MONTERREY, MEXICO (April 15, 2019) - Allied Machine & Engineering presents their hottest GEN3SYS XT Pro high-penetration insert fashioned particularly for beam and plate production at FABTECH, May 7th - 9th, in booth #1417. In addition to this material-specific innovation, Allied highlights the Revolution drill and Structural Steel T-A drill, both of which are engineered to excel in structural steel applications.
 
With an specialized combination of substrate and multilayer coating, the hottest XT Pro insert is engineered to withstand the heat generated while drilling in structural steel beams or plates in high production facilities. The unique composition of carbide grade, geometry, and high-temp coating are created to run at or beyond current O.E.M. rates while offering stretched tool life.
 
A constant issue in stacked plate applications appears when the insert spins along with the exit disc produced from the first plate of steel. This can crush the insert and result in catastrophic tool failure. Allied's stacked plate Revolution drill has an flexible diameter and is created to drill through plates with up to 0.125' gap, eliminating the problematic exit disc. The Revolution drill doesn't require a pilot hole, reducing set-up time, and the adjustable diameter allows for reduced tooling inventory.
 
The Structural Steel T-A drill makes optimal results when drilling holes in I-beams and H-beams. For example, a recent customer manufacturing over 100,000 tons of steel
beams, bars, and ductwork increased their penetration rate from 1.05 IPM to 3.52 IPM using the Original T-A structural steel drill, reducing their cycle time by 70%.



This article is originally posted on Tronserve.com

MINNEAPOLIS, MN (April 23, 2019) - Turck offers the FEN20-4IOL industrial Ethernet I/O module, which uses IO-Link to increase device configuration, monitoring and replacement in industrial applications.
 
The compact block comes with four IO-Link stations. It is best for a wide range of industries, including manufacturing where space is at a premium, on robot end-effectors where small I/O is required, and in automotive manufacturing and Tier 1 plants. In addition to the device functioning as an IO-Link master, each of the IO-Link (C/Q) pins can optionally be configured as digital input or output.
 
The FEN20-4IOL is also a Field Logic Controller (FLC). As an FLC, the module can carry out control tasks at the field level. This lets users to carry out simpler applications without the need for an alternative PLC. In most advanced applications, the FLC function offers the processing requirement for the parent control system. Configuration and programming are carried out via Turck's ARGEE web-based engineering system.
 
With multi-protocol plug-and-play features, the FEN20 devices are instantly ready for use in PROFINET®, Modbus® TCP or EtherNet/IP™ systems. The device finds the protocol used by listening to the communication traffic during the startup phase. The FEN20 device calculates just 55x62.5x30 mm and carries an IP20 rating, and fits in tiny control boxes, control panels or other existing housings.
 
The FEN20-4IOL is furnished with an integrated EtherNet switch and a built-in web server to show diagnostic information and provide access to device settings parameters. The web page was provided with a responsive design so that even a smartphone can be used for simple diagnostics.



This article is originally posted on Tronserve.com

The Paris Fire Brigade has seen its share of logistical challenges, but the massive conflagration that consumed parts of the Notre Dame Cathedral on the night of 15 April required a fight of epic proportions. The cathedral is 856 years old and built in a style that produces it nearly structurally impossible to have a fire. The site increases as both a wildly trendy tourist attraction and a holy site for Christians. Defending this symbol of French heritage would ask all the tactical and physical power the Brigade had at its disposal—human and otherwise.
 
Soon after firefighters came at the scene, the cathedral’s large spire began to reveal signs of collapsing into the building. For onlookers, a collapse would be a devastating loss of a faith based and cultural monument; for the Paris fire brigade, it would jeopardize the lives of the more than 400 firefighters already on the scene.
 
It was time to bring in the robot.
 
Colossus, a remote-controlled firefighting automaton fashioned and made by Shark Robotics, looks a bit like an army tank—if the tank were finished fire-engine red, retrofitted with a large hose instead of a gun turret, and shrunk down to the size of a large dog. It can project water up to distances of 250 meters. With its heat- and water-resistant chassis and powerful all-terrain treads, Colossus led the way into the most dangerous areas of the cathedral, extinguishing flames and cleaning away debris that could have harmed its human operators.
 
By midmorning on the 16th, the blaze was perfectly extinguished. The cathedral’s giant spire, along with the roof and internal scaffolding, had collapsed; a nation was in mourning. But no human lives were lost, and Colossus was well on its way to being an international robot celebrity.



This article is originally posted on Tronserve.com

Vention, a next-generation digital manufacturing platform for automated equipment, announced today the launch of its Certified System Integrator (CSI) Program, which will further grow its services from online machine design and programming to the field commissioning of equipment at end clients’ facilities. Building on Vention’s “design-to-order” digital workflow, the CSI Program enables end clients to deploy complicated factory automation projects — all while holding the ease-of-use and speed of the Vention platform.
 
