OEE monitoring enables real-time production process analysis

OEE monitoring concentrates on three primary factors for overall improvement – availability, performance and quality.

Industry 4.0 can lead to process clarity

Virtualization efforts pave the way for predictive analytics

Plan for the future with 5G, mobile edge computing

With the help of 5G and mobile edge computing, business owners, manufacturing facility managers and control engineers are experiencing the benefits of transforming traditional, manual processes into automated, efficient technological solutions.

Five tips to avert the leading causes of failure in industrial edge computing

With adoption of industrial edge computing, there are several ways to support information technology/operational technology (IT/OT) convergence.

What is just enough industrial data analysis?

Supply chain constrictions, pandemic and labor shortages have raised the need for more effective industrial data analytics. Get guidance from case studies and audience benchmarking in an April 21 webcast, archived for a year.

More answers on how to improve OEE, quality with advanced analytics

An analytics webcast March 29 explains how today’s Smart Factory leverages out-of-the-box and cloud-based overall equipment effectiveness (OEE) capabilities to accelerate improvement programs. Audience questions from the webcast are answered below.

Immersive mixed reality will power the Metaverse

The Metaverse will be able to help optimize production planning, accelerate designing, improve overall production efficiency and increase accuracy

Virtually designing out problems with 3D simulation software

3D simulation software is moving from being a nice-to-have to a necessity for manufacturers thanks to technology advances.

Edge technologies enable Industry 4.0

Organizations using Industry 4.0 with edge technologies gain benefits such as lower costs, faster speeds, easier troubleshooting and others.

Will the real edge controller please stand up?

Understand and evaluate industrial edge controllers’ makeup to meet rugged, deterministic control demands

Semi-virtual site visits deliver enhanced customer value

Reduced inspection costs and broader engineering support mean more efficient problem solving

Connectivity in the wild: taking oil fields to the cloud

Pumping data from wells to a safe and secure location

What you need to know about Cloud ERP

The why and how of a move lots are making

Cloud manufacturing software improves communication, productivity

Cloud manufacturing software can help streamline disparate systems and help improve communication and productivity for manufacturers.

The virtues of the virtual event

Virtual events are becoming the new norm, but getting in front of customers and clients is still important

Virtual service launched with online booking tool

Setpoint Integrated Solutions' SNAP is an online booking tool designed to give customers remote access to technical experts, which is needed more than ever because of COVID-19.

Executive Brand Video Series—Learn How Thought Leaders at Oracle NetSuite are Responding to COVID-19

Gavin Davidson, ERP Product Management Group at Oracle NetSuite, discusses how they are responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Intelligent use of cloud sharpens operational insight

Cloud-based wireless sensing enables safety, reliability and profits through widespread asset monitoring

Industrial virtualization heads to the plant floor

End users are comfortable with virtualization in their information technology (IT) server rooms and desktops, and many similar benefits now can be realized with industrial programmable logic controllers (PLCs) and programmable automation controllers (PACs).

Use Cloud to transform inspection processes

Manage increasing data volumes that follow from connected inspection, in-service monitoring.

The orchestration that precedes analysis

The DDDP Conference carried the tagline had an emphasis on cloud and edge technologies meeting the oil & gas industry.

How pipeline engineering gets done today

Integrated data, automated workflow and management by exception.

ERP cloud companies to collaborate under new ownership

Acumatica will combine their resources with IFS after the company's acquisition from EQT Partners.

Working with the cloud

Using the cloud for data logging and remote access can improve operations, cut costs and simplify interactions.

The plant of the future

In a virtual world, the possibilities are real

Growth through technology, teamwork

Advantech co-founder and executive director of the board Chaney Ho is bullish on U.S. role in IIoT revolution.

Top 5 Plant Engineering articles, March 26-April 1

Articles about time-sensitive networking, the 2018 Maintenance Study, IIoT, artificial intelligence, and reducing manufacturing waste were Plant Engineering's five most clicked articles from last week, March 26-April 1. Were you out? You can catch up here.

Top 5 Plant Engineering articles, March 5-11

Articles about the 2018 Maintenance Study, the value of power systems engineers, ABB’s integration with Baldor, aging plant equipment, and 3D design were Plant Engineering's five most clicked articles from last week, March 5-11. Were you out? You can catch up here.

Software is a future supply chain link

This Q&A with ARC Advisory Group's Steve Banker covers software's increasing role in supply chain management.

Automated warehouses get a new dimension

3-D design changes supply chain function and operation.

