Factory automation has been around for decades. Today’s automation technology is better than ever, thanks largely to advanced artificial intelligence (AI) and better sensors. In fact, sensor technology is a driving force behind advancements in factory automation, enabling smarter processes and better variability in designing repeatable functions. Simple sensors are powering a wave of improvements…
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It seems like automakers are always in the news — usually not for good reasons! This time, however, the headlines are positive as several of the world’s largest manufacturers announce major reinvestments in production. Specifically, GM, Ford, Honda, and Toyota are plunging big budgets into new manufacturing facilities and practices. With these investments comes a…
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As skilled positions, maintenance and repair jobs evolve in tandem with manufacturing technologies. There’s always something new to learn! Your techs may be educated, but unless they keep pursuing education, their skills may suffer. The smartest thing manufacturers can do is provide their maintenance and repair teams with access and opportunities to ongoing education, as…
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Blockchain is a hot-topic buzzword in virtually every tech industry, and manufacturing is no exception. But when it comes to implementing blockchain in a meaningful way, many manufacturers are still a long way off. There are a few sectors ready to embrace the technology. If successful, they could pave the way for blockchain’s practical application…
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Manufacturers are the initial step in the journey of a product; consumers are the final destination. But just because there are numerous channels between them, this doesn’t mean one can’t affect the other. Just like a poorly manufactured product can create problems for consumers, consumer trends can dictate how manufacturers produce a product. Here are…
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Additive manufacturing has come a long way since tabletop 3D printers. Enabled by smarter, more advanced technologies, additive manufacturing is making a name for itself across the industry, in new and advanced applications. Beyond rapid prototyping, factories are quickly finding ways to put this technology to use. Now, additive manufacturing is becoming part of something…
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The first Manufacturing ISM® Report On Business® is out for 2019, and the numbers look better than they did in the fourth quarter of 2018. Overall PMI® is up 2.3%, to 56.6% in January, showing economic growth for the 117th consecutive month. While the economy is still in growth mode, the start of a new…
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A maintenance tech is only as good as his or her tools. When it comes to inspecting motors within the factory setting, instrumentation is critical. Thoroughly inspecting the function and integrity of a motor requires insight far and above keen senses — it demands quantitative data that allows techs to qualify a problem. Instrumentation and…
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Promoting someone to a management position is about recognizing their ability to succeed in that role. It means leaving behind old job duties and picking up bigger responsibilities. For maintenance techs transitioning into a management position, the contrast can be stark. Maintenance managers aren’t lubricating bearings or replacing valve stem packing — they’re overseeing maintenance…
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It seems as though there’s a new gadget or piece of industrial tech released every day. As the industrial internet of things (IIoT) expands, it’s these technologies that drive it. And now, they’re becoming even more specialized. Recently, global technology leader ABB released new smart sensor tech, designed for condition monitoring of manufacturing bearings. It’s…
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