Bob Vavra, CFE Media

Digital journey begins with ‘What if?’

Manufacturers should always be asking questions as they begin their journey into digital manufacturing because it encompasses so much ground and can bring so many changes.

Pressures from tariffs, inventories drive down PMI

Index falls 2.1 points to 57.7% in October as production orders slow down.

The human element in a safety system

The lack of safety is potentially the greatest financial expense in any plant, and the human cost is incalculable.

Digital twin collaboration advances brownfield process operations management

Siemens and Bentley's collaboration of PlantSight links the design/build and operate/maintain aspects of oil and gas assets and other brownfield applications.

PMI slips, but overall manufacturing growth remains solid

Manufacturing index slides to 59.8% in September as impact of tariffs take center stage.

A match made in motors and drives

Should matching motors and drives be as simple as matching socks? Chris Moskaites of Lenze Americas offers that view this month, writing that the idea of getting your motors and drives from the same equipment manufacturer means instant compatibility. "With one manufacturer for the motor and drive, the capabilities of each and the suitability for the application are automatically cross-checked while going through the selection process," Moskaites said. "There's no need to double check calculations and the selection process is significantly faster." That strategy extends not just to the initial purchase, but also to maintenance.

Information as a strategic asset

In a time of Manufacturing 4.0, the collection of data on the plant floor has reached new levels. The actual use of that data lags far behind, and it's a concern expressed by several industry leaders. Just collecting data isn't enough, but with an effective way to turn information into action, the data becomes a tool that can affect real change in your operation.

People are the overlooked resource

It's easy to get caught up in all the technology around modern manufacturing, particularly as it mirrors so closely the changes in society as a whole. With the increase in artificial intelligence and the reliance on devices, it's easy to forget the importance of the human machine amid all of this technology. Keith Barr, president and CEO of CFE Media content partner Leading2Lean suggests in the September issue that in an era of technology, humans may be the most important asset.

Women in engineering: ‘Focus on confidence’

The 2018 Engineering Leaders Under 40 report in the September issue of Plant Engineering also had a series of interviews with six women engineers at Victaulic Company. They discussed the opportunities and challenges they've faced in their careers and offered a variety of advice on how women can and should succeed in manufacturing and engineering. One of the sagest insights was from Katie Yovanoich, who suggested women engineers should "find a mentor--reach out to anyone who you aspire to be like.

A Rosie future for manufacturing?

There is no limitation on learning and the boundaries of the engineering discipline are limited only by the engineer’s imagination.

Engineering a change

Women are taking their place in manufacturing leadership.

2018 Engineering Leaders Under 40

The 2018 CFE Media Engineering Leaders Under 40 are in a class by themselves, but they also have plenty of experience in a class. These 30 manufacturing professionals are by far the best educated group we've recognized since the program began almost a decade ago. They've taken that formal education and turned it into groundbreaking improvements on their plant floor and in patented product development.

Making a change in your plant

If there was one overriding topic at the recently-completed International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS) in Chicago, it was change. New products and new strategies were in wide availability, but a lot of the discussion for the week was about how to change. Sessions focused on the challenges of workforce shortages and the proliferation of robotics, but some speakers noted that change itself was a necessary component of manufacturing's future. "The way manufacturers do business is constantly changing.

A rousing success for IMTS, HMUSA

It took the Association for Manufacturing Technology (AMT) quite a while to finish counting noses at IMTS 2018 which should give you an idea of the success of this year's event. The show smashed all previous records for exhibiting companies (2,563), booths (21,23) and square feet used at Chicago's McCormick Place (1,424,232 sq ft) than at any previous IMTS before the show even started, and eclipsed the attendance record on the show's second day. In the end, 129,415 people attended IMTS, 6.6% higher than the previous record.

PMI hits highest level in 14 years

The barometer of manufacturing strength remains the monthly PMI Index, and the forecast remains mostly sunny, with a few headwinds. The PMI jumped 3.2 percentage points to 61.3% the second time in three months the index had been above the 20% growth rate of 60%, according to the Institute for Supply Management, which publishes the monthly manufacturing benchmark. Despite concerns from committee members about tariffs, employment and the strength of the manufacturing supply chain, Timothy R. Fiore, chairman of ISM's Manufacturing Business Survey Committee, said the fundamental numbers for manufacturing remained bullish.