Top 5 Plant Engineering articles, Jan. 22-28

Articles about 2018 System Integrator Giants, giving robots a hand, welding ergonomics, the Maintenance and Safety Digital Report, and 2018 technology trends were Plant Engineering's five most clicked articles from last week, January 22-28. Were you out? You can catch up here.

HVAC systems now run by the numbers

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

IHS cites 8 technologies trends to watch in ‘18

IoT, artificial intelligence and robots top the list

Top 5 Plant Engineering articles, Jan. 8-14

Articles about 2018 System Integrator Giants, Top stories of 2017, the ARC Trade Show agenda, Hannover Messe, and robotics’ impact on packaging were Plant Engineering's five most clicked articles from last week, January 8-14. Were you out? You can catch up here.

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.

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.

Plant Engineering webcast to focus on the Digital Twin

Siemens, Bentley Systems experts to discuss how to capture, use asset information

Hannover Messe USA expands space at IMTS

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

After 70 years, Lenze drives market changes

Company officials see growth, challenges in IIoT market.

ERP trends in 2018

The Industrial Internet of Things, cloud, and AI are predicted to have the biggest impact on ERP in 2018.

Top manufacturing industry trends of 2017

There have been many changes to the manufacturing industry in 2017. Immigration and trade policy, workforce shortages, distribution techniques, and more have influenced the manufacturing trends of the past year.

Virtual factory management: the cutting edge of Lean

A virtual factory is an integrated model that brings together cloud computing, advanced Lean data analytics, and real-time collaboration in order to solve problems quickly and make holistic improvements.

Time to start turning digital twins into improved productivity

Digital manufacturing in the auto industry is changing the way products evolve. From design to manufacturing, digitalization is optimizing the process.

Looking beyond restructuring

Four steps to prioritize plant efficiency and growth.

Top 5 Plant Engineering articles, December 4-10: 3D robotic welding, IIoT, condition monitoring, and more

Articles about 3D robotic welding, IIoT, condition monitoring, making assets part of the supply chain, and changes to NFPA 70E were Plant Engineering's five most clicked articles from last week, December 4-10. Were you out? You can catch up here.

Next-gen asset performance management software shows the big picture

APM 2.0 integrates information from other control systems to deliver a more comprehensive view and analysis of production and performance.

Top 5 Plant Engineering articles, November 20-26: Best practices for cloud computing, industrial energy training, 2017 Product of the Year finalists, and more

Articles about best practices for cloud computing, industrial energy training, 2017 Product of the Year finalists, culture and IIoT, and motor efficiency webcast unanswered questions were Plant Engineering's five most clicked articles from last week, November 20-26. Were you out? You can catch up here.

Lowering the “normal” cost of maintenance

Better parts visibility keeps the machinery of manufacturing running.

Top 5 Plant Engineering articles, October 16-22: Traits of excellent engineers decrease in OSHA violations, keys to a successful RPM program, and more

Articles about the traits of excellent engineers decrease in OSHA violations, keys to a successful RPM program, how to get management on board with IIoT, and tackling motor failure with energy-based condition monitoring were Plant Engineering's five most clicked articles from last week, October 16-22. Were you out? You can catch up here.

IIoT: Having ‘the talk’ with management

In order to get management on board with IIoT, focus on the tangible business outcomes to make your case.

The benefits of digitizing Lean project management

Cloud-based ERP networks allow for more efficient operation. One company, Broadwind Energy saw significant savings and increased productivity.

Plant Engineering editor to moderate Smart Factory World Symposium Oct. 26

FORCAM-sponsored event to highlight importance of IIoT for American manufacturing

Mobile CRM

A giant step forward in CRM technology, Mobile CRM enables Global Shop Solutions customers to remotely view sales orders, quotes, job status, contact information, and other data required to provide fast and responsive customer service

2017 Engineering Leader Under 40: Josh Stauffer, 30

Lead Engineer, Panacea Technologies Inc., Montgomeryville, Pa.

Cloud computing and virtualization

Many of the technologies and services associated with cloud computing such as virtualization already exist, but they are being implemented in new ways to provide dynamic, scalable, and virtualized computing infrastructure, platforms, and software.

Top 5 Plant Engineering articles, June 19-25: Common welding errors, data management and the cloud, VFD fundamentals, more

Articles about common welding errors, the cloud and data management, VFD fundamentals, remote monitoring, and reducing maintenance costs were Plant Engineering's five most clicked articles from last week, June 19-25. Were you out? You can catch up here.

Companies agree to strategic alliance for improving digitalization

Siemens and Bentley Systems announced that they have formalized a strategic alliance agreement and will invest at least 50 million Euros developing joint solutions to enlarge their respective offerings for infrastructure and industry.