Vention clients are now able to link with trusted system integrators for value-added services, such as equipment assembly, machine calibration and commissioning, custom software development, maintenance services, and operator training. Vention's Certified System Integrator (CSI) Network currently provides coverage all over the United States, Canada, and Eastern Europe, and will be widening coverage gradually through-out 2019 and early 2020. ' Since our first release in 2017, the Vention platform has matured substantially,' says Patrick Halde, VP of Business Development at Vention. 'Our clients are running on projects ranging from standalone automated gadgets to completely automating an entire section of a factory floor. Vention's CSI Network will permit us to broaden our scope of services all the way to final field commissioning.'
 
The CSI Program benefits end clients by providing:
 
A curated list of reliable system integrators with in-depth knowledge of Vention's technology
Flexible value-added services, from simple assembly to finish turnkey solutions
On-site assistance for equipment manufactured and requested on the Vention platform
System integrators chosen to join Vention's CSI Program have certain expertise in their given industries, notably in machine design, conventional automation and automation software development. In addition, Certified System Integrators have taken part in a comprehensive on-site training on the full electronic stack of the Vention platform. This includes designing in Vention's 3D MachineBuilder™, commissioning and programming our MachineMotion™ controller, and integrating our plug-and-play automation components.
 
'We are pleased to partner with a com
pany that not only offers a superior product but is highly responsive and delivers in days instead of weeks,' says Doug Spinn, President at Robot27 now part of Vention's network of trusted integrators.



This article is originally posted on Tronserve.com

The 2019 option will be held from 29th April to 2nd May, 2019, at Long Beach Convention Center, Long Beach, California.
At the 2019 edition Stewart Davis will be exhibiting the paper: 'TuPOD, Cube Satellite and Tube Satellite dispenser produced via 3D Printing, profitable launch orbit and dispensing of Two TubeSat'.
The speech is set for 2nd May, 8:45AM, at Long Beach Convention Center, room 202C, in the track: 'Next-Generation Additive Manufacturing'.
Stewart Davis will describe how the use of Windform® composite materials, primarily created for the Motorsports industry by CRP Technology, is now acquiring many uses in space exploration, especially as structural materials for space applications.
Mr. Davis will also illustrate how the employment of Windform® inaugurated a new era in aerospace missions. Highlighted at AeroDef Manufacturing® will be the case study that follows the successful construction and launch of the TuPod.
Additive manufacturing technologies have attained new heights with the production of constructive components for the new generation of Space parts using Windform composite materials.
Under the guidance of Stewart Davis, CRP USA's crafted up substantial experience supplying cutting edge solutions for space key industry leaders that chose to manufacture in the Windform® family of materials.
Based in Mooresville, North Carolina, CRP USA employs a highly competent staff that is skilled in the manufacturing and creation of end-use parts and prototypes created from Windform high performance composite materials for LS technology.
With new projects and new developing perspectives in the field of AM, CRP USA contributes to mark new milestones in the most challenging and harsh 3d printed applications arena. In fact it has been the technological partner of space applications such as the construction of a CubeSat in additive manufacturing, gathering the interest of the most important bodies involved in space engineering.
 
AeroDef Manufacturing® is an aerospace manufacturing and defense manufacturing conference and trade show for the aerospace and defense manufacturing industry.
AeroDef showcases the industry's most expert technologies across an innovative floor plan fashioned to facilitate interaction and business relationships between exhibitors and buyers looking for integrated solutions.



This article is originally posted on Tronserve.com

Efficiency is critical in most business operations and, most notably, manufacturing. Like judges in a footrace, customers usually only care about the result of a production “run”—the product itself. They don’t want to know how many working hours it took to assemble it; they could care less about how long it takes to move components across the factory floor. Their sole interest is getting the product they want at an appropriate price point and within a reasonable time frame.
 
Lean manufacturing is the industry’s equivalent to a runner optimizing his form. Toyota process guru Shigeo Shingo at the start put together the philosophy as a means of getting rid of the costs posed by human error and inefficiency.  As business researcher and author Michael Schrage highlights in an article for Harvard Business Review, Shingo’s ideas about lean manufacturing hung heavily on his attention to detail. Shrage writes, “Shingo looked for the simplest, cheapest, and surest way to eliminate foreseeable process errors. To make sure an assembler uses three screws, for example, package the screws in groups of three. Obvious? Perhaps. But “obvious” is frequently an underutilized and underappreciated asset.”
 
Let’s consider a real-world example.
 
A few years ago, I had the chance to tour a Panasonic refrigerator factory that had made “lean” thinking a central focus of its operations for over a decade. The work showed; that operation was undoubtedly one of the most reliable I had seen in my time working in the industry.
 
Here’s how it worked — rather than maintain a unique line for each variety of refrigerator, Panasonic created a manufacturing process that facilitated mix-model production on a single conveyor. This technique might not have worked if each product had to be painstakingly crafted according to model; nevertheless, Panasonic could maintain a single-stream process because they had developed a series of processes that allowed for mix model production. One of these is the dies used stamp out frames and doors were designed in order to be exchanged in below thirty seconds, in the place of the hours the same task would have demanded in a more traditional manufacturing environment. Each of the dies weighed tens of thousands of pounds and were likely challenging to integrate into the manufacturing operation, but having them enhanced operational flexibility for the manufacturer.
 
