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.

Announcement
7th Annual State of Smart Manufacturing

Now Available!

Get your copy of the 7th Annual State of Smart Manufacturing and hear from 300+ manufacturers in this new survey report!

Dave Morfas

Director of Product Marketing, Plex Systems

Image
Preview dave-morfas

About the Author

Dave Morfas has worked in the high-tech industry for more than 20 years with customers in Europe, Asia Pac, Latin America and North America in a variety of group management, product marketing, and product management roles. Currently Dave serves as Director of Product Marketing for Plex overseeing strategic product direction, competitive intelligence, and content marketing and creation.

Shopping for a Manufacturing ERP? Consider Your Deployment Options

Dave Morfas October 29, 2019

Make no mistake about it: ERP is a major investment for any manufacturer. The new solution you choose may be Command Central for your employees for the next eight to 10 years—or longer. Many manufacturers begin their ERP research by looking into industry-specific features and functionality. ...

Read More

3 Key Steps to Buying the Right ERP for Your Manufacturing Business

Dave Morfas September 18, 2019

We’re not going to dance around it: buying a new ERP solution for your manufacturing business is a big deal. It’s a long, involved process. It requires buy-in from a diverse group of stakeholders. It involves a major investment (both in time and money). And you’ll have to live with the results for perhaps a decade or more....

Read More

Digitizing Continuous Improvement in the Global Automotive Supply Chain

Dave Morfas August 13, 2019

As an automotive supplier, there is a lot you need to manage and deliver in a complex global supply chain. First and foremost, your customers demand that you demonstrate the ability to meet their requirements or you lose their business....

Read More

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 mid-sized manufacturers, ERP is an endeavor that becomes necessary as the business grows since managing a complex operation with spreadsheets is unsustainable....

Read More

Manufacturers: The Future Workforce Starts with First

Dave Morfas April 25, 2019

It’s no secret: the future of manufacturing depends on workers. And right now, manufacturers are facing an astounding worker shortage. Experts predict the skills gap may leave an estimated 2.4 million manufacturing positions unfilled between 2018 and 2028, putting manufacturers at serious risk of not being able to keep pace with customer demands. ...

Read More

3 Ways Manufacturers Are Tackling the Skilled Worker Shortage

Dave Morfas April 16, 2019

You’ve told us that finding and keeping a skilled workforce is one of your top challenges. And we know the gap is only going to increase with 25 percent of U.S. manufacturing employees are 55 years old or older and Baby Boomers are retiring at a rate of 10,000 people per day.[1] If that wasn’t challenging enough, you also might be missing out on additional revenue streams because you can’t hire…

Read More

How G and W Products Meets Manufacturing Challenges with People, Processes, and Technology

Dave Morfas April 9, 2019

Pride. You sense that the minute you walk into G&W Products’ manufacturing headquarters in Fairfield, Ohio. You understand it when you talk to employees about their careers, their customers, and their resolute focus on quality products. I was fortunate to witness this firsthand by spending a day with G&W’s Director of Enterprise Technologies, Jeff Karan, walking their facilities,…

Read More

See Better Results with Plex: 3 Successful ERP System Customer Stories

Dave Morfas January 8, 2019

What does a job well done look like to you? If you’re on the shop floor, it probably looks like a record production rate or an increase in inventory accuracy. If you’re on the top floor, it might look like a boost in your company’s profits....

Read More

Manufacturing Industry Enthusiasm Off the Charts at IMTS 2018 and Hanover Messe USA

Dave Morfas October 9, 2018

Not only did the International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS) and collocated Hanover Messe USA break records by setting an all-time high for exhibitors and attendees, but these events also captured something more important: a sense of unbridled global optimism in the manufacturing industry....

Read More

Fastener Manufacturers Focus on On-Time Delivery to Stand Out

Dave Morfas September 11, 2018

Metal products like screws and bolts are often seen as a commodity but if you can become a preferred supplier to large OEMs, the opportunity is ripe to take advantage of higher margins. Finding reliable suppliers is a lengthy and tedious process for large OEMs....

Read More