National survey shows actual, planned automation investment is high among U.S. manufacturers A new report from the Manufacturers Alliance for Productivity and Innovation (MAPI; Arlington, VA) foundation indicates that despite the economic slowdown in the industrial sector over the past year, the incidence of actual and planned automation investment is very high in American manufacturing. […]
Systems
Fit-for-purpose software applications allow users to begin connecting their plant floor and enterprise systems for a fraction of the cost of an entire MES. The Internet of Things (IoT) is turning traditional homes into high-tech havens. The most successful solutions allow consumers to start small. For instance, vendors offer lighting systems controlled remotely via your […]
Overview: Safety standards and certification requirements have changed over the years. Safety standards and certification requirements have changed over the years. So have approaches to the design and implementation of safety systems – a fact that affects not only the replacement of aging systems, but also the selection of safety and control systems in new […]
The vast majority of companies are more exposed to cyberattacks than they have to be. To close the gaps in their security, CEOs can take a cue from the U.S. military. Once a vulnerable IT colossus, it is becoming an adroit operator of well-defended networks. Today the military can detect and remedy intrusions within hours, […]
Defending your networks, platforms, control systems and industrial settings from cyber attacks is a tough job, but with the right tools an attack could be prevented. In recent years hacking, phishing and cyber attacks have become a commonality. While online identity theft and email hacking affects individuals at the personal and financial level, a recent […]
Improving legacy automation systems can present a variety of challenges Process manufacturing plants are famous, some would say notorious, for their tendency to keep automation systems and associated networks up and running for decades. Some estimates suggest that easily half of the automation systems controlling North American plants have parts that are at least 20 […]
German chemical giant BASF SE announced it has chosen Freeport, Texas, to build its largest single-plant investment to date. BASF, which was already tentatively planning to build a world-scale methane-to-propylene complex along the Gulf Coast, opted to go with its Freeport site as the location. BASF and Norway-based Yara International ASA are already planning to […]
iemens hosted more than 130 girls in grades 5-12 and their parents at the Siemens West Chicago plant on Friday, March 13 for the 11th annual “Introduce a Girl to Engineering,” an evening where young women conduct design experiments, tour the factory and learn about careers in STEM and the manufacturing industry. “I like to […]
Position Responsibilities: The IT System Analyst position combines Supply Chain knowledge and IT system knowledge with an understanding of best-practices in supporting the Global Serialization Program. The role requires a strong technical and analytical background as well as the ability to design and develop appropriate business solutions. Recommend, implement and deliver technology solutions based on […]
Committing to an expansive strategy around data, information, and advice How much should OEMs concern themselves with the performance of the other guy’s machine, on which the performance of their machines might depend? Minding your own business is wisdom passed down from the ages, but it might not pay in the brave new world of […]