The benefits of lean manufacturing are intuitive. Manufacturers can save money during production, make better use of their workers’ time, and boost their capacity. The research on the potential for financial gain from “lean” thinking is limited, however it does offer some positive findings. In 2008, analysts partnered with Boeing to assess how lean manufacturing affected the company’s productivity on select projects. They found that lean initiatives resulted in a 28 percent reduction in labor cost, 60 percent of anomaly-caused time losses, 45 percent reduction in cycle time, and a 24 percent reduction in non-conformances. While these statistics are from a limited sample pool and don’t stand as hard-and-fast benchmarks, they do indicate a potential for savings and gains.
 
Value
Before manufacturers can grow to be “lean,” they need to build up a better sense of what their customers value. Typically, this requires some research into industry-established price points, expected quality, and typical turnaround times. Doing so will set up a few of the parameters for the company to use to develop productivity goals.
 
Value Stream
After the manufacturer has established their value parameters, they have to address the production process itself and identify any aspects that fail to create value. Rooting out these time-wasting steps will both allow for greater effectiveness and provide the manufacturer with a more comprehensive understanding of the production process.
 
Flow
All of the time-saving changes in the world will not likely make a difference if a production line is deficient in flow. If one area of production is hyper-efficient and the next slow, the line will inevitably form a bottleneck at the point of conflict. It's significant that manufacturers implement time-saving changes in order that the overall flow of production remains stable.
 
Pull
Developing pull requires manufacturers to improve their time to market benchmarks so as that customers won't need to suffer through extensive waiting periods. Having good “pull” isn't only a plus for the consumer, then again — short turnarounds empower manufacturers to produce on an as-needed basis, and thereby save them from the expense of accumulating a preemptive stockpile of products.
 
Perfection
There is never an endpoint for advancement. Being “lean” is a mentality, rather than a task; in this case, these thinkers strive for greater ability even though they implement massive innovations. Perfection may not exist — but lean manufacturers will continue to reach for it.
 
This article is originally posted on tronserve.com

Industry 4.0. technologies are enabling manufacturers to digitize their factories. One of the most important of these technologies is Internet of Things (IoT). Powered by connectivity and sensors, it generates actionable, near real-time data insights about the condition of physical things in the factory and throughout the supply chain. This put together with data analytics, new technologies and a fast network is helping manufacturers better manage their assets and boost efficiency in production.
 
Manufacturers today deal with unprecedented pressure. They must manage evermore complex global supply chains and new logistics models, grab hold of new ways of working, and handle the constant threat of cyberattacks. Customers are demanding more individualized products. Yet, customer loyalty is more hard to maintain as competition intensifies. Plus, all of this is playing out against the backdrop of a growing skilled-labor shortage.
 
To alleviate these pressures, more and more ambitious manufacturing companies are now utilizing faster networks, IoT and other technologies.
 
Here’s some of the ways IoT can help benefit manufacturing companies:
 
Workforce productivity: Manufacturers may use mobile IoT solutions to strengthen their employees. With near real-time factory floor insights, employees can easily locate and manage assets, monitor materials for quality, and develop worker safety.
 
Predictive maintenance: Remotely monitoring equipment with IoT improves ensure machines are correctly adjusted for most effective use and high-quality output. It also implies predictive maintenance. This can help manufacturers save time and money by repairing or replacing equipment before it fails.
 
Supply chain management: Tracking the location of assets in transit permits manufacturers predict when shipments will arrive. Paired with near real-time analytics, fleet solutions can allow end-to-end visibility of goods throughout the supply chain.
 
Near real-time insights: With IoT sensors and other devices set up on the factory floor and across the supply chain, manufacturers can gain near real-time workable insights via data analytics. But this will require an IoT asset management platform that supports multiple devices, communication protocols, networks and cloud environments, and that combines with existing enterprise systems.
 
IoT in Action: Data and Insights on a Global Scale
 
One global manufacturer, for instance, turned to IoT to boost performance in all these areas. As a leader in the design, production and servicing of commercial products, it enclosed connectivity inside the goods and services it brings to market. This combined with a global mobility solution provided entry to near real-time information and insights for the company’s research and development teams and its service technicians in the field. Remote technicians were further backed with a fleet management solution that promoted safety and efficiency. 
 
Back on the factory floor, Wi-Fi coverage and end-to-end network services meant on-demand capabilities. This works the company optimize operations and more perfectly scale capacity up or down to manage with business fluctuations.
 
On the whole, this combination of connectivity and data helped build up a complete view of the company’s assets including manufacturing equipment, inventory, vehicles, installed units and people, also their individual capability and efficiency. Finally, to ensure this information remained a competitive advantage, and not a liability, the total network is secured through the cloud.
 
This manufacturer is both huge and global. It’s not unique in its need for greater insight into operations. IoT solutions can help manufacturing companies of any size to proportion and act in response in near real-time to their operational and market challenges.
 
It doesn’t halt with IoT. We could see other technologies being implemented to increase the manufacturing industry such as 5G, or 5th generation mobile networks.
 
