150,000 and a city of 5 million people.  

“We are going to be the most open, the most fair, and the most inclusive city in the world,” Lore says in a promotional video.  

Cars would not be welcome in Telosa, and the idea is that with public transportation and all services a person could need within easy walking distance, there would be no need for them. Renewable energy, mostly from solar panels, would power the city, and water would be recycled. Aeroponic gardens would provide fresh produce. 

“We are absolutely not attempting to create a utopia,” Lore says. “Utopian projects are focused on creating a perfect, idealistic state – we are not. We are firmly grounded in reality and what is possible. We are focused on the best, most sustainable solutions for infrastructure, urban design, economic vibrancy and city services, but we fully recognize that no solution is perfect, and all human systems have flaws.” 

The centerpiece of Telosa would be a tower called Equitism, a central meeting place for citizens, who would all share in governance and in the city’s fortune, so as the land increased in value, citizens would reap the benefits. 

Lore estimates the full-size city would cost about $400 billion to build, starting with $25 billion for the first phase. He is scouting locations in Idaho, Utah, Nevada, Arizona, Texas, and Appalachia. Any American citizen would be welcome to become a citizen of Telosa.  

“I would want people to have a sense of pride in the city,” Lore says in the video, “because the city lives by a set of values that resonates with them.” 

[ad_2]
Originally Appeared Here

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Billionaire Richard Branson’s flight to the edge of space may not have gone as smoothly as it appeared. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced this week that the spaceship apparently veered slightly off course during its descent back to earth.

Branson took five people — including two pilots — up to the edge of space with him on his rocket-powered Virgin Galactic plane on July 11. 

The FAA’s announcement came the same day The New Yorker reported that a warning light had begun to flash during the plane’s ascent, signaling that their flight path was too shallow and — if not corrected — an emergency landing in the New Mexico desert would be imminent. 

Branson and his team at Virgin Galactic will now have to wait until the FAA completes its investigation before taking to the skies again, as is standard protocol. 

“Virgin Galactic may not return the SpaceShipTwo vehicle to flight until the FAA approves the final mishap investigation report or determines the issues related to the mishap do not affect public safety,” the FAA said in a statement. 

Virgin Galactic had already said it was going to enter a self-imposed grounding as it worked to improve its hardware, however its stated goal of flying again later this month or early October may now be in peril. 

The company issued a statement in response to the New Yorker’s article on Tuesday in which it disputed that the flight was ever in real danger.

“The safety of our crew and passengers is Virgin Galactic’s top priority,” Virgin Galactic said. “Our entire approach to spaceflight is guided by a fundamental commitment to safety at every level, including our spaceflight system, our test flight program and our rigorous pilot training protocol.” 

Virgin Galactic added that the plane, dubbed Unity 22, “was a safe and successful test flight that adhered to our flight procedures and training protocols.” 

The company later responded to the FAA, acknowledging that the flight’s trajectory did deviate from the original plan, but that no member of the public was ever in any danger. 

Virgin Galactic’s stock dropped about 4% during trading hours on Thursday, following the news.

[ad_2]
Originally Appeared Here

Reading Time: 2 minutes

The semiconductor shortage has gotten so bad that GM is shutting production at most of its North America plants for two weeks starting Monday. 

Arlington Assembly in Texas, which makes SUVs; Flint Assembly in Michigan, which makes pickups; Bowling Green Assembly in Kentucky, which makes Corvettes; and part of the Lansing (Mich.) Grand River Assembly will remain open next week. The rest of GM’s plants across the country will go on pause.  

“COVID is driving supply constraints in countries that produce semiconductor chips,” GM spokesman Dan Flores told the Detroit Free Press. “But I can’t say if it’s because employees have a high rate of infection or if it’s the government putting restrictions on plants due to the pandemic.” 

The price of new cars has remained at record highs through most of this year because of limited inventory. The semiconductors used in cars, trucks, and SUVs also go into electronics such as video game consoles and laptops that have been in high demand throughout the pandemic. 

“During the downtime, we will repair and ship unfinished vehicles from many impacted plants, including Fort Wayne and Silao, to dealers to help meet the strong customer demand for our products,” Flores said. “Although the situation remains complex and very fluid, we remain confident in our team’s ability to continue finding creative solutions to minimize the impact on our highest-demand and capacity-constrained vehicles.” 

