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SME Media Smart Manufacturing Magazine March 2018

Smart Manufacturing: March 2018

The March 2018 edition of Smart Manufacturing is available as a digital magazine. Links to individual articles are below.
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Trumpf lists 7 key benefits emanating from tech in its just-built smart factory

Trumpf lists 7 key benefits emanating from tech in its just-built smart factory

December 12, 2017
The smart factory Trumpf built in this Chicago suburb, in the works since early 2014 and open to the public since September, is just a few months away from running full steam ahead: Smart Manufacturing recently asked its director, Tobias Reuther, to identify the seven key benefits of a smart factory.
Brett Brune
By Brett Brune Editor in Chief, Smart Manufacturing
Rockwell Automation

Partnership between motion control, cameras more than stands test of time

February 20, 2018
While cameras and motion control have worked in tandem for at least 15 years, their integration has improved because networks have gotten faster, more reliable, and more deterministic (i.e., nothing will interfere with a function that’s a priority).
Ilene Wolff
By Ilene Wolff Contributing Editor, SME Media
Dassault Systems Eric Green

In China, Dassault’s Green details work of innovation labs, acknowledges speedy adoption of robots

February 27, 2018
Eric Green, vice president, user experience and marketing for the DELMIA product brand at Dassault Systèmes, weighs in on what “super fab labs” in Beijing and Moscow might well produce. He also describes how Dassault’s 3D Experience Lab works and identifies the important smart manufacturing trends to watch in China.
Brett Brune
By Brett Brune Editor in Chief, Smart Manufacturing
Michelle Mertens

The IT Director Who Guided Hitachi to 'One Common Code Set'—From Norman, OK

October 17, 2017
The 70-acre Hitachi campus in Norman, Okla., where Michelle Mertens serves as IT director for Hitachi computer products employs just 400 people. And while that pales in comparison to the more than 700 people Hitachi employs in Asia, her factory led a worldwide initiative under which Hitachi unified its shop floor systems.
Brett Brune
By Brett Brune Editor in Chief, Smart Manufacturing
Ron Emerson

Honda Details Work With Dassault on Planning Structure Capability

October 23, 2017
To improve time to market and productivity at Honda, the Japanese automaker partnered with the French software giant Dassault Systèmes on planning structure, including a new model process development (NMPD) project, Ron Emerson said here this week at Dassault’s 3DExperience Forum North America event.
Brett Brune
By Brett Brune Editor in Chief, Smart Manufacturing
Huawei Technologies’ He Fred

Huawei Urging Suppliers to Use Cloud Technology to Match Its New Quality Standards

November 7, 2017
With user costs rising and automation still not at the optimum level in China, the best option for pulling small and medium enterprises along on the smart manufacturing journey is cloud technology, Huawei Technologies’ He Fred said here today at a conference titled Manufacturing in the Age of Experience.
Brett Brune
By Brett Brune Editor in Chief, Smart Manufacturing
Adam Hehr, a Fabrisonic research engineer

A 3D Printing Startup Grows Up

October 30, 2017
Fabrisonic, Now 6 Years Old, Moves to Develop New Processes, Materials
Bill Koenig
By Bill Koenig Senior Editor, SME Media
Jay Flores stem ambassador Rockwell automation

Narrowing the Skills Gap

February 15, 2018
Technological gains, young ambassadors, apprenticeships help. But manufacturers’ training investment remains a problem.
By Karen Haywood Queen Contributing Editor, SME Media
creaform reverse engineering

Metrology helps manufacturers repeat good parts of the past

February 20, 2017
Scanning metrology providers respond to varied needs; software improves to help engineers with scan data
Bruce Morey
By Bruce Morey Senior Technical Editor, SME Media
Jim Gilbert

SPECIAL REPORT: Sensors’ Meteoric Rise

February 20, 2018
The devices quickly become less costly, sophisticated and independent, gaining wider influence.
By Karen Haywood Queen Contributing Editor, SME Media

Up Front

  • USMCA and the Fight for North America’s Electronics Manufacturing Base
    VIEWPOINTS

    USMCA and the Fight for North America’s Electronics Manufacturing Base

    Chris Mitchell, Vice President of Global Government Relations, Global Electronics Association February 16, 2026
    The United States does not lag the world in designing advanced electronics or cutting-edge chips. Where it falls behind is in scaling, fabricating, assembling, and integrating chips into complete, working systems.
  • Smart Manufacturing Optimism: Tech, Talent Drive Growth
    CUTTING EDGE