Together with Samsung Electronics America, Inc. and Samsung Austin Semiconductor, LLC., we’re working towards the future of Industry 4.0 connected manufacturing. The strategy is to give insights into the future of a smart factory. We're working with each other to explore use cases and technologies such as industrial IOT sensors that monitor for environmental and equipment conditions which include vibration, temperature and speed as well as location services to help develop safety. 5G promises to someday have a major impact on manufacturing by helping to unlock new experiences in augmented reality, powerful machine learning and intelligent robotics.
 
The future of manufacturing is already here through IoT and on-demand, next-generation networking technologies. What creates the shift to Industry 4.0 much more thrilling is that it goes far beyond manufacturing to transform not only how modern factories work, but also how things are designed, used and serviced.
 
This article is originally posted on tronserve.com

For legacy businesses, there might be a disconnect from how a digitized supply chain will enhance the bottom line. In fact, IBM reports that 84 percent of manufacturers polled in a recent survey express that they have implemented real-time data sharing into their supply chains, but only 13 percent have done so efficiently. So how can supply chain management close the gap between implementation and optimization?
 
In the relatively first stages of supply chain digitization, the ongoing transformation of our industrial supply chain is unlikey the first large scale disruption to sweep through the business world. If we look back through history, every generation has seen major challenges driven by technology — the railroad, the telephone, the automobile, the television, and now the internet. What’s unique about today’s modernization is its unprecedented speed, enabled by new tools that act faster than human beings. Done well, this digitization also has the capability to turn the supply chain into a strategic profit driver, woven deep within the fabric of every competitive business.
 
We’ve witnessed first-hand, organizations are rethinking their approach to supply chain planning by integrating several individual phases of the system into one full circle system. Planning is typically siloed, with separate work streams for inventory, demand, and transportation. Progressively we are beginning to see planning happen across these areas simultaneously. The breaking down of these walls are enabled by the consolidation of emerging technology, including but not limited to:
 
·         Artificial Intelligence (AI)/Big Data
Aggregation and analysis of massive amounts of data to identify and respond to trends in customer demand
·         Advanced Robotics and machine learning
Modern warehouse management, plus “non-physical” robotics, like database tools for deeper trend analysis that can help predict the future
·         Automation/3D printing
Delivering custom service that meets the most specific, time-sensitive customer demands
 
The implementation of emerging technologies triggers satisfillment among fulfillment center employees and end consumers alike. In this situation, satisfillment is when simple processes make the issues of e-commerce a thing of the past. At Project Verte, this is our purpose - new supply chain technology is one component of a full circle experience for e-commerce businesses. With a digitized supply chain, companies are enabled to better serve customers and outdo expectations, ultimately getting to satisfillment. Early adopters are fervent about these new tools, but the rest of the world still grapples with how to start establishing more technology into their systems. Lots of people are just beginning to experiment and run initial programs — largely the big businesses and agile start-ups, while most, not all, mid-sized companies are eagerly watching.
 
The journey may seem daunting, so we recommend the following steps to make it more manageable:
·         Put emphasis on durable value: Before embarking on this journey, have an honest talk with board members to lay out how the investment in digitization will add value.
·         Mitigate employee fears: Digitization doesn’t always cause job loss. The fact is, these new technologies have the potential to upskill employees for the long term.
·         Don’t reinvent the wheel: Tap into specialized partners who have the institutionalized knowledge and assets to help implement your new business solutions.
·         Set manageable goals: Business transformation can take time. Break up the integration into manageable stages and frequently review what is working to ensure the process is on track.
 
The digitization of the supply chain is indicatory of a a lot more profound trend — the disruption of the business model. Organizations today who are going through a transformation have much different considerations than they might have had five years ago. Start out digitizing because the sidelines are no place for business.
 
This article is originally posted on tronserve.com

Commerce is not any longer described as a simple transaction of a product or service. In the past, the buying process only looked at a transaction in stores, through a direct salesman or supplier, or through an online storefront or portal, however nowadays it has evolved to be much more. With the merging of advanced technology, which includes artificial intelligence and voice, technology has pushed the commerce industry into a digital evolution. It's from these innovations that brands are now connected with customers directly and on a more personal level to change the consumer buying experience by and large.
 
The State of Disruption in Manufacturing
 
This digital development has escalated further to shake up the manufacturing industry. With numerous digital and technological innovations, it's hard for manufacturers to know what direction is best for their company. In order to prevent the common digitization mistakes, manufacturers need to give attention to new processes and strategies to look at how commerce can transform the core of their business.
 
Digital disruption has unsealed a new world of commerce opportunities for manufacturers, enabling companies and brands to make more personalized relationships and boost revenue when new practices are applied correctly. It’s by tracking commerce trends and experimenting with new technological solutions that manufacturers can find out what will and what will not help the manufacturing industry advance digitally.
 
The following the top trends contract manufacturing organizations should track to help them turn out to be a superior and mature brand that dominates within the commerce space.
 
Emphasizing Innovation:
Gone are the times where a simple passive website was sufficient. Today’s manufacturing industry is demanding that everything is digital: commerce, product catalogs, self-service portals plus much more. Companies are using the digital space to their advantage to deliver personalization and use digital technology that can take the load off on routine transactions and requests.
 
