February 2021

2/26/2021 - BY: PETE SCHMIDT
When I ask manufacturers about their biggest challenges, nearly all mention the lack of available skilled workers. With so many companies looking to hire, this added competition only further compounds the challenge. In our most recent Smart Solutions Series webinar, we explored how Lean manufacturing principles can be applied to an organization to maximize productivity – effectively filling these critical gaps in production using existing resources and talent.

2/24/2021 - THE CENTER
In this increasingly competitive business landscape, manufacturers are constantly looking for ways to innovate and improve processes to boost their bottom line. One proven way to accomplish this is through the use of robotics and automation in production.

2/19/2021 - BY: PAULA MONTGOMERY
When developing new products and innovations, a diverse range of expertise and knowledge is required to be successful. With the right technical experts, business experts, user design experts and manufacturing experts working toward the same goal, the possibilities are limitless.

2/17/2021 - THE CENTER
Over the past few weeks, we’ve been discussing how Industry 4.0 practices and technologies like Big Data, Internet of Things and System Integration can help organizations to better gather and analyze operational data to drive improvements. Cloud computing takes data management to the next level, making it quicker and more collaborative than previously possible.

2/12/2021 - BY: PETE SCHMIDT
​During the past challenging year, one recurring theme that many companies have discussed with me – whether they have 10 employees or 200 – is that they are all struggling to find people to fill open positions within their organization. What if there were a way to reduce the number of new hires needed?

2/10/2021 - THE CENTER
As discussed in last week’s Industry 4.0 Foundations blog, the Internet of Things enables manufacturers to gain enhanced visibility into operations to further optimize performance. With data playing an integral role in these improvements, System Integration can help by providing more centralized, organized data for simpler, more effective decision-making.

2/5/2021 - BY: CHUCK WERNER
The effect of cost on profitability is generally well understood. The higher a company’s costs, the less profitable they can be. However, while companies often know if they are (or are not) profitable, they do not always have a clear understanding as to why. Gaining a true understanding of the impact defects have on profitability is key to improving business performance.

2/3/2021 - THE CENTER
Last week, in the first installment of our weekly Industry 4.0 blog series, we explored how Big Data enables manufacturers to make more informed business decisions. Building on this foundation of information, manufacturers can gain enhanced interconnectivity and real-time visibility through the Internet of Things.