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SME Home Media Smart Manufacturing Magazine May 2018

Smart Manufacturing: May 2018

The May 2018 edition of Smart Manufacturing is available as a digital magazine. Links to individual articles are below.
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To Each His Own: Batch Size 1 Arrives

To Each His Own: Batch Size 1 Arrives

March 30, 2018
New systems, software and processes are replacing so-called islands of automation with seamless, automated manufacturing lines that boost overall equipment effectiveness (OEE) from 30 to 80% or more. Like a chess master, these systems think multiple moves ahead on the factory floor to ensure continuing production when circumstances change.
By Karen Haywood Queen Contributing Editor, SME Media
ABB safety certified robot monitoring software

Six-axis cobots serving as automation ambassadors

April 3, 2018
Have collaborative, six-axis robots reached a tipping point in establishing their niche in manufacturing? And could they be opening doors for manufacturers to adopt automation overall?
Ilene Wolff
By Ilene Wolff Contributing Editor, SME Media
Good Times in Thermoplastic Composites

Good Times in Thermoplastic Composites

March 30, 2018
Thermoplastic composites are gaining traction in manufacturing applications, offering benefits like lighter weight, faster production times, longer shelf life and easier shipping compared with metals or other composites.
By Karen Haywood Queen Contributing Editor, SME Media
Tom McDermott

How to ‘ride on top of tidal wave of technology and change’

February 20, 2018
Experts: Embrace Industry 4.0; get leaders’ buy-in; set strategy; find partners and plan for cyber attack
By SME Media Staff
Kim Hagerty

Securely on the smart manufacturing path and looking at the next phase

April 3, 2018
Smart Manufacturing sat down with KIMBERLEY HAGERTY, Industry 4.0 digital manufacturing transformation manager at Pratt & Whitney, at the Westec conference in Los Angeles in September to hear about the progress her firm is making adopting smart manufacturing processes, solutions and strategies.
By SME Media Staff

Taking automation to a new level with advances in 3D vision

April 3, 2018
If there’s one thing you can say without reservation about manufacturing today, it’s that everybody wants more automation and flexibility. With advanced 3D vision and a multiaxis robot, companies can now automate to a degree their executives only dreamt of a few years ago.
Ed Sinkora
By Ed Sinkora Contributing Editor, SME Media

Up Front

Software Update

Passport To Innovation

Mfg Intel

  • Industrial Robots: Accessible Opportunity

    Industrial Robots: Accessible Opportunity

    January 5, 2018
    Manufacturing is important to communities, regions, nations: In the US alone, manufacturing supports more than 17.6 million jobs—that’s one in six jobs–and accounts for nearly $6 trillion in GDP. More than 12 million Americans (9% of the workforce) are employed in manufacturing.
    By Kim Farrugia - Senior Event Manager, SME

Guest Columns

  • Rachna Stegall
    Smart Manufacturing

    Wanna mitigate cyber risk? Seven precautions to take

    April 3, 2018
    Nearly a year ago, the world became aware of a new computer virus known as WannaCry. Many institutions were affected by the ransomware. It encrypted and locked a Microsoft Windows computing system and demanded payment.
    By Rachna Stegall - VP of Connected Technologies, UL
  • John O'Kelly

    Reducing waste on the shop floor with mobile power

    April 4, 2018
    Speed, safety and efficiency are important to running a successful manufacturing floor. The more efficient workers are on the floor, the quicker products can be finished and sent to their destination. The major opponent to efficiency on the floor is, of course, waste.
    By John O'Kelly - Founder and CEO, Newcastle Systems
  • Ken Koenemann
    Smart Manufacturing

    Which Technologies Should Come First, Second, Third?

    March 6, 2018
    Analytics solutions. The industrial Internet of Things. Robotics. Automation. Manufacturers looking for tech solutions that will help them control costs and gain a competitive edge have many great options. In fact, deciding what type of technology to invest in and why can seem overwhelming.
    By Ken Koenemann - VP of Supply Chain and Technologies, TBM Consulting Group
  • Avi Reichental
    Smart Manufacturing

    Some firms accept arrival of Age of AI, seize the day

    April 4, 2018
    Remember the boy with endless learning capacities in the 2001 film “AI Artificial Intelligence”? He’s quickly coming to life. Today, AI is no longer fictional; it’s reality.
    By Avi Reichental - CEO, XponentialWorks
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