Advanced Manufacturing Newsletter

"A must-read for decision-makers who manage, source and implement manufacturing technologies. Canada's #1 source for advanced manufacturing technology news, analysis and products."

Seeing is believing. It’s no different for manufacturers. Building prototypes is the tried and true method of bringing new products into existence. How that’s done has changed though. Physical prototypes are on the way out and digital prototyping is the way of the future.

A recent study of manufacturers revealed that the top companies built half the number of physical prototypes than the average manufacturer and got products to market 58 days faster with nearly 50 per cent lower costs.

The latest in 3D software is the most likely answer. By redefining the product development process manufacturers can experience their ideas before they’re real. And it’s not just how the product looks either. Technology now allows engineers and designers the ability to incorporate mechanical and electrical data, and test the product’s performance before anything is ever built. Now manufacturers can bring products to market faster without the expense and waste of physical prototypes. The entire process can easily be managed and information shared ensuring concepts can become real products.

Digital prototyping is becoming easier to do and as more manufacturers make the move from 2D to 3D applications, this virtual world of product design will become the norm.

Auto parts maker receives federal aid for R&D

Gary Goodyear, Member of Parliament for Cambridge, on behalf of the Honourable Maxime Bernier, Minister of Industry, announced a repayable investment of $8.97 million in a $29.9 million research and development (R&D) project by Linamar Corporation, based in Guelph, Ont. The project will support the development of advanced automotive gear technologies and related processes that are more energy efficient, have increased durability and lower production costs.

“Research and development is vital for the future strength of Canada’s automotive industry and its suppliers,” says Goodyear. “This project will not only benefit Linamar, but will also contribute to the economic growth and development of a highly-skilled workforce in the region.”

Linamar specializes in the design and manufacture of precision machined components, modules and systems for engine, transmission and chassis systems, primarily for the North American and European automotive marketplace. This project is part of a $1.1 billion program Linamar is undertaking to enhance its automotive R&D, upgrade its manufacturing and improve employee training.

“This investment in our innovation, research and development program will help Linamar seize opportunities in the automotive sector and meet the future demands of the marketplace,” says Linda Hasenfratz, CEO, Linamar Corporation.

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3. INDUSTRY NEWS: Education

(Left to right) Alan Dickinson (Schneider), Dave Fraser (Schneider),
Sam Shaw (NAIT), Terry Sawatzky (Schneider), Terry Grant (Schneider).

Schneider Electric donation to create new teaching laboratory at NAIT

Schneider Electric donated $275,000 to the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) for the creation of a Schneider Electric teaching laboratory at the Edmonton school. The donation includes $50,000 for curriculum development and the following categories of products – Quantum PLCs and Unity Pro software, Magelis XBT-GT HMIs, Vijeo Designer software and ConneXium Ethernet switches.

The province of Alberta is in the midst of unprecedented economic growth period, fuelled primarily by the energy sector. By 2015, experts predict there will be a significant technical skills shortage of engineers and technicians. This continued demand will see increasing numbers of students attending NAIT to acquire the technical skills to help satisfy these demands.

“Providing resources to train young technicians and engineers through our College Partnership Program will help NAIT address an increasing shortage of technically skilled people required by Alberta's booming economy,” says Gavin de Mello, Director, Human Resources.

Autodesk, Inc. named Bosch Rexroth Canada, a leading provider of drive and control products, as the Autodesk Inventor of the Year for 2006. The Inventor of the Month program began in January 2006 and recognizes the most innovative design and engineering advancements made by the extensive community of customers using Autodesk Inventor software, the world’s best-selling 3D mechanical design software.

“We are truly honored to be named the 2006 Inventor of the Year,” says Jim Lambert C.E.T., the design engineering manager of the Hydraulic Business Unit of Bosch Rexroth Canada. “It is especially rewarding to be recognized for our achievements by the Autodesk community – one of the largest online manufacturing engineering communities in the industry.”

Bosch Rexroth Canada relied on Autodesk Inventor software while modernizing the canal locks of the busiest waterway in North America, the St. Lawrence Seaway’s Welland Canal. By using Inventor software, the company was able to design all-new hydraulic systems for the canal in 3D, resulting in dramatic reductions in design time and drawing errors.

“Adding the power of 3D to its design processes has allowed Bosch Rexroth Canada to successfully tackle even the most challenging and complex projects,” says Robert “Buzz” Kross, vice president of Autodesk Manufacturing Solutions. “It is a pleasure to name them as the Inventor of the Year for 2006.”

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It’s closing in on midnight and I’m pondering such imponderables as why are dogs always happy to see you? How could Jimmy Buffet team up with a country singer? Should I grab a scoop of butter pecan ice cream before bed? Then it hit me as I was reading XML Weekend Crash Course and the first few paragraphs extolling the virtues of XML leapt off the page: “XML allows for information reuse.”

It was only a few years ago, 2000 to be precise, that I was playing around with an XML editor creating structured documents and considering the ability of XML to provide vendor neutral information storage. During the early 1990s I worked at the ISO to help design and develop the STEP standard — a.k.a. ISO10303. There were a few of us truly pushing the ideas of vendor independence as far as it would go.

Most of the initial discussion of STEP at that time was as a Product Definition Data exchange file format — IGES on steroids. A few of us had grander dreams of what could be done. While STEP never materialized as the universal format for Engineering Data Exchange it did raise the bar a little higher.

I bring this up because there is another window of opportunity that Web technology has enabled and XML has created that window. For the next several years as businesses automate using Web technology such as SOAP, ASP, .NET and the like, most of this programming technology is based upon supporting and exploiting the power of XML. The basic idea being, create reusable content that can be distributed via the Web, desktop and database. The other line that hit home from this book was directed at vendor’s usage of proprietary formats that lock the data and its structure making it difficult for end users to access their data without the vendor’s tools. Sound familiar?

Recognizing the warning signs can help businesses avoid catastrophe
Why some financial crises are opportunities in disguise
By Allan Nackan, CA, CIRP

An insolvency and restructuring expert points out the early warning signs of financial crisis and outlines some creative restructuring strategies companies can employ to overcome serious difficulties.

In the manufacturing sector, business survival often depends on being able to quickly change direction and find new business strategies. That’s particularly true in light of the external challenges companies face that run the gamut from rising energy prices and increased foreign competition to skyrocketing raw materials costs.

However, what many companies fail to realize — often until it’s too late — is that financial crises are frequently the result of unidentified internal challenges. For instance, severe management difficulties, ranging from shareholder disputes to incompetence, can seriously hamper a company’s viability, particularly since managers often have difficulty acknowledging that they may be part of the problem.

It is for these reasons, and more, that companies eager to avoid crippling business events should be aware of the early warning signs of danger, which include:

• Failure to take a regular draw or salary or earn a reasonable return on investment;

• Extensive pressure from creditors, suppliers, bankers or other external parties relating to non-performance;

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This special advertising section features profiles of some of the leading technology vendors that exhibit at Canadian manufacturing trade shows. So if you can't make the trade show, you can still "visit" with some of the exhibitors in this special Exhibitor Profile section. These paid exhibitor profiles feature company information, new product information and contact information from some of this year's leading exhibitors.

Visitors can also shop online for lean manufacturing books in our online store. Apart from some of the newest titles, we also feature a range of automation products from Omron Canada.

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