Manufacturing and Automation White Papers

Over the past two decades, we have had the unique opportunity to work with hundreds of factories producing high-tech products in industries ranging from defense, aerospace and medical devices to industrial electronics, heavy machines and precision laboratory instruments. A consistent theme has emerged: factory managers and executives are struggling to eliminate human errors in their manufacturing processes, while training has become a significant burden on their organizations.

Featuring the most up-to-date research on the secure and effective implementation of AI throughout the manufacturing sector, the white paper focuses on recent federal AI initiatives, including advancements in the Department of Commerce’s Supply Chain Center, as well as AI standards from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). Specifically, the white paper details how two NCMS initiatives have contributed to solutions for three issues impeding more widespread adoption of AI in the manufacturing sector: (1) preserving data privacy, (2) creating a standard and secure way to selectively share data in useful forms to different organizations, and (3) helping SMMs see the benefits of using their manufacturing operational and product data to fuel AI models, and sharing this data with public-private partnerships that can contribute demonstrations of scalable AI solutions for a wide range of manufacturing problems.

New survey reveals the role that elevated flooring and mezzanines are playing in today’s warehouses and DCs and highlights the value of composite engineered wood flooring as a surface of choice for these structures.

Introducing the 2024 State of Industrial Networking Report for Manufacturing, offering key insights into how global manufacturing firms are enhancing security, boosting efficiency, and driving innovation with their industrial networking strategy. Look at what 700+ manufacturing professionals, from management to C-suite, across 17 countries have to say.

This comprehensive guide aims to break down important sustainability concepts and equip you with the knowledge and tools necessary to reduce carbon emissions in your business.

If you’re a business wondering whether to begin your decarbonization efforts, the answer is a resounding “yes.” Not just because it’s a current global trend, or beneficial to brand reputation, or the “right thing to do,” but because it costs you NOT to decarbonize. In more ways than you might think.

Actual costing, or keeping track of your actual costs, is vital for ensuring profitability, especially in industries where production costs fluctuate. Here is how and why to implement actual costing in your company.

Prototype quickly, integrate easily, and scale effectively with industrial computers you can depend on. Our embedded computers can be easily and quickly customized, putting the right product in your hands in days. Our systems have been certified to meet a wide range of industry-specific regulatory requirements, making it easier for you to gain full system certification for your products. And when you're ready to scale, we can help you simplify integration through our imaging and BIOS customization services to create a plug and play solution.

The benefits of Secure Boot and the ways to enable it. Enabling UEFI Secure Boot ensures that each element loaded during the boot process is digitally authenticated. This document breaks down how Secure Boot prevents the loading of unauthorized applications and provides details about how to customize the Secure Boot policy.

Discover how Autodesk Fusion extensions enhance your design and manufacturing processes with advanced CAM capabilities, including 4-axis and 5-axis machining, automation, and strategies for increased efficiency and growth.

Configurable BOMs enable companies to easily plan the manufacture of products with variations. Here is how they work and how they help.

Leading insights to achieve AI excellence in the manufacturing sector. Tap our latest research to discover how manufacturing organizations are overcoming industry challenges and harnessing AI to drive improved operational and business outcomes.

Do you need your products ready as soon as possible or just in time for the promised delivery date? Forward and backward scheduling are key concepts in production planning that allow production to be set up according to this fundamental question.

MQTT is a widely used protocol for connecting IIoT industrial devices, enabling efficient and real-time data exchange. However, it often gets misunderstood for security vulnerabilities, leading to misconceptions about its safety. In this paper, we will discuss essential steps to ensure MQTT security, from edge devices to cloud servers, and how to address denial of service (DoS) attacks effectively.

How Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) Can Lead Global Decarbonization. Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) are critical for global decarbonization. Download this whitepaper and discover why it’s important to take action, the steps you can take to decarbonize your business, and how Zeigo Activate makes it easier than ever to estimate, track, and reduce your carbon emissions. Get your copy of the whitepaper outlining the role that small and medium-sized enterprises can take climate action now.

Premio’s Rugged Edge Computing Solutions and the Edge Continuum Matrix. Join us as we explore and define the edge continuum and how Premio aligns itself with its robust ruggedized product portfolio with this 5-episodes series. Hear from our product marketing experts as they break down Premio’s product line and more including: Technology catalysts, industry growth and projections, and key market trends shaping the Edge Continuum; Key distinctions on the User Edge from the Industrial Edge, Rugged Edge, and Specialized Edge and how they align within the space; Comprehensive overview and breakdown of Premio’s flagship computing products from product specialists.

