Chris Vavra
Articles
Top 5 Plant Engineering content: May 29 to June 4, 2023
The top 5 Plant Engineering content from the past week covered electrical insulation, oil sampling, maintenance advice and more. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Plant Engineering most-viewed content, May 2023
Read the best content in May 2023 including: Flyback diodes, robot efficiency, oil and gas emissions, sustainability goals and more.
Top 5 Plant Engineering content: May 22-28, 2023
The top 5 Plant Engineering content from the past week covered cold storage warehouses, robots and efficiency, oil sampling and more. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Top 5 Plant Engineering content: May 15-21, 2023
The top 5 Plant Engineering content from the past week covered flyback diode ratings, maintenance advice, sustainability goals and more. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Top 5 Plant Engineering content: May 8-14, 2023
The top 5 Plant Engineering content from the past week covered oil and gas emissions, sustainability, Hannover Messe and more. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Top 5 Plant Engineering content: May 1-7, 2023
The top 5 Plant Engineering content from the past week covered oil and gas emissions, Hannover Messe, compressed air and more. Miss something? You can catch up here.
How additive manufacturers are improving efficiency, sustainability for the future
Additive manufacturers are expanding and enhancing their reach beyond the printing concept and leveraging their expertise and the potential digital technologies provide.
Plant Engineering most-viewed content, April 2023
Read the best content in April 2023 including: Oil and gas emissions, control of work systems, compressed air and more.
Top 5 Plant Engineering content: April 24-30, 2023
The top 5 Plant Engineering content from the past week covered oil and gas emissions, Hannover Messe, energy management and more. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Top 5 Plant Engineering content: April 17-23, 2023
The top 5 Plant Engineering content from the past week covered warehouse construction, oil and gas emissions, digitalization success and more. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Hannover Messe 2023 Recap: Considerations for the future
General observations on the Hannover Messe 2023 experience and what industrial transformation means for the future of manufacturing.
Hannover Messe 2023 Day Three: Connectivity and communication are critical for manufacturers
Manufacturers and associations at Hannover Messe emphasized the need for better connectivity and communication with their products and each other.
Hannover Messe 2023 Day Two: Asset management, data collection critical for manufacturing growth
Manufacturers and vendors are collaborating to find better solutions to gain better insights from the data they’re collecting so better decisions are made.
Hannover Messe 2023 Day One: Manufacturers’ industrial transformation comes in many forms
Manufacturers at Hannover Messe 2023 are tightening their focus and emphasizing total solutions and products for their customers. See video.
Industrial transformation key focus for Hannover Messe
Hannover Messe 2023's main theme is focused on industrial transformation and how companies are utilizing digital technologies.
Top 5 Plant Engineering content: April 10-16, 2023
The top 5 Plant Engineering content from the past week covered control of work systems, packaging, strategic automation plans and more. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Top 5 Plant Engineering content: April 3-9, 2023
The top 5 Plant Engineering content from the past week covered packaging advice, most-viewed content, digitalization and more. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Top 5 Plant Engineering content: March 27 to April 2, 2023
The top 5 Plant Engineering content from the past week covered compressed air, logistics and automation, digitalization and more. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Plant Engineering most-viewed content, March 2023
Read the best content in March 2023 including: Condition-based maintenance, AI and sustainability, valve priorities and more.
How logistics can simplify automation processes and operations management
ProMat’s return after a four-year absence showed a greater emphasis on robotics and how logistics improvements can make automation better in manufacturing facilities.
Top 5 Plant Engineering content: March 20-26, 2023
The top 5 Plant Engineering content from the past week covered flyback diodes, condition-based maintenance, compressed air systems and more. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Benefits of a rack safety flywheel in warehouse, manufacturing facilities
Rack safety in warehouse and manufacturing facilities can have major consequences if not properly maintained. Developing a consistent safety and education program can help.
Multi-robot orchestration software focused on logistics improvement launched
CoEvolution Technology is launching their multi-robot orchestration software in the U.S, emphasizing logistics and warehouse operations improvement.
How a warehouse execution system can improve automation and throughput
A warehouse execution system (WES) goes beyond a typical control system and is designed to enhance a company’s automation and throughput.
Top 5 Plant Engineering content: March 13-19, 2023
The top 5 Plant Engineering content from the past week covered PPE and electrical risks, condition-based maintenance, oil and gas workforce skills and more. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Data-as-a-service benefits for manufacturers
Data-as-a-service can help companies looking to adopt a digital and data-first strategy and position themselves for the future. The March 2 webcast, archived for a year, offers tips and other information.
Plant Engineering most-viewed automation articles in 2023
Read the best articles about automation including real-time coordination, automation career advice, control system design challenges and more.
