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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4 Things You Need in a SaaS-based Manufacturing ERP and MES Solution

Todd Weeks September 18, 2018

As more businesses move to SaaS (software-as-a-service) applications, some manufacturers still have some uncertainty about data safety and security, as well as uptime and reliability in the cloud.…

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Capacity Planning: A Critical Element of the Production Process

Stu Johnson October 8, 2019

Imagine this: You’ve won the big contract. You’ve dotted every i, crossed every t, and the paperwork is freshly signed and initialed. Yet, despite your efforts to check capacity before negotiations…

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Spend Time with Family and Friends This Holiday Season (Instead of Counting Inventory)

Stu Johnson December 18, 2018

It’s that time of year again. When tinsel and toys fill nearly every store window on nearly every corner of nearly every street in the U.S.A. It’s also when most manufacturers block days off on the…

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Manufacturing Chaos to Calm: Gaining Control Over Inventory

Stu Johnson October 26, 2017

Edge Manufacturing is in a bind. Their largest customer, ABC Corporation, just ordered 210 solar-powered attic fans to be delivered by the end of this month—ABC’s biggest order ever. Edge’s…

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In Supply Chain Management, Transparency Is the New Normal

Dave Utley March 12, 2013

While supply chain management is often considered its own function within the manufacturing enterprise, effective supply chain communication is critical to virtually every area of the business. But…

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Plex Supports mikeroweWORKS Foundation and America’s Hardest Workers

Kaitlin Rebella May 10, 2017

If you follow Executive Producer and TV Host Mike Rowe on Facebook or listen to his podcast, The Way I Heard It, you’ll be treated to stories about America’s skilled trade workers and how they’re…

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PowerPlex 2016: Women Leaders in Manufacturing and Technology

Plex Team May 31, 2016

This event was the second annual PowerPlex session devoted to women. This year’s panel included a cross-section of strong, articulate, and successful women in executive positions who had great advice…

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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…

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Finding the Right Talent for Your Culture

Plex Team September 10, 2013

I was recently invited to speak at the Elite Suite Series, an event hosted by the 101 Best & Brightest Places to Work organization. (Bragging alert: For three years running, Plex has been named…

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Plex Partners with Gleaners to Help End Hunger in Southeastern Michigan

Plex Team May 15, 2013

Giving back to our communities is in our blood. It was part of the very core of Plex when it was founded in 1995, and it is a tenet we still hold dear today. Each year, Plex employees nominate and…

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Designing an Adaptable User Experience for Manufacturing Today (and Tomorrow)

Hollie Tanner November 27, 2018

Technology is in transition. Technology is always in transition, but today that transition is noticeably changing how we operate. One of the biggest changes we are adapting to in manufacturing is the…

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Why We’re Thankful for Manufacturing Technology This Thanksgiving

Stu Johnson November 26, 2019

When you sit down this Thanksgiving to enjoy a feast with your loved ones, there will be many food options available to those who come together to break bread. Grandma’s pumpkin pie might be the…

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Shop Floor Data Means More Business Insight for Hatch Stamping

Kaitlin Rebella May 2, 2017

For many manufacturers, finding a way to improve reliability, extend reach, and minimize time to value feels like the old adage “cheap, fast, or good: pick two.” In many scenarios, that’s the reality…

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How Great Expectations Are Driving Tech Adoption and Auto Supplier Success

Lori Zoellner October 17, 2019

The automotive industry is changing by the minute. New regulations, new markets, new product-line focuses, new consumer demands. Amid this rapid evolution, automotive supply chain is up against a…

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3 Things About ERP Implementations Most Manufacturers Don’t Know

Dave Morfas June 28, 2019

A recent survey conducted by Mint Jutras and commissioned by Ultra Consultants looked at ERP implementations—whether they are doomed to fail or whether ROI expectations are high enough. For small- to…

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Parts Manufacturer Consolidates Operational and Shop Floor Data with Cloud ERP - Video

Plex Team July 18, 2016

Who is Avon Gear? Headquartered in Shelby Township, Michigan, Avon Gear Company manufactures precision-machined components and subassemblies for heavy industrial equipment manufacturers. The company…

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Ongoing ERP Training Prevents Brain Drain

Kristen Vanpoelvoorde March 20, 2013

Have you experienced brain drain within your organization when skilled employees left, resulting in knowledge gaps? If this is your problem, we have the solution. The best way to combat brain drain…

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Demystifying IIoT: Terms Every Manufacturer Should Know

Anurag Garg August 27, 2019

By now, you’ve heard a lot about the industrial Internet of things (IIoT). It’s a network of always-connected things and systems that produce a steady stream of data, which can generate compelling…

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Industrial IoT and the Pragmatic Manufacturer: Lessons Learned from Prime Day 2019

Anurag Garg July 25, 2019

There is quite a lot of hype surrounding the Industrial Internet of Things (IoT) within the manufacturing industry. Large-scale Industrial IoT pilots driven by enterprise-focused technology companies…

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