{"id":2440,"date":"2019-02-21T11:14:58","date_gmt":"2019-02-21T11:14:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mrpeasy.com\/blog\/?p=2440"},"modified":"2024-02-06T13:33:21","modified_gmt":"2024-02-06T13:33:21","slug":"week-8-in-manufacturing-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mrpeasy.com\/blog\/week-8-in-manufacturing-news\/","title":{"rendered":"Week 8 in Manufacturing News"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

US Manufacturing Production Unexpectedly Contracts in January<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

U.S. factory production unexpectedly contracted in January, shrinking the most in eight months on weakness in the automotive sector<\/strong> and indicating a weak start to the year as headwinds including a trade war with China weighed on factories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Manufacturing output fell 0.9% after a downwardly revised 0.8% increase in the prior month. Total industrial production, which also includes mines and utilities, contracted 0.6% after a revised 0.1% rise that was also revised down.
Full article on IndustryWeek.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

No-deal Brexit a \u2018disaster\u2019 for UK manufacturing, says business secretary<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Speaking at the EEF\u2019s annual conference, Grek Clark admitted that manufacturers have had to endure \u201cmonths of uncertainty\u201d about Brexit and the UK\u2019s future relationship with the EU. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI think there\u2019s been a national education in the realities of just in time production and integrated supply chains. Leaving the EU [without a deal] will, in my view, be a disaster for the whole country<\/strong>,\u201d he said.
Full article on E&T.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

UK industrial robots: Installations increase for third year in a row<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Robots active in the UK now number around 2,300 units \u2013 an increase of more than 30%, according to figures compiled by the International Federation of Robotics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The rise in industrial robots coincides with a growing desire from businesses and their employees that machines take over the unhealthy, hazardous or monotonous tasks currently undertaken by humans.
Full article on The Manufacturer.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Japan Feb manufacturing shrinks for 1st time since 2016
<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The Flash Markit\/Nikkei Japan Manufacturing Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) fell to a seasonally adjusted 48.5 in February from a final 50.3 in January. The index fell below the 50 threshold that separates contraction from expansion for the first time since August 2016.
Full article on The Star.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Future of manufacturing Report<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The Future of Manufacturing special report, published in The Times<\/em>, explores the exciting topics like:<\/p>\n\n\n\n