Quality Magazine’s latest coverage of the ISO 9001:2026 revision digs into the substance behind the update, framing it as more than a routine documentation refresh. A central focus is climate change.
Category: Polaris MEP
Value Stream Mapping’s Next Chapter: From Static Maps to Digital Twins
In a recent TechStrong TV conversation, Value Stream Mapping pioneer Jack Maher argues that manufacturing’s classic Lean toolkit—value stream mapping, Kanban, and process analysis dating back to the 1950s—is entering a new phase.
The Science Behind Ketchup Pouring Could Lead to Ceramic 3D Printing
In a recent Taking Measure blog post, NIST researcher Will Spencer describes how materials like ketchup or ceramic suspensions change viscosity under different forces, sometimes flowing freely and sometimes acting almost solid.
Building a Practical Path to AI Readiness
Artificial Intelligence (AI) often feels like a buzzword disconnected from the realities of daily manufacturing operations. While industry conversations promise “autonomous factories” and “digital transformation,” the practical application of AI in small to mid-sized job shops and discrete manufacturers can seem unclear.
We Needed Automation to Reshore Our Supply Chain
IndustryWeek’s article “We Needed Automation to Reshore Our Supply Chain” describes how TAC Industries, a Springfield, Ohio-based manufacturer that produces cargo nets for the U.S. Air Force, used automation as the key lever to bring critical hardware sourcing back from Asia to the United States.
A New Class of Welders Is Ready to Step Into Rhode Island’s Manufacturing Workforce
On June 25, something meaningful happened at New England Institute of Technology. A group of graduates walked across the stage—not just to mark the end of a program, but to step into entirely new careers.
New AI Model Shows How to Evacuate for Fires One Safe Step at a Time
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has developed an artificial intelligence model, called Safe Step, that is designed to help people evacuate more safely during fires by continuously steering them toward routes with the lowest danger, not just the closest exit.
R.I.’s manufacturing sector braces for owner exits
Rhode Island’s manufacturing sector is facing a pivotal moment—one that will shape the future of the industry for decades to come. A recent Providence Business News article highlights a pressing reality: nearly 80% of the state’s manufacturers are approaching ownership transition without a clear succession plan in place.
Why Modern Supply Chains Can’t Rely on Efficiency Alone
The more optimized a supply chain became, the more competitive it would be. However, the past several years have challenged that assumption.
Collaboration in Action: Highlights from North Kingstown’s Manufacturers’ Forum
Attendees raised concerns ranging from day-to-day operational hurdles—like transportation and logistics challenges—to broader systemic issues such as talent pipelines and regulatory navigation.