When I first read through the sales coordinator job description at Bastian Solutions, a material handling system integrator, I didn’t fully understand what this company did. Someone on the outside might ask what exactly a material handling system (MHS) is. While the CAD drawings (computer aided design drawings) look like they were drawn by a rocket scientist, an MHS very simply moves (handles) something (material) from point A to point B; an item is going from here to there.

As I learned more about material handling systems, I thought–a silly thought I admit–that even Santa Claus would be more efficient with a conveyor system…

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So there I was three Christmases ago opening a present from my mother-in-law, and to my surprise, she bought me a Mr. Christmas’s, “The Lights and Sounds of Christmas.” I’ve always put up a lot of lights for Christmas, so the gift made sense, but basically, it’s a box that syncs music to Christmas lights.

That first year I synced some of my Christmas lights to music but found the Mr. Christmas box to be a bit limited since there were only six outputs. So, as a typical controls engineer, I knew I could do this better! Why not treat it as a machine…

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If you’re anything like me, you’ve probably procrastinated on this year’s holiday shopping. And if you’re really like me, you have an engineer on your shopping list, and you’re struggling to find him or her the perfect gift. Well, you’re in luck because I’ve spent the last week digging around the Internet to find some ideal gifts, ranging from humorous to down right practical…

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Most engineers and operators in the manufacturing and production world understand the need for quality in their processes. The inherent value of “zero-defect” delivery of goods and services to a customer or end user reduces many of the headaches associated with repairs, returns, and reworks. All of these issues point to added time and expense for a supplier, as well as reduced customer satisfaction.

But those having a deeper understanding of the reasons behind these issues and metrics understand that the cost of quality is a factor that cannot be avoided…

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As a child, I was very fortunate to have a great family that encouraged me to work hard, do my best, and go after my dreams. I was also blessed throughout school with great friends, coaches, and teachers that helped build my character, knowledge, and imagination.

Unfortunately, many young people have not been given this same level of encouragement, but as adults, it is our responsibility to encourage our youth and teach them to go after their dreams…

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