Digital-First Strategies:
Pop-up manufacturers and startups are seeing great results from establishing a primary targeted audience exclusively through digital. These early companies are then beginning to disrupt the industry by opening physical retail stores with an already established customer base. Digital has reduced startup costs now more than ever before, calling for established brands to know that new consumer companies are only going to continue to grow and disrupt the space.
 
Omni-Channel Fluidity:
Technological enhancements in recent years have provided manufacturers the power to experiment with different channels in order to enhance customer experiences. Half of purchases are made via mobile, and some experimental brands are screening the waters by incorporating artificial intelligence in order to help clients purchase through voice interaction and voice-controlled devices, like Amazon and Alexa. Never the less, there is one key takeaway when looking at the fluidity of the customer experience: customers are in control of the buying process. Companies really need to support their customers aside from their chosen channels for purchase.
 
Personalization: The right place at the right time:
Customers wish personalization. To enable manufacturers to hit your objectives, they need to take a deep dive into their target consumer and know their buyers inside and out. Buyers want to be shown that companies recognize their wants and needs, with brands delivering personalized promotional offers and relevant content directed to specifically to them.
 
Data Driven Actions:
While customer relationships are vital, that shouldn't be the only point of concentration. In order to really guide sales pursuits, manufacturers need to make leveraging data a top priority. Sellers have a huge amount of data at their fingertips that they are able to make use of to promote their products. Leveraging artificial intelligence and machine learning can help create informed conversations, digital experiences, product offers and pricing across all sales channels. By sharing relevant reports with all direct sellers and translating them into actionable insights, they can present product offerings that customers are likely to order.
 
The Future of Manufacturing
 
Both the manufacturing and commerce industries have reached a digitally driven age, where new technological improvements and techniques are consistently evolving. To ensure manufacturers to survive, it is our predominant concern that high-level executives and CMOs utilize these evolving technologies and follow the latest commerce trends. As they continue to evolve, they're going to become digitally mature and lead the market through personalized businesses strategies tailored towards their customers.
 
This article is originally posted on tronserve.com

Increasing personal and team productivity calls for notable efficiency. Ensure that these practices get your attention:
 
Leverage technology
 
Accept and promote new trends, devices, and software as they appear. Let your workers use their own devices for business purposes if they desire. Why shouldn't you take benefit from a productivity source you don't have to pay for?
 
For the time being, give instant 'anywhere' access to workplace information. Let group members work from alternate locations with Wi-Fi when it's practical. When a person from my office manager's family is ill, it's easy to let her work from home during the day, and thus she can still be productive.
 
With Wi-Fi, Evernote, and all the snazzy apps we have access to, staff members can tap into work information irrespective of where they are. Give them a secure, reliable way to share ideas and communicate, enabling more flexibility and change-responsiveness.
 
Set and track efficiency goals
 
After you've pared your strategies down to size and set up goals with your team, set certain schedules for achievement. As it is with any project, break desired goals into controllable pieces, each with its own milestones and deadlines. Once you've achieved a goal, re-tune and set a new one.
 
Measure everything
 
You can better influence things when you can understand them, therefore be mindful of all the metrics that matter for your team. Use an accountability system, project management software, SharePoint, a common spreadsheet on Google Docs, Outlook Task Assignments, or a scoreboarding system that tracks important team metrics. The systems you use may be off-the-shelf or proprietary; it doesn't matter so long as you use them consistently.
 
Brainstorm regularly
 
Meet with your team from time to time to give eachother ideas on how best to achieve your strategic priorities and improve processes and procedures. Try to get areas of overlap and eliminate redundancy. Talk over what your team is doing that is deficient in value.
 
Remove steps that not any longer apply when something changes, and be certain that each person documents everything, so new people can get up to speed quickly. Remove your thought filters and let your ideas cross-fertilize to see what types of interesting hybrids result. Take a look at concepts from other fields, and how they might apply to yours. What would you like to do if it were possible?
 
The benefits of consistent training
 
For your team members to be productively efficient and effective, they need the right tools. This is an essential return on investment (ROI) tactic. Some personnel need blazing-fast computing power; others need smartphones and tablets that let them work on the go; still others might require specialized instruments to maximise their performance. Whatever the case, they all need constant training, undertaken as often as necessary to stay ahead of the changes rolling through your field.
 
None of us wants to spend money if they don't have to. But do remember, in business, what matters isn't what you spend now, but how much money you make later. You have to make short-term investments for long-term gain. It's all about ROI. Done correctly, training produces the extraordinary levels of ROI you need to stay ahead of the game.
 
This article is originally posted on tronserve.com

Commerce is not any longer described as a simple transaction of a product or service. In the past, the buying process only looked at a transaction in stores, through a direct salesman or supplier, or through an online storefront or portal, however nowadays it has evolved to be much more. With the merging of advanced technology, which includes artificial intelligence and voice, technology has pushed the commerce industry into a digital evolution. It's from these innovations that brands are now connected with customers directly and on a more personal level to change the consumer buying experience by and large.
 
