Smart Machines & Factories

The Fourth Industrial Revolution drives digital manufacturing forward by implementing new scenarios into the production process. These scenarios rely on fundamental design principles that include device interconnection, information transparency, technical assistance, and decentralised decisions.

Two online courses in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning have been launched by Duco Digital Training to bridge the digital skills gap and allow businesses to take a competitive advantage of this rapidly developing technology.

Paul Whitelam, SVP Global Marketing at ClickSoftware, looks at how to take the guesswork out of scheduling and dispatching with intelligent automation.

Vivek Shah, Syncron, takes a look at how machine learning and predictive analytics are reshaping manufacturing.

DT Engineering is developing a smart access system for industrial machinery to allow or deny access to it through a set of user-friendly operator interface modules. The system connects a machine’s control systems with a secure cloud-hosted database, sophisticated interrogation software and a web portal for system administration. Smart Machines & Factories reports.

As the manufacturing sector continues to expand its reliance on digital technology, data has become a valuable form of currency to potential hackers. Last year, the Chinese government was accused of repeatedly hacking a company to try to steal and replicate the design of a turbofan engine for commercial jetliners, highlighting the value often lurking in plant environments. Lee Carter, Industrial Network and Cyber Security product manager at SolutionsPT, looks at how early threat detection is crucial to prevent prolonged access to sensitive data and to protect valuable assets.

Industry 4.0 promises to deliver a broad range of business benefits, but the majority of industrial companies are still at the digital starting gates and few can claim to have created real business value. But, by adopting robust, scalable and flexible IoT platforms, manufacturing enterprises can build a solid business case for the digital transition and secure the vital first breakthroughs on a journey to the digital world. Dave Pickles, managing director, Capula Ltd, reports.

Thomas Boswell, ERIKS’ reliability engineering manager, examines how digital industrialisation is transforming MRO and underpinning proactive asset management strategies.

Smart Machines & Factories spoke to Thomas Brand at Analog Devices to take a look at cyber security for industrial Ethernet.

Chris Elsworthy, CEL-UK’s MD and lead mechanical engineer, explains what it takes to stack printers effectively and how design workflows can benefit from this simple yet innovative approach to 3D printing.

6point6 says thanks to those who were able to join it last week for its first AIevent with InstaDeep. This, the first of four events, looked atScaling AI in the Enterprise and helping business leaders to realise the potential of introducing and scaling AI in their businesses.

Ford relies on Desktop 3D printing to produce a variety of assembly tools, jigs and fixtures. The large variety of filaments with specific material properties offers many options. Ultimaker's open filament system enables material producers to provide industrial-grade materials with different properties. Smart Machines & Factories reports.

Nicholas Meyer, product manager, handheld communicators at Emerson Automation Solutions, explains why the writing is on the wall for traditional pen and paper-based data collection.

John Roberts, director of Idhammar Systems, addresses 5 developments manufacturers need to seriously consider this year, and shares his predictions for the manufacturing industry in 2019.

It seems a long time ago now since various malware attacks on the operational layer changed the security landscape and highlighted vulnerabilities in the de-facto automation architecture. However, as we move along the road towards Smart Manufacturing with a view to improving efficiency, productivity and reliability of supply using the principles of Industry 4.0 and the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), the subject of cyber-security is becoming arguably even more important. Chris Evans, marketing & operations group manager at Mitsubishi Electric

Andy Penfold, director of offering management at ADLINK Technology, describes how digital experimentation with the Internet of Things (IoT) leads to innovation and looks at potential solutions for creating a clearer path to innovative IoT.

Developing the UK’s IT infrastructure across manufacturing sectors is essential. The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) and augmented reality (AR) for industrial applications, brings a need for IT specialists to implement such technology, and train the manufacturing workforce on how to use it. Smart Machines & Factories reports.

Muntons Malt, one of the UK’s largest producers of malted barley has chosen the Smart Condition Monitoring (SCM) system from Mitsubishi Electric to protect fans and motors vital to its large-scale and sensitive production process. Smart Machines & Factories reports.

According to research from Barclays Corporate Banking, over half of manufacturers are reporting improved productivity thanks to the adoption of Industry 4.0 technologies. Despite this, two thirds state that they are yet to experience a return on investment (ROI). Lee Sullivan, regional sales manager at industrial software provider COPA-DATA UK, explains the steps manufacturers can take to boost ROI.

Sean Robinson, service leader at industrial analytics platform supplier Novotek UK & Ireland, explains how plant managers can make proactive maintenance even more effective with machine learning.

IoT, robotics and machine learning set to transform the supply chain, suggests research by Inmarsat. Smart Machines & Factories reports.

Smart Machines & Factories takes a look at a range of new solutions from Mitubishi Electric to keep up with the Smart technological wave.

Brian Foster, head of industry finance at Siemens Financial Services in the UK, takes a look at digitalisation in the plastics industry and the role of asset finance.

The long-standing industrial practice of outsourcing manufacturing operations to low-cost parts of the world to keep manufacturing costs down has recently taken a turn.

The Internet of Things (IoT) has the power to revolutionise industrial processes for the better, but there are plenty of pitfalls that will need to be avoided. Safeguards can help us navigate this new landscape. Andy Bailey, Solutions Architect, Stratus reports.