Manufacture Smarter Blog

2/11/2022 - BY: CHUCK WERNER
Talent shortages continue around several industries, including manufacturing. Among other challenges, keeping your employees engaged and productive is key to operational success. So why not utilize technology to help make human jobs easier while also cutting waste?

10/8/2021 - THE CENTER
As companies look to implement Industry 4.0 technologies in their facilities, information security must be a main consideration to ensure their business stays protected. When planning technology investments, this checklist will help mitigate as much of this risk to information security as possible.

9/24/2021 - BY: REBEKAH MCCARTER
As the world continues to recover from the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, supply chains everywhere are facing raw material shortages, long lead times, higher material and transportation costs, labor shortages, and volatile pricing. With these factors now hurting both businesses and consumers alike, it’s more important than ever to gain a deep understanding of the current state of supply chains along with the best solutions to each challenge.

9/17/2021 - BY: MICHAEL MCGRAY
In recent years, collaborative robots – or cobots – have gained much attention and interest for the many benefits they provide to manufacturers of all size and type. Now, manufacturers who implement cobots may be eligible for a significant federal tax deduction to help stretch their equipment budgets while improving production. 

8/27/2021 - BY: CHUCK WERNER
Good decisions require good information – and business agility necessitates that your information provides a clear, concise and current picture of the shop floor. If this sounds nice in theory but in reality you’re wondering how you can achieve the data and analysis necessary with an already task-saturated leadership team, perhaps your business can benefit from Enhanced Operations Management.

7/9/2021 - BY: KARA KUCINSKI
As the state starts to reopen for in-person events, The Center is hitting the road to bring Industry 4.0 technologies to manufacturers across Michigan. To learn more about how these innovations can help your company stay efficient, competitive and prosperous, find an Industry 4.0 event near you.

6/25/2021 - BY: CHUCK WERNER
As we continue on the path to a data-driven culture, it is imperative for manufacturers to have systems in place equipped to collect and analyze facility-specific data. Implementing a Manufacturing Execution System is a way to connect your current operations to your output and performance levels, leading to a more efficient and productive manufacturing facility.

5/14/2021 - BY: BARBARA SHONIBIN
It is difficult to feel ‘safe’ nowadays. Any time we leave the house, we can never really be sure of how clean and safe public spaces are, even if they claim to have practices in place. But when I am at The Center, I feel more secure knowing they prioritize safety and will continue investing in the best, most advanced disinfection methods to ensure we all feel safe.

4/30/2021 - BY: MICHAEL MCGRAY
At The Center, we are always looking for the best ways to support manufacturers through innovative solutions. Much like how the many technologies of Industry 4.0 are overlapping, resources to support manufacturers should be overlapping, too, as multiple solutions often are needed to tackle one problem. Recognizing this, our team at The Center has worked to foster partnerships among technology vendors in Michigan to create more oportunities for collaboration and ultimately merge technologies together to provide the best solutions possible. 

3/31/2021 - BY: GEORGE SINGOS
Manufacturing continues to evolve and advance at a rapid pace. As some are keeping up by incorporating new innovations and practices into facilities, other more reluctant companies are quickly falling behind. It is clear that manufacturers – especially smaller companies – require additional guidance for approaching the Fourth Industrial Revolution. To help Michigan manufacturers successfully prepare for such implementations, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) recently launched its Industry 4.0 Signature Initiative.