Articles and News

By Greg Goodwin, LNS Research If you’re currently planning on implementing a Manufacturing Execution System (MES) or other applications in the Manufacturing Operations Management (MOM) space, you may think you have all the shop-floor areas and situations that still use manual, paper-based processes identified, but this may not necessarily be the case.

By T. Lee Wylie The recent news regarding a lawsuit filed by Kentwool against NetSuite demonstrates that all ERP solutions are not manufacturing ERP solutions. It also cautions ERP vendors that knowing what you don’t know is a very valuable asset.

Management has to be part of the asset management team in order for the operation to get the real value from their installed assets.

By Bill Lydon, Editor The Iron Bridge plant was originally built in the 1980s to treat about 5 million gallons of wastewater per day. After several modifications and upgrades, it can now treat and reclaim up to 40 million gallons in that same 24-hour period. The facilities standardized on Siemens controls, drives, power distribution, and Profibus and PROFINET communications network.

In pH control systems reagent piping and injection must minimize transportation delays, volumes must have proper geometry and agitation to maximize the process time constant that filters pH oscillatio

For observed sensor events, selection of larger time feature values of sensor events will generate relatively better results on the activity sequences recognition performances.

September Educational Opportunities from ISA

By Luigi De Bernardini, Autoware It’s important to analyze production data to understand what factors caused loss of quality, production or efficiency. However, it is much more useful to be able to recognize in real time the onset of any problem and be able to intervene and reduce the possibility of compromising the production target.

By Kip Larson, Littelfuse This article discusses today’s motor protection relays and explain how they can be used not only to protect motors but also to simplify integration, diagnose problems, and provide control variables.

By Stewart Thompson, CAS DataLoggers Power Factor (PF) is the ratio of real power to the apparent power flowing to the load from the source. From a business standpoint it’s important to understand how having a low Power Factor raises your plant or factory’s power bill.

By John Pritchard, MAC Solutions The most successful OEMs and machine builders are now generating between 20-40% of their revenues and profits from services rather than ‘pure’ manufacturing. Here’s how to use Internet 4.0 in a safe, secure network.

The kit has a PIC32 microcontroller (MCU), HCI-based Bluetooth radio, and everything that a designer needs for rapid prototype and development of Bluetooth SPP designs.

The Road to High Performance Graphics

By Bill Lydon, Editor A few months ago, I gave a presentation to owners of small to midsize manufacturers about industrial automation technology and how it can improve operations and efficiency. One of the attendees asked why companies don’t apply more automation? The question triggered an interesting and instructive discussion. Here are some key takeaways from that discussion.

By Roxtec Understanding the behavior of pests, including mosquitos, bees, snakes, rodents, ants, etc., is essential to assist electrical and mechanical designers in designing cable, pipe and conduit penetrations that are protected against infestation.

By Chuck Fuerst, HighJump Software Cloud-based supply chain management software is helpful to companies of all sizes, but not all technology is created equal. This article addresses both the technical and vendor capabilities that manufacturers should understand when considering supply chain software in the cloud.

On/off solenoid valves with PWM control are widely used in all types of vehicle electro-hydraulic control systems.

What are the Essentials of pH in Industrial Applications?

By Bob Frostholm, JVD Don't build a Frankenstein monster by using "cadaver" electronic parts. Regardless of where in the system analog ICs are found, integration into an ASIC almost always yields user benefits. Stop wasting money with off the shelf solutions.

By Ed Romaine, Integrated Systems Design Materials handling process improvement directed at eliminating areas of waste and inefficiency can go a long way in helping manufacturers, warehouse and distribution operations meet lean and green initiatives while improving quality, service--and the bottom line.