Crafting a multi-faceted system integration strategy
A new manufacturing facility required developing and delivering a solution that emphasized enhanced process control, information access and building control.
Successfully implementing robots in an unpredictable future
Manufacturing has gone through many changes in recent years and the rising labor gap and the need for continued productivity has companies turning toward robotics. Three robotic myths and five steps for successful implementation are highlighted.
Improving worker optimization on the factory floor with artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence (AI) can be used to enhance worker productivity by gathering information about their work performance and turning it into actionable data.
Top 5 Plant Engineering content: July 11-17, 2022
The most-viewed content from the past week covered electromechanical actuators, asset criticality, automation trends, compressed air and IT/OT convergence. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Top 5 Plant Engineering content: July 4-10, 2022
The most-viewed content from the past week covered asset criticality, edge computing, automation trends, compressed air systems and IT/OT convergence. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Advice on meeting engineering recruiting goals
There is a major push by system integrators and other engineering firms to find qualified talent, but the COVID-19 pandemic has created a shift in many ways. Two experts offer advice on finding the right engineering talent.
The future of work is shifting and changing
The CSIA Executive Conference returns for the first time since 2019 with the world grappling with the changes of a pandemic and many other challenges that are changing how people work and interact with others.
Top 5 Plant Engineering content: June 13-19, 2022
The most-viewed content from the past week covered compressed air systems, preventive maintenance, Lean manufacturing tools, Product of the Year winners and detecting dangerous gases. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Flexible automation, robotics at Automate
Automate 2022 in Detroit strongly emphasized flexible automation as companies seek ways to address the supply chain and labor shortages exacerbated by COVID-19 and other world events.
Top 5 Plant Engineering content: June 6-12, 2022
The most-viewed content from the past week covered hot water heating efficiency, Product of the Year winners, EAM systems, power factor and predictive maintenance. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Automation can help manufacturers, workers thrive
The growing need for skilled workers and increased automation should be a joint venture that can provide benefits for the company and employees.
Top 5 Plant Engineering content: May 30 to June 5, 2022
The most-viewed content from the past week covered Product of the Year winners, power factor, EAM systems, equipment scanning and predictive maintenance. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Top 5 Plant Engineering content: May 23-29, 2022
The most-viewed content from the past week covered Product of the Year winners, power factor, EAM systems, equipment scanning and predictive maintenance. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Top 5 Plant Engineering content: May 16-22, 2022
The most-viewed content from the past week covered Product of the Year winners, predictive maintenance, condition-based monitoring, remote condition monitoring and robotic wearables. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Top 5 Plant Engineering content: May 9-15, 2022
The most-viewed content from the past week covered Product of the Year winners, predictive maintenance, COVID-19 controls, compressed air systems and automation career advice. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Top 5 Plant Engineering content: May 2-8, 2022
The most-viewed content from the past week covered Product of the Year winners, predictive maintenance, air compressor lubricants, material handling and RNG fleet vehicle benefits. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles April 25 to May 1, 2022
Articles about Product of the Year winners, RNG benefits, remote monitoring, air compressor lubricants and predicting process events were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from April 25 to May 1, 2022. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles April 18-24, 2022
Articles about remote monitoring, AI-based predictive maintenance, air compressor lubricants, RNG benefits and predicting process events were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from April 18-24, 2022. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles April 11-17, 2022
Articles about AI-based predictive maintenance, supply chain improvements, remote condition monitoring, industrial automation and future-proof manufacturing were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from April 11-17, 2022. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles March 28 to April 3, 2022
Articles about geothermal heat-pump wells, Industry 4.0, machine monitoring equipment, industrial robots and industrial network security were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from March 28 to April 3, 2021. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles March 21-27, 2022
Articles about electric vehicles, luminaire benefits, safety in explosive environments, motor management and propane forklifts were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from March 21-27, 2022. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles March 14-20, 2022
Articles about the benefits behind cycle-based PM, how to extend the life of a ball valve, and the IIoT's role in smart manufacturing, were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from March 14-20, 2022. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Lubricants can provide answers to current manufacturing challenges
Manufacturing is dealing with major supply chain issues that have worsened during the two-year COVID-19 pandemic. Lubrication engineers and experts can help, but the struggle ahead is going to be a long one.
Workforce development, automation top of mind at Process Expo
Process manufacturers, especially those in the food and beverage industry, are facing a skills gap crunch due to the pandemic. While some companies are trying to get workers back and engaged, more are turning to automation to keep operations running.
Five ways to improve operational excellence in robotic welding automation
Robotic welding automation, more common for many manufacturers, but it is fraught with potential issues that takes time and effort to resolve. See five methods for operational excellence in robotic welding in the short- and long-term.
