Smart Manufacturing Blog

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Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT)

Plex Manufacturing Blog

Future of Manufacturing Roundtable: The future is bright, but comes with growing pains

Kaitlin Rebella December 4, 2018

Plex Systems recently brought together industry analysts and its customers for the second Future of Manufacturing Roundtable (FoMR). This collaborative day seats manufacturing technology leaders on Plex’s customer advisory board next to experts who write about enterprise software day-in and day-out, which always leads to a lively conversation about the future of the manufacturing industry....

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The Future of Inventory Management: Five Predictions

Plex DemandCaster October 24, 2018

For many companies, inventory management is where all the elements of the supply chain converge. Find our five predictions for the future here. ...

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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....

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Breakthrough Technologies Impacting Manufacturing and the Way We Make Things

Stu Johnson September 25, 2018

Technology has seen rapid advancements in the past decade—and it only seems to be happening faster as each year passes. When it comes to breakthrough technology, manufacturing certainly has seen its share, most recently due to trends like Industry 4.0 and transformative connectivity made possible by the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT)....

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“What Is Your IIoT Strategy?” Is the Wrong Question

Stu Johnson August 20, 2018

Manufacturers need to do more! Competitors are doing more--and perhaps at a lower cost. Customers expect more--and may demand a discount assuming that you're continuously improving. The recent technology trends seem to miss the fact that it’s your business strategy that's the thing. Not technology for technology sake. ...

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LiveWorx: Augmented Reality, IIoT, and the Future of Manufacturing

Stu Johnson July 16, 2018

If you’re wondering whether augmented reality (AR) is on the horizon for manufacturing, you can stop. It’s here, and it will change the way manufacturers use technology to benefit their businesses. By bringing together the digital and physical, AR has the power to dramatically change many manufacturing business processes such as training and asset management. ...

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The Path Manufacturers Should Take Toward Industry 4.0

Plex Team June 5, 2018

The benefits of Industry 4.0 are crystal-clear. So, why aren’t manufacturers making it their top priority to embrace everything this new approach entails? In other words, why has adoption been so slow? According to TechVentive, it’s because many companies still lack the basic technology infrastructure that must be in place before they can exploit Industry 4.0....

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Industrial Automation and IIoT: What’s Next for Manufacturers?

Stu Johnson April 23, 2018

The question you probably get asked a lot by technology folks is what is your Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) strategy? I’d like to suggest that this is the wrong question. If these technology folks really had your business requirements in mind, they should be asking: what are your business strategies to leverage the value this evolution in technology enables?...

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Technology Advancements Impacting Your Manufacturing Business Right Now

Dave Morfas November 13, 2017

There are major technology advancements that have made today’s economy more connected than ever before. Whether you recognize these technologies or not, they will have an impact on your business. Your competition may already be ahead of you in taking advantage of these, but you can put yourself in the driver's seat to steer your business in the right direction....

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Connectivity, Automation, and IIoT Power the Modern Shop Floor

Dave Morfas October 12, 2017

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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