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Smart Manufacturing
Plex Manufacturing Blog
How Is Automation Changing the Manufacturing Sector?
Automation in manufacturing is constantly evolving. Manufacturers all over the world are using automation to improve the efficiency of processes, reduce the complexity of managing modern supply chains, and combat the skilled worker shortage. In conjunction with adding levels of automation to streamline the business, manufacturers are turning to once-hyped technologies to accelerate process…
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How Smart Manufacturing Platforms Empower Sustainability
There’s no denying that more and more manufacturers are embracing Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) initiatives with aims to improve both performance and accountability. Naturally, these efforts often center around sustainability. While we’re a long way from closed-loop manufacturing, sustainability efforts gain return value to companies in areas like waste, material usage, supply…
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The Benefits of ESG Initiatives in Manufacturing
Sustainability and Environmental, Social, and (Corporate) Governance (ESG) policy is growing in importance across all industries, and especially in manufacturing. The public concerns around climate change, social justice, corporate responsibility – including increased regulations, emission reductions, and responsible governance – are increasingly driving more businesses to take action....
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Don’t Let Digital Connectivity Be Your Nightclub Bouncer
Whether in person or on television, most of us have seen a glitzy nightclub with strict entry requirements. One with a large bouncer in a blazer and a velvet rope, where those wishing access must have a spot on “the list.” With it, you’re special and allowed to enter. Without it, you’re standing in a line to nowhere and it’ll be a long night....
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Using a Smart Manufacturing Platform for System Consolidation
Manufacturers have a lot of pressure on their shoulders. Traditional software solutions sought to relieve that pressure by automating processes, reducing labor-intensive tasks, and optimizing performance efficiency for specific disciplines. That system of disparate software worked to improve efficiency - until one day it didn't. So, what changed? The most significant change was the technological…
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The Top 10 Moments of ROKLive 2022
What happens when you put 2,000+ manufacturing-minded people in the same place at the same time? A lot. During the course of ROKLive 2022, we learned, we laughed, we ate, we sang, we got sunburned, we networked, and so much more. Whether you lived it or missed it, let’s look back at takeaways from the week. There are so many highlights that picking favorites is like picking a favorite child (or…
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Skilled Trades in Manufacturing Are Evolving
Manufacturing is undergoing a renaissance. Through robotics, AI, machine learning, virtual and augmented reality, and more, digital manufacturing is being leveraged for greater efficiency, new products and services, and process optimization. The newfound control and utilization of machine-generated data enables companies to weave a digital thread through all their business practices and enhance…
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Automotive Manufacturing Is More Resilient Than Ever
When production halted in 2020, automotive suppliers and OEMs showcased their business agility by banding together and pivoting to develop much-needed supplies for frontline workers. Ford Motor Company produced clear plastic shields, Creative Foam Corp manufactured foam parts for ventilators, and Desin, a manufacturer of Human Machine Interface (HMI) sensors, added a production line to make face…
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Explore the Key Topics of ROKLive 2022
You know that feeling when you’re looking at a couple dozen delicious ice cream flavors but aren’t sure which one to pick? You might stand there a few minutes, debating the merits of chocolate chips vs. chocolate chunks, until you realize you’re blocking the aisle and finally make your decision....
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How Do 300+ Manufacturers Feel About Supply Chain Planning?
The last few years have not been kind to supply chain planning professionals. Tariffs, geopolitical tensions, a pandemic, numerous sea freight issues, and the war in Ukraine are some of the many issues that have affected global supply chains....
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