The demand for precision and speed in modern industrial equipment has exposed the limitations of traditional quartz oscillators. MEMS timing solutions provide a superior alternative, offering better resistance to environmental stressors, improved stability across temperatures, and enhanced power supply and EMI noise rejection. SiTime’s MEMS products deliver reliable performance in challenging conditions, making them a valuable choice for industrial automation in the age of Industry 4.0. Their programmability, durability and quality ensure manufacturers meet stringent timing requirements while managing inventory and compliance more effectively.

TextureJet’s Stat® technology is now proven to achieve higher quality edge finishing through increased repeatability and precision than the current methods utilised in edge finishing of aerospace components. In recent testing, detailed in a TextureJet White Paper published this week, TextureJet demonstrated how its electrochemical jet machining technology offers distinct advantages in terms of safety, sustainability and repeatability compared to current methods in edge finishing. The results showed an increase in repeatability and overall tighter tolerances with an increase of more than 110% in repeatability in comparison to robot automated brush deburring and an increase of over 350% compared to manual brush deburring.

The Sarbanes-Oxley Act mandates company leaders certify the accuracy of warehouse inventory reporting. Poor inventory tracking practices place leaders at risk of certifying and sharing inaccurate inventory data. This white paper explores these risks that are magnified by outdated and highly manual inventory handling practices. Download this paper to learn how other companies are reducing inventory reporting risks with automated computer vision solutions that improve the veracity of reported data while reducing need for expensive warehouse labor requirements.

Encoder digital signals start as sine waves and can be interpolated to produce higher resolutions. Sine waves have to be clean and free of noise for effective interpolation.

The growing shortage of skilled workers is increasing the pressure on industrial companies to automate their processes. Flexible, cost-effective and easy-to-implement robotics solutions such as autonomous mobile robots and collaborative robots are therefore in demand. Mobile manipulators connect both robot systems, but often cannot be used economically due to insufficient battery power. The solution: the Wireless Power Kit from Wiferion, which enables wireless charging for both systems simultaneously.

Step-by-Step Process for Emission Reduction Targets: Transitioning to 100% renewables may appear challenging, but various clean energy solutions in today’s market can help businesses reach this goal. Selecting the right renewable energy solution depends on factors like energy demand, location, budget, and sustainability goals. In this eBook, we outline a step-by-step process for achieving your emission reduction targets through renewable energy.

Need automation but concerned about the cost? Our latest e-book, "The Right Automation is Free," explores cost-effective strategies that streamline operations, boost productivity, and give your business a competitive edge. Download now to discover how the right automation pays for itself.

Are you running a UK manufacturing business and looking to embark on a digital transformation journey? If so, this free whitepaper is the perfect place to start. Aimed at ambitious SMEs it acts as a guide, explaining the concepts of digitisation, digitalisation, digital transformation, and continuous improvement. Made Smarter help manufacturers better understand and navigate current and future trends and make the case for how industrial digital technologies can solve problems and create growth opportunities. This whitepaper explains the process of how we support SME manufacturers with digital transformation through grant funding and skills and leadership training programmes. It also showcases some of the hundreds of businesses who have benefitted from our intervention across the country. Finally, hear from some of our partner organisations such as Make UK, the Centre for People-Led Digitalisation (PLD) and InterAct on how they are working with Made Smarter towards a common goal and find links to the best resources available to get you started with digital transformation today.

In this paper, we examine these two leading sensor types and evaluate their performances at frequencies associated with common faults. We find that piezoelectric sensors outperform MEMS accelerometers in terms of frequency range for early detection, making them the preferred option for machine health monitoring applications.

Occupational exoskeletons are designed to augment, enable, assist, and/or enhance physical activity through mechanical interaction with the body with the goal to reduce fatigue and prevent work-related musculoskeletal disorders. In this paper, our expert will discuss how occupational exoskeletons fit within the Hierarchy of Controls (NIOSH, 2015), and provide an alternative framework for estimating their effectiveness compared to other types of solutions for reducing ergonomic risk for the prevention of work-related musculoskeletal disorders.

Download this research paper to learn how forward-thinking organizations are linking employee well-being and productivity through musculoskeletal professional disciplines and technology. In this paper, we will look at the new paradigm of worker health and discuss: Disability Preventio; Improved Methods of Health Data Collection; Creating an Environment for Successful Return-to-work and Stay-at-Work Outcomes

While stockouts may suggest that a product is popular, they are typically costly mistakes in inventory management that are far better avoided than managed after the fact. In this article, we look at what stockouts are, how they are caused, and what businesses can do to prevent them.

End-of-line packaging is the last state of the packaging process. This requires individual and powerful drive systems to move heavy loads over long travel distances. Read our white paper to find out more about the use of decentralized drive solutions with asynchronous motors in end-of-line packaging.

