Leading Edge Is An
Exclusive Thought Leadership
Program

If there's anything you've wanted to do for yourself, just get out and go for it.

Arlene Pieper, first woman to finish a US marathon (Pikes Peak Marathon, 1959) March is Women's History Month

Countdown Timer - Leading Edge Conference - April 2019

Women share advice for making it in the auto industry

The automotive industry is male-dominated, but has opportunities for women who can push past the challenges, learn and listen, and work hard, says Ginger Butz of Morey. "If there's a working team, we need to make sure we're taking leadership roles," she says. Forbes (3/19)

BP execs turn to new employees for advice

BP executives meet regularly with younger employees for insights on technology and dealing with change. Bernard Looney, BP's upstream CEO, regularly meets with 26-year-old petrophysicist Connor Tann, with both employees benefiting from the different perspective. Bloomberg (tiered subscription model) (3/18)

Q&A: The state of automation in supply chains

A variety of automation and robotic-assist technologies are helping warehouses become more efficient and respond to a shortage of human labor, says Adam Kline of Manhattan Associates. Robots provide an extra challenge because they are mobile and can get in the way of humans, he notes. Manufacturing (3/20)

Security officers must convey cyberrisks effectively to company boards

If companies are going to invest enough money to adequately defend against cyberthreats, chief information security officers need to approach boards with a clear picture of the risks they are taking if they don't have tight security in place. In meetings, anticipate questions, be transparent about existing vulnerabilities and focus on the potential business impacts of investments in security, as well as the potential risks of inaction. CSO (free registration) (3/19)

Connectivity creates risk on the factory floor

Increased connectivity on the shop floor leaves manufacturers more vulnerable to cyberattacks, says Deloitte partner Sean Peasley. "All of a sudden, I've got 12,000 pipeline sensors that are on my network, and I need to treat them as I would any other device" in terms of security, says Matt Watchinski of Cisco-owned Talos. Roll Call (free content) (3/20)

Improvement is an ongoing process for S.C. manufacturer

T&S Brass & Bronze Works in Travelers Rest, S.C., is always finding new ways to grow and improve, even though it already ships 89% of orders within 24 hours with minimal inventory. The company's optimizations include using an LED projector to remind employees about forklift traffic, regular employee rotations to prevent ergonomic injuries and the adoption of ISO 9001:2015 certification. IndustryWeek (3/19)

Ford to open AV plant in Mich.

Ford Motor announced plans to build an autonomous-vehicle plant in Michigan as part of its $900 million investment in vehicle manufacturing in the state. The new plant will incorporate commercial-grade hybrid vehicles with autonomous-driving technology to produce autonomous vehicles. The New York Times (tiered subscription model) (3/20)