Collaboration Tools To Accelerate Design
Tue, 09/03/2013 - 2:16pm
Nathalie Regniers, Director, Industry & Product Marketing, Infor SCM & PLM
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Increasing demand for product specialization from customers, and market pressures to speed new product introductions, are two big challenges facing manufacturers today. Manufacturers with engineer-to-order and made-to-order products need new tools to be able to successfully share the collective brainpower of manufacturing and engineering in real-time. Collaboration tools help you share CAD designs, analyze costs, monitor reliability of components and discuss complex specifications with a global supply chain of vendors and subcontractors.
Driving Influences
Today’s consumer expects choices and engineering departments face heightened pressure to adapt designs to customer requests. Engineers also face pressure to speed product releases as manufacturers turn to innovation as one of the key ways to create a competitive edge. With the ability and business requirement to introduce more products in a year, design speed is even more important. Decisions are being made quickly, and engineers are operating in a fast-paced environment where convenient access to data is key. There is no time for delays caused by waiting for reports to be built, but data needs to be easily accessible and needs to be easily shared in real time across the internal and external organization. Self-service analytics and easy-to-use reporting are critical to meeting accelerated deadlines.
As global competition increases, offering a distinctive product is one of the few ways to stand out from the crowd. Product specialization—allowing the customer to request configurations, styles or as-completed specifications is key to maintain a competitive edge.
Benefits of Collaboration
Manufacturers need every tool available to boost productivity of the engineering department and help product designers manage their complex processes with greater ease. Not only must the engineering department speed the development cycle, they must do so with a watchful eye on cost efficiencies. It is of no use to develop a new product quickly if that product is going to be inefficient to produce with low margins and use difficult to obtain components. Visibility into costs, supply chain issues and overall production capabilities are essential. When access to this data is available, an engineer can work with the customer and suppliers and have confidence in the costs associated with the new concept. Collaboration tools help to bring the various influencing factors into context and bring stakeholders into relevant dialogue.
As manufacturers struggle with shortages of highly-skilled personnel, but still want to grow the business, the value of shared dialogue and effective collaboration is greater than ever. Personnel, including engineers, may need to share tasks, mentor recruits or expand their role in the company, assuming more responsibility for cost analysis, compliance monitoring and feasibility studies. In these cases, communication within the workforce increases in importance.
Selecting the Right Tools
Unfortunately, many consumer-oriented social platforms lack the depth and power suitable for today’s complex, fast-moving manufacturing environment. The qualities that lead to success in manufacturing revolve around rapid mastery of highly-sophisticated processes combining human judgment, precision engineering and financial accuracy—all united in a highly-synchronized framework focused on business goals. The most important functions include engineering and design collaboration, business-process integration, real-time financial reporting, analytics and fully-connected manufacturing execution capabilities. A competitive manufacturing company needs to be constantly optimized for peak performance under volatile business conditions in order to support long-term success.
There’s no substitute for having the right collaborative and product lifecycle management (PLM) tools to match manufacturing requirements. The issues and decision-points requiring collaboration contribute to the overall process and framework of the production cycle. The collaboration process needs to be integral to the overall workflow—not an after-thought.
Product development demands an unusually sophisticated level of collaboration, incorporating far greater complexity than shared social conversations. A PLM system supports the intricate and collaborative processes organizations need to successfully manage and plan an entire range of product lifecycle management tasks, including complex engineering information, CAD documents, product structures, change orders and more. As PLM systems function as an integral part of the manufacturing collaboration network, organizations can gain both foresight and insight about how they are able to manufacture current products more economically, create new products more rapidly and be sure that an entire product line is succeeding in the marketplace.
All manufacturers need a richer collaboration architecture incorporating deeper business functions. When evaluating systems, be sure to look for integration and collaboration technologies which will provide a path to the next level of teamwork, a level which combines human ingenuity, analysis and the power to execute strategy rapidly so the organization can succeed in a rapidly changing business environment.
Wednesday, December 4, 2013
IT Certification – Driving Competitive Edge In A Global Marketplace
Tue, 09/03/2013 - 2:20pm
Julie Gaudet, Senior Director, Customer Operations of Gilmore Global
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The US currently has the largest IT certification market in the world. However, others are catching up fast. For example, growth is rapid in the BRIC economies - Brazil,
Russia, India and China and in Eastern Europe – all regions where the overall expansion of the IT market has accelerated dramatically over recent years.
In fact historically, emerging countries have been the most passionate about the benefits of IT certification. They have led the way in driving programme adoption and in the results achieved by candidates. As a result, employees in these regions have competed for jobs on a more equal footing with their peers in more established economies and are now often at a competitive advantage.
When Autodesk’s own scheme got under way in China, 89,000 people were certified in the first year. Enthusiasm in Poland, where Autodesk certification was recently launched, is also high with aggressive delivery numbers achieved in the first few months.
Businesses in more mature economies such as Japan and South Korea are now responding to this strong emerging market adoption by ensuring that employees have fully validated their skills.
So the US needs to ensure it maintains its lead, engaging with training and certification schemes now will help win against global companies that endorse certification and have large numbers of employees registered on these schemes. Businesses that engage can guarantee that when they tender for large projects, potential customers will take certifications into account.
