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SME 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

  • RS Taps Nisha Brown to Lead Marketing and Digital Strategy
    NEWS DESK

    RS Taps Nisha Brown to Lead Marketing and Digital Strategy

    PRESS RELEASE: RS Americas August 18, 2026
    RS welcomes Nisha Brown to its executive leadership team as the Vice President of Marketing and Digital Experience for RS Americas.
  • Fluke CalStudio Conduit Has Intelligent Workflow Automation
    PRESS RELEASES

    Fluke CalStudio Conduit Has Intelligent Workflow Automation

    PRESS RELEASE: Fluke Corp. August 18, 2026
    Calibration laboratories are under growing pressure to do more with fewer resources while managing disconnected systems, manual workflows and increasing compliance demands. To address these challenges, Fluke today announced the latest release of CalStudio, headlined by CalStudio Conduit, a no-code workflow and integration platform that connects calibration data with hundreds of business applications.
  • Proud to Be a Woman in Manufacturing
    HUMANS OF MANUFACTURING

    Proud to Be a Woman in Manufacturing

    Jessica Bird, Sales and Account Management, Midwest CAM Solutions August 18, 2026
    There's a moment early in my manufacturing career that I still think about.

Software Update

  • RS Taps Nisha Brown to Lead Marketing and Digital Strategy
    NEWS DESK

    RS Taps Nisha Brown to Lead Marketing and Digital Strategy

    PRESS RELEASE: RS Americas August 18, 2026
    RS welcomes Nisha Brown to its executive leadership team as the Vice President of Marketing and Digital Experience for RS Americas.
  • Fluke CalStudio Conduit Has Intelligent Workflow Automation
    PRESS RELEASES

    Fluke CalStudio Conduit Has Intelligent Workflow Automation

    PRESS RELEASE: Fluke Corp. August 18, 2026
    Calibration laboratories are under growing pressure to do more with fewer resources while managing disconnected systems, manual workflows and increasing compliance demands. To address these challenges, Fluke today announced the latest release of CalStudio, headlined by CalStudio Conduit, a no-code workflow and integration platform that connects calibration data with hundreds of business applications.
  • Proud to Be a Woman in Manufacturing
    HUMANS OF MANUFACTURING

    Proud to Be a Woman in Manufacturing

    Jessica Bird, Sales and Account Management, Midwest CAM Solutions August 18, 2026
    There's a moment early in my manufacturing career that I still think about.

Passport To Innovation

  • RS Taps Nisha Brown to Lead Marketing and Digital Strategy
    NEWS DESK

    RS Taps Nisha Brown to Lead Marketing and Digital Strategy

    PRESS RELEASE: RS Americas August 18, 2026
    RS welcomes Nisha Brown to its executive leadership team as the Vice President of Marketing and Digital Experience for RS Americas.
  • Fluke CalStudio Conduit Has Intelligent Workflow Automation
    PRESS RELEASES

    Fluke CalStudio Conduit Has Intelligent Workflow Automation

    PRESS RELEASE: Fluke Corp. August 18, 2026
    Calibration laboratories are under growing pressure to do more with fewer resources while managing disconnected systems, manual workflows and increasing compliance demands. To address these challenges, Fluke today announced the latest release of CalStudio, headlined by CalStudio Conduit, a no-code workflow and integration platform that connects calibration data with hundreds of business applications.
  • Proud to Be a Woman in Manufacturing
    HUMANS OF MANUFACTURING

    Proud to Be a Woman in Manufacturing

    Jessica Bird, Sales and Account Management, Midwest CAM Solutions August 18, 2026
    There's a moment early in my manufacturing career that I still think about.

Mfg Intel

  • RS Taps Nisha Brown to Lead Marketing and Digital Strategy
    NEWS DESK

    RS Taps Nisha Brown to Lead Marketing and Digital Strategy

    PRESS RELEASE: RS Americas August 18, 2026
    RS welcomes Nisha Brown to its executive leadership team as the Vice President of Marketing and Digital Experience for RS Americas.
  • Fluke CalStudio Conduit Has Intelligent Workflow Automation
    PRESS RELEASES

    Fluke CalStudio Conduit Has Intelligent Workflow Automation

    PRESS RELEASE: Fluke Corp. August 18, 2026
    Calibration laboratories are under growing pressure to do more with fewer resources while managing disconnected systems, manual workflows and increasing compliance demands. To address these challenges, Fluke today announced the latest release of CalStudio, headlined by CalStudio Conduit, a no-code workflow and integration platform that connects calibration data with hundreds of business applications.
  • Proud to Be a Woman in Manufacturing
    HUMANS OF MANUFACTURING

    Proud to Be a Woman in Manufacturing

    Jessica Bird, Sales and Account Management, Midwest CAM Solutions August 18, 2026
    There's a moment early in my manufacturing career that I still think about.

Guest Columns

  • RS Taps Nisha Brown to Lead Marketing and Digital Strategy
    NEWS DESK

    RS Taps Nisha Brown to Lead Marketing and Digital Strategy

    PRESS RELEASE: RS Americas August 18, 2026
    RS welcomes Nisha Brown to its executive leadership team as the Vice President of Marketing and Digital Experience for RS Americas.
  • Fluke CalStudio Conduit Has Intelligent Workflow Automation
    PRESS RELEASES

    Fluke CalStudio Conduit Has Intelligent Workflow Automation

    PRESS RELEASE: Fluke Corp. August 18, 2026
    Calibration laboratories are under growing pressure to do more with fewer resources while managing disconnected systems, manual workflows and increasing compliance demands. To address these challenges, Fluke today announced the latest release of CalStudio, headlined by CalStudio Conduit, a no-code workflow and integration platform that connects calibration data with hundreds of business applications.
  • Proud to Be a Woman in Manufacturing
    HUMANS OF MANUFACTURING

    Proud to Be a Woman in Manufacturing

    Jessica Bird, Sales and Account Management, Midwest CAM Solutions August 18, 2026
    There's a moment early in my manufacturing career that I still think about.
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