VMEC

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A key recruiting challenge for the prospective Millennial may be an outdated image of manufacturing careers from popular culture and possibly even their parents.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 […]

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. […]

In the past few months I have seen an increase in the number of manufacturers impacted by ransomware. The infection typically starts when an employee clicks on a link or attachment. The email is often a very official-looking message that mimics something they may regularly receive. When activated, the ransomware plants a program on the […]

Vermont Tech President Dan Smith and GW Plastics CEO Brenan Riehl recently penned an important article that first appeared in the local Times Argus newspaper about the benefits to Vermont of their new, innovative employer-college partnership. The two leaders highlight how a combination of good jobs and effective college offerings that are aligned with local […]

(Manufacturing Leadership – David Brousell: 9-1-15) The emerging world of Manufacturing 4.0 will offer a host of potential benefits to manufacturing companies, but many firms will have to strengthen their leadership ranks in order to take advantage of this next wave of industrial progress. That’s one of the key findings of a new Manufacturing Leadership […]