Fighting Back
Economic conditions, pressure from developing markets and from large corporates bidding for business are just part of the explanation. Today, universities and colleges are becoming more sophisticated in terms of the technical courses they run. Many offer a practical range of vocational and industry oriented programmes. As a result, students graduate with higher levels of technology skills, putting greater pressure on the existing workforce to be competitive and further fuelling interest in technical certification.
This point is particularly relevant in manufacturing design where digitisation has brought massive changes not just to the technology used, but also to workflow and methods. This transformation has accelerated over the past few years with the introduction of digital prototyping and cloud computing enabling more accessible and affordable versions of applications such as simulation and product lifecycle management (PLM). Even those students who have learnt the latest methods using the latest technologies, may not be aware of best practice and other ways to maximise the potential of the software.
There is also, particularly among more experienced users, a strong element of competitiveness that drives uptake of certification schemes – especially where groups of colleagues attend the same event. Candidates enjoy the kudos, the sense of personal satisfaction and pride that goes with exam success and like to compare themselves favourably with their peers.
A Global Perspective
While the battle between companies operating in emerging and mature markets continues, many companies today operate in a global context. They may be off-shoring work or they may be multinational corporations with many international operations. So while employees can play their role in the struggle between businesses from mature and emerging economies, they are also part of the global economy.
This global consistency benefits employers by giving them a measurement of a member of staff’s technical expertise but it also has significant advantages for employees. An individual passing a certification exam in India has the same qualification as an employee passing the scheme in Illinois and the same benefits apply wherever in the world that member of staff is based. This is where international certification programmes score points over national, locally-branded schemes.
Holding Your Own
Ultimately, many of the benefits of IT certification programmes relate to enhanced competitive edge. This extends far beyond corporations from mature markets battling for advantage over businesses based in emerging economies. It is just as much about employees competing for advantage over their peers in the job market whether as part of an international battle, or experienced staff taking on the challenge offered by university graduates with all the latest technical skills.
The growing success of certification schemes and associated training programmes across the world demonstrates clearly the importance of excellence - and that in this fast-changing industry, the need for certification will become ever more critical.
Tue, 09/03/2013 - 2:20pm
Julie Gaudet, Senior Director, Customer Operations of Gilmore Global
Get today's manufacturing headlines and news - Sign up now!
The US currently has the largest IT certification market in the world. However, others are catching up fast. For example, growth is rapid in the BRIC economies - Brazil,
Russia, India and China and in Eastern Europe – all regions where the overall expansion of the IT market has accelerated dramatically over recent years.In fact historically, emerging countries have been the most passionate about the benefits of IT certification. They have led the way in driving programme adoption and in the results achieved by candidates. As a result, employees in these regions have competed for jobs on a more equal footing with their peers in more established economies and are now often at a competitive advantage.
When Autodesk’s own scheme got under way in China, 89,000 people were certified in the first year. Enthusiasm in Poland, where Autodesk certification was recently launched, is also high with aggressive delivery numbers achieved in the first few months.
Businesses in more mature economies such as Japan and South Korea are now responding to this strong emerging market adoption by ensuring that employees have fully validated their skills.
So the US needs to ensure it maintains its lead, engaging with training and certification schemes now will help win against global companies that endorse certification and have large numbers of employees registered on these schemes. Businesses that engage can guarantee that when they tender for large projects, potential customers will take certifications into account.
Fighting Back
Economic conditions, pressure from developing markets and from large corporates bidding for business are just part of the explanation. Today, universities and colleges are becoming more sophisticated in terms of the technical courses they run. Many offer a practical range of vocational and industry oriented programmes. As a result, students graduate with higher levels of technology skills, putting greater pressure on the existing workforce to be competitive and further fuelling interest in technical certification.
This point is particularly relevant in manufacturing design where digitisation has brought massive changes not just to the technology used, but also to workflow and methods. This transformation has accelerated over the past few years with the introduction of digital prototyping and cloud computing enabling more accessible and affordable versions of applications such as simulation and product lifecycle management (PLM). Even those students who have learnt the latest methods using the latest technologies, may not be aware of best practice and other ways to maximise the potential of the software.
There is also, particularly among more experienced users, a strong element of competitiveness that drives uptake of certification schemes – especially where groups of colleagues attend the same event. Candidates enjoy the kudos, the sense of personal satisfaction and pride that goes with exam success and like to compare themselves favourably with their peers.
A Global Perspective
While the battle between companies operating in emerging and mature markets continues, many companies today operate in a global context. They may be off-shoring work or they may be multinational corporations with many international operations. So while employees can play their role in the struggle between businesses from mature and emerging economies, they are also part of the global economy.
This global consistency benefits employers by giving them a measurement of a member of staff’s technical expertise but it also has significant advantages for employees. An individual passing a certification exam in India has the same qualification as an employee passing the scheme in Illinois and the same benefits apply wherever in the world that member of staff is based. This is where international certification programmes score points over national, locally-branded schemes.
Holding Your Own
Ultimately, many of the benefits of IT certification programmes relate to enhanced competitive edge. This extends far beyond corporations from mature markets battling for advantage over businesses based in emerging economies. It is just as much about employees competing for advantage over their peers in the job market whether as part of an international battle, or experienced staff taking on the challenge offered by university graduates with all the latest technical skills.
