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Innovation and Technology
Plex Manufacturing Blog
Connectivity, Automation, and IIoT Power the Modern Shop Floor
Manufacturing starts on the shop floor. It’s where material moves, product is created, ultimately, where the work gets done. Every day, new devices and equipment are providing manufacturers with new opportunities for innovation and connection. In its four years, the 2017 State of Manufacturing Technology Report surveyed more than 150 manufacturers and reveals how manufacturers are leveraging…
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Manufacturers are Relying on Technology for More Responsive Supply Chains
Agility and speed are the hallmarks of today’s supply chains due to increased global connectivity and competition. No longer is it enough to focus on quality, costs, or efficiency to remain competitive. Manufacturers today need to be responsive to shifts in customer demands, and they are realizing that the key to differentiation is in supply chain execution and flexibility....
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4 IIoT Use Cases That Show Real Business Impacts for Manufacturing
By now, you’ve heard about the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT). You may have even talked about it with your team but, if you’re like a lot of small to mid-sized manufacturing companies you are still in the early stages of investigating what IIoT means to your business....
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Manufacturers: What You Need to Know About Cloudwashing
If your company is looking for a new ERP system, you will likely discover the term “cloudwashing.” Our hope is that you discover it before you make a decision because you could be dealing with the limitations for a long time after. What is cloudwashing?...
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Industry 4.0: How Advancements in Manufacturing Technology Are Transforming the Industry
In the United States, economic growth has been a bit sluggish in the past decade. When you look at global economic growth, there's one common factor with all that causes the economy to grow. It’s manufacturing. Due to a number of contributing economic, political, and market factors across the globe, there’s a significant revolution that’s underway within the manufacturing industry. ...
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Digital Transformation: Manufacturers Need a Practical Approach—Not Hype
Technologists love to learn, write, and prognosticate about new terminology, technology trends, and ideas that will impact the future. But as I once heard someone say, “innovation without practical impact is a science project,” and this holds true for digital transformation, a topic deservedly getting a lot of coverage these days....
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PowerPlex 2017 - Innovation in Action
As PowerPlex 2017 wraps up this week, I find myself reflecting on the many great conversations I had with smart, interesting people who are working on making things. I was surrounded by innovation — businesses making innovative products, organizations with a rich history that have continuously evolved by innovating over time, and people who are doing new and unique things with Plex to…
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Why the Cloud Is Key to Smart Manufacturing
If you’re still relying on manual processes or disconnected legacy systems to run your business, you’ll be spending too much time and effort to gain the visibility you need to remain competitive. SaaS-based cloud ERP is now a strategic choice for manufacturers who want to take advantage of the connectivity and scalability to improve their business. ...
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Real-World Examples of IIoT in Manufacturing
As a manufacturer, any new technology must have operational meaning, purpose, and application for you to consider it. The buzz around the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) promises improved operational efficiency, higher quality, and cost savings. In fact, manufacturers who have begun their IIoT journey are achieving realistic, incremental enhancements to support their business strategies. ...
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Cut Your Manufacturing Costs with Cloud ERP
Manufacturers who have embraced SaaS cloud ERP view this model as central to their ability to compete.1 And for good reason. The cost benefits make cloud ERP a compelling strategy—even to those who still believe they are better off “owning” the software. Below are examples of manufacturers who have lowered costs with cloud ERP:...
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