Are you an artificial intelligence (AI) optimist or pessimist? Today, AI is often thought of as either the end of the world as we know it; when robots will take all of our jobs; or the answer to all our problems, when AI is the ultimate solution to save the planet.

One of the most common misconceptions about lean manufacturing techniques is that they only apply to large-scale operations. Lean is the continuous improvement of operations to cut down wastes. “What lean tends to do is look at the system and try to identify what adds value,” explains Robert Van Til, Ph.D., professor of lean studies at the Oakland University School of Engineering and Computer Science and chair of the Industrial Systems and Engineering Department. 

A new study, from research by the Industrial and Financial Systems, shows double-digit growth of IoT (internet of things) usage in the business operations of industrial companies. 

By the time David Capestany purchased Zinger Sheet Metal Co., Inc. from his father, Nelson, in 2013, the company had completely shifted focus from residential HVAC to commercial.

Most contractors find themselves operating in two work modes: Get work. Do work. As the economy stands now, many shops are in the do work phase. But, the problem is, neither mode allows time for an improve work phase.

I recently ran a 5K on runway 26L at the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. Although a 5K race isn’t as intense as a full marathon, training for and completing this race will no doubt help prepare me for something bigger down the road. 

This white paper provides an overview of alternative delivery methods for construction contracts and can serve as a primer for contractors interested in providing services to their clients out-side of the traditional design-bid-build model. 

Last month, at the annual Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors' National Association (SMACNA) convention in San Diego, California, I had the pleasure of meeting many of SNIPS' longtime readers. To you I say: THANK YOU.

PHCC Educational Foundation awards 44 students $105,000 in scholarships.

Weighing just 6.6 lbs. with dimensions of only 9.2"×3.5"×7.5", NAVAC’s cordless vacuum pump is convenient to carry for technicians and ideal for applications where power supply access is an issue.