    Smart Manufacturing Optimism: Tech, Talent Drive Growth

    Amy Bryson February 15, 2026
    Manufacturing leaders always look for smart strategies to gain a competitive edge and uncover new opportunities. Deloitte’s 2026 Manufacturing Industry Outlook says there’s room for cautious optimism among those manufacturers focused on targeted technology investments, particularly in agentic AI, to drive agility despite ongoing economic and talent challenges.
  • Beyond Lubrication: From Commodity to Competitive Advantage
    MATERIALS

    Beyond Lubrication: From Commodity to Competitive Advantage

    Pavel Kralicek, Commercial Offer Advisor, ExxonMobil Product Solution, Europe, Africa and Middle East February 14, 2026
    In modern manufacturing environments, lubrication is undergoing a quiet but important transformation. Once treated as a basic commodity, lubricants are increasingly recognized as strategic enablers of equipment reliability, energy efficiency and helping to advance operator’s sustainability ambitions. As manufacturers strive to achieve higher productivity and meet environmental goals, lubrication choices are integral to operational performance, rather than an afterthought.

Tech Front

  • USMCA and the Fight for North America’s Electronics Manufacturing Base
    VIEWPOINTS

    USMCA and the Fight for North America’s Electronics Manufacturing Base

    Chris Mitchell, Vice President of Global Government Relations, Global Electronics Association February 16, 2026
    The United States does not lag the world in designing advanced electronics or cutting-edge chips. Where it falls behind is in scaling, fabricating, assembling, and integrating chips into complete, working systems.
  • Smart Manufacturing Optimism: Tech, Talent Drive Growth
    CUTTING EDGE

    Smart Manufacturing Optimism: Tech, Talent Drive Growth

    Amy Bryson February 15, 2026
    Manufacturing leaders always look for smart strategies to gain a competitive edge and uncover new opportunities. Deloitte’s 2026 Manufacturing Industry Outlook says there’s room for cautious optimism among those manufacturers focused on targeted technology investments, particularly in agentic AI, to drive agility despite ongoing economic and talent challenges.
  • Beyond Lubrication: From Commodity to Competitive Advantage
    MATERIALS

    Beyond Lubrication: From Commodity to Competitive Advantage

    Pavel Kralicek, Commercial Offer Advisor, ExxonMobil Product Solution, Europe, Africa and Middle East February 14, 2026
    In modern manufacturing environments, lubrication is undergoing a quiet but important transformation. Once treated as a basic commodity, lubricants are increasingly recognized as strategic enablers of equipment reliability, energy efficiency and helping to advance operator’s sustainability ambitions. As manufacturers strive to achieve higher productivity and meet environmental goals, lubrication choices are integral to operational performance, rather than an afterthought.

Guest Columns

  • USMCA and the Fight for North America’s Electronics Manufacturing Base
    VIEWPOINTS

    USMCA and the Fight for North America’s Electronics Manufacturing Base

    Chris Mitchell, Vice President of Global Government Relations, Global Electronics Association February 16, 2026
    The United States does not lag the world in designing advanced electronics or cutting-edge chips. Where it falls behind is in scaling, fabricating, assembling, and integrating chips into complete, working systems.
  • Smart Manufacturing Optimism: Tech, Talent Drive Growth
    CUTTING EDGE

    Smart Manufacturing Optimism: Tech, Talent Drive Growth

    Amy Bryson February 15, 2026
    Manufacturing leaders always look for smart strategies to gain a competitive edge and uncover new opportunities. Deloitte’s 2026 Manufacturing Industry Outlook says there’s room for cautious optimism among those manufacturers focused on targeted technology investments, particularly in agentic AI, to drive agility despite ongoing economic and talent challenges.
  • Beyond Lubrication: From Commodity to Competitive Advantage
    MATERIALS

    Beyond Lubrication: From Commodity to Competitive Advantage

    Pavel Kralicek, Commercial Offer Advisor, ExxonMobil Product Solution, Europe, Africa and Middle East February 14, 2026
    In modern manufacturing environments, lubrication is undergoing a quiet but important transformation. Once treated as a basic commodity, lubricants are increasingly recognized as strategic enablers of equipment reliability, energy efficiency and helping to advance operator’s sustainability ambitions. As manufacturers strive to achieve higher productivity and meet environmental goals, lubrication choices are integral to operational performance, rather than an afterthought.
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