The growing success of certification schemes and associated training programmes across the world demonstrates clearly the importance of excellence - and that in this fast-changing industry, the need for certification will become ever more critical.
Hackers Find Weaknesses In Car Computer Systems
Tue, 09/03/2013 - 9:40am
Tom Krisher, AP Auto Writer
DETROIT (AP) -- As cars become more like PCs on wheels, what's to stop a hacker from taking over yours?
In recent demonstrations, hackers have shown they can slam a car's brakes at freeway speeds, jerk the steering wheel and even shut down the engine — all from their laptop computers.
The hackers are publicizing their work to reveal vulnerabilities present in a growing number of car computers. All cars and trucks contain anywhere from 20 to 70 computers. They control everything from the brakes to acceleration to the windows, and are connected to an internal network. A few hackers have recently managed to find their way into these intricate networks.
In one case, a pair of hackers manipulated two cars by plugging a laptop into a port beneath the dashboard where mechanics connect their computers to search for problems. Scarier yet, another group took control of a car's computers through cellular telephone and Bluetooth connections, the compact disc player and even the tire pressure monitoring system.
To be sure, the "hackers" involved were well-intentioned computer security experts, and it took both groups months to break into the computers. And there have been no real-world cases of a hacker remotely taking over a car. But experts say high-tech hijackings will get easier as automakers give them full Internet access and add computer-controlled safety devices that take over driving duties, such as braking or steering, in emergencies. Another possibility: A tech-savvy thief could unlock the doors and drive off with your vehicle.
"The more technology they add to the vehicle, the more opportunities there are for that to be abused for nefarious purposes," says Rich Mogull, CEO of Phoenix-based Securosis, a security research firm. "Anything with a computer chip in it is vulnerable, history keeps showing us."
In the last 25 years, automakers have gradually computerized functions such as steering, braking, accelerating and shifting. Electronic gas pedal position sensors, for instance, are more reliable than the old throttle cables. Electronic parts also reduce weight and help cars use less gasoline.
The networks of little computers inside today's cars are fertile ground for hackers.
Charlie Miller, a St. Louis-based security engineer for Twitter, and fellow hacker Chris Valasek, director of intelligence at a Pittsburgh computer security consulting firm, maneuvered their way into the computer systems of a 2010 Toyota Prius and 2010 Ford Escape through a port used by mechanics.
"We could control steering, braking, acceleration to a certain extent, seat belts, lights, horn, speedometer, gas gauge," said Valasek. The two used a federal grant to expose the vulnerability of car computers. Even with their expertise, it took them nine months to get in.
Valasek and Miller released a report, including instructions on how to break into the cars' networks, at a hacker convention in August. They said they did so to draw attention to the problems and get automakers to fix them. The pair say automakers haven't added security to the ports.
Ford wouldn't comment other than a statement saying it takes security seriously, and that Miller and Valasek needed physical access to the cars to hack in.
Toyota said it has added security and continually tests it to stay ahead of hackers. The company said its computers are programmed to recognize rogue commands and reject them.
Two years ago, researchers at the University of Washington and University of California, San Diego did more extensive work, hacking their way into a 2009 midsize car through its cellular, Bluetooth and other wireless connections — even the CD player.
Stefan Savage, a UCSD computer science professor, said he and other researchers could control nearly everything but the car's steering. "We could have turned the brakes off. We could have killed the engine. We could have engaged the brakes," he said.
Savage wouldn't identify which manufacturer made the car they hacked into. But two people with knowledge of the work said the car was from General Motors and the researchers compromised the OnStar safety system, best known for using cellular technology to check on customers and call for help in a crash. The people didn't want to be identified because they were not authorized to speak publicly on the matter.
GM wouldn't comment on the research, but the company issued a statement saying it takes security seriously and is putting strategies in place to reduce risk.
One of the people said GM engineers initially dismissed the researchers' work, but after reading the report, quickly moved to close holes that allowed access to the car's computers.
Savage doesn't think common criminals will be able to electronically seize control of cars anytime soon. Currently it would take too much time, expertise, money and hard work to hack into the multitude of computer systems.
"You're talking about a rarefied group who has the resources and wherewithal," he said.
Instead, he believes basic theft is a more likely consequence of computerization, with criminals being able to unlock doors remotely and then start and drive the car by hacking through the diagnostic port. Remote door unlocking could also lead to theft of packages, phones and other items that are stored in a car.
Tue, 09/03/2013 - 9:40am
Tom Krisher, AP Auto Writer
DETROIT (AP) -- As cars become more like PCs on wheels, what's to stop a hacker from taking over yours?
In recent demonstrations, hackers have shown they can slam a car's brakes at freeway speeds, jerk the steering wheel and even shut down the engine — all from their laptop computers.
The hackers are publicizing their work to reveal vulnerabilities present in a growing number of car computers. All cars and trucks contain anywhere from 20 to 70 computers. They control everything from the brakes to acceleration to the windows, and are connected to an internal network. A few hackers have recently managed to find their way into these intricate networks.
In one case, a pair of hackers manipulated two cars by plugging a laptop into a port beneath the dashboard where mechanics connect their computers to search for problems. Scarier yet, another group took control of a car's computers through cellular telephone and Bluetooth connections, the compact disc player and even the tire pressure monitoring system.
