All Boats Rising, As Manufacturing Grows

All Boats Rising
By Rod Kackley

The Detroit News reports today that the Big 3 have pushed factory capacity to the max -- 100 percent.
Manufacturing has always driven the U.S. economy and it will again. That is one of the strongest points that will be made in Manufacturing Renaissance, a book that will be released in September. Other industrial and economic sectors of the U.S. will improve as the fortunes of our manufacturing base grow.

Here is evidence of that:

General Motors' Spring Hill Complex expects to save over $800,000 a year on electricity at its general assembly and engine plants by upgrading to Light Corporation's high-efficiency Semaphore fluorescent light fixtures controlled by Kanepi Innovations' wireless lighting controls. The combined Spring Hill project presents an initial return on investment of just over 1-year, an investment expected to provide over $12 million in cost savings over a 15-year period.

 

The replacement of nearly 4,500 light fixtures and the implementation of wireless controls are projected to save General Motors over 8.5 million kilowatt hours (kWhr) of electricity per year - equivalent to removing the amount of carbon emissions from consuming 657,088 gallons of gas every year.

 

"Replacing older lighting technology is a cost-effective way for us to significantly conserve energy and save money as we transform our site into one of the world's most innovative and flexible manufacturing facilities," Ken Knight, GM Spring Hill Manufacturing complex manager said about the project.

 

GM through the use of Kanepi Innovations' wireless lighting controls now has the ability to schedule, manage, and monitor the use of electrical devices within the facility to ensure electrical energy is only consumed when necessary. Spring Hill's lighting is now optimized to specific tasks, areas, and schedules. The controls are estimated to save 50% more energy than the high-efficiency lighting retrofit alone.

 

General Motors' practice of energy conservation is continuous. The extensive reduction in energy at the Spring Hill Complex, through Light Corporation fixtures and Kanepi wireless controls, has helped General Motors earn the energy star partner of the year Award by the US EPA. This recognition underscores GM's role as a worldwide leader in environmental responsibility.

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Manufacturing is not just for automotive OEMs and suppliers. It is also a major component in the health care sector. More on that is including in the story of Grand Rapids, Mich. and the creation of its Medical Mile, in Last Chance Mile: The Reinvention of an American Community.

More information on both books, and other articles on manufacturing are available at www.rodkackley.com