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Read MoreAccuracy
You wake at precisely 6:47 a.m., as you always do. You lift the bedclothes and fold them over at a precise 40 degree angle, as always, swing your feet to the floor, and stand with your weight balanced precisely along your central axis, stay in this position for 3 seconds, and step briskly— No you don’t. As a human being, you don’t have that kind of accuracy at your disposal. Even in a...
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Read MoreTraining
Manufacturers in the United States have been facing some significant challenges finding qualified machine operators. Increasing automation reduces the total number of human workers needed to operate a machine, but increases the skills needed by the operators. Ideally, increased productivity leads to greater opportunities and eventually a larger human workforce. But the Americans who know how to run...
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Read MoreRobots and Animals
Robots are often designed using inspiration from animals: how an octopus can move into small spaces, how a kangaroo gathers force for a jump, and how a bird maneuvers with small tucks of its wings have all inspired robots that can perform specialized tasks needed in manufacturing, medicine, or the military. People sometimes treat robots like animals, too, responding to their behaviors as we do to the...
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Read MoreIndustry 4.0
Industry 4.0, smart factories, the Industrial Internet of Things… whatever you choose to call it, it’s certain that manufacturing is changing in extremely significant ways right now. We can’t resist those changes or ignore them. They’re coming whether we want them in our facilities or not. They will change work and the pace of progress for early adopters, and they will change the...
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Read MoreWho Should Do Your Repairs?
When a machine fails, what do you do? In some facilities, high-priced engineers are called in to do troubleshooting and repairs on the machine. These are the guys who know this particular machine inside out and backwards, and over the decades they’ve been working in the factory they’ve perfected their knowledge and can get you back up and running fast. Or that’s how it used to be. Now...
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Read MoreManaging Engineers = Herding Cats?
Predictions about the future of manufacturing are downright whimsical nowadays, but one we keep hearing is that there will be no more factory workers. Instead of hundreds of factory hands working on the line, a modern factory will have eight engineers communicating deeply with IIoT machinery in cool, quiet rooms. If this comes about, it will be a big change for plant managers. Right now, engineers can be...
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Read MoreIndustrial Safety
Industrial machinery can be dangerous — there’s no disputing that. And one of the most important current trends in robotics is increasing awareness of safety issues. From robots designed to be safer for collaborating humans to a new class of safety warning error codes, many of the technological improvements in industrial engineering focus on keeping people safe. Some of the impressive safety...
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Read MoreJobs and Automation
Automation has clear advantages: Actions can be taken by machines faster and more accurately by human beings. Human workers are shielded from harsh working environments, toxic materials, and physically demanding tasks. Automated work is often more cost-effective than hiring multiple human workers, with their added costs and working conditions demands. Sounds a lot like machines are better than people,...
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Most Recent Articles
Jobs and Automation
Automation has clear advantages: Actions can be taken by machines faster and...
Read MoreIndramat
- Typical Manufacturers?
Are you a typical manufacturer? A new report gives a ... read more - Reshoring PharmaceuticalsFor six straight quarters, there have been more than 300 ... read more
- Arm Robots Show Healthcare Robots LimitationsRobot-assisted surgery is now a basic part of healthcare, but ... read more
Industry
- Distributed drives for streamlined automation
IndraDrive Mi from Rexroth with drive-integrated Motion Logic. In theory, ... read more - Rexroth to exhibit advanced machine automation and...Demonstrations of drive, motion and controls products along with in-depth ... read more
Plant Management
Sensors
- How to optimize industrial motor communications, P...
Learning Objectives Understand how cybersecurity approaches ... read more - Turning IoT headwinds into tailwinds
Today, the industrial internet covers multiple verticals from manufacturing (whose ... read more - White paper on optimal cloud, edge use for industr...
