Sustainability is an ever-growing concern for manufacturers in every industry, and for good reason. Improving their sustainability practices can help these companies reduce costs, meet their own environmental goals, and provide consumers with the more earth-friendly products they increasingly desire. But the path to improved sustainability is beset by hidden pitfalls. In the rush to produce better environmental outcomes, companies …
The COVID-19 pandemic changed manufacturing in irrevocable ways. Not only did it make clear to companies the power of technology and the value of automation, but it also reshaped the workforce. Remote work is now more widespread than ever, even in manufacturing. Workforce populations remain well below pre-pandemic levels. And workplace culture is becoming more tech-savvy—and more tech-dependent overall—as older …
Siemens recently presented their solution to manufacturing pitfalls: Industrial Operations X. Here Siemens presented a thorough manufacturing solution that covers everything from shop-floor production tasks to management. By choosing an automated and integrated approach, Siemens targets to reduce issues related to labor shortages, supply chain demands, resource procurement, and sustainability. Here is my take on a few of the presentations …
For decades, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) have produced the industrial robots their customers use to manufacture their own products, from automobiles to electric toothbrushes. But as manufacturing environments have evolved, the limitations of these traditional robotics designs have been laid bare. Existing equipment is difficult to retrofit when production changes demand it. Improving the sustainability of that equipment is also …
Spare parts management is not a new concept for manufacturing. Yet, due to global supply chain disruptions that started during the COVID-19 pandemic and have not abated, effective management of safety stock and critical spares is more crucial than ever. Robust management practices prevent financial losses, technician stress, and accumulation of excessive downtime. Software solutions that help process and manage …