Manufacturing and Automation White Papers

This whitepaper introduces "Hybrid AI" - a novel approach that combines the best of established machine vision processes and new AI capabilities.

The last five years brought huge advancements in additive manufacturing. Companies improved the reliability and capabilities of their platforms, and industry leaders have pioneered new manufacturing applications. In this white paper, we cover how additive has improved and how you can translate the gains into concrete improvements to your manufacturing operation.

Efficiency and flexibility are pillars of any successful workflow. In operations, these mainstays factor into everything from worker productivity and throughput, cycle times, and precision in dock-to-stock, order picking, and fulfillment – all of which impact the bottom line. Particularly when demands surge from a disruption (e.g., a pandemic) or during seasonal peaks, inefficiencies are exaggerated and can limit the ability to scale operations.

From a technology perspective, the fundamental architecture of robotics is changing. Robotics systems are becoming more modular, customizable, and intelligent. Machine learning, sensors and other new technologies are paving the way to a new class of collaborative robots (or cobots) that can work alongside humans. Download the eBook to learn more!

Why do automation projects fail to meet expectations? What can you do to prevent costly mistakes? How can you be proactive, ensuring your warehouse automation projects meet deadlines and goals? Ian Hobkirk, Commonwealth’s President, shares insider advice on how you can dodge unforeseen events to minimize the effect of Murphy’s Law to still meet time, budget and design objectives.

New manufacturing architectures are needed to meet the demand of the growing Internet of Things (IoT) market. This article discusses how PCB cloud manufacturing supports and enables IoT hardware development. PCBs are at the center of the IoT devices, enabling transducers, processors, antennas, and other components that are part of the device to exchange power and data in the form of electricity effectively. PCB design for IoT products is more challenging than other electronic circuits as it often requires meeting tighter size constraints, stricter standards, and higher performance requirements.

In today's complex world, employers are looking for smart, creative ways to support their employees' health and financial wellbeing. Yet, with all the benefit information out there, it's easy to feel overwhelmed. Our guide — Voluntary benefits 101 — is for busy employers who want practical information about voluntary benefits without the jargon or complicated details.

WMS was late to the Cloud party, for a variety of reasons, including concerns about response times for time-sensitive processes such as RF, Voice, material handling systems and more. This new report details how these barriers to Cloud WMS have fallen away, as now 75% of WMS implementations are Cloud-based - and growing. It also covers the key deployment and pricing options, case studies of companies implementing WMS in the Cloud, and lessons learned from the first wave of WMS Cloud adopters.

In this whitepaper, learn how combining ELATEC’S highly flexible, multipurpose TWN4 MultiTech reader/writer with the powerful TCP3 network interface module enables manufacturing plants to extend RFID identification card-based capability to the access control of devices requiring special operator training like PLC, robot and HMI automation controllers. And to control access to hazardous areas.

This white paper shows the benefits of RFID-based solutions for cleanroom and laboratory environments. You will learn about the challenges of complying with GMP/GLP requirements and what is important when choosing the right authentication solution.

The scope of application for access control is wide: in companies, not every employee should be allowed to go in and out everywhere, and hotels or health care facilities do not want to allow everyone in all areas. More and more often, a reliable access solution is needed. This whitepaper will show you what this could look like with RFID.

The past two years have been exceptional in many ways, but workplaces and businesses have adapted and moved forward. The rise of remote work isn’t receding, and the need to invest in more resilient supply chains is greater than ever. And even as constraints have loosened, leaders know that other supply chain disruptions will arise in the future.

User authentication and authorization to access industrial automation equipment in factories today must be easy to use, flexible, durable, secure, and stand up well to environmental elements. RFID card systems address these application requirements better than other methods and offer added benefits. RFID cards are the most widely used form of identity authentication and access control today. In this whitepaper, learn how combining ELATEC’S highly flexible, multipurpose TWN4 MultiTech reader/writer with the powerful TCP3 network interface module enables manufacturing plants to extend RFID identification card-based capability to the access control of devices requiring special operator training like PLC, robot and HMI automation controllers. And to control access to hazardous areas.

The ongoing manufacturing labor shortage is driving increased unplanned downtime, risk, and workforce turnover. This challenges even the best manufacturing plants to fill orders on time, keep their product and people safe, and retain a desirable workforce. In this guide, learn from manufacturers who have strategically overcome the labor shortage issue while improving their operations in the process.

Optimize your RFID reader selection, engineering design process and life-long performance with this handy checklist. Not all RFID readers are created equal. RFID readers/writers come with a broad range of form factors, capabilities and configurations. When choosing a reader to embed into a system or device, it is important to make sure it fully meets all of your design specifications. You also need to make sure it will continue to meet your needs for years to come as device specification and end user requirements change.

How can overarching challenges in the FMCG industry and specific challenges in process technology, intralogistics, IT integration and architecture be addressed?

Many warehouse layouts diminish the size and importance of receiving at a great detriment to their entire operation. Think of all the activities receiving does. They add labels, count the items and reconcile them with the manufacturer’s packing list. They break down pallets. They accommodate back orders, they report manufacturers shipping errors. All this activity needs to be supported and optimized. By focusing on reducing receiving errors and inefficiencies you will improve the flow of your entire warehouse.

In this introductory guide, you’ll learn the critical role that data management plays at every stage of the product design and manufacturing process. We’ll review all the key factors to consider when choosing the best software solution for your company – and examine how the latest cloud-native product development tools can proactively minimize or completely prevent data management issues altogether. Get your copy of “The Engineering Leader’s Guide to Data Management” today and spend more time being an engineer and designer – versus being stuck doing exhausting administrative tasks!

As the UK’s largest manufacturer of fractional horsepower electric motors, we serve manufacturers operating in pretty much every industry. Each has its own unique requirements that need to be met to ensure the perfect drive solution across a range of applications and when it comes to selecting geared electric motors, there are certain things you can specify to tailor them exactly to your specification. Our helpful tips below will help you narrow down the search for your perfect geared motor.

Your Location-based Process Automation insights: In this whitepaper, you will learn everything you need to know about how this new software category leverages location data for autonomous operations.

Because static electricity can cause so many problems on the production line, EXAIR has produced a more in-depth examination of it. This White Paper, is designed to help readers learn about the causes of static electricity, the steps that can be taken to eliminate static, and how to control it.

The study provided some clear guidance and pathways that could accelerate smarter manufacturing within organizations, namely increased funding, and consultation with experts in the space.

The manufacturing industry is experiencing a shortage of skilled labor and struggling to be profitable in high-mix, low-volume production runs. Owners and managers can benefit from investigating new technologies that help them overcome the workforce shortage, remain competitive, and attract and retain talent. Offline robot programming software is a key technology innovation manufacturers are implementing to be successful and combat many of their current challenges. Watch on demand a panel discussion on the benefits of offline programming software for robots.

Learn more about atomizing spray nozzle types and applications and the best spray nozzles for each application. Simplify the process and determine which atomizing spray nozzle will be the most effective for your application.

The Safety and Health of all employees should be every company’s number 1 priority. Organizations should strive to ensure that every employee has a safe and healthy work environment. However, in these uncertain times achieving the right balance between healthy lives and a healthy/safe work environment has never been so challenging for leaders. At Milliken, we have learned how to lead differently. We’ve learned you must build trust between employees and management so that health and safety becomes something we can all own and improve together, sustainably. Building stronger EHS processes together teaches us the importance of care and collaboration and gives us the confidence to understand and manage our risks. This approach brings health and safety improvements AND financial performance benefits. In this webinar, we will review the 9 Principle’s that lead to this result driven sustainable process.