Manufacture Smarter Blog

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.

6/18/2021 - BY: REBEKAH MCCARTER
Recently, manufacturers have been tasked with managing new challenges related to supply chains and talent shortages in addition to dealing with long-standing problems like optimizing efficiency and profitability. For some, an answer to these challenges can be found in microfactories.

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. 

4/2/2021 - 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. 

3/24/2021 - 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.