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 Manufacturing Blog

IIoT and Smart Connected Manufacturing - Only in the Cloud

Plex Team March 23, 2016

Manufacturing is evolving right before our eyes with companies looking for ways to make faster, more accurate decisions. The need for better automation and data communication, combined with the availability of smart technology to support it, has piqued the interest of companies looking to take that next step in modernizing production capabilities. ...

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Manufacturing in Uncertain Times: Flexibility is King

Andrew Hughes March 21, 2016

Over the last few years, there’s been an exciting upturn in the interest that large US and European corporations have had in the manufacturing industry. There have even been signs of “on shoring” manufacturing capabilities. There are lots of economic reasons why a change in heart has happened, not least the desire to better serve customers through faster deliveries, more customization and better…

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Legacy ERP Leaves User Communities Alone in the Wilderness

Jim Shepherd March 9, 2016

Customer communities can provide a great way to extend ERP value. Vibrant communities provide a venue where users collaborate on everything from desired roadmap functions to best practices, processes, templates and tricks of the trade....

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Legacy ERP Vendors Make You an Offer You Can Refuse

Jim Shepherd February 22, 2016

One of the worst situations manufacturing IT groups routinely deal with is having to upgrade ERP software. This may not seem like a big deal, but consider how intertwined ERP is in a manufacturing company, from finance to production to logistics. ...

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The Legacy ERP Money Pit

Jim Shepherd February 5, 2016

Manufacturers face churning market conditions – changing commodity prices, fluctuating energy and transportation rates, and labor challenges. Avoiding unanticipated expenditures, focusing on driving down costs, and improving agility are imperative....

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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....

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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....

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Five Business Benefits Driving Manufacturing Cloud ERP Solutions

Jim Shepherd January 6, 2016

Business needs drive technology adoption, not the other way around, and more and more manufacturers are turning to a modern cloud ERP solution to address those needs. Cloud ERP software solutions, particularly SaaS, have passed into mainstream adoption. It is not a matter of if your company adopts it, but when and to what degree (at the plant level or across the entire enterprise). ...

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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....

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Why Cloud? SaaS Matters.

Jim Shepherd December 1, 2015

When you consider cloud-based services, it’s important to understand not just the features and functionality of the solution, but also the differences in the underlying delivery model. Consider a cell phone as compared to a land-line: they both perform the same function, but one allows you to roam untethered. ...

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