‘Living in a brownfield world’

While new manufacturing facilities are a welcome site in any community, the reality of manufacturing is that plants are adapting in their current footprints to the changes. Nowhere is this truer than in the emergence of the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), where plants are learning how--and why--to bring in new technology, software and training to make the necessary changes in manufacturing. As was noted IIoT for Engineers editor Kevin Parker in this month's issue, "what's limiting additional productivity gain through further systems integration is this very same installed base of proprietary technologies supplied by automation and information technology suppliers."He quoted Arlen Nipper, president and CEO of Cirrus Link Solutions, who noted, "We live in a brownfield world." The key is open-source data, Parker noted. "If industrial processes need distributed systems that are configurable and interoperable, open standards are required for the technical and semantic interchange of information," he writes in this month's issue. Bob Vavra, content manager for Plant Engineering, CFE Media, bvavra@cfemedia.com.

As IMTS opens, records are falling

Largest-ever show by size should break attendance mark as well.

PMI hits highest level in 14 years as demand remains strong

Manufacturing index reaches 61.3%; trade, labor concerns linger

GAMS conference: a practical approach to IIoT

When CFE Media convenes its Global Automation and Manufacturing Summit (GAMS) on Sept, 12, part of the week long IMTS 2018 from Sept. 10-15 in Chicago, the focus for the half-day panel discussions is in identifying practical ways to bring IIoT into the plant floor. Featuring keynotes from Siemens and SAP and with topics focusing of cybersecurity, maintenance and robotics, the event will challenge industry experts to bring IIoT out of the clouds (and the cloud?) to offer immediately action items for the plant management teams to implement.

A new workforce needs new skills

As Plant Engineering prepares to announce its 2018 Engineering Leaders Under 40 on Sept. 17, it further calls attention to the serious worker shortage in manufacturing. The issue goes deeper than sheer numbers; there needs to be retraining for existing workers on new technology to leverage its benefits and stem the tide until the next generation of workers are ready to lead.

Your tablet is your new HMI

A year ago, Plant Engineering lamented the death of the human-machine interface (HMI), at least as we have known it. The increased use of tablets, smartphones and other portable devices has moved the machine-bound HMI to the back bench. That hasn’t changed the value of the HMI, however, and certain new rules and realities have to be part of the equation.

EAM and safety: 5 strategies for success

One of the panelists in the GAMS session on maintenance and IIoT is Kevin Price from Infor, who has the entertaining title of “technical evangelist”. In the Plant Engineering Mid-Year Report, Price evangelizes about the relationship between safety and enterprise asset management. He notes the relationship between data and operational efficiency.

AI’s hype hides practical benefits

In the discussion about artificial intelligence (AI) and its uses in everything from video games to shopping trips, the practical applications in the manufacturing realm may get overrun by the hype. As Plant Engineering discussed this month with Kazunobu Morita, chief strategy officer for industry and distribution business unit, Hitachi, Ltd., the use of AI on the plant floor will provide better data to workers and will help bolster the sagging workforce needs in the plant. "It is all about building awareness about the available data and need to unlock the potential of this data to address challenges faced by maintenance teams," Morita told Plant Engineering in the Mid-Year Report that focused on the Plant of the Future.

Choose the right automation controller

It seems like a basic need, but look deeper before deciding.

Align metrics throughout your plant

Plant managers must pay attention to the business side of manufacturing.

Augmented reality: Not just for video games

Plant managers can use AR to improve production, reduce costs.

Seeking the ‘next level of perfection’

Plant of the Future: How technology will improve manufacturing.

Robotics: Driving efficiency, creating jobs

Robots aren’t the job killer some fear. In fact, they may be the catalyst for better jobs, and more of them.

With tariffs, it’s a taxing time

Today the Trump Administration no longer is standing behind the American manufacturing worker—or the corporate leadership who employs them.

