Smart Manufacturing Blog

Welcome to your source for all things smart manufacturing. Whether you’re looking for expert insights, hard data, or actionable tips for your plant floor, we’ve got you covered every week of the year.

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Plex Team

About the Author

Plex, by Rockwell Automation, is the leader in cloud-delivered smart manufacturing solutions, empowering the world’s manufacturers to make awesome products. Our platform gives manufacturers the ability to connect, automate, track and analyze every aspect of their business to drive transformation. The Plex Smart Manufacturing Platform includes solutions for manufacturing execution (MES), ERP, quality, supply chain planning and management, Industrial IoT and analytics to connect people, systems, machines, and supply chains, enabling them to lead with precision, efficiency and agility.

Periodic vs. Perpetual Inventory: What’s the Difference?

Plex Team October 26, 2021

Get this - U.S. businesses carried $2,069.5 billion of inventory through July of 2021. That’s a 16.3% compared to 2020 when inventories were depleted during the early days of COVID. Further, business-to-sales ratio for inventory is 1.25, the lowest point since 2012 and reflective of the boom caused by pent-up demand....

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Demand Forecasting vs. Demand Planning: What’s the Difference?

Plex Team October 19, 2021

What's the difference between demand forecasting and planning? Understanding the distinction can help you choose software to manage complex demand issues. ...

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7 Food and Beverage Manufacturing Stats You’ve Never Seen (But Your Boss Will Care About)

Plex Team October 18, 2021

It’s been a wild ride for the food and beverage industry lately – supply roadblocks, workforce shortages, not to mention all the inefficiencies that existed before the pandemic. But what if you could be the person who alleviates these pain points for your company? It’s not just wishful thinking; it’s smart manufacturing that connects, automates, tracks, and analyzes your operations. This…

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Smart vs. Unsmart Manufacturing Execution System Decisions: Which Are You Making?

Plex Team October 18, 2021

Remember the day you got your first smartphone? With a single purchase, you went from flipping open a plastic device with an 8-bit screen to having untethered access to the collective knowledge of humanity right in your pocket. That experience changed your life. Discrete manufacturing is undergoing a similar revolution right now, forcing the question: will you stick with flip-phone manufacturing…

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7 Manufacturing Stats You’ve Never Seen (But Your Boss Will Care About)

Plex Team October 18, 2021

If you’ve ever wished for a magic pill that could boost the bottom line while making you look like a superstar employee, then smart manufacturing is the prescription of your dreams....

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The People Behind the Platform: Sami Naser, Account Development Representative

Plex Team October 18, 2021

You might love the Plex Smart Manufacturing Platform, but do you know the people who make it possible? Talented Plexians have been working hard behind the scenes for decades. They’re what make this company great, but few get the chance to step into the spotlight they deserve – until now. This month, say hello to Account Development Representative Sami Naser. Tell us about your role at Plex....

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Smart vs. Unsmart: Improving your Manufacturing Execution System Journey

Plex Team October 18, 2021

When you were a kid, the difference between good and bad was crystal clear. Putting gum in your hair? Bad. Looking both ways before crossing the street? Good. But now that you’re an adult – a professional – the difference between smart and unsmart decision-making is blurry. It’s hard to confidently know that one choice will lead to all the positive outcomes you’re hoping for. Until now....

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The Importance of Quality KPIs in Manufacturing

Plex Team October 12, 2021

In today’s high-stakes world of manufacturing, technology can make or break a company’s success. To stay ahead of the competition, more and more factories are turning to manufacturing automation technology that improves operational excellence, lowers cost, and boosts quality....

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The Challenges in Global Supply Chain Management

Plex Team October 5, 2021

With unprecedented disruptions, global supply chain management faces more challenges than ever before. Learn more about these challenges with Plex DemandCaster. ...

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Production Monitoring Software: Turning Insight into Action

Plex Team September 29, 2021

You can't fix what you can't see. Without access to and analysis of the data resulting from production, manufacturers risk higher costs, poor quality, and mysteriously low equipment utilization. And with global manufacturing competition at an all-time high due to disruption, trade wars, COVID-19, and other issues, companies just can't afford to be in the dark about what's going on in their…

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