Building a secure energy and power grid for the future
The power grid that keeps the world running has historically been stable and secure. With digital transformation and the rise of converging technologies, there are many ways to create a better power grid, but it comes with challenges.
Secure device onboarding for manufacturing supply chain
Until now, there has been no broadly supported industry standard for automated secure device onboarding. The FIDO Alliance looks to change that.
Mobile robotics group acquired
ABB announced it will acquire ASTI Mobile Robotics Group (ASTI), a global autonomous mobile robot (AMR) manufacturer to expand their robot and automation portfolio.
Manufacturing index continues solid pace in May
The purchasing manufacturers' index (PMI) stayed above 60% for the fourth straight month, finishing at 61.2%.
Manufacturing index stays strong in April
The purchasing manufacturers' index hits 60.7% in April as new orders, production and employment continue to grow for manufacturing.
Manufacturing index continues positive trend in March
Purchasing manufacturers' index jumps to 64.7% in March as demand, employment rise.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles March 29 to April 4, 2021
Articles about food grade lubricants, robot innovations, asset maintenance, digital transformation trends and remote automation success were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from March 29 to April 4, 2021. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles March 22-28, 2021
Articles about motor and generator service conditions, smart manufacturing, smart pneumatics, asset maintenance and digital transformation trends were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from March 22-28, 2021. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Developing robotic safety standards and compliance
Robotic safety standards have been around for a few decades and their importance is growing as they became more common in manufacturing.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles March 15-21, 2021
Articles about digital transformation trends, plant turnarounds, two-way radios, effective communication and writing a maintenance task procedure were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from March 15-21, 2021. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles March 8-14, 2021
Articles about flame-resistant PPE, ROI efficiency, digital transformation, corrective maintenance and writing a maintenance task procedure were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from March 8-14, 2021. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles March 1-7, 2021
Articles about the 2020 Salary Survey, flame-resistant PPE, corrective maintenance, writing a maintenance task procedure and Product of the Year finalists were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from March 1-7, 2021. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles February 22-28, 2021
Articles about Product of the Year finalists, writing a maintenance task procedure, machine learning and manufacturing, implementing Industry 4.0 and effective plant turnarounds were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from February 22-28, 2021. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles February 15-21, 2021
Articles about Product of the Year finalists, writing a maintenance task procedure, machine learning and manufacturing, implementing Industry 4.0 and effective plant turnarounds were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from February 15-21, 2021. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles February 8-14, 2021
Articles about improved mask filtration, machine learning and manufacturing, the factory of the future, effective plant turnarounds and disinfection robots were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from February 8-14, 2021. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles February 1-7, 2021
Articles about improved mask filtration, motors and drives tips, effective plant turnarounds, the factory of the future and machine learning were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from February 1-7, 2021. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Manufacturing industry records growth for eighth straight month
January manufacturing index slides a bit from December to 58.7%, but industry still showing strength.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles January 25-31, 2021
Articles about Product of the Year finalists, hydrogen benefits, robots and COVID-19, the factory of the future and improving the supply chain were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from January 25-31, 2021. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles January 18-24, 2021
Articles about the factory of the future, asset maintenance, predictive analytics success, solar power plant commissioning and wastewater surveillance were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from January 18-24, 2021. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles January 11-17, 2021
Articles about predictive analytics success, Product of the Year winners, the 2020 Top Plant winner, digital twin technology and vertical farming were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from January 11-17, 2021. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles January 4-10, 2021
Articles about 2020 Top Plant winner, solar power plant commissioning, Product of the Year finalists, hydrogen's benefits and predictive analytics success were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from January 4-10, 2021. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles December 28 to January 3
Articles about 2020 Top Plant, Product of the Year finalists, testing and maintenance programs, maintenance automation and digital twins were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from December 14-20, 2020. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles December 14-20, 2020
Articles about 2020 Top Plant, Product of the Year finalists, testing and maintenance programs, maintenance automation and digital twins were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from December 14-20, 2020. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles December 7-13, 2020
Articles about robot packaging, hydrogen benefits, robotic offline programming, IT/OT convergence and Product of the Year finalists were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from December 7-13, 2020. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles November 30 to December 6, 2020
Articles about EAM systems, Product of the Year finalists, matching motors and drives, automation technology and proper air balance in a food facility were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from November 30 to December 6, 2020. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Manufacturing index stays strong in November