Building from the top down

Hunter’s HVLS product development looked at moving air from all sides.

PMI slips as tariffs raise concern for managers

Index falls to 58.1% as demand remains strong, but global trade, employment remain issues.

Despite tariff fears, PMI jumps 1.5 percentage points

Index hits 60.2% while manufacturers worry about trade war and supply chain issues.

Strengthen, secure the supply chain

As the modern supply chain gets more sophisticated, it’s important to integrate your data with your suppliers.

2018 Lubrication Guide

The science and art of lubrication often is as important as the mechanical functions it enables.

PMI rises in May, but so do concerns over tariffs

Index hits 58.7% in May, but labor and global issues also gaining attention.

Where’s the ‘Factory of the Present’?

If manufacturers wait too long, their plant won’t have a chance to be considered a ‘Factory of the Future’. In an era when manufacturing is gaining respect and building strength despite the many challenges the industry faces, the laggards will be merely ‘Factories of the Past’.

Siemens exec to keynote GAMS conference Sept. 12

Hannover Messe extends to U.S. for IMTS Show.

Digital supply chain has arrived, and challenges await

MHI study cites three barriers to adoption, but a majority of companies already use the technology.

Reshaping the future

Exal’s aluminum package factory is building momentum and helping to rebuild Youngstown.

Beyond collaboration: Old, new manufacturing companies cooperate on solutions

How an enclosures company, a computer maker, and a device supplier worked together to provide a plant-floor data center.

Hannover Messe brand extended to U.S. for IMTS Show

Illinois Gov. Rauner part of press event to tout 2018 show In Chicago in September.

IIoT’s potential has big names looking for new solutions

From cloud security to plastic robots to full enterprise integration, suppliers introduce new ideas from familiar brands.

EU, Mexico play trump card on trade

New trade agreement highlights opening of Hannover Messe 2018.

Spring forward, or fall back

We want to take full advantage of this bright time in our industry. We want to maximize our time and seize the opportunity.

Digital supply chain has arrived; challenges await

MHI study cites three barriers to digital supply chain adoption, but a majority of companies already use the technology.

IMTS, Hannover Messe USA see big growth for 2018 shows

IMTS Show and the co-located 2018 Hannover Messe USA have expanded space at Chicago’s McCormick Place for the biannual event, which will be held Sept. 10-14.

Technology, people converge at Hannover Messe 2018

Event’s focus is integrated industry and supply chain.

Manufacturing remains red-hot, but labor issues abound

PMI at 59.3% in March, but skilled worker shortage remains a concern.

Weighing in on maintenance

The improvements in analytics and the sharp drop in the costs of sensors have ushered in the age of Big Data.

Focus is cybersecurity, robotics at GAMS 2018 event

Cybersecurity, maintenance, and robotics are among the most discussed topics in manufacturing, and those topics will be the focus at the 2018 Global Automation and Manufacturing Summit (GAMS).

Mexico to take center stage at Hannover Messe

"Fantastic opportunities" for 2018 Partner Country at global event in April.

‘Digital transformation’ on the ARC agenda

The focus of this year's ARC Advisory Group;s annual conference will be the digital transformation of manufacturing.

A best practice? Follow best practices

Engineers should use existing best practices when coming up with their own systems.

The drive to prevent downtime

Aging equipment is revealed as a major area of concern in manufacturing.

Where to find the workers?

The 2017 Salary Survey reveals there is still difficulty finding skilled workers.

Will red-hot PMI help open manufacturing wallets?

2018 PMI starts out strong.

Manufacturing off to a strong start in 2018

PMI Index remains above 59% as employment, new orders and production remain in a growth mode.

2017 Salary Survey: It’s the (lack of) workers

Skilled workforce needed—and technology isn’t seen as the answer.

HVAC systems now run by the numbers

AHR Expo draws record crowd as focus turns to sensors and analytics.

Giving your robots a hand

Robots will be a bigger part of manufacturing in 2018 for two primary reasons.

Getting rid of VFD wires

The wireless revolution continues to impact sensors.

Lost in the cloud? Don’t be.