To be sure, the "hackers" involved were well-intentioned computer security experts, and it took both groups months to break into the computers. And there have been no real-world cases of a hacker remotely taking over a car. But experts say high-tech hijackings will get easier as automakers give them full Internet access and add computer-controlled safety devices that take over driving duties, such as braking or steering, in emergencies. Another possibility: A tech-savvy thief could unlock the doors and drive off with your vehicle.
"The more technology they add to the vehicle, the more opportunities there are for that to be abused for nefarious purposes," says Rich Mogull, CEO of Phoenix-based Securosis, a security research firm. "Anything with a computer chip in it is vulnerable, history keeps showing us."
In the last 25 years, automakers have gradually computerized functions such as steering, braking, accelerating and shifting. Electronic gas pedal position sensors, for instance, are more reliable than the old throttle cables. Electronic parts also reduce weight and help cars use less gasoline.
The networks of little computers inside today's cars are fertile ground for hackers.
Charlie Miller, a St. Louis-based security engineer for Twitter, and fellow hacker Chris Valasek, director of intelligence at a Pittsburgh computer security consulting firm, maneuvered their way into the computer systems of a 2010 Toyota Prius and 2010 Ford Escape through a port used by mechanics.
"We could control steering, braking, acceleration to a certain extent, seat belts, lights, horn, speedometer, gas gauge," said Valasek. The two used a federal grant to expose the vulnerability of car computers. Even with their expertise, it took them nine months to get in.
Valasek and Miller released a report, including instructions on how to break into the cars' networks, at a hacker convention in August. They said they did so to draw attention to the problems and get automakers to fix them. The pair say automakers haven't added security to the ports.
Ford wouldn't comment other than a statement saying it takes security seriously, and that Miller and Valasek needed physical access to the cars to hack in.
Toyota said it has added security and continually tests it to stay ahead of hackers. The company said its computers are programmed to recognize rogue commands and reject them.
Two years ago, researchers at the University of Washington and University of California, San Diego did more extensive work, hacking their way into a 2009 midsize car through its cellular, Bluetooth and other wireless connections — even the CD player.
Stefan Savage, a UCSD computer science professor, said he and other researchers could control nearly everything but the car's steering. "We could have turned the brakes off. We could have killed the engine. We could have engaged the brakes," he said.
Savage wouldn't identify which manufacturer made the car they hacked into. But two people with knowledge of the work said the car was from General Motors and the researchers compromised the OnStar safety system, best known for using cellular technology to check on customers and call for help in a crash. The people didn't want to be identified because they were not authorized to speak publicly on the matter.
GM wouldn't comment on the research, but the company issued a statement saying it takes security seriously and is putting strategies in place to reduce risk.
One of the people said GM engineers initially dismissed the researchers' work, but after reading the report, quickly moved to close holes that allowed access to the car's computers.
Savage doesn't think common criminals will be able to electronically seize control of cars anytime soon. Currently it would take too much time, expertise, money and hard work to hack into the multitude of computer systems.
"You're talking about a rarefied group who has the resources and wherewithal," he said.
Instead, he believes basic theft is a more likely consequence of computerization, with criminals being able to unlock doors remotely and then start and drive the car by hacking through the diagnostic port. Remote door unlocking could also lead to theft of packages, phones and other items that are stored in a car.
Pace Of U.S. Manufacturing Hits 2-Year Peak
Tue, 09/03/2013 - 11:11am
Christopher S. Rugaber, AP Economics Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) -- U.S. factories expanded last month at the fastest pace since June 2011 on a jump in orders. The report signals that manufacturing output could strengthen in coming months.
The Institute for Supply Management, a trade group of purchasing managers, said Tuesday that its manufacturing index rose to 55.7 in August from 55.4 in July. That topped the index's 12-month average of 52. A reading above 50 indicates growth.
A gauge of new orders rose nearly five points to 63.2, the highest level in more than two years. At the same time, production increased more slowly than in July, and factories added jobs at a weaker rate. Despite the drop, production reached its highest level in 2½ years.
The overall improvement contrasts with other recent reports that had pointed to a slowdown in manufacturing. The ISM's survey found broad-based growth, with 15 out of 18 industries reporting expansion and only one reporting contraction. That suggests that factory production could accelerate this year.
"The data unambiguously point to a pickup in ... manufacturing output growth after a weak" second quarter, Jim O'Sullivan, an economist at High Frequency Economics, said in a note to clients.
The Federal Reserve will closely examine Tuesday's report, which comes two weeks before Fed policymakers will decide whether to slow their bond-buying program. Chairman Ben Bernanke has said the Fed will scale back its purchases this year if the economy continues to strengthen. The $85 billion in monthly bond purchases have been intended to keep interest rates low.
The jobs report for August, to be released Friday, is the most important remaining economic report the Fed will consider.
Orders from overseas also rose, a sign that improving economies in Europe and China may be boosting U.S. manufacturers. The 17 countries that use the euro grew in the April-June quarter after six quarters of recession.
And a private survey of purchasing managers in China found that manufacturing in that country expanded for the first time after shrinking for three months. It added to other recent evidence that China's economy is stabilizing after a slowdown.
Last month, a Fed report found that factory output dipped in July. But that slip reflected a slowdown in auto production, which many analysts expect to be only temporary.
