Randolph Bradley, Technical Fellow in Supply Chain Management at Boeing, explains the Center for Excellence in Logistics and Distribution's reason for being, and Boeing’s involvement with the industry-academia partnership. Among what is covered: energy use in the supply chain; demand forecasting using Bayes’ Rule (also used to crack Germany's Enigma code during WWII), and insights gained from MHI’s US Roadmap for Material Handling and Logistics.
Apr 13, 2017•12 min
Joe Lampinen, Senior Director, Global Practice Consultant for Engineering, Business, & Professional Services at Kelly Services, explores how manufacturers today must meet the challenge of engaging younger workers just entering the profession. These workers have the expectation that they will change employers ten times or more during their careers. Employers must be able to upskill and engage all of their workers and choose the right option from the many available for bringing in outside work...
Mar 31, 2017•18 min
What's up with AM machines this year? At the Aerodef conference, SLM Solutions' Winthrop Sheldon takes on this and several other market-trend questions. “You’re seeing more multi-laser systems. You’re seeing generally more open systems (in terms of parameter control and material use). And you’re also seeing larger format systems. So there are quite a few new trends that I feel SLM was instrumental in bringing to market. Now the question is can we maintain our position with these technologies—now...
Mar 16, 2017•9 min
Dimitrije Milovich, president and CEO of Radius Engineering Inc. (Salt Lake City), discusses the role small manufacturers play in aerospace. His company has fewer than 40 employees but has established a niche in aerospace. Milovich was at SME's AeroDef Manufacturing Show in Fort Worth, TX, where he received the 2017 J.H. "Jud" Hall Composites Manufacturing Award. He spoke with Senior Editor Bill Koenig about how small companies play an important role in aerospace manufacturing. Milovich also dis...
Mar 16, 2017•13 min
EnvisionTEC CEO Al Siblani explains why the SLCOM 1, a machine that does selective lamination composite object manufacturing and is in beta testing, is an important development in 3D printing: “There’s absolutely no limitation in terms of geometry in terms of what kinds of composite parts you can build—unless it’s a closed volume. Besides any closed volume, the SLCOM 1 allows you to additively manufacture parts that are 24 inches wide, 30 inches long and 24 inches deep. So what really makes the ...
Mar 16, 2017•8 min
Zane Michael, director of thermal business development for Yaskawa America/Motoman Robotics Division, explains why the biggest challenge for welding manufacturers today is the shortage of welders. He notes that fabricators can apply robotic welding technology with a high degree of success by first using simple systems, and explains why human welders still play a major role in robotic welding by analyzing and managing the performance of robotic welding units.
Mar 15, 2017•11 min
At the Aerodef conference in Texas, Conrad Leiva, VP for product strategy and alliance at iBASEt and chair of the smart manufacturing working group at MESA, says companies should first evaluate their business model today to get ready for a smart manufacturing future. Next, they should look at their IT infrastructure. And don't forget to address digital handoffs between systems. "We're coming from a culture of silos and moving to a culture of collaboration--across our departments internally and i...
Mar 15, 2017•16 min
For starters, NASA's HUNCH program brings projects, mentors, expertise and schools. SME's PRIME initiative brings mentors, equipment and a scholarship component. "It's kind of a big deal that those things mesh so well," says Blake Ratcliff, program manager of NASA HUNCH.
Mar 15, 2017•7 min
Sandra Rios, Head of Product Management & Marketing, AXOOM GmbH, explores the development of the platform market for the Internet of Things, the company’s vision for the IoT platform market, and its plans in North America.
Mar 13, 2017•15 min
At the Aerodef show in Texas, Mike Judge, executive vice president of Cincinnati-based 5ME, delivers the lowdown on cryogenic machining. He notes that 5ME can add cryogenic machining to machines in the field. (Installation takes 1-3 days.)
Mar 13, 2017•8 min
Bob Yancey, vice president of additive manufacturing at Altair Engineering, also discusses the importance of an upfront design process and advances in manufacturing simulation
Mar 03, 2017•13 min
The co-author of "The Smartest Places on Earth: Why Rustbelts Are the Emerging Hotspots of Global Innovation" discusses not only all he discovered in writing the book but also what he has learned since it was published. Example of the latter: "The movement from a focus on cheap to a focus on smart is ... a real competitive advantage, but it’s not permanent. I discovered that China now very well understands that this is an issue. China is now the biggest buyer of robots in the world."
Feb 09, 2017•22 min
Steve Immel, head of Americas Business Development for Materialise, explains why a traditional manufacturing company may want to get into additive manufacturing, the main considerations for manufacturers looking to add capabilities in additive manufacturing, and explores the “triangle of materials, hardware and software.”
Feb 06, 2017•30 min
Dr. Jeffery Ahrstrom, President and COO of BLM Group USA, explores how a tube laser system can help manufacturers replace the physical processes of punching, sawing and milling with lasing in order to reduce work-in-progress, improve upon existing manufacturing processes, and create new ones.