Understand how much of that data you want to farm out, and how much to keep close to the operational devices.

Having ‘the talk’ with management

Getting management on board with IIoT implementation can be difficult. Ray Miciek explains how to bring up the concept to them.

‘Digital transformation’ is on ARC agenda

Orlando event Feb. 12-15 to focus on a more connected plant

Hannover Messe USA expands space at IMTS

Increased presence at North American trade event will include larger 2018 GAMS conference.

Always have a plan

System integrators link ambitious projects from manufacturers and automation innovations, but they face a number of challenges in doing so. There are systems, however, in place to identify and overcome those challenges.

Turning 70 in 2017—the list

From fast cars to flying toys—and some pretty great music.

Manufacturing growth keeps blazing through 2017

PMI slips to 58.2% in November, but index is well above 10% growth rate for the year

Robots on the rise: 3 million in global manufacturing by 2020

Global report finds IIoT, competitiveness driving growth in robotics market with China leading the way.

PMI jumps to a 3-year high in June

Manufacturing index hits 57.8% as production, new orders soar

A bright, dynamic presentation of manufacturing knowledge

Starting with the June 2017 issue of Plant Engineering, the magazine has been redesigned to provide readers with a new, clean, and better-organized magazine.

Welcome to the summer of innovation

While we take comfort in familiar ideas, what drives are society is innovation and new ideas that allow us to move forward.

May PMI ticks up slightly as manufacturing remains solid

The Purchasing Manufacturers' Index (PMI) rose slightly to 54.9%, marking eight years of economic growth.

Manufacturing index retreats, but remains on solid ground

PMI falls to 54.8%, but manufacturing sector optimism continues.

Manufacturers still not embracing IIoT

Seven manufacturing market trends for 2017, according to IHS Markit report at Hannover Messe, include more growth and an attention shift from remote cloud-based analytics to local and edge computing.

RIP, HMI: Everything now is an interface

Digital devices, apps have freed the once-anchored device. In cloud platforms for IIoT and Industrie 4.0, applications from developers are designed to help, and a robot collaborates to improve human performance, at ping pong, all at Hannover Messe 2017.

Collaboration is the word at Hannover Messe

Big names announcing big partnerships to accelerate IIoT growth to help manufacturing productivity; Mexico is announced as the 2018 Hannover Messe Partner Country.

Robots, humans coming closer to each other

Hannover Messe 2017 opening a high-tech event with Schunk winning the 2017 Hermes Award for its collaborative robot and Poland, the event's partner nation, emphasizing innovation.

Confronting the elephant in the room

The manufacturing revolution is gaining momentum and true believers, and holds the potential to deliver significant economic improvement for manufacturing everywhere, if we allow it to.

Know the score on the plant floor

The goal of better maintenance data is to understand the health of the equipment now and use the acquired data to better predict the future.

The continuity of process

Plant Engineering celebrates its 70th anniversary in 2017 and the process of improving manufacturing and making it better, safer, and more efficient continues just as it did in 1947.

Industry voices speak to oil and gas projects future

Multi-discipline efforts converge in 3-D reality models, even for existing facilities. Four steps for successfully using a data platform are highlighted.

CSIA Executive Conference hits Ft. Lauderdale, May 2-5

Conference to focus on best practices and transformative business models.

PMI ends 2016 on a note of optimism

Manufacturing index jumps to highest level since March 2015 as production, new orders are sharply higher.

AHR attendees project strong growth in 2017

Survey portends “a stellar year” for HVACR market ahead of January 30 expo.

The top 10 stories of 2016: what you still can learn

Readers picked their favorite stories of the year, and there are many great tips on that list.

OSHA levies $2.5 million fine against Alabama auto parts supplier

Agency critical of Kia, Hyundai for ignoring potential safety issues.

What comes after digitization?

As the oil and gas industry embraces the idea of the "digital oilfield" discussed in October, it's important to note that there already is a lot of digital information floating around out there. We've had sensors and data screens for years; all of this is generated by the collection and organization of that information. The true digital oilfield is more than just data collection.