Gateway between cloud, in-company IT and production

Siemens is launching a gateway based on the Intel Quark chip family onto the market which links cloud, in-company IT and production. The Simatic IOT2000 is designed for industrial IT solutions that acquire, process and transfer data directly in the production environment.

New work processes needed to make Big Data useful

Microsoft chief envisioning officer Dave Coplin considers the human side of information as transformational for future productivity.

Microsoft, Gov. Walker making presence felt at Hannover Messe

Hannover Notes: Microsoft expanding the concept of HMI; Gov. Scott Walker makes a visit to fair; Hannover Messe after hours

Expanding the maintenance toolkit for 2015 OSHA standards

Effective as of January 1, the new OSHA standards are designed to help improve workplace safety, in light of statistics showing more than 4,000 workers killed on the job in 2013.

MFG Meeting to continue additive manufacturing discussion

The annual MFG Meeting is going to be held on March 4-7, 2015, in Orlando.

Plant operations now a part of the designer’s goals

Marriage of CapEx and OpEx the best way to leverage design data, experts says.

IT rack, enclosure market to grow to $2.6 billion in 2016

Revenues of IT racks and enclosures are forecast to grow by nearly a billion dollars over the next five years; from an estimated $1.7 billion in 2011 to $2.6 billion at the end of 2016.

Invensys, Microsoft align cloud computing

Invensys Operations Management is migrate some Invensys applications to Microsoft's Azure cloud.

Strategic power management requires an intelligent response

Don’t ignore the challenges or the solutions when integrating optimum power systems.

Server virtualization on the rise

Move your power around to save systems

Cloudy horizon at Intersolar 2011

The future looks unclear for the PV market going into Intersolar Europe, particularly after a very difficult 2010 for the industry.

Root Cause Analysis Software as a Service

PROACTOnDemand is a Subscription Solution to Delivering your RCA, SaaS for Cloud Computing.

Infor appoints Bruce Richardson as chief strategy officer

Industry veteran, luminary and leading enterprise software analyst joins Infor team

Green supply: PowerGenix sets up SigmaQuest quality management platform for battery manufacturing processes

The green battery industry’s acceptable failure rates are said to be some of the most stringent of any industry. To that end, SigmaQuest’s suite of on-demand solutions will enable real-time insight to PowerGenix’ manufacturing operations.

The ‘secret sauce’ of SaaS

It’s so much more than the latest buzzword – software as a service (SaaS) has substance, and it’s delivering.

Bright solution: Lithonia Lighting turns on Datalliance SaaS-based VMI

Datalliance, provider of vendor managed inventory (VMI) and other e-commerce services, says Lithonia Lighting , an Acuity Brands lighting business, will use Datalliance VMI as a service. Lithonia will initiate its VMI program implementation with a pilot distributor site and then will roll out VMI to a select base of distributors.Lithonia Lighting identified VMI as strategic technology to enhance an electronic partnership with key distributors.“VMI will give us better visibility of actual product sales for each distributor,” says Amra Boucher, manager, E-Business Services, Lithonia Lighting. “This detailed sales information will help us evaluate and fine-tune our product offering to determine the most profitable mix of products for individual distributors.

People pleasers: Human capital management systems track the ever-changing workforce

Fieldglass , a platform provider for acquiring contingent workers, services, and direct hires, reports new efficiencies in its InSite Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) suite that allow users to realize cost- and time-savings in managing human capital acquisition programs, including: Dynamic organizational structures : A significant new capability in InSite that overcomes one of the largest challenges of implementations: gathering and validating all of the organizational structures from myriad sources; and Enhancements to the InSite upload API : Enhancements result in nearly 20 new utilities, whereby users can add new lines of business, and make mass changes to the system—as in the case of an organizational restructuring. Through InSite Contingent, InSite Services and InSite Recruiter, the suite fully supports processes for acquiring contingent labor, service providers, and employees. Additional solutions track talent pools—such as retirees—that may be candidates for temporary positions; automate the workflow associated with the on- and off-boarding processes; and allow interaction between InSite and other applications via a Web service API.Workforce management specialist NaturalInsight also has new services said to strengthen remote management of people, places, and projects—including work validation and tracking components for better managing large-scale projects in different job locations. Specifically, a “Check-In” utility enables real-time monitoring of workers as they arrive onsite for time-critical projects. Workers dial into a user-friendly telephone system that recognizes their mobile phone number and requests the worker confirm their location.

ASP basics

What is an application service provider (ASP)? According to the ASP Industry Consortium (allaboutasp.org), a trade organization that represents ASPs, "Application service providers deliver and manage applications and computer services from remote data centers to multiple users via the internet or a private network.