Project Management – OM in the News

5G Helmet’s Product Design Increases Accessibility

In 1894, deaf and hard of hearing players at Gallaudet University introduced the football huddle. They were playing another school with deaf students who knew sign language, and they couldn’t risk giving away their plays.

Now, Gallaudet Bison’s football team has debuted groundbreaking technology developed in conjunction with AT&T. A new helmet allows a coach to call a play on a tablet from the sideline, and the information is transferred to a small display inside the quarterback’s special helmet.

At the moment, […]

By Lisa M. Spencer|2023-10-29T03:00:39+00:00October 29, 2023|Tags: idea generation, product design, product lifecycle, technology|

US Coal Fields Potential Sources of Rare Earth Minerals

The US Department of Energy is offering $32 million in funding for the production of rare earth and critical minerals, mainly cobalt and lithium, from coal-based sources to reduce dependency on China and other countries.

The funds come from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which aims to build mineral processing sites across the US, enabling more control of supply and pricing. Money from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law may be used for engineering analyses, design studies, development of facilities for domestic production and refining […]

By James Kirby Easterling|2023-08-08T04:36:26+00:00August 9, 2023|Tags: capacity, energy, facility layout, location, process selection, project management, renewable resources|

Alef’s Flying Car Almost Ready for Lift-Off

Alef is a step closer to making flying cars a reality since its recent receipt of a Special Airworthiness Certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration.

The idea of a flying car was conceived in 2015, by Alef’s founders. A prototype was launched in late 2022.

The certificate allows Alef to test fly the electric car. Alef will start production and delivery of flying cars in late 2025.

Video Spotlight:

Alef flying car evtol sertification [sic] (June 28, 2023, FLYING […]

By Anita Lee-Post, Ph.D.|2023-08-06T03:07:29+00:00August 6, 2023|Tags: automation, idea generation, innovation, new product development, prototyping, technology|

Redwood Logistics Facilitates Nearshoring

Redwood Logistics is expanding its transportation operations to Mexico.

This move follows the nearshoring trend of manufacturers who are bringing production closer to home in order to be less reliant on overseas suppliers.

Redwood Logistics’ Mexico expansion allows it to become a logistic service gateway connecting the electronic, automotive, appliances, aerospace, and pharmaceutical industries in Mexico with the U.S.

Video Spotlight:

What is Friendshoring, Nearshoring, Reshoring and Offshoring (Annual Meeting, Davos 2023) (Jan 5, 2023, World Economic Forum)

By Anita Lee-Post, Ph.D.|2023-05-28T17:40:57+00:00May 28, 2023|Tags: competitive advantage, global supply chain management, location planning, nearshoring, operations strategy, outsourcing|