A measure of U.S. manufacturing activity rose to a near 13-1/2-year high in September, as disruptions to the supply chains caused by Hurricanes Harvey and Irma resulted in factories taking longer to deliver goods,  and boosted raw material prices.

Bombardier Inc. shares plunged as sales prospects for Bombardier’s C Series jetliner, which cost $6 billion to develop, dimmed after the U.S. Commerce Department slapped it with preliminary import duties of 220 percent. The agency cited claims of improper subsidies after a complaint by Boeing Co.

Autodesk recently announced a partnership with Aristo Cast, a Michigan foundry, to 3D print a lightweight magnesium commercial airline seat frame. The seat is so light that it could save airlines $200 million in fuel costs.

Experts answer questions from a five-part Industry Week series on factory metrics. 

In the latest NAM Manufacturers’ Outlook Survey, the historically high levels of optimism that manufacturers in the United States expressed during the first two quarters of 2017 continued unabated through the third quarter. In March, 93.3 percent of respondents felt positive about their own company’s outlook, an all-time high in the survey’s 20-year history. That dropped slightly in the second quarter to 89.5 percent, then rose a bit again in the third quarter to 89.8 percent. As a result, this year we have seen the highest consecutive three-quarter average — 90.9 percent having a positive outlook for their company — in the survey’s history.

Digitalization of machines involves the massive collection of data, with sensor points attached to the ends of machine tools (such as CNC machines) collecting data on vibrations, forces and temperatures. 

In an industry that tends to concentrate its startup energy in Silicon Valley, Kryon defies convention. The robotics process automation (RPA) startup has its US headquarters in New Jersey. The location didn’t matter when it came to getting investment capital as the company announced its $12 million Series B funding.

Training the next generation of the workforce must become top priority for manufacturers. For nearly a decade, retiring baby boomers, the resulting skills gap and shortages of skilled workers have been topics of much debate. It’s time for companies to take more ownership of the problem and make a serious play for recruiting and training the workforce of the future.

Gov. Phil Scott and the state Chamber of Commerce are working together to encourage economic cooperation with the aerospace industry in Quebec and elsewhere by promoting state businesses that provide parts and services for the aerospace and aviation industries.

Siemens’ rail merger with French rival Alstom is a milestone for Europe’s largest industrial conglomerate, but also carries deeper political significance for its chief executive Joe Kaeser.

Rolls-Royce Holdings is building what it calls the "world’s most powerful aerospace gearbox" with an assist from a virtual reality system. 

Self-driving cars are set to transform the automotive industry. But major changes have already been taking place in automotive manufacturing thanks to 3D printing. In a scenario offered by 3DPrint.com, using 3D printing, consumers would be able to order a car online, which could be designed to their own specifications, and have it shipped in less than two days.

Manufacturers are under more pressure than ever before to make efficiencies across the board. Across the production, distribution and end-customer phases, they are being driven by market forces to find new ways to improve processes and results, address safety regulations and ensure production efficiency.

American manufacturing expanded last month at the fastest pace in 13 years, powered by robust order growth and healthy production, the latest figures from the Institute for Supply Management showed.

Manufacturing giant GE takes a holistic approach to industrial internet of things (IIoT) security that integrates enterprise and product security. CISO Nasrin Rezai explains why this is important and how it works.

Drilling a well is a complex mix of overwhelming data and tasks in need of constant attention. To address the challenge of repetitive complexities of machine and process control, the NOVOS process automation platform was launched by after an extensive development period.

You can 3D print the part, but can you finish it? Here is how to overcome the challenge of part deflection in the machining of lightweight, complex AM parts.