The purchasing manufacturers' index (PMI) drops from the 2-year high in October to 57.5%, but still records its seventh straight month of growth.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles November 23-29, 2020
Articles about testing and maintenance programs, LEED certification, Product of the Year finalists, robots packaging eggs and maximizing people power were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from November 23-29, 2020. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles November 16-22, 2020
Articles about Product of the Year finalists, maintenance automation, wearable exoskeletons, facility safety and building a maintenance program were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from November 16-22, 2020. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles November 9-15, 2020
Articles about Product of the Year finalists, Industry 4.0, robots and drone safety, better cybersecurity and applying analytics were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from November 9-15, 2020. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Manufacturing index hits highest point in two years
The purchasing manufacturers' index jumped almost 4% to 59.3 in October as new orders, production and employment grow.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles October 26 to November 1, 2020
Articles about interchangeable masks, edge I/O, heated face masks, mini-brains for robots and collaborative robot optimization were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from Oct. 26 to Nov. 1, 2020. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles October 19-25, 2020
Articles about heated face masks, R&D project performance, facility energy management, collaborative robot optimization and COVID-19 worker risks were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from October 19-25, 2020. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles October 12-18, 2020
Articles about self-service analytics, human and artificial intelligence, forklift safety, collaborative robot optimization and wireless LANs were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from October 12-18, 2020. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles October 5-11, 2020
Articles about forklift safety, operating machines during stoppages, COVID-19 and robots, pump diagnostics and four profit killers were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from October 5-11, 2020. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles September 28 to October 4, 2020
Articles about mask filtration, global manufacturing, COVID-19 and digitalization, microgrid system design and hydrogen's growing importance were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from September 28 to October 4, 2020. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Manufacturing index records fifth straight month of industry growth
The purchasing manufacturers' index registered at 55.4% in September, down slightly from August, as cautious optimism abounds due to COVID-19.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles September 21-27, 2020
Articles about the Leaders Under 40 winners, electrostatic precipitators, edge I/O, 3-phase squirrel cage motors and hydrogen's growing importance were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from September 21-27, 2020. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles September 14-20, 2020
Articles about a redesigned COVID-19 mask, the Leaders Under 40 winners, EAM systems, 3-phase squirrel cage motors and quality management system audits were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from September 14-20, 2020. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles September 7-13, 2020
Articles about 3-phase squirrel cage motors, effects of low energy prices, virtual commissioning, global manufacturing outlook and grab sampling systems were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from September 7-13, 2020. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles August 31 to September 6, 2020
Articles about global manufacturing outlook, energy efficiency as a service, robotics market outlook, virtual commissioning and Ethanol-based hand sanitizers were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from August 31 to September 6, 2020. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Manufacturing index rises for fourth straight month
The manufacturing sector reported its fourth straight month of growth, rising to 56%.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles August 24-30, 2020
Articles about Ethanol-based hand sanitizers, protecting VFD investments, global manufacturing outlook, IIoT engagement and predictive maintenance were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from August 24-30, 2020. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles August 17-23, 2020
Articles about protecting VFD investments, cable gland strategies, predictive maintenance and block valves were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from August 17-23, 2020. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles August 10-16, 2020
Articles about VFD parameters, CMMS success, robotic software, industrial lubrication and predictive analytics were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from August 10-16, 2020. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles August 3-9, 2020
Articles about VFD parameters, CMMS success, robotic software, industrial lubrication and predictive analytics were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from August 3-9, 2020. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Manufacturing index grows for third straight month
The Institute for Supply Management's purchasing manufacturers' index reported a 1.6% increase to 54.2%, which is the third straight month of growth.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles July 27 to August 2, 2020
Articles about VFD parameters, PPE production, predictive analytics, wearable devices and manufacturing accidents were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from July 27 to August 2, 2020. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles July 20-26, 2020
Articles about predictive maintenance value, manufacturing accidents, reusable masks for COVID-19, tungsten's value to manufacturers and the manufacturing index tips were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from July 20-26, 2020. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles July 13-19, 2020
Articles about predictive maintenance value, manufacturing accidents, reusable masks for COVID-19, tungsten's value to manufacturers and the manufacturing index tips were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from July 13-19, 2020. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles July 6-12, 2020
Articles about predictive maintenance value, energy assessment tips, manufacturing index automating manufacturing workflow, data integration and energy assessment tips were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from July 6-12, 2020. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles June 29 to July 5, 2020