Building on manufacturing’s progress

Manufacturing is focused on continuous improvement. That quest to do a little better every day is the reason manufacturing didn’t stop at the assembly line.

2016 Top Plant

The 2016 Plant Engineering Top Plant winner, MFC Netform, makes people the cornerstone of their manufacturing philosophy.

Lowering technology barriers could save manufacturers $100 billion

NIST study finds smart manufacturing, robotics show greatest potential.

Manufacturing index jumps to 12-month high in November

ISM reports some headwinds for manufacturing, but index climbs 1.3 percentage points to 53.2%

In celebration of a little optimism

Product developers take hopes and dreams and ideas and try to turn them into solutions to potential problems.

GE buys controlling interest in Baker Hughes

New $32 billion company to build oilfield technologies on Predix platform for the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT).

It’s only a day away…

There is a desperate need for innovation in this industry. Technology advances allow for better operational monitoring, which can drive efficiency and head off issues before they evolve into problems.

Oil and gas industry employment remains depressed

Increases in per-well production offsets sharp drop in workers, rig counts.

Flange manufacturers file dumping charges

Weldbend, Boltex file complaints with U.S. agencies claiming Italy, Spain and India are undercutting prices.

Signs of a rebound? Job growth may top 100,000

Industry analysts see job growth on the horizon for the oil and gas industry, which has started to stabilize after oil prices fell more than 75% in 2014, but recruiting workers may be an issue for some companies.

Drone use by utility companies reauthorized for oil and gas industry

Congress approved a reauthorization for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) that allows utilities to use drones to monitor remote facilities.

Strain on oil companies is easing: EIA

The Energy Information Agency (EIA) reported that a reduction in capital projects and a stabilized oil price have helped oil and gas manufacturers as they look to the future.

API pushes candidates on energy policy

Speaking from the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, American Petroleum Institute (API) president and CEO Jack Gerard nudged candidates from both parties on why a strong energy policy was important to the continued growth of the industry.

Yielding to the inevitability of change

One of the generational barriers we all face is the need to adapt to the changes around us, according to Plant Engineering Content Manager, Bob Vavra in his monthly column.

Got a wish list? You’ve come to the right place

Lifecycle management brings in new products, though the basic wants and needs and desires remain the same.

MFG Day is under way around America

Day-long emphasis on raising awareness about manufacturing’s role in economy has wide support among industry leaders

China safety rules questioned after deadly fire

Report of 119 deaths in poultry plant blaze brings new concerns about worker safety

ISM index slides below growth threshold

Index of 49% is lowest since 2009; global slowdown gets much of the blame

PMI index dips in March, but stays on growth path

Unexpected drop to 51.3% disappoints analysts, stock market

Manufacturing ‘resurgence’ possible with accelerated effort

MAPI, Aspen Institute report says ‘disciplined’ approach needed to address tax, energy, export and Skills Gap issues

Training programs focus on lubrication, MRO, steam boilers

Several symposium and conferences focus on training in the manufacturing industry, specifically on lubrication and MRO

Bosch Rexroth expanding hydraulics plant in S.C.

Company’s $80 million investment will transform warehouse into 260,000 sq. ft. manufacturing facility

Training, mentoring needed to address skilled worker shortage

Placed workforce development on top of their list of plant floor issues in the 2012 Plant Engineering salary survey, which is an issue that will continue to be a problem if it is not addressed

ARC President: Pick up the pace of technology adoption

Rapid growth of devices, technology use requires faster implementation on plant floor

Economist: “Two years of opportunity” in economy for manufacturing

Alan Beaulieu addresses the CSIA Executive Conference in Orlando.

CSIA seeks greater connection with end user community

Organization charts new goals at Executive Conference

Energy, safety themes fuel manufacturing market optimism

Energy and safety have been the central themes of automation suppliers at the 2011 Hannover Messe, with many companies introducing products to specifically address current issues.

HANNOVER MESSE: U.S. students display their innovation for their German peers

Students from Lower Dauphin High School, in Hummelstown, Pa., bring their cell phone-driven energy management system for schools, businesses to TecToYou pavilion at Hannover Messe’s conference