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Manufacturing Execution Systems: How MES KPIs Inform and Predict
Global manufacturing is increasing in complexity as new challenges arise, customer expectations change, and best practices evolve. This complexity makes it more challenging than ever to manage a…
The People Behind the Platform: Nagesh Kadam, Sr. Technical Support Rep
You might love the Plex Smart Manufacturing Platform™, but do you know those who make it possible? Talented people have been working hard behind the scenes for decades. They’re what make this company…
Industry 4.0: Go Big or Go Small - Just Go
Traditionally, large manufacturing companies benefited from scale. They could put money, resources, and in-house expertise into implementing massive enterprise-level software like an ERP or MRP.…
Leverage Your Data to Unlock Hidden Capacity and Supercharge Processes
Capital equipment is one of the most significant variables in calculating a manufacturing company’s capacity. The higher the capacity, the more business a company can take on. Optimizing that…
Production Monitoring KPIs – Greater Visibility Means Higher Production
The U.S. military uses advanced technology to extend the capabilities of its systems. From satellite images to radar and "eye in the sky" electronic surveillance planes, the goal is to extend…
Quality Management in an Age of Disruptive Supply Chains
Once upon a time, it was easier. For decades, supply chains stabilized globally, allowing companies to source components confidently and manage their supply chain plans with Lean methodology. And…
What Your Clipboard Won’t Tell You, Your Data Will
At the time, it seemed like a good idea. Write down if there are any breakdowns, stoppages, changeovers, or anything that makes a machine stop. Write the time, the date, the reason, and how long it…
The Future of Automotive: Your 2022 OESA Supplier Conference Recap
Many conference attendees recently filled the Suburban Showplace in Novi, MI to gain new insights and collaborate with fellow subject matter experts on the evolving landscape that has become the new…
The Right MES Is Out There: Industry Experts Make Their Picks
An MES, or manufacturing execution system, is an essential manufacturing tool for business resiliency in the face of disruption. The pandemic, geopolitical uncertainty, cybersecurity risks, and…
ERP KPIs: Not Just for Execs Anymore
Enterprise resource planning (ERP) software helps companies manage their core business processes, including HR, finance, supply chain, and manufacturing. Companies can manage their business processes…
From Farm to Factory: How Fertilizer and Material Shortages Affect Food and Beverage Manufacturers
It’s become a perfect storm. Massive disruption of supply chains for food products is becoming a regular threat. Driven by lingering COVID-19 impacts, the war in Ukraine, and other factors, there’s a…
Cure Your Downtime Blues with Smart Platform Views
Efficiency and downtime are two of the most recognized words in manufacturing. These two words are taught and enforced formally and informally from the executive boardroom to floor supervisors to an…
Your 6 Steps to Quality Management Success
Meeting customer demand, maintaining regulatory requirements, and competing in a global market all hinge on one critical aspect of your manufacturing business: product quality.
Using a Smart Manufacturing Platform to Empower Overall Equipment Effectiveness
Manufacturing equipment is one of the most expensive costs for any manufacturer. These machines have long lifespans, and companies strive to achieve the shortest ROI to justify their expenses. Once a…
Plan – Do – Check – Act: An Essential Quality Management System Framework
What makes a good Quality Management System (QMS) tick?After all, you want to be able to rely on a QMS to help you achieve and maintain the highest level of quality control and quality assurance…
Workforce, Quality, and Technology: Old Struggles, New Angles
The Precision Metalforming Association (PMA) hosted the Metal Stamping Technology Conference recently in Nashville, Tennessee. A dynamic, thoughtful, and somewhat frustrated group gathered to talk…
Seize Opportunities for Growth with the 8th Annual State of Smart Manufacturing Report
“We’ve experienced 20 years of evolution in 2 years.”This quote from CEO Blake Moret resonates throughout the findings of our 2023 State of Smart Manufacturing Report, which surveyed 1,353 global…
A New Look at the Cost of Quality
The cost of quality has been a manufacturing KPI for generations. By understanding the cost of waste, rework, and scrap, companies can develop continuous improvement strategies that reduce or…
Where Did My Product Demand Go?
We've all been there.One day, demand is high, forecasts are rosy, and life is good. The next, demand has plummeted, and you're sitting there with a mountain of inventory and booked capacity with no…
How Smart Manufacturing Lets You Create the KPIs You Need
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) are essential for manufacturing. They are signposts that help you determine which areas of your operation are performing to expectations and which need improvement.…