The State of Disruption in Manufacturing
 
This digital development has escalated further to shake up the manufacturing industry. With numerous digital and technological innovations, it's hard for manufacturers to know what direction is best for their company. In order to prevent the common digitization mistakes, manufacturers need to give attention to new processes and strategies to look at how commerce can transform the core of their business.
 
Digital disruption has unsealed a new world of commerce opportunities for manufacturers, enabling companies and brands to make more personalized relationships and boost revenue when new practices are applied correctly. It’s by tracking commerce trends and experimenting with new technological solutions that manufacturers can find out what will and what will not help the manufacturing industry advance digitally.
 
The following the top trends contract manufacturing organizations should track to help them turn out to be a superior and mature brand that dominates within the commerce space.
 
Emphasizing Innovation:
Gone are the times where a simple passive website was sufficient. Today’s manufacturing industry is demanding that everything is digital: commerce, product catalogs, self-service portals plus much more. Companies are using the digital space to their advantage to deliver personalization and use digital technology that can take the load off on routine transactions and requests.
 
Digital-First Strategies:
Pop-up manufacturers and startups are seeing great results from establishing a primary targeted audience exclusively through digital. These early companies are then beginning to disrupt the industry by opening physical retail stores with an already established customer base. Digital has reduced startup costs now more than ever before, calling for established brands to know that new consumer companies are only going to continue to grow and disrupt the space.
 
Omni-Channel Fluidity:
Technological enhancements in recent years have provided manufacturers the power to experiment with different channels in order to enhance customer experiences. Half of purchases are made via mobile, and some experimental brands are screening the waters by incorporating artificial intelligence in order to help clients purchase through voice interaction and voice-controlled devices, like Amazon and Alexa. Never the less, there is one key takeaway when looking at the fluidity of the customer experience: customers are in control of the buying process. Companies really need to support their customers aside from their chosen channels for purchase.
 
Personalization: The right place at the right time:
Customers wish personalization. To enable manufacturers to hit your objectives, they need to take a deep dive into their target consumer and know their buyers inside and out. Buyers want to be shown that companies recognize their wants and needs, with brands delivering personalized promotional offers and relevant content directed to specifically to them.
 
Data Driven Actions:
While customer relationships are vital, that shouldn't be the only point of concentration. In order to really guide sales pursuits, manufacturers need to make leveraging data a top priority. Sellers have a huge amount of data at their fingertips that they are able to make use of to promote their products. Leveraging artificial intelligence and machine learning can help create informed conversations, digital experiences, product offers and pricing across all sales channels. By sharing relevant reports with all direct sellers and translating them into actionable insights, they can present product offerings that customers are likely to order.
 
The Future of Manufacturing
 
Both the manufacturing and commerce industries have reached a digitally driven age, where new technological improvements and techniques are consistently evolving. To ensure manufacturers to survive, it is our predominant concern that high-level executives and CMOs utilize these evolving technologies and follow the latest commerce trends. As they continue to evolve, they're going to become digitally mature and lead the market through personalized businesses strategies tailored towards their customers.
 
This article is originally posted on tronserve.com

Step aside, reindeer — robot dogs are hauling this stream.
 
In an ominous video titled “Mush, Spot Mush!” posted on YouTube Tuesday, robot maker Boston Dynamics showed off the sheer power of its SpotMini quadripedal robot dog. The clip shows 10 specialized Spotmini derivatives called Spotpower hauling a box truck all-around a parking lot — and at a one degree incline.
 
The robot maker established in 2018 that it will start promoting SpotMini robot dogs to the public this year. The 66 pound robot can climb stairs, cross a wide variety of different terrain and carry 31 pounds.
 
Possible applications range from home use to private security. The caption of today’s video launched that the Spotpower model will be sold to the public for a “ range of applications soon.”
 
What specifically those applications will look like and how much a Spotpower will get for is still confusing. But it’s an awesome feat of energy and agility that sets the bar for later commercial robots.



This article is originally posted on Tronserve.com

Boston, 2 April 2019 - Boston Dynamics today revealed the acquisition of Kinema Systems, a Menlo Park-based company that makes industrial robotic arms with deep learning technology to locate and move boxes on complex pallets.
 
Using a combination of vision detector and deep learning software, Kinema Systems’ Pick technology works with leading commercial robotic arms to move boxes off pallets to conveyors or build stacks of boxes on pallets. Pick enables logistics, retail, and manufacturing companies to achieve high rates of box moving with minimal set up or training for both multi-SKU and single-SKU pallets.
 
“ Bringing the Kinema team into Boston Dynamics expands our notion and learning capabilities while the Pick product increases our entry into the logistics market,” said Boston Dynamics Founder and CEO Marc Raibert. “ Beyond being a powerful tool for industrial robotic arms, Kinema technology will help our mobile manipulation robots tackle a wide variety of complex real-world tasks.”
 
Pick joins Boston Dynamics’ freshly upgraded Handle platform in handling the logistics industry. Last week, Boston Dynamics released a video of Handle performing both multi-SKU palletizing and depalletizing to conveyor tasks.
 
While development continues on Handle, Boston Dynamics plans to sell and support Pick for interested customers starting now.
 
Sachin Chitta, founder of Kinema Systems said, “Boston Dynamics’ reputation for innovation fits perfectly with our mission of developing the next generation of vision-enabled warehouse robots.”
 
