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.

Announcement
7th Annual State of Smart Manufacturing

Now Available!

Get your copy of the 7th Annual State of Smart Manufacturing and hear from 300+ manufacturers in this new survey report!

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.

FT Precision Finds Continued Success in the Cloud

Plex Team January 22, 2016

FT Precision makes rocker arms for one of the world’s leading automotive OEMs, delivering products that are key to the performance of some of the worlds most efficient and reliable automobiles. Founded in 1994, FT Precision Inc. is a Japanese-parented, Ohio-based, automotive component supplier....

Read More

A Year of Innovation and Changes on the Manufacturing Plant Floor

Plex Team January 19, 2016

We’re excited about 2016 and all the innovations we’ll see implemented on the manufacturing plant floor. But before we get too far into the new year, here are the five most popular Plex Manufacturing blogs from 2015, which feature our customers, the Plex Manufacturing Cloud and innovative technology....

Read More

Five New Year's Resolutions for Manufacturers

Plex Team January 8, 2016

It’s that time of the year: time to set resolutions that’ll guide you through 2016. As a manufacturer, your goals might be to leverage plant floor data to improve efficiencies, streamline processes and more. Check out our New Year's Resolution infographic to see the changes manufacturers can implement to make 2016 a success....

Read More

Handcrafted Candies in the Cloud: How Sanders Found Success

Plex Team December 30, 2015

As dozens of Sanders cherry cordials pass under the enrober, a molten waterfall coats them in pure, dark chocolate. Two candymakers use gloved fingers to create the classic “Sanders Twirl” atop the candy before it enters the cooling tunnel....

Read More

Two Low-Cost Technologies are Transforming Plant Floors

Plex Team December 7, 2015

Manufacturing facilities are filled with expensive equipment. Multi-million-dollar investments can make, or break, a company’s ability to compete and grow. But in today’s connected shop floor environment, smaller, low-cost tools are delivering competitive advantage....

Read More

The Cloud: Transforming Global Manufacturing

Plex Team September 30, 2015

“It used to be that you had to be a pretty big company before you had multiple plants and before you were serving Asian markets and European markets. That's not the case today,” says Jim Shepherd, vice president of Strategy at Plex. “Even our smallest customers often have multiple sites in multiple countries. ...

Read More

Why Aren’t There More Women in Manufacturing?

Plex Team September 21, 2015

The manufacturing industry has undergone tremendous transformation. Smart machines line the plant floor, products are customized in near real time, and mobile devices are used to provide insight into operations 24x7x365....

Read More

Are Product Reviews part of your S&OP Process?

Plex Team July 27, 2015

Do you review your product portfolio on a regular basis? Assess profitability or potential profit-loss, demand behaviors, life-cycle management and more here....

Read More

From Webcams to Wearables, Manufacturers Find Novel Uses for Technology on the Shop Floor

Plex Team May 13, 2015

Who would have anticipated that the webcam – an inexpensive device designed for video chats – would play a vital role in keeping manufacturing operations running? For maintenance technicians who venture to different machines and locations in the plant every day, mobile access to information is vital. ...

Read More

Could Detroit be the Next Technology Hub?

Plex Team April 15, 2015

Last week’s Fortune article asks the question: Is Detroit the next Silicon Valley? While on the surface these two areas seem quite different – one known for auto manufacturing and the other a hub for technology – the two areas are more similar than you might think. Today, the industries are colliding and shop floors are going hi-tech....

Read More