Manufacture Smarter Blog

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. 

4/23/2021 - BY: BOB JENKINS
In response to the drastic industry and economic changes faced during the COVID-19 pandemic, many manufacturers have had to pivot to provide completely different parts or services in order to keep their businesses operating. For those considering moving into medical device production, or those who already do some work in the space, a competitive advantage can be found with MedAccred.

4/16/2021 - BY: DAVE NELSON
The labor shortage is not going away. To fill these labor gaps, cross training employees must become a critical initiative in every manufacturing company. In our upcoming webinar on April 21, we will share ideas on how to begin cross training employees along with technologies that can enhance or streamline the process.

4/9/2021 - BY: TRICIA ONESIAN
The COVID-19 pandemic has changed every aspect of doing business, including sales. From the first March 2020 shutdown to now, many outside salespeople have had to adjust to working inside for the first time ever. After working in various inside sales roles for years, I have learned several helpful tips to continue supporting clients from a distance, which could be beneficial for others to adopt in this new sales climate.

4/2/2021 - BY: SCOTT PHILLIPS
As the saying goes, a picture is worth a thousand words. Those who have attended webinars or read case studies about Industry 4.0 over the past few years will likely agree that the jargon associated with it can easily exceed a thousand words. To clarify some of the mystification surrounding Industry 4.0, let’s dive deeper into the “big picture” of the true purpose behind this technology revolution.

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. 

3/26/2021 - BY: KARA KUCINSKI
This March marks one year since the nation recognized the threat of COVID-19 and shut-downs across the world changed both personal and working lives forever. Now one year into the pandemic, the ways of doing business are in many ways unrecognizable to how they once were, as companies of all kinds were forced to transform practices to stay afloat while staying safe. During the course of the year since COVID-19 hit, several themes and new practices emerged as businesses and individuals adapted to different ways of living and working.

3/24/2021 - THE CENTER
Through our weekly Industry 4.0 Foundations blog series, we’ve explored how the many Industry 4.0 technologies can assist manufacturers in all types of improvement initiatives. In this final installment of the series, we’ll discuss how establishing Cybersecurity can ensure these technologies, and the critical information they carry, stay secure and protected.

3/19/2021 - BY: MARK GETTEL
In our most recent Smart Solutions Series webinar, we explored how technology can be implemented to make production more efficient and free workers from manual labor, which helps to effectively utilize talent resources and fill workforce gaps in facilities. A brief summary of our virtual discussion is outlined here.

3/17/2021 - THE CENTER
When it comes to the design of parts or production processes, there is always room for improvement. The challenge for manufacturers is to figure out what to change in order to get the best results. Simulation software can assist with this process.