Articles about energy assessment tips, Product of the Year winners, industrial lubrication applications, the manufacturing index and process control and safety systems were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from June 29 to July 5, 2020. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Manufacturing index rises in June as industry rebounds
The Institute for Supply Management's (ISM) purchasing manufacturers' index (PMI) registered at 52.6% in June, which is up almost 10% from May's reading of 43.1%, as the industry rebounds from the COVID-19 pandemic and look to pick up where they left off.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles June 22-28, 2020
Articles about Product of the Year winners, N95 mask research, process control and safety systems, high-performance HMIs and COVID-19 business impacts were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from June 22-28, 2020. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles June 15-21, 2020
Articles about COVID-19 business impacts and upgrades, ferrography fundamentals, planning an energy assessment and the Product of the Year winners were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from June 15-21, 2020. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles June 8-14, 2020
Articles about plant upgrades, robotic compliance, Product of the Year, automation design software and remote operations were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from June 8-14, 2020. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles June 1-7, 2020
Articles about Product of the Year, remote operations, plant cooling systems, COVID-19 safety and data flow were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from June 1-7, 2020. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Manufacturing index rises slightly in May from April
The purchasing manufacturers' index rose to 43.1% in May, but the general mood remains cautious and uncertain as COVID-19 continues to cause havoc on global supply chains.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles May 25-31, 2020
Articles about prevention through design, COVID-19 safety standards, electrical safety programs, safer ventilator sharing and high-tech warehouses were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from May 25-31, 2020. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles May 18-24, 2020
Articles about plant cooling system optimization, Product of the Year winners, COVID-19 grant for wastewater, digital twins and COVID-19's impact on engineering jobs were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from May 18-24, 2020. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles May 11-17, 2020
Articles about Product of the Year winners, PPE mask production for COVID-19, acoustic imaging and maintenance technology were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from May 11-17, 2020. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles May 4-10, 2020
Articles about Product of the Year winners, manufacturing post COVID-19 and remote business operations were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from May 4-10, 2020. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles April 27 to May 3, 2020
Articles about Product of the Year winners, ventilator production, manufacturing post COVID-19, supply chain solutions and robots fighting COVID-19 were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from April 27 to May 3, 2020. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Manufacturing index slides into contraction for first time in 11 years
The purchasing manufacturers' index (PMI) slid in April down to 41.5%, marking a contraction for the first time since 2009 as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to cause turmoil in the markets and supply chain.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles April 20-26, 2020
Articles about best practices for essential manufacturing, robots fighting COVID-19, improving plant uptime, COVID-19 alerts from OSHA, and preventing coronavirus were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from April 20-26, 2020. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles April 13-19, 2020
Articles about best practices for essential manufacturing, COVID-19 safety, protecting the supply chain, asset performance management and robots fighting COVID-19 were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from April 13-19, 2020. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles April 6-12, 2020
Articles about disposable face shield manufacturing, digital twins, asset performance management, COVID-19's impact on manufacturing and digital transformation were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from April 6-12, 2020. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles March 30 to April 5, 2020
Articles about coronavirus' effect on the supply chain and engineers, pneumatics systems and remote monitoring were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from March 30 to April 5, 2020. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Manufacturing index falls in March as COVID-19’s effects hit suppliers, consumers
The purchasing manufactuers' index had a slight decline in March, but the specter of COVID-19 continues to loom over the manufacturing industry as the pandemic spreads.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles March 23-29, 2020
Articles about food manufacturing safety during coronavirus, how coronavirus is affecting manufacturers, and metal batteries were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from March 23-29, 2020. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles March 16-22, 2020
Articles about coronavirus challenges for manufacturers, the 2020 Maintenance Survey, electrical component protection and 3D metal printing were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from March 16-22, 2020. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Good cybersecurity hygiene needed by businesses
Good cybersecurity hygiene is needed as more employees move toward working out of their homes in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles March 9-15, 2020
Articles about coronavirus preparation and detection, the 2020 Maintenance Survey, 3D metal printing, and the supply chain's role in controlling coronavirus were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from March 9-15, 2020. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles March 2-8
Articles about autonomous mobile robots, capital planning, MODEX 2020 and coronavirus, collaborative robots, and cybersecurity success were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from March 2-8. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Supply chain show releases statement on coronavirus, adds education panel
MODEX 2020 in Atlanta is not being delayed; education panel on COVID-19 related to supply chain has been added for attendees.
