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.

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7th Annual State of Smart Manufacturing

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Smart Manufacturing

Plex Manufacturing Blog

Skilled Trades in Manufacturing Are Evolving

Plex Team June 21, 2022

Manufacturing is undergoing a renaissance. Through robotics, AI, machine learning, virtual and augmented reality, and more, digital manufacturing is being leveraged for greater efficiency, new products and services, and process optimization. The newfound control and utilization of machine-generated data enables companies to weave a digital thread through all their business practices and enhance…

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Automotive Manufacturing Is More Resilient Than Ever

Anthony Murphy June 8, 2022

When production halted in 2020, automotive suppliers and OEMs showcased their business agility by banding together and pivoting to develop much-needed supplies for frontline workers. Ford Motor Company produced clear plastic shields, Creative Foam Corp manufactured foam parts for ventilators, and Desin, a manufacturer of Human Machine Interface (HMI) sensors, added a production line to make face…

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Explore the Key Topics of ROKLive 2022

Plex Team June 1, 2022

You know that feeling when you’re looking at a couple dozen delicious ice cream flavors but aren’t sure which one to pick? You might stand there a few minutes, debating the merits of chocolate chips vs. chocolate chunks, until you realize you’re blocking the aisle and finally make your decision....

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How Do 300+ Manufacturers Feel About Supply Chain Planning?

Ara Surenian May 25, 2022

The last few years have not been kind to supply chain planning professionals. Tariffs, geopolitical tensions, a pandemic, numerous sea freight issues, and the war in Ukraine are some of the many issues that have affected global supply chains....

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Digital Connectivity: The “Key” to Empowering Manufacturing Teams

Plex Team May 24, 2022

Have you ever been to the Florida Keys? The area is home to some of the world’s best beaches, snorkeling, and fishing, but getting there hasn’t always been easy. To move from island to island, visitors and locals had to island-hop by boat or ferry....

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Add These ROKLive Sessions to Your Agenda

Plex Team May 18, 2022

Have you booked your flight to Orlando for ROKLive 2022? Or are you learning more about the smart manufacturing event of the year before you decide to register? Either way, this blog is for you....

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Charging Ahead: Enabling Electric Vehicle Manufacturing with Smart Technology

Plex Team May 10, 2022

Many advances in technology and changing consumer tastes have disrupted the automobile industry. From innovations like front-wheel drive and the SUV to the beginning of smart technology for navigation, diagnostics, and entertainment, production lines were forced to adjust many times in history....

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7 Reasons to Attend ROKLive 2022

Plex Team May 5, 2022

Maybe you’ve heard of ROKLive. Maybe you already know it’s the best manufacturing technology conference that you can find, held by industry leaders Plex Systems and Rockwell Automation. But is that enough to justify booking your ticket to Orlando for this June? Maybe. Maybe not. Let’s make this the easiest decision of your week by laying out the reasons why manufacturing professionals just like…

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Mobile Smart Manufacturing Platforms: The Parkour of the Plant Floor

Plex Team April 26, 2022

There was a time when making changes in manufacturing was like trying to move a sleeping elephant using only a skateboard. Lack of communication, time-lagged and siloed data, and manual record-keeping made the task slow and lumbering....

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Your 5 Steps to Smart Manufacturing Adoption

Gerry Abbey April 25, 2022

Smart manufacturing enables manufacturers like you to adapt to a changing market and unlock long-term opportunities by connecting and automating their business. But where do you start? With increasingly modular smart manufacturing technology options available, investment and implementation can be simple, seamless, and cost-effective. These incremental investments unlock value quickly and can be…

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