Once the realm of science fiction, artificial intelligence (AI) has made its foray into our lives and businesses in recent years. AI quickly interprets and learns from data to provide predictions and identify trends. For manufacturers, this technology proves especially...
No organization should make major investments or changes without thorough consideration. That includes undergoing an enterprise resource planning (ERP) software implementation. Having said that, some businesses will stay the course or delay making decisions because they’re...
Inventory management serves as one of the greatest challenges for discrete manufacturers. For example, Forbes estimates that four weeks of inventory for a manufacturer of heavy machinery could easily amount to $100 million. High storage costs, low...
Overall equipment effectiveness (OEE) is regarded as one of the most critical metrics for measuring manufacturing productivity. A high OEE score means you’re creating quality parts as fast as possible with minimal stop times. Though manufacturers...
We all know that you can’t fix problems if you don't even notice them. That’s why manufacturers the world over experience painful losses when they lack visibility into their operations. Gaps between processes, locations and departments drive companies to...
Industry 4.0, Fourth Industrial Revolution, the Digital Factory—whatever term you want to use, the bottom line is that manufacturing and distribution are undergoing a radical transformation. Rapid advancements in enterprise technology deliver real-time insights and...
This is a tricky time for metal fabricators. The industry bounced back strong after the recession and is projected to continue growing in the coming years. However, fabricated metal manufacturers are proceeding with caution. Steel and aluminum...
Globalization has transformed manufacturing, opening new doors for businesses and consumers. But with exciting opportunities to expand enterprises and reduce costs comes tumult. Forces outside of manufacturers’ control can dictate how their companies perform in the...