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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5 Ways to Reduce Lead Times in Your Supply Chain

Plex Team July 11, 2018

The single biggest frustration a customer will have with any business is waiting. These five tips can help you reduce lead times in your supply chain. ...

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Is Poor Inventory Management Creating Chaos in Your House?

Plex Team July 9, 2018

Is your poor inventory management creating chaos in your house? Planning for changes in demand for products is a situation everyone has to deal with. ...

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MRP and Inventory Management

Plex Team May 25, 2018

In the world of inventory management, there is a term, Excess & Obsolete, E&O, used to designate two classes of undesirable inventory. Find out more here. ...

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E&O Inventory Management

Plex Team May 22, 2018

Inventory is an ongoing challenge for companies - especially if it's considered outdated and over-stocked. Learn more about E&O inventory management here. ...

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The Role of Salespeople in the Demand Planning Process

Plex Team May 3, 2018

Building strong relationships with your sales teams can offer significant advantages. Learn more about the role of salespeople in the demand planning process....

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The 3 Pillars of Effective Sales and Operations Plans

Plex Team June 5, 2017

The three pillars of effective sales and operations plans affect nearly everything you do, including promotions, pricing, inventory management, and supplier. ...

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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....

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How to Win a Food Fight With the Competition: OEE & Automation

Plex Team

While there are countless factors that impact your operations, one of the most critical is time. There are only so many hours in the day – time ultimately limits what your operations achieve from quarter to quarter and year over year. Overall equipment effectiveness (OEE) is the key metric that measures the efficiency of your manufacturing process. Here’s what you should know about factors…

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How to Win a Food Fight with the Competition: Digitizing Connections Between the Top Floor and the Plant Floor

Plex Team

When it comes to the competitive food and beverage landscape, the strongest hand always wins. Your team should do everything it can to stack the deck in its favor and go for the royal flush. This means not just collecting the highest value cards, but having them all in the same suit as well.You need to know that your operations are aligned at every level from the top floor to the plant floor –…

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