The team at Kinema Systems will establish Boston Dynamics’ first office in Silicon Valley. With plans to expand the team in the Bay Area this year, they will focus on developing and selling advanced robotics products for the logistics market as well as researching, developing and applying deep learning and vision to the Boston Dynamics family of robots. 
 
The Boston Dynamics team will run live demos of Pick at Promat, a leading trade show for supply chain and manufacturing automation, from 8 - 11 April in Chicago at Booth S3347a.



This article is originally posted on Tronserve.com

Regardless of the excitement that exists around it, we have to consider that in its current format, Artificial Intelligence is actually really limited with what it can offer. Why? Because AI and ML are based on data - it doesn’t have opinions of its own. When I talk to Alexa, I can ask it what the weather will be tomorrow, the bookies favourite for the next Bond actor or how long to roast a chicken for, and it will be able to give you a fairly accurate answer. Yet when, after the 1000th time that week of hearing it, I ask why the song Baby Shark went viral, I’m faced with silence.
 
But even though you can have a lot of fun testing the ability of your Alexa or other AI technology, there are some practical applications of AI that can transform the workplace.
 
As a society, we are beginning to interchange the terms Artificial Intelligence (AI) & Machine Learning (ML) without fully determining what the nuances are between them. AI can be expressed as intelligent machines that emulate a human’s approach to solving challenges. An extension of this, is machine learning which is the act of leveraging vast amounts of data to automate a response.
 
Merchants for sample, will be able to identify if a credit card machine isn’t working and have pre-prepared back-up plans based on different predictions. Healthcare will be able to offer the most durable environment to their clinicians and enable them to present improved patient care through mobile working, safe in the knowledge that patient data won’t be sacrificed.
 
It’s not just enterprises either – the administration of sensors in smart cities, or the improvement of data security in school districts are other use cases for a comprehensive intelligence-driven cloud-based service that can provide intelligence and visibility. As Brian Troudy, Director, Networking and Infrastructure of Corona-Norco Unified School District explains, VMware’s Workspace ONE intelligence will provide the organization with a way to automate security practices and give access to metrics that will help to improve user experience for teachers, administrators and students.
 
“ It’s a clear win-win for our staff and students,” he says.
 
It’s time modern working environments used modern management tools, and automated threat detection. Security responses need to be part of this shift towards a more AI-driven workforce. It is no longer acceptable to use security as an excuse for poor employee experience. Employees demand the latest tools and devices, with one-click access to corporate resources, while maintaining high levels of security. The only way this can be achieved is through AI. But remember that AI on its own will only become another isolated service, true value will be gleaned when it is integrated as part of an overall API integrated ecosystem.



This article is originally posted on Tronserve.com

Celera Motion, a business unit of Novanta Corporation, announces the acquisition of Ingenia, which develops and manufactures servo drives and control software. This acquisition considerably enhances Celera Motion's accuracy motion capabilities.
 
Celera Motion, A Novanta Company, announces the acquisition of Ingenia, developer of high performance servo drives and control software.
 
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Based in Barcelona, Spain, Ingenia offers original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) with personalized motion control solutions based on high performance and high power servo drive technology. Celera Motion provides medical and advanced industrial OEM customers with accuracy optical and inductive encoders, motors and actuators, and mechatronics solutions.
 
'Ingenia's products complement the Celera Motion products, and we're excited to bring these gifted and innovative teams together,' said Leane Sinicki, Precision Motion Group President, Novanta. 'This acquisition expands and enhances our offering as we help our customers solve their most complicated motion challenges.'



This article is originally posted on Tronserve.com

CHICAGO - April 18, 2019 - Ultra Consultants, Inc., an independent research and enterprise solutions consulting firm serving the manufacturing and distribution industries, presents an useful webinar session meant to project teams from the manufacturing and distribution sectors who are assessing an active ERP project. With unique guest SYSPRO USA, the one-hour webinar is titled ERP Grows Up: How the Right ERP Software Can Attract the Next Generation Workforce and takes place Thursday, May 2, 2019 at 2 p.m. ET (1 p.m. CT).
 
The present digital shift in the manufacturing and distribution industries motivates decision-makers to inspect a new way of conducting business that fits a multigenerational talent pool. Engaging a millennial workforce through digital transformation initiatives — while continuing to aid the team that helped build the business — can be overwhelming.
The webinar is fashioned to encourage a cross-generational team to appear the caliber of data that aids your next-generation customer base.
Attendees will leave the session with the following takeaways:
•              What next-generation ERP engagement looks like through a live software demonstration
•              How to identify if your ERP system acts as a true system of engagement
•              Insight on how Industry 4.0 technologies such as social collaboration, AI, and Bots drive customer success
•              Why choice and flexibility in the workplace are vital to attracting and maintaining next-generation talent
•              How the ability to surface meaningful data and actionable business insights will boost business and stimulate profits
Register to attend and receive an archived recording of the event.



This article is originally posted on Tronserve.com

The cost and risks for little to mid-sized enterprises (SMEs) to train employees as well as implement and deploy robots for immediate impact is still too high.
 
