In a recent TechStrong TV conversation, Value Stream Mapping pioneer Jack Maher argues that manufacturing's classic Lean toolkit—value stream mapping, Kanban, and process analysis dating back to the 1950s—is entering a new phase. Maher discusses how detailed value...
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) uses the familiar challenge of getting ketchup out of a bottle to explain how “non-Newtonian” fluids behave—and why that same science could unlock better ceramic 3D printing. In a recent Taking Measure blog...
AI gets talked about like it’s already running the factory floor. For most small and mid-sized manufacturers, that’s not reality. The promise is big—autonomous systems, seamless digital operations—but the day-to-day still looks a lot like it always has. What’s changed...
IndustryWeek’s article “We Needed Automation to Reshore Our Supply Chain” describes how TAC Industries, a Springfield, Ohio-based manufacturer that produces cargo nets for the U.S. Air Force, used automation as the key lever to bring critical hardware sourcing back...
On June 25, something meaningful happened at New England Institute of Technology. A group of graduates walked across the stage—not just to mark the end of a program, but to make a step toward entirely new careers. They’re the latest cohort from the Polaris/NEIT...
"Are your evacuation drills a herd of people all headed to the front door because that's closest to the muster point, or do they reflect the chaos that will accompany a real event?" - Ken Hayes, Polaris MEP Project Manager The National Safety Month spotlight on...
Rhode Island’s manufacturing sector is facing a pivotal moment—one that will shape the future of the industry for decades to come. A recent Providence Business News article highlights a pressing reality: nearly 80% of the state’s manufacturers are approaching...
Materials Handling & Logistics’ article “Resilient by Design: Why Modern Supply Chains Can’t Rely on Efficiency Alone,” by George Ninikas, argues that cost-optimized networks on paper often break down when real-world conditions change. Ninikas, senior vice...
Collaboration in Action: Highlights from North Kingstown's Manufacturers' Forum Manufacturers from across North Kingstown gathered on May 13, 2026, for a dynamic and solutions-focused conversation at the North Kingstown’s Manufacturers’ Forum, hosted by Polaris MEP in...