Companies also cut back in July on orders for long-lasting U.S. factory goods, according to a government report last week. That drop was driven by a sharp fall in demand for commercial aircraft, a volatile category.
But businesses also sharply reduced their orders for capital goods such as computers, electrical equipment and other items. That decline may signal that business investment, an important driver of the economy, could slow.
The economy grew at a modest 2.5 percent annual rate in the April-June quarter, the Commerce Department estimated last week. That was better than the government's initial estimate of 1.7 percent.
But many economists now think the economy could slip a bit in the July-September quarter to a 2 percent annual growth rate or less.
Tue, 09/03/2013 - 11:11am
Christopher S. Rugaber, AP Economics Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) -- U.S. factories expanded last month at the fastest pace since June 2011 on a jump in orders. The report signals that manufacturing output could strengthen in coming months.
The Institute for Supply Management, a trade group of purchasing managers, said Tuesday that its manufacturing index rose to 55.7 in August from 55.4 in July. That topped the index's 12-month average of 52. A reading above 50 indicates growth.
A gauge of new orders rose nearly five points to 63.2, the highest level in more than two years. At the same time, production increased more slowly than in July, and factories added jobs at a weaker rate. Despite the drop, production reached its highest level in 2½ years.
The overall improvement contrasts with other recent reports that had pointed to a slowdown in manufacturing. The ISM's survey found broad-based growth, with 15 out of 18 industries reporting expansion and only one reporting contraction. That suggests that factory production could accelerate this year.
"The data unambiguously point to a pickup in ... manufacturing output growth after a weak" second quarter, Jim O'Sullivan, an economist at High Frequency Economics, said in a note to clients.
The Federal Reserve will closely examine Tuesday's report, which comes two weeks before Fed policymakers will decide whether to slow their bond-buying program. Chairman Ben Bernanke has said the Fed will scale back its purchases this year if the economy continues to strengthen. The $85 billion in monthly bond purchases have been intended to keep interest rates low.
The jobs report for August, to be released Friday, is the most important remaining economic report the Fed will consider.
Orders from overseas also rose, a sign that improving economies in Europe and China may be boosting U.S. manufacturers. The 17 countries that use the euro grew in the April-June quarter after six quarters of recession.
And a private survey of purchasing managers in China found that manufacturing in that country expanded for the first time after shrinking for three months. It added to other recent evidence that China's economy is stabilizing after a slowdown.
Last month, a Fed report found that factory output dipped in July. But that slip reflected a slowdown in auto production, which many analysts expect to be only temporary.
Companies also cut back in July on orders for long-lasting U.S. factory goods, according to a government report last week. That drop was driven by a sharp fall in demand for commercial aircraft, a volatile category.
But businesses also sharply reduced their orders for capital goods such as computers, electrical equipment and other items. That decline may signal that business investment, an important driver of the economy, could slow.
The economy grew at a modest 2.5 percent annual rate in the April-June quarter, the Commerce Department estimated last week. That was better than the government's initial estimate of 1.7 percent.
But many economists now think the economy could slip a bit in the July-September quarter to a 2 percent annual growth rate or less.
Sharp To Boost Production Of Home Appliances In Indonesia
Wed, 09/04/2013 - 7:55am
OSAKA (Kyodo) -- Sharp Corp. said Wednesday it has started manufacturing washing machines at a new plant in Indonesia to boost its production of home appliances in the country amid intensifying competition with South Korean rivals.
Sharp, which has a leading share in sales of washing machines and refrigerators in the Indonesian market, started operations three months ahead of its initial plan as companies such as Samsung Electronics Co. and LG Electronics Inc. are on the heels of the Osaka-based electronics manufacturer.
Sharp said it also plans to start producing refrigerators from October at the new plant located in Karawang, the company's second manufacturing base in the country after its first plant in Jakarta began operation in 1971.
By integrating local production of washing machines and refrigerators at the new plant in fiscal 2014 starting April or thereafter, Sharp plans to double its output of refrigerators to 220,000 units per month and boost its production of washing machines 2.5-fold to 140,000 units per month.
After consolidating home appliance production, Sharp will manufacture liquid crystal display televisions and CRT-based TVs at its plant in Jakarta.
Wed, 09/04/2013 - 7:55am
OSAKA (Kyodo) -- Sharp Corp. said Wednesday it has started manufacturing washing machines at a new plant in Indonesia to boost its production of home appliances in the country amid intensifying competition with South Korean rivals.
Sharp, which has a leading share in sales of washing machines and refrigerators in the Indonesian market, started operations three months ahead of its initial plan as companies such as Samsung Electronics Co. and LG Electronics Inc. are on the heels of the Osaka-based electronics manufacturer.
Sharp said it also plans to start producing refrigerators from October at the new plant located in Karawang, the company's second manufacturing base in the country after its first plant in Jakarta began operation in 1971.
By integrating local production of washing machines and refrigerators at the new plant in fiscal 2014 starting April or thereafter, Sharp plans to double its output of refrigerators to 220,000 units per month and boost its production of washing machines 2.5-fold to 140,000 units per month.
After consolidating home appliance production, Sharp will manufacture liquid crystal display televisions and CRT-based TVs at its plant in Jakarta.
Sony Launches Camera Phone With Add-On Lenses
Wed, 09/04/2013 - 2:02pm
BERLIN (AP) -- Sony Mobile unveiled a new addition to its Xperia smartphone lineup Wednesday: a device that sports a massive 20.7-megapixel camera and is capable of attaching better lenses.