Manufacturing index grows, but concern looms about coronavirus
The purchasing manufacturers' index (PMI) slid to 50.1 in February, which shows overall growth, but there are major concerns about the coronavirus and what it will mean for the manufacturing industry.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles February 24 to March 1
Articles about IIoT improving OEE, digital transformation constraints, safety best practices, and improving operations and facility design were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from February 24 to March 1. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles February 17-23
Articles about safety best practices, improving operations and facility design, robotic process automation, and shutdown best practices were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from February 17-23. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles February 10-16
Articles about shutdown best practices, control hierarchy, mobile robots, robot investments, and exoskeletons were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from February 10-16. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles February 3-9
Articles about safety best practices, right-sizing pumps, intuitive HMI screens, exoskeletons, and wearable electronics were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from February 3-9. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles January 27 to February 2
Articles about cut-to-length cable, control panel safety, system integrator relationships, safety procedures, and service robots were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from January 27 to February 2. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles January 20-26
Articles about Product of the Year, real-time monitoring and control, long-term integrator relationships, Top Plant 2019, and cutting compressed air costs were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from January 20-26. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles January 13-19
Articles about Product of the Year, real-time monitoring and control, long-term integrator relationships, Top Plant 2019, and cutting compressed air costs were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from January 13-19. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Manufacturing index contracts to close out 2019
Manufacturing index reaches lowest point in 10 years as new orders, production and employment contracts amid economic concerns.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles December 9-15
Articles about Product of the Year, robotic grippers, pneumatic safety, cutting compressed air costs, and specifying cut-to-length cables were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from December 9-15. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles December 2-8
Articles about Product of the Year, the price of nitrogen, data acquisition, industrial internet terms, and HMIs and maintenance were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from December 2-8. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles November 25 to December 1
Articles about Product of the Year, HMIs and maintenances, future of industrial automation, Industry 4.0 success, and selecting actuator components were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from November 25 to December 1. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles November 18-24
Articles about Product of the Year, HMIs and maintenances, future of industrial automation, Industry 4.0 success, and selecting actuator components were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from November 18-24. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Extend IT security to the plant floor
Cybersecurity is critical as information technology (IT) and operations technology (OT) converge, which is the first step in making the transition between the two sides almost seamless.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles November 11-17
Articles about Product of the Year, optimized maintenance programs, Leaders Under 40, low battery self-discharge, and Industry 4.0 success were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from November 11-17. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles November 4-10
Articles about Leaders Under 40, low battery self-discharge, optimized maintenance programs, Industry 4.0 success, and industrial fire systems were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from November 4-10. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles October 28 to November 3
Articles about HMIs enabling maintenance, shape-shifting robots, digital engineering, exoskeletons on the supply chain, and optimized maintenance programs were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from October 28 to November 3. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Finding success on the road to Industry 4.0
Six pillars of Industry 4.0: There’s so much talk about Industry 4.0, but many companies haven’t stopped to ask what success looks like and how to achieve it. Start with asking three questions, why the company needs Industry 4.0 and how to achieve success.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles October 14-20
Articles about optimized maintenance programs, getting the automation zone right, data-driven maintenance, optimizing project satisfaction, and selecting lubricating greases were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from October 14-20. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles October 7-13
Articles about data-driven maintenance, optimizing project satisfaction, condition monitoring technologies, manufacturing trends, and the Engineering Leaders Under 40 were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from October 7-13. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Getting the automation zone “just right”
Many automation companies struggle with finding the “Goldilocks Zone” for their automation projects. Learn how companies can find that right balance by asking four questions before starting to automate.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles September 30 to October 6
Articles about optimizing project satisfaction, fueling asphalt production, Engineering Leaders Under 40, generator rotor repair, and preventive maintenance were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from September 30 to October 6. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles September 23-29
Articles about preventive maintenance, maintaining secondary equipment, generator rotor repair, HMI remote access options, and the Engineering Leaders Under 40 were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from September 23-29. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Water, wastewater industry is going digital and getting smarter
The water and wastewater industry is improving digitalization and automation with smarter sensors designed to make operations safer.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles September 16-22
Articles about Engineering Leaders Under 40, applying Lean to daily management, improving your skilled workforce, maintaining equipment, and keeping workers safe were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from September 16-22. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles September 9-15
Articles about Engineering Leaders Under 40, applying Lean to daily management, improving your skilled workforce, maintaining equipment, and keeping workers safe were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from September 9-15. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles September 2-8
Articles about hybridization benefits, control system connectivity, arc flash hazards, VFDs in injection molding, and IIoT baby steps were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from September 2-8. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles August 26 to September 1
Articles about safer plant machinery, skilled workforce, lubrication and bearings, long battery life, and baby steps with the IIoT were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from August 26 to September 1. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles August 19-25