04/11/19, 09:07 AM | Industrial Robotics | Business Development
As companies struggle to attract and keep needed talent, they are switching to automation to make up for the shortfall. In their 2018 Industry Report, MHI, the nation’s prominent materials handling logistics and supply chain association, showed that over 70% of manufacturers surveyed plan to adopt robotics technology into their supply chain operations in the next five years. A recently published video by MHI titled “ Robotics as the Solution to the Workforce Challenge ” further shows this shift.
 
While technological advances and decreased hardware costs are encouraging drive this growth, small to mid-sized enterprises (SMEs) are mostly being left behind in this trend. The cost and risks for SMEs to train employees as well as implement and deploy robots for prompt result is still too high. Until ease-of-use and accessibility are the number one priority of robotics manufacturers, widespread automation and adoption will not happen.
 
 Robotics Accessibility is Key to Workforce Competitiveness
At Waypoint, we believe that designing robots for the people who actually put them to work is crucial to eliminating barriers to adoption. Building powerful tools for the workforce helps them do more and go home at the end of the day with more energy for their families. With these user-friendly robots, the workforce expands its capabilities and the company grows by  leveraging years of invaluable experience, loyalty, and know-how.
 
We have a responsibility to deliver great robots for the workforce. Automation is the way of the future, and our easy-to-use robots will help get you there. Currently, empowering the existing workforce with technology to close the skills gap appears to be an under-vocalized idea, but one we hope is gathering momentum in the industry.
 
We agree that robotics can be a solution for the workforce challenge but until robots are as easy to use as an elevator, adoption for the average small to medium-sized business will be slow.



This article is originally posted on Tronserve.com

Supply chain automation as a technique to maintain up with consumer demand and lessen costs is no new concept.  What is new, however, is the handiness of the latest generation of robotics and automation solutions. At the moment, 72 percent of enterprises use robotic automation, and usage is increasing, accelerating deployment of intelligent machines across manufacturing, warehousing and distribution to a record pace.
 
The babble effect is a host of new opportunities and challenges for supply chain organizations, the most significant of which is protecting the skills required and changing the way people work in a more digitized industrial environment.
 
Each chapter of the Industrial Revolution reveals a normal ebb and flow in the number and makeup of jobs. As early as the steam engine, innovation displaced specified workers with new ones who, for example, had cognitive skills like creativity and problem-solving. This continues with robots. According to the World Economic Forum, by 2022, the shifting labor division between humans, machines and algorithms will result in 75 million dropped job roles, but also an addition of 133 million job roles, netting 58 million.
 
Amazon exemplifies this dynamic. The company had about 45,000 employees when it launched robots in 2014. Now, with upwards of 80,000 robots in operation, Amazon employs more than 600,000 workers. Similar results have been found across the organizational spectrum, from big multi-national employers to small manufacturing companies.
 
Out With the Old, in With the New
 
As technologies advance through each industrial revolution, jobs—and job titles—have shifted to mirror newly required skills. Actually, the latest MIT study concluded that in the past decade, occupations boasting a 10 percent increase in job titles also increased 5 percent faster. Many unheard-of job titles, as an example, emerged through the rise of cell phones, mobile apps, social media and cloud-based services.
 
This development is well underway in the automation age. Job roles characterized as task- or manual process-based are turning down, and even potentially to fade away, in the next few years. Concurrently, traditional jobs, for instance machinists, welders and technicians, are spawning new job roles like “mechatronics,” which combines mechanics and systems design.
 
The quick emergence of new roles presents a huge challenge to companies’ pursuit of automation implementation—and an ever-widening skills gap.
 
It’s Not a Gap… It’s a Chasm
 
Never before has technology disrupted American society at such a rapid clip. The talents gap is projected to leave 2.4 million jobs unfilled between 2018 and 2028, with a potential economic impact of $2.5 trillion, according to Deloitte. Furthermore, 80 percent of manufacturers report a shortage of experienced applicants for skilled production positions, which could result an 11 percent loss in annual earnings. Even as 80 percent of manufacturing managers are willing to pay more than market rate to fill positions influenced by the skills gap, 60 percent of those positions remain unfilled.
 
New Ways of Learning
 
Experienced individuals are key to corporate success and global economic development. Then again what skills are needed for a future of automation? As Deloitte puts it, digital skills like programming and technology must marry human skills such as for example critical thinking, emotional intelligence and creativity. But if there is one skill to encourage among future workers, it’s the ability to keep learning and adapting.
 
Between 75 and 375 million force out employees may need to change occupational categories and learn new skills by 2030. For the supply chain’s automation age, learning can take different shapes:
 
•             AR and VR can display information across a worker’s field of vision to mimic real-time.
•             Companies can use simulation training for highly complex tasks or dangerous jobs where errors can be lethal.
•             More learning systems will migrate online.
 
The changes will keep coming in the age of robots. Some may perhaps be evolutionary, as workers switch to new technologies, while others will be revolutionary, leading to new industries and job roles. The goal, however, continues to be the same: ensuring that the evolution of our human skills keeps pace with automation.
 
This article is originally posted on tronserve.com