The Xperia Z1, presented in Berlin two days before the annual IFA consumer electronics show there, is Sony's attempt to leapfrog rivals such as Nokia and Samsung in the race for the phone with the best camera.
Its standout features are a high-resolution lens built into the camera, and the option of controlling detachable lenses from the phone's 5-inch screen.
According to Sony, the lenses can also be used with other Android phones and even Apple's iPhone.
The Z1's camera functions are further supported by a large image sensor and dedicated apps that allow users to stream video directly onto their Facebook page, store images online and search for information about whatever their viewfinder is pointing at.
The phone, previously codenamed Honami, comes with 2.2 gigahertz processor and a waterproof aluminum case.
Sony said the Z1 will go on sale later this month.
Reference: http://www.manufacturing.net/news/2013/09/sony-launches-camera-phone-with-add-on-lenses?et_cid=3461600&et_rid=54661085&linkid=http%3a%2f%2fwww.manufacturing.net%2fnews%2f2013%2f09%2fsony-launches-camera-phone-with-add-on-lenses
Samsung Unveils Smartwatch Ahead Of Rival Apple
Wed, 09/04/2013 - 2:11pm
BERLIN (AP) -- Samsung unveiled a highly anticipated digital wristwatch Wednesday at least weeks ahead of a similar product expected from rival Apple. The so-called smartwatch is what some technology analysts believe could become this year's must-have holiday gift.
Samsung unveiled the Galaxy Gear on Wednesday in Berlin ahead of the annual IFA consumer electronics show.
Samsung says the Gear can act as an extension to a smartphone by discreetly alerting users to incoming messages and calls on its display screen, which measures 1.63 inches diagonally.Users can even make calls, secret agent-style without getting out their phone. The Gear also sports a basic camera and works with popular social media and fitness apps such as Twitter and RunKeeper.
The Android-powered device starts shipping in most countries Sept. 25 starting at $299. It will be compatible initially with two Samsung products also unveiled Wednesday — the Galaxy Note III, which is a smartphone with a giant 5.7-inch screen and a digital pen, and the Galaxy Tab 10.1, a tablet computer with a 10.1-inch screen comparable to Apple's full-sized iPad.
With smartphones and tablets now ubiquitous, electronics companies are trying to create a new category of products to lure consumer spending. That includes building advanced computing technology into everyday objects such as wristwatches and glasses.
Sony introduced its latest SmartWatch in June and unveiled an update Wednesday. Google is working on Google Glass — a device designed to work like a smartphone and worn like a pair of glasses. Apple is seeking an iWatch trademark. Apple had no comment Wednesday on its plans. It has an event scheduled next Tuesday, during which it is expected to unveil new iPhones.
Sunday, December 1, 2013
Stantec Investigates Bat Activity in Atlantic and Great Lakes Offshore Regions
Environmental consulting and engineering firm Stantec is observing patterns in offshore bat activity and species composition in the Gulf of Maine, Great Lakes, and Mid-Atlantic coastal states regions to inform efforts to mitigate potential impacts associated with offshore wind energy development in these regions. Monitoring was initiated by Stantec in 2009 with a 3-year pilot study in the Gulf of Maine and expanded in 2012 to a 3-year multiregional U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)-sponsored study. Now in its second year, the multifaceted research effort aims to test the effectiveness of detecting echolocation signals of bats offshore using specialized monitoring equipment and to document the presence of individual bat species and species groups at a variety of offshore sites over multiple seasons and years. To date, Stantec has monitored acoustic bat activity at 36 sites distributed across the three regions, deploying bat detectors on a variety of lighthouses, offshore towers, and weather buoys, as well as three research vessels from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
Recording bats' echolocation calls using acoustic detectors has proven to be an effective method for documenting offshore bat activity on a regional level. Migratory and nonmigratory bat species have been detected at every site analyzed to date and include patterns of both resident and migratory bat activity. Bats have been detected from April through November, with activity indices highest in mid-August through early September. A compilation of available data from 44 survey periods collected between 2009 through 2012 revealed that 72% of sites recorded bat activity on more than half the nights in which detectors were deployed for the July 15 to October 15 time period, with only two survey periods (4%) reporting less than 20% activity during that same period.
Although bats have been regularly observed at considerable distances from the mainland, preliminary observations suggest offshore bat activity—particularly that involving nonmigratory species like the little brown and northern long-eared bats—becomes more erratic as the distance from the mainland increases. The fact that offshore activity is not solely restricted to migratory species, such as the silver-haired bat, hoary bat, and eastern red bat, is in itself an important finding. Preliminary observations also indicate much of the offshore use is dominated by seasonal migration activity and that small, remote islands are being used as stopover habitats during migration. Whether offshore structures provide similar functions has yet to be determined.
Stantec currently has acoustic bat detectors deployed at 33 sites, including two NOAA research vessels, and will continue to expand the study through 2014 in each of the three regions. The final analysis, due in the spring of 2015, will include a quantitative analysis of offshore bat activity patterns for the various survey years and regions.
