Blog
Mentoring in Moments of Need
In a previous blog, I wrote about using strategies for supporting performance when and where the need arises for employees to help themselves. Where training cannot possibly transfer all technical information for working tasks, there are Job Aids, Standard Operating Procedures, onsite experts, and other information sources that serve as “external” storage (other than memory) […]
How to Add a New Line in Half the Time
Even with a highly complex installation, our manufacturers get to market in about half the time that they originally planned. Such a tall claim is a good reason for suspicion, but that’s not all. Our solution doesn’t just expedite projects, it also requires half the effort and half the cost. One Word: Emulation The single […]
Obsolete Technology: How to Justify an Upgrade
Technology obsolescence alone isn’t normally enough to justify a large capital upgrade. But, two drivers that typically kick off the initiative are improved reliability and increased performance. Increased performance is the most commonly cited reason because functionality and performance improvements across all areas of operations is a common business goal. The concern about technology […]
Capitalizing on the FAT
During new machine installation or upgrade activities some people seem to have a good handle on equipment to be installed. If you’re not one of them, you probably did not attend the Factory Acceptance Test (FAT) for the new machine. For projects involving new equipment, the FAT is performed at the vendor facility before the […]
On The Safe Side
When it comes to the day-to-day work activities in a manufacturing environment, nothing is more important than safety on the job. No matter where these activities occur, there are hazards. With worker safety, productivity, and cost at stake, why leave the risk of job hazards to chance? Ensuring safe operation and continued productivity relies on […]
Are You Ready for the Future of Manufacturing?
This article is based on our free ebook, What Manufacturers Should Know About the Industrial Internet of Things. There are a litany of problems manufacturers currently face that existing technologies are built to address. The question isn’t whether it’s possible to evolve your platform, we know it is. Instead we ask why they aren’t being […]
Information at Manufacturers’ Fingertips
This article is based on our free ebook, What Manufacturers Should Know About the Industrial Internet of Things. As one generation of machine operators prepares for retirement, manufacturers face the increasingly difficult task of preparing their replacements. We know training is a necessity, but it’s also costly and time consuming. Even then, the end results […]
Preparing Your Workforce for Digital Manufacturing
Manufacturing’s workforce is in a state of change and we will see this accelerate over the next five to ten years. We have been talking about the exit of the baby boomers as 10,000 per day reach retirement age. The U.S. Census Bureau estimates that by 2016, one-third of the U.S. workforce will be age […]
What will automation, controls, and instrumentation look like in 2020?
Brent Stromwall, PE, PMP and vice president of Polytron, Inc. said that by 2020, manufacturing enters a true digital era. On the way, “It is imperative that manufacturers provide more precise and advanced access to technical and reference materials so that operators and technicians are better prepared to operate and maintain both existing and new […]