VMEC

We’re all familiar with Smokey the Bear and the “Only You Can Prevent Wildfires” slogan. In 2015, Smokey got an update and the new “Receive a Bear Hug” ads ran nationwide. In the ad, Smokey runs out of the woods and gives a big bearhug to a camper for properly checking camp fire embers. The […]

There’s no question the digital manufacturing revolution is racing at us. As a small or medium-sized manufacturer, how close are you to already being “smart”? Here are five steps in the journey to becoming a smarter digital enterprise. First and foremost, be cybersecure. Cybersecurity is an underlying tenant of being a smart and trusted business partner. […]

We all know the image of Vermont as the quintessential northern New England getaway for tourists, from New York to UK. But if you live in Vermont and are tuned into the tech scene even a little, you’re aware of the parallel narrative of Vermont as innovation tech hub. Furthermore, Burlington made Entrepreneur magazine’s list of top-50 […]

Everyone experiences problems. Some of us have more to contend with than others, yet often it’s not the size of the problem that gets us down, but the way we deal with it.  Structured Problem Solving (SPS) is a learned skill that helps you to step back and evaluate your problems, big or small, in a clearer, more structured way. It’s a “thinking […]

A key recruiting challenge for the prospective Millennial may be an outdated image of manufacturing careers from popular culture and possibly even their parents.  Manufacturing today is increasingly digital and innovative. Companies looking to recruit these younger workers must actively strive to prove that they value high technology and creativity as much as Millennials do. Using […]

In early 2016, the International Organization of Standardization (ISO) published ISO Technical Specification (TS) 15066, which outlines safety requirements for collaborative robots. The American National Standards Institute, ANSI, adopted ISO/TS 15066 later that year as ANSI/RIA Technical Report R15.606 (RIA is the Robotic Industries Association). These documents outline safety functions that maintain a safe distance between people and […]

In 1989 Ann Clark started out with a pig-shaped Christmas ornament and a dream. After years of painting and creating small gifts for her children to give away she set up shop in her garage and turned a hobby into a business. In 1991 armed with a small amount of start-up cash and a large […]

So many business managers and owners I meet say that their in-house IT person has all their tech needs “covered”.  When I probe a bit further I usually discover that their definition of “covered” is far from complete.  In some cases they’ve found a talented professional who is equally comfortable with everything from servers to […]

Make (n) – to bring into existence by shaping or changing material, combining parts, etc. Manufacture (n) – the making of goods or wares by manual labor or by machinery In the past six weeks, I’ve had the opportunity to see making and additive manufacturing from multiple perspectives. In Niskayuna, NY, it was about companies, […]

It’s one thing to make a great product. It’s another thing to feel good about it. So many Vermont manufacturers make amazing products that are useful, positively promote the Vermont name, better the economy, provide jobs and more. There is just something about making something that someone needs and someone will appreciate that is special. […]