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Plex Manufacturing Blog
PowerPlex 2021 Key Takeaways Part 2: Unlimited Possibilities
After a jam-packed schedule full of insight, networking, and inspiration, PowerPlex 2021 is officially in the books. It was rewarding to enable so much human connection in a safe way while providing experiences that progress manufacturers’ goals. It’s why we do what we do. We’re already looking forward to next year, but first let’s round out the highlights from the rest of this year’s conference…
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PowerPlex 2021 Key Takeaways Part 1: Smart Manufacturing for All
The manufacturing conference of the year is off to a phenomenal start! Over 1,600 attendees from around the world enjoyed impactful sessions and were inspired by dynamic speakers during the first full day of PowerPlex. We miss seeing your faces in person, but it was incredible how engaging this year’s virtual setting turned out to be. There’s a lot of information to unpack, so let’s get right…
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Catch Plex Leaders and Special Guests During PowerPlex Main Stage Experiences
Like headliners at a music festival, our Plex leaders are warmed up and ready to hit the main stage at PowerPlex 2021. They may not bring guitars or #1 songs, but Bill Berutti, Nathan Pieri, and Jerry Foster will bring the manufacturing insights you’ve been waiting for. They’ll each speak to what they’ve seen over the last year and invite other industry experts to the digital stage for…
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Get Inspired by Unstoppable Leaders at PowerPlex 2021
What does the word unstoppable mean to you? For us at Plex, unstoppable is a way of life. It means breaking barriers. It means hearing the phrase “that’s impossible” and responding with “just watch us.” It means never backing down, no matter the odds....
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The 3 PowerPlex Sessions You Just Can’t Miss
It’s spring. The birds are chirping, the flowers are blooming, and the premier event for unstoppable manufacturers is about to hit a screen in your home office. PowerPlex is back, which means it’s the time to dive into the latest industry insights, peek into the minds of experts, and uncover the future of manufacturing. But with over 90 sessions, how will you choose which to attend?...
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Plex Acquires Kors Engineering to Drive Automation and Efficiency for You
I am excited to share that Plex has acquired long-time technology and solution partner, Kors Engineering. This combination will enable manufacturers to take even greater control of their plant floor, machines and business process automation, and get them closer to fully embracing the promise of Industry 4.0....
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STEAM Education is Critical to Powering Manufacturing Innovation
A strong and innovative manufacturing base is essential to the world’s economic future. However, according to a Deloitte study, the manufacturing skills gap may leave an estimated 2.4 million positions unfilled between 2018 and 2028, with a potential economic impact of 2.5 trillion....
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Want to Frighten a Manufacturer this Halloween? Start Here.
For manufacturers, scary things lurking around the corner aren’t limited to Halloween. Here are a few things fueling manufacturers’ nightmares all year long....
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The Hatch Stamping Transformation Story: From Humble Beginnings to Global Leadership
In 1952, brothers Raymond, Walter and Joseph Hatch launched a small family business. Their first job: stamping parts for model trains. Little did they know, this basement-based operation would become a global, leading manufacturer of highly engineered metal stampings and assemblies for the automotive industry. Talk about transformation....
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Business Transformation Leaders: Plex Partner Control+M Helps Manufacturers Face Disruption Head-On
According to Patti Nowak of Plex partner Control+M Solutions, “If the Plex community is strong, we’ll be strong.” Nowak is the founder and owner of Control+M, which is dedicated to helping clients implement their Plex projects from the ground up, whether it is optimization, retraining employees, or assisting on continued module implementation....
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PowerPlex 2020: Learnings and Insights
In these trying times, please know that we are…you know what? Is anyone else sick of hearing companies talk about “these trying times”? Every commercial and every social post, it seems, while meant to convey a sense of comfort, is constantly reminding you that we are battling an invisible enemy and is starting to do the opposite. Let’s stop that. We’re not here to talk down to you. In fact, let…
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Key Takeaways from PowerPlex: Day 3
Once again, PowerPlex 2020 came to you live (virtually!). More than 2,000 attendees logged in from couches, garages, and bedrooms (and anywhere else they could find some peace and quiet) to learn about and stay up-to-speed on the manufacturing industry, the latest technology innovations, and Plex’s Smart Manufacturing Platform. Here are some of the standout messages and takeaways from today’s…
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Key Takeaways from PowerPlex: Day 2
As PowerPlex 2020 continues today for more than 2,000 attendees, we proud to be hosting this year’s event virtually, but still with the same insight and knowledge you’ve come to expect from us every year. One of the greatest benefits of going virtual in 2020 is that we’re not only able to engage more attendees than ever before, but we also have a variety of ways to engage with our audiences…
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Celebrating International Women’s Day at Plex
I have always thought of Plex as being a unique and rewarding place to work. Not only does the work challenge me, but it allows me to step outside of my job responsibilities and work on causes I’m passionate about, all for the betterment of the company. ...
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What Does Corporate Social Responsibility Mean at Plex?
“Corporate social responsibility” has many definitions, but one that you’ll rarely come across is “a measure of great work/life integration.” It may be unconventional, but I hope it is far from surprising to you that Plex believes corporate social responsibility should be woven into the very fabric of an organization’s culture. And where does culture start? With people. ...
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With 2020 In Sight, We Take a Moment to Admire Manufacturers
As we get ready to turn the page on 2020, it’s time to take stock of the year, and we can’t do that without taking a moment to take note of the one thing Plex was truly thankful for in 2019: the manufacturer....
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5 Reasons to Attend PowerPlex 2020
PowerPlex, the annual user conference that brings together manufacturers from around the globe, is set to take place May 12-14, 2020 in Detroit. If you haven’t already heard the news, early bird registration opened today. If you’re not familiar with PowerPlex, this nearly 20-year-old conference has annually been the gathering place for manufacturing and technology leaders well before “smart…
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Scary Stories to Tell on the Shop Floor
With Halloween around the corner, spooky stories aren’t far behind. But, for manufacturing professionals, the scariest season might not be limited to October 31st alone. Terror can take on a whole new meaning when it comes to nightmares on the shop floor. Here are the top phrases that might leave any plant manager with a legacy ERP system quaking....
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Women Leaders in Manufacturing and Technology: Facing Challenges, Taking Action, and Bridging the Gap
The shortage of skilled workers in manufacturing is the biggest challenge facing the industry right now. In the U.S., some estimated two-million jobs will need to be filled in manufacturing over the next decade—and six out of 10 positions are currently unfilled.1 Women constitute one of US manufacturing’s largest pools of untapped talent; however, they still represent less than 30 percent of the…
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How to Create the Next Generation of Manufacturers
Us technologists solve problems...we can always wait for politicians or lawyers...but why wait? Inventor and entrepreneur and FIRST® founder Dean Kamen closed his keynote at PowerPlex 2019 with this call to action, referencing not only the role of science and technology in solving problems through innovation—but also the astounding shortage of skilled workers manufacturers face today....
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