Articles about safer plant machinery, skilled workforce, lubrication and bearings, long battery life, and baby steps with the IIoT were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from August 19-25. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles August 12-18
Articles about safer plant machinery, skilled workforce, lubrication and bearings, long battery life, and baby steps with the IIoT were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from August 12-18. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles August 5-11
Articles about managing an engineering career, burner management, lubrication and bearings, collaborative robot benefits, and lubrication aesthetics were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from August 5-11. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles July 29 to August 4
Articles about lubrication advice, managing an engineering career, IIoT tips, maintenance process redesign, and smart manufacturing were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from July 29 to August 4. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Manufacturing index drops for fourth consecutive month
The Institute for Supply Management's (ISM) purchasing manufacturers' index (PMI) slid to 51.2% in July as anxiety about tariffs, inventory and employment weigh on manufacturing companies.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles July 22-28
Articles about alarm management tips, lubrication advice, NFPA 70E advice, maintenance process redesign, and smart manufacturing were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from July 22-28. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles July 15-21
Articles about alarm management tips, maintenance process redesign, NFPA 70E advice, digitizing reality, and smart manufacturing were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from July 15-21. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles July 8-14
Articles about maintenance process redesign, smart manufacturing, lubrication and bearings, predictive maintenance obstacles, and safety best practices were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from July 8-14. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Equipment, software growth likely to slow according to report
Equipment and software investment growth is likely to slow in 2019 to 3.9% as the U.S manufacturing sector weakened, and investment growth in several key verticals is expected to slow or contract in the second half of 2019.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles July 1-7
Articles about lubrication and bearings, the 2019 Lubrication Guide, oil's return on investment, predictive maintenance obstacles, and worker safety best practices were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from July 1-7. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles June 24-30
Articles about lubrication and bearings, the 2019 Lubrication Guide, oil's return on investment, predictive maintenance obstacles, and worker safety best practices were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from June 24-30. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Equipment leasing report shows new business up double-digits in May
The Equipment Leasing and Finance Association’s (ELFA) Monthly Leasing and Finance Index reported business was up 18% year-over-year in May, with overall business flat in 2019.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles June 17-23
Articles about lubrication and bearings, the 2019 Lubrication Guide, predictive maintenance obstacles, worker safety best practices, and NFPA 70E expert advice were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from June 17-23. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Equipment leasing confidence slides, according to report
The Equipment Leasing & Finance Foundation's June Monthly Confidence Index (MCI-EFI) had an index of 52.8, which is down several points compared to May and double digits compared to the same period in 2018.
Cutting tool consumption remains steady in 2019
Cutting tool consumption is up 7% through the first months of 2019 compared to the prior year, but that strength may be tempered by a bumpy market up ahead.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles June 10-16
Articles about worker safety best practices, lubrication for bearings, NFPA 70E expert advice, the state of manufacturing, and the benefits of clean oil were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from June 10-16. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles June 3-9
Articles about overcurrent protection technologies, predictive maintenance in oil and gas, collaborative robots and manufacturing, the PMI May 2019 report, and electrical safety culture were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from June 3-9. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles May 27 to June 2
Articles about overcurrent protection technologies, the human factor in change management, Mitsubishi Electric acquiring Iconics, electrical safety culture, , and protecting the production line were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from May 27 to June 2. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles May 20-26
Articles about overcurrent protection technologies, the human factor in change management, Mitsubishi Electric acquiring Iconics, electrical safety culture, , and protecting the production line were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from May 20-26. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Equipment leasing business increased in April
The Equipment Leasing and Finance Association’s (ELFA) Monthly Leasing and Finance Index reported business was up 11% year-over-year in April, though overall 2019 business is down compared to 2018.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles May 13-19
Articles about electrical safety culture, arc flash hazards, an accelerating supply chain, energy project savings barriers, and the human factor in change management were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from May 13-19. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles May 6-12
Articles about Product of the Year winners, robotics research and development, working with engineering quirks, using lean methods, and energy project savings barriers were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from May 6-12. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles April 29 to May 5
Articles about the barriers to energy project savings, Product of the Year winners, monitoring assets, using lean methods, and why things break were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from April 29 to May 5. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles April 22-28
Articles about the Product of the Year winners, why things break, data visualization, engineer career advice, and IEEE 1584-2018 were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from April 22-28. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles April 15-21
Articles about the Product of the Year winners, packaged boilers, IEEE 1584-2018, energy monitoring, and successful integration project tips were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from April 15-21. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles April 8-14
Articles about the Product of the Year winners, packaged boilers, IEEE 1584-2018, energy monitoring, and successful integration project tips were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from April 8-14. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Use context with IIoT to provide automation value
The Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) has a lot of potential, but without context and a clear goal, value for companies will be less. See 8 ways to move from data to information.
Benefits of AI and machine learning for automation safety systems
Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning can use the information from robots and machines to help improve safety standards by learning what was done in the past and applying it to future situations.