GM will keep its most profitable vehicles in production to limit damage, though CEO Mary Barra has said the semiconductor shortage will result in losses of $1.5 to $2 billion in 2021. Virtually every car manufacturer has had to limit to pause or slow down production for various periods. The shortage is expected to last into 2022 after new waves of infections in Southeast Asian countries that make the chips. 

[ad_2]
Originally Appeared Here

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Amid a labor shortage and supply chain nightmares, Amazon might have hit upon a quick fix for its lack of drivers.  

Bloomberg has reported that the nation’s No. 2 employer is advising delivery partners to emphasize to applicants for driver positions that they don’t test for cannabis use. Amazon told the partners, contractors who own and operate the delivery vans emblazoned with the Amazon logo, that the move could increase applications by 400%.  

While one delivery partner told Bloomberg that cannabis is the No. 1 reason applicants fail drug screenings, another expressed concern about liability.  

“If one of my drivers crashes and kills someone and tests positive for marijuana, that’s my problem, not Amazon’s,” they said. 

Amazon stopped cannabis testing for applicants who would be direct employees of Amazon, say in a fulfillment center, in June. It cannot require the delivery partners to do the same as they are independent contractors, but it has been urging them to. 

“If a delivery associate is impaired at work and tests positive post-accident or due to reasonable suspicion, that person would no longer be permitted to perform services for Amazon,” a spokesperson told Bloomberg.  

Meanwhile, in an effort to meet demand, Amazon is offering bonuses of £50 (about $69) per week to employees at some U.K. warehouses for 100% attendance on scheduled shifts, not counting excused absences. 

“We are currently offering an attendance bonus at a number of locations to permanent associates to support our summer demand and help us prepare for the festive season ahead,” a spokesperson told the BBC. 

COVID-19 has accelerated e-commerce while at the same time causing delays across supply chains and increasing unemployment. Desperate for workers as buying demand rises, companies have been offering an array of sign-on bonuses and other financial incentives to keep things running. 

[ad_2]
Originally Appeared Here

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Almost heaven, West Virginia. The newest residents of the Mountain State will have the chance to discover for themselves if that classic John Denver line holds true as they relocate to Morgantown in the Ascend West Virginia program’s inaugural class. Just 53 applicants were chosen from among more than 7,500 entrants for the state’s remote worker program, launched in an attempt to entice high earners looking for a pandemic change of pace.  

With their families, the winners will add about 110 people to Morgantown’s population. They come from 21 states and Washington, D.C., even as far away as Berlin. Their average annual income is about $105,000. Ascend West Virginia will provide them with a $12,000 cash relocation incentive, free co-working space with high-speed internet access, special events and guided excursions with state business leaders, the chance to earn remote work certifications at West Virginia University, and a free year of outdoor recreation valued at $2,500.  

“More than ever before in my life, I’m craving new,” Quintina Mengyan, a 10-year Chicago resident and director of customer experience for Vivid Seats. “New scenery, new experiences, new challenges. Being outdoors and putting my energy towards exploring the earth is no longer something I want for a vacation, I want it every day. Jogs at dawn, appreciating the mountain air and natural trails, afternoon hikes and evenings near a lake with loved ones. Those are things I just couldn’t get in Chicago, but things I’ve quickly learned are the norm in West Virginia.”  

Considering how many applicants Ascend West Viriginia got, the program — made possible by a $25 million grant from Intuit executive chairman Brad D. Smith and his wife, Alys — is encouraging them to reapply for the second class, which will live in Lewisburg, close to the New River Gorge Park and Preserve, America’s newest national park. 

“We created this program knowing our offer wasn’t a one-size-fits-all approach. Our program is unique and tailored to our greatest strength — outdoor recreation,” said Dr. Danny Twilley, Assistant Dean at the Brad & Alys Smith Outdoor Economic Development Collaborative. “We looked for people who aligned with what the state and our program had to offer and wanted to bring their talents to the mountain state. This first cohort will bring new energy and opportunities to the city of Morgantown and make a lasting impact on the entire state.”  

 

[ad_2]
Originally Appeared Here