Beyond the DOE effort, Stantec also recently completed a study on behalf of the U.S. Department of the Interior's Bureau of Ocean Energy Management involving a synthesis of information on bats and their potential interactions with offshore wind facilities versus activities tracked on land. The study included a comprehensive literature review, a compilation of offshore and terrestrial acoustic studies along northeastern and mid-Atlantic coastal regions of the United States, and a statistical comparison of acoustic bat activity data gathered from inland, coastal, and offshore sites within that region. The assembled database consisted of over 980,000 acoustic call files collected from 61 sites over 37,614 detector-nights between 2005 and 2012. Data from 33 sites were ultimately used to study whether acoustic activity patterns differed among location types. Bat activity was modeled in terms of simple presence/absence (nightly occurrence) and number of calls (nightly intensity). Bat activity was observed at all inland, coastal, and offshore survey sites, indicating that bats were active offshore at least as far as the most remote detectors. Levels of observed offshore activity were comparable between migratory and nonmigratory species, and migratory bats were about equally as likely to be recorded offshore as at coastal or inland sites. In contrast, nonmigratory bats were less likely to be recorded at offshore sites than at coastal and inland sites. The final results were compiled in the recently released report: Information Synthesis on the Potential for Bat Interactions with Offshore Wind Facilities: Final Report
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Ultimately, Stantec's comprehensive assessment will provide essential information on the prevalence of bat use of offshore space. Based on this, strategic mitigation and siting options may be considered that help avoid or minimize the potential impacts of future offshore wind energy developments on bat species. A side benefit of the multiyear DOE-supported effort is that the collected data will provide important regional background information related to the spread of White-Nose Syndrome, a deadly fungal growth that has claimed between 6 and 7 million bats in eastern North America since it was first noted in 2006.
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Optimizing Installation, Operation, and Maintenance at Offshore Wind Projects in the United States
For the United States to ensure that the substantial rollout of offshore wind energy projects envisioned by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is carried out in an efficient and cost-effective manner, it is important to analyze the current and emerging practices in the international offshore wind energy industry. In this manner, the United States can draw from the experience already gained around the world, combined with experience from the sizeable U.S. land-based wind industry, to develop a strong offshore wind sector. DOE commissioned a report by the independent consultancy GL Garrad Hassan (GL GH), which has a strong presence in the United States, broad experience in the international land-based and offshore wind industries, and significant first-hand knowledge of offshore installation, operation and maintenance (IO&M) activities.
The aim of the GL GH study was to enable project designers and planners to consider alternative, new, and emerging approaches to IO&M, whether brought about through innovative component design (such as a new type of foundation), or through an alternative methodology, vessel, or supporting equipment. Examples of the types of alternatives that can be evaluated in trade-off studies include installation of blades on the turbine nacelle (tower top) in port rather than at sea; procurement of highly specialized but expensive installation vessels rather than the use of more common, but less efficient, jack-up barges; and the long-term cost effectiveness of innovative crew access systems, which allow service personnel to transfer to turbine foundations from service boats in waves above 1.5 meters, significantly increasing the number of days per year that service work could be carried out. The computer-based modeling carried out under the study assessed the ability of these emerging approaches to positively impact the economics of an offshore project and lower its levelized cost of energy (LCOE).
The GL GH study will be useful to all offshore wind stakeholders with an interest in addressing the technical and cost factors of IO&M activities in the United States, including manufacturers in the supply chain, project developers, offshore contractors, and project financiers. This study also provides information that can be applied to site identification, and feasibility studies that are relevant to all stages of project implementation including development, procurement, construction, and operation.
GL GH reviewed current state-of-the-art and likely future practices for offshore wind farm IO&M within the offshore industry. When combined with data on meteorological and metocean conditions of U.S. coasts and the Great Lakes, this review informed an intensive modeling exercise to characterize costs for IO&M aspects of offshore wind projects. The study considered 24 separate wind and wave climates along with a very wide array of other project and logistical variables to analyze and optimize IO&M strategies in a range of coastal regions as the offshore wind industry develops in the United States between 2014 and 2030.
High level findings demonstrate the substantial impact of meteorological and oceanographic (metocean) conditions on project timelines, costs, and revenue, and identify means by which these impacts may be reduced. IO&M costs appear to favor fewer, larger turbines due to the associated requirement for fewer weather windows and faster installation times per megawatt of capacity. The report also discusses the cost implications for the onerous wave climate in the Pacific Ocean, the impact of sea ice on projects in the Great Lakes, and the limitations for getting installation vessels through the St. Lawrence Seaway to the Great Lakes.
In addition to the report, GL GH developed a publicly available Excel-based IO&M LCOE Analysis Tool that allows the industry user to investigate the impact of specific installation capital costs and ongoing operation and maintenance costs on the overall LCOE of a given project. GL GH's report provides insight into the many factors that affect—and are affected by—IO&M activities at offshore wind farms. The companion analysis tool empowers stakeholders to evaluate project- or product-specific IO&M innovations and strategies in great detail as a key step in keeping the lifetime costs of generating electricity as low as possible.
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DOE to Debut a Dynamic 5-Megawatt Dynamometer
Boulder, Colorado — As wind turbine capacity continues to grow, so does the need to test the electrical and mechanical power-producing components of those turbines. Currently, only a few test facilities worldwide have the capability to test wind turbine drivetrains with capacity ratings up to 5 megawatts (MW). The U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE's) National Wind Technology Center (NWTC) at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory is one of two in the United States. The second facility, also funded in part by DOE, is operated by Clemson University in South Carolina. It has two dynamometers—a 7.5-MW and a 15-MW.
