Week 46 in Manufacturing News

6 ways robotics can help close manufacturing’s talent gap; US manufacturers hit harder than China’s in trade war; How 3-D printing is transforming the $12 trillion manufacturing industry; ‘Uncertainty has been a nightmare’: UK businesses on the economy.

6 ways robotics can help close manufacturing’s talent gap

1. Robots eliminate unpopular work and reduce turnover
2. Robots make existing talent more usefu
3. Robots improve safety for human talent
4. Drones can provide agility at every stage of production
5. Autonomous trucks keep parts moving
6. Robots can improve accuracy and error rates

Source: The Robotreport.

US manufacturers hit harder than China’s in trade war

The US manufacturing purchasing managers’ index has been below the 50-point mark separating contraction from expansion since August, while the official counterpart from China’s statistics bureau shows a smaller fall in manufacturing activity and far greater resilience over the long term.

Source: Financial Times.

How 3-D printing is transforming the $12 trillion manufacturing industry and fueling the 4th Industrial Revolution

• 3-D printing is disrupting the $12 trillion manufacturing industry worldwide, and companies such as Ford, L’Oreal, Siemens and others are training workforces to adopt skills in this technology.
• The technology is having the largest impact on industries that manufacture low-volume, high-value parts that may benefit from mass customization, says an analyst at IDTechEx.

Source: CNCB.

‘Uncertainty has been a nightmare’: UK businesses on the economy

The UK has avoided recession after official figures showed the economy growing by 0.3% in the third quarter of the year. The Guardian talked to businesses in key sectors about their view of the economy’s performance.

Manufacturing business owner has experienced a drop in demand of up to 12% for his company’s services in the past couple of months, in response to Brexit uncertainty and slowing global trade.

Source and other stories: The Guardian.