As the new Contributing Lead Editor for Smart Manufacturing, I want to welcome our readers to the August issue. In 2016, SME Media started this publication as a vehicle to share global stories from the leading innovators in manufacturing. From nimble startups to global giants, we’ve had the privilege of telling stories about the people, products, and technologies solving some of the toughest challenges across industries. My role is to continue that tradition right here, right now.
For anyone who doesn’t think advanced manufacturing is a backbone of our country’s future economic security and position in the global economy, they should read the feature by John Keogh, director of engineering at LIFT, a Detroit-based partnership between the Department of Defense, industry, and academia. He shares perspectives to further the industry through a focus on technology and talent, both hot button topics.
Karen Haywood Queen’s feature on Robots as a Service (RaaS) sheds light on smart deployment of robots without the fear of high costs and job insecurity, especially for small and midsize businesses that don’t want to make big capital investments. In a separate article, Queen provides a look at the state of cybersecurity threats, as well as short- and long-term solutions for companies seeking prescriptive guidance on how to manage the organization change required to stay ahead of the threat landscape.
In our pursuit to find intelligent software solutions, Ilene Wolff spoke with three providers about implementing a predictive maintenance function using data collection and analysis. Each perspective revealed food for thought based on specific scenarios, offering practical advice for readers.
And don’t miss the roundup of June’s Smart Manufacturing Experience. We share highlights from the show floor and expert insights poised to move business forward.
We hope you find this issue informative and inspiring. Happy reading.
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