Opening this fall, the NWTC's new dynamometer test facility simulates operating field conditions to assess the reliability and performance of wind turbine prototypes and commercial machines, thereby reducing deployment time, failures, and maintenance or replacement costs. Funded with American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds, the 5-MW dynamometer will provide the ability to test wind turbine drivetrains and connect those drivetrains directly to the electricity grid or through a controllable grid interface (CGI). The CGI tests the low-voltage ride-through capability of a drivetrain as well as its response to faults and other abnormal grid conditions.
simulates operating field conditions to assess the reliability and performance of wind turbine prototypes and commercial machines, thereby reducing deployment time, failures, and maintenance or replacement costs. Funded with American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds, the 5-MW dynamometer will provide the ability to test wind turbine drivetrains and connect those drivetrains directly to the electricity grid or through a controllable grid interface (CGI). The CGI tests the low-voltage ride-through capability of a drivetrain as well as its response to faults and other abnormal grid conditions.
With the new dynamometer, turbine manufacturers and industry professionals can have their wind turbine drivetrains tested in a controlled environment saving time, money, and risk. Jim Green, project manager, states, "The new dynamometer more than doubles the capacity (rated power) of wind turbine drivetrains that can be tested at the NWTC, which is sufficient to test the largest drivetrains envisioned for land-based markets. It will have the capability to simulate wind loads in six degrees-of-freedom, providing the most complete simulation of wind turbine operating conditions available in North America."
The dynamometer's first test article, a GE Energy 2.75-MW wind turbine that weighs more than 96 tons, was delivered to the NWTC in August and will be used for the dynamometer's commissioning this fall.
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http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/wind/newsletter/detail.cfm/articleId=181
Study Reveals Challenges and Opportunities Related to Vessels for U.S. Offshore Wind
The installation of offshore wind farms requires a highly specialized fleet of vessels—but no such fleet currently exists in the United States. As part of a broader U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) initiative to accelerate the growth of the U.S. offshore wind industry, energy research group Douglas-Westwood identified national vessel requirements under several offshore wind industry growth scenarios.
"The study looks specifically into the vessel-related aspects of offshore wind development, and identifies the challenges and opportunities related to the installation and maintenance of offshore wind turbines in the United States," said Steven Kopits, managing director of Douglas-Westwood in New York.
For this work, Douglas-Westwood developed a complex model to calculate the demand for specialized vessels under various scenarios in the United States, and weighed some of the practical and economic constraints that may be limiting the development of a national fleet. For example, the team analyzed what the Jones Act—which imposes requirements on vessels transporting goods in U.S. waters—and other regulations mean for offshore wind installation, especially when it involves European installation vessels.
"We found that the lack of an available domestic installation vessel fleet, the small-scale industry structure, the costly operation of U.S. shipyards, and the limitations imposed by the Jones Act are likely among the key factors limiting U.S. offshore wind development," Kopits said.
The final report on the study's findings includes a comprehensive list of currently available and soon-to-be-built installation vessels, most of which are operating in Europe.
on the study's findings includes a comprehensive list of currently available and soon-to-be-built installation vessels, most of which are operating in Europe.
"These vessels can be mobilized across the Atlantic if the necessary installation capabilities are missing in the United States," Kopits said. "We believe that it is useful if project developers are aware of these vessels' respective capabilities so they can develop their installation strategies accordingly."
The report also identifies suitable shipyards where U.S.-flagged vessels—vessels owned, operated, and crewed by U.S. entities—could be built in the future. Douglas-Westwood consulted extensively with American and European installation companies to sketch out key installation strategies for U.S. offshore wind developers.
"We synthesize lessons learned and draw some conclusions from the European offshore wind installation experience, which will provide a useful reference for prospective U.S. developers and vessel operators alike," Kopits said. "Our study is among the first to provide a detailed comparison of the economics of various installation strategies. We also list the most potent policy tools that can be used to address some of the market barriers to U.S. offshore wind development."
Douglas-Westwood collaborated with DOE's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and a number of subcontractors on the study. Douglas-Westwood developed the basic offshore wind development scenarios jointly with NREL. Naval engineering and consulting company Knud E. Hansen provided the comprehensive list of currently available installation vessels as a basis for the report. The Clean Energy Group helped the team understand the state-level aspects of offshore wind development and prepared detailed state offshore wind profiles. The Great Lakes Commission offered important insights about the particular challenges facing offshore wind developers in the Great Lakes region. Finally, the U.S. Offshore Wind Collaborative organized a number of webinars, live presentations, and industry conferences at which the group shared the interim and final results of the work.
Douglas-Westwood has already applied findings from the DOE-supported study in a follow-on project with the New Jersey Department of Transportation. The group is helping the State of New Jersey position itself to capitalize on benefits from offshore wind development on the U.S. East Coast.
"Our study provides an aggregate view of the vessel-related aspects of offshore wind, and we are hoping that the report will serve as a handbook for all stakeholders in the U.S. offshore wind industry, including project developers, installation companies, shipbuilders, and federal- and state-level government agencies, as well as the wider scientific community," Kopits said.
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