Feb 03, 2017•12 min
John Thompson, National Technical Sales Manager for PFERD Inc., offers his predictions on the future of metal finishing, examines new solutions that can help improve productivity and reduce risk in hand-held applications, and discusses how systems are changing to adapt to the growing use of composite materials.
Jan 30, 2017•16 min
Diego Tamburini, Senior Design and Manufacturing Industry Strategist for Autodesk, explores the main forces shaping the future of the fabricating industry; key strategies manufacturers can use to remain competitive; promising technologies Autodesk is currently developing; and the opportunity of the IoT for manufacturers.
Jan 26, 2017•30 min
Bonnie Martens, Marketing Communications Manager for Dimplex Thermal Solutions, examines key trends in process cooling; how chillers can be designed for energy efficiency; solutions that increase system uptime; and how the Internet of Things is changing how chillers operate.
Jan 23, 2017•18 min
John Galich, marketing manager for Mate Precision Tooling, discusses trends in the CNC punch press tooling and press brake tooling market; challenges facing the industry; and the evolving mission of Mate Precision Tooling.
Jan 20, 2017•11 min
John Heuring, Regional Sales Manager for Dallas Industries, explores the challenges fabricators face when their feed line operators process advanced, high-strength steels. He also outlines the special considerations that stampers should consider for feed lines being paired with servo presses.
Jan 09, 2017•16 min
Frank Arteaga, Head of Product Marketing for Bystronic, explains why Industry 4.0 isn’t just for big companies and why small to medium-sized job shops should learn about and adopt it. He also explains how job shops can implement Industry 4.0 without making major changes to equipment and software.
Jan 05, 2017•20 min
Mark Scherler, General Manager of Materials Joining for FANUC America, explores how the Internet of Things is changing robotic manufacturing, laser processes that are being used with robotics, and how changes in the manufacturing labor force are affecting the need for robotics.
Jan 03, 2017•20 min
Craig Tomita, Area Sales Manager for Universal Robots, and David Jackson, President of CleanLogix (an OEM partner of Universal Robots) discuss the use of collaborative robot (cobots) in manufacturing. Cobots can be used without safety guarding on production and assembly lines, and CleanLogix has incorporated a UR cobot in one of its CO2 cleaning applications.
Dec 20, 2016•13 min
Will Healy, Strategic Marketing Manager, and Dave Bird, Key Account Manager, Metal Forming and Robotic Welding for Balluff Inc., discuss how press shops can dramatically improve uptime, tackle the biggest problems with sensors and networking in robotic welding, and surmount the challenges to implementing Industrial Internet of Things. They also explain how machine builders can increase the value they deliver to manufacturers.
Dec 14, 2016•28 min
Sandra L. Bouckley, FSME, 2017 President for SME, discusses the current state of the manufacturing workforce, what this means for the future, how companies can help bridge the skills gap and the role of new technology in resolving workforce challenges.
Dec 12, 2016•16 min
Charlie Miller, director of sales for the Eastern region of the US for the robot and applications group at ABB, examines emerging trends in robotic welding, how the Industrial Internet of Things is driving changes in the sector, and the biggest challenges users need to address--including the shortage of skilled workers.
Dec 07, 2016•13 min
Detlef Zühlke, Scientific Director for Innovative Factory Systems at the German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence and Executive Chairman of SmartFactory-KL in Germany, discusses what it was like to be a founding father of Industrie 4.0, obstacles to smart manufacturing and ways the transition can be made smoother.
Dec 02, 2016•27 min
Manufacturing Engineering Editor-in-Chief James D. Sawyer talks to Dr. Bruce Cameron, MIT faculty director, about the online professional certificate program. Online Education at MIT: Models and Methods to Manage Complex Systems MIT Professional Education’s new four-course online professional certificate program, Architecture and Systems Engineering: Models and Methods to Manage Complex Systems is intended to provide a state-of-the-practice view on model-based systems engineering for technical p...
Nov 23, 2016•24 min
Guest: Met-L-Flow President Carl Dekker. Interviewed by Smart Manufacturing magazine Editor In Chief Brett Brune. How can we get around better? SME’s 2017 Digital Manufacturing Challenge invites college and high school students around the world who are in STEM fields to answer the question—by creating forward-thinking, mobility innovation solutions. Contest submissions are due before March 13.
Oct 12, 2016•5 min
Smart Manufacturing magazine Editor in Chief Brett Brune discusses The Digital Transformation full-day seminar with John Deere's Craig Sutton. Sutton is the chair of the Nov. 9 event. The Digital Manufacturing and Design Innovation Institute (DMDII) is hosting it in Chicago.
Oct 10, 2016•19 min
Guest: Mike Molnar, Director - Advanced Manufacturing National Program Office, US Dept of Commerce. Interviewed by Smart Manufacturing magazine Editor in Chief Brett Brune. SME’s Advanced Manufacturing Now talks with the US Dept of Commerce’s Mike Molnar about Manufacturing USA, the new public named for the National Network for Manufacturing Innovation. Formally established in 2014, Manufacturing USA brings together industry, academia and federal partners within a growing network of advanced man...
Oct 04, 2016•15 min