Improving industrial robot accuracy and precision
There are many tools and programs designed to make industrial robots more accurate and precise for demanding manufacturing applications.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles April 1-7
Articles about energy monitoring, packaged boilers, maintenance survey findings, NGV trucking, and working with the cloud were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from April 1-7. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Researchers improve solid-state battery design
Cornell University researchers have advanced the design of solid-state batteries by transforming liquid electrolytes into solid polymers inside the electrochemical cell.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles March 25-31
Articles about maintenance survey findings, NGV trucking, IEEE 1584-2018 changes, workplace fatalities, and AI-based maintenance were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from March 25-31. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Outreach event promotes STEM careers for girls
Cornell University's Women’s Outreach in Materials, Energy and Nanobiotechnology (W.O.M.E.N.) program helps promote scientific careers for high school girls curious about a career in science.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles March 18-24
Articles about maintenance strategies, IEEE 1584-2018, maintenance survey findings, AI-based maintenance, and machine learning and maintenance were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from March 18-24. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles March 11-17
Articles about maintenance strategies, machine learning and maintenance, IEEE 1584-2018, AI-based maintenance, and a dust collection survey were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from March 11-17. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles March 4-10
Articles about calculating compressed air efficiency, Brexit's impact on manufacturing, 2018 Salary Survey findings, and conveyor maintenance were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from March 4-10. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles February 25 to March 3
Articles about 2018 Salary Survey findings, conveyor maintenance, the top plant winner, and cybersecurity questions to ask during the digital transformation process were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from February 25 to March 3. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles February 18-24
Articles about 2018 Salary Survey findings, conveyor maintenance, the top plant winner, and cybersecurity questions to ask during the digital transformation process were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from February 18-24. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles February 11-17
Articles about conveyor maintenance, the top plant winner, data's role in manufacturing's future, future plant designs, and choosing the right electrical wiring were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from February 11-17. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles February 4-10
Articles about the top plant winner, blockchain benefits, future plant designs, data's role in manufacturing's future, and asset assessments were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from February 4-10. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles January 28 to February 3
Articles about the top plant winner, clean water, modern warehouse innovations, Toyota Kata's benefits, and ERP testing were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from January 28 to February 3. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles January 21-27
Articles about the Product of the Year finalists, food and beverage facility security, develop an ERP business plan, regenerative solutions, and predictive maintenance growth were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from January 21-27. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles January 14-20
Articles about the Product of the Year finalists, food and beverage facility security, develop an ERP business plan, regenerative solutions, and predictive maintenance growth were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from January 14-20. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles January 7-13
Articles about the Product of the Year finalists, regenerative solutions, predictive maintenance growth, the PMI's December drop, and IIoT risks and rewards were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from January 7-13. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles December 31 to January 6
Articles about the Product of the Year finalists, regenerative solutions, NFPA70E standard changes, the Top Plant winner, and the skills gap were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from December 31, 2018, to January 6, 2019. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Most-viewed articles on Oil & Gas Engineering for 2018
Oil & Gas Engineering's most clicked articles in 2018 included stories about the 2018 Product of the Year award winners, machine learning for tubular connection and smarter pipeline maintenance, shale-field flowmeter advances, and the benefits of slow roll for electric motors. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles December 24-30
Articles about the Top Plant winner, the skills gap, Product of the Year finalists, marshaling virtual resources, and automation experts adding productivity were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from December 24-30, 2018. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles December 17-23
Articles about the Top Plant winner, Product of the Year finalists, the skills gap, making safety a profit center, and a look at the robotics industry were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from December 17-23, 2018. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles December 10-16
Articles about the Product of the Year finalists, System Integrator of the Year winners, the Top Plant winners, NFPA 70E standard changes, and selecting the right industrial gear oil were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from December 10-16, 2018. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles December 3-9
Articles about the Product of the Year finalists, NFPA 70E standard changes, three phases of industrial digital transformation, linear motion considerations, and sensor communication were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from December 3-9, 2018. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles November 26 to December 2
Articles about the Product of the Year finalists, three phases of digital transformation, food safety, five warehouse innovations, and functional safety were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from November 26 to December 2, 2018. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles November 19-25
Articles about the important parts of a nameplate, five modern warehouse innovations, five ways data can improve assembly, digital twin collaboration, and the beginning of the digital journey were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from November 19-25, 2018. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles, November 5-11
Articles about process safety, Product of the Year finalists, compressor rental, agile thinking, and Manufacturing 4.0, were Plant Engineering's five most clicked articles from last week, November 5-11. Were you out? You can catch up here.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles, October 29 to November 4
Articles about Manufacturing 4.0, implementing change, predictive maintenance, compressed air and VFDs, and the plant of the future were Plant Engineering's five most clicked articles from last week, October 29 to November 4. Were you out? You can catch up here.
A new-age approach to traditional manufacturing issues
The Global Automation and Manufacturing Summit (GAMS) event at IMTS 2018 highlighted the opportunities and pitfalls of the digital age with a focus on maintenance, the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), robotics, and cybersecurity in an information-rich age.