From its humble beginnings as a niche technology for rapid prototyping to its current spectrum of capabilities to create forms that are virtually impossible to build any other way, 3D printing has spawned a brand-new generation of manufacturing. In this article, we’ll take a look at the origins of 3D printing, its big moments in history, applications, and explore the future it holds.

NORD asynchronous technology with its increased inertia has decisive advantages in end-of-line packaging. When moving heavy loads, it ensures better control than conventional servo solutions. It also provides stability and reduces vibrations and the risk of damaging the load or packaging machine. Find out more in our white paper: Decentralized Drive Solutions with Controlled Frequency Inverters in End-of-Line Packaging”.

In a tight labor market, companies are under pressure to figure out how to do more with less—less headcount, less overhead, and in less time. Our white paper, “Robots to the Rescue: How Material Handling Automation Battles Persistent Labor Shortages,” shares solutions to these challenges and more.

Our new white paper, Precision Motion Components Drive Automated Electric Vehicle Manufacturing Advances, describes the features and attributes to look for in motion components for automated EV production, with a special emphasis on how to solve pain points related to lithium-ion battery manufacturing — including contamination prevention and maintenance. It will also describe how the right motion component supplier can address these difficulties.

Select The Perfect Panel PC With Our Buyer's Guide And Checklist This guide will help you: Identify the exact panel PC requirements of your project, Understand the variables that could impact the performance and longevity of your panel PC, Establish how your application, software, and configuration needs may influence your choice of system

In this paper, we will focus on one area of development in the context of a project recently carried out by Maplesoft and its partner, ControlWorks Inc, of South Korea. Specifically, we will cover the development of a Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) testing system for the Battery Management Systems (BMS) used in one of our client's larger electrical energy storage products, targeting the Smart Grid and UPS markets.

Inventory is any finite asset that a company uses for producing and selling its goods. In this article, we zoom in on the four basic types of inventory and how to manage them.

When a group of components work together and create the most cost-effective solution for machine movement, that’s a linear positioning system. And linear motion technology designed as a system best enables OEMs to accelerate design and manufacturing speed, reduce assembly time and labor — and achieve a lower total cost of ownership. Explore the key issues that OEM engineers and purchasers must know when specifying and procuring linear motion systems. Then review an OEM case study illustrating the benefits. It’s all in our new technical brief.

Businesses like yours around the world are taking a renewed approach towards their environmental, social and governance (ESG) priorities. As regulatory pressure around ESG goals grows, you know it’s important to have clear insight on progress and keep track of what work still needs to be done. Meeting your ESG goals can be challenging. This eBook can give you the knowledge you need to stay in line with strict regulations.

In this guide, you'll learn about the different aspects of 3D printing colorful parts, how to create and add color to your models, as well as the best practices and considerations to keep in mind when printing in full color.

We've compiled our best tips into this guide to help you understand laser and sheet cutting processes, how to prepare your files, important design considerations for optimizing your parts for manufacturing, and information about Xometry's sheet cutting services.

We are beginning to approach a world in which artificial intelligence, or AI, is a regular part of all industries as machines become increasingly capable of taking over both mundane and complex tasks. But manufacturing companies have known for decades what many other industries are only learning now: that humans and machines working together can unlock a wealth of potential and take productivity to entirely new levels. Since the late 90s, manufacturing companies have been well aware of the increased efficiency, productivity, and ultimate profitability that can be offered by integrating AI into everyday processes. We can see evidence of this in the rapid growth of the Global Artificial Intelligence in Manufacturing Market, which is predicted to reach a value of $9.89 billion by the year 2027. Here are five ways in which your manufacturing company can benefit from this new-age technology.

As we enter our new age of workforce productivity, with AI, automation, and no-code changing the way we work, organizations are going to need to keep up to manage their Dynamic Work. This is especially true in manufacturing, with a balance of physical and digital materials, flexible processes, and complex, multi-stakeholder. Manufacturing needs to be able to handle these rapid changes, and requires dynamic solutions to succeed and drive productivity. In fact, Deloitte found that 76% of manufacturers are adopting digital tools to gain enhanced transparency into their supply chain.

The origin of quality issues for 3D product data often start with engineering “escapes” buried in a complex system of inefficient engineering change processes that create functional gaps and labor redundancies. The problem is exacerbated by reliance on outdated methods and procedures for exchanging product data with partners throughout the supply chain. Simply preventing the added step of re-creating 3D product data can result in significant annual labor savings alone, ranging from $5M to $100M and higher.

This white paper presents an automated approach to deforming CAD geometry based on the results of simulation. The morphing process is broken down into component steps: matching, deformation, and rebuilding. Issues associated with accurately rediscovering the mesh geometry parentage and how this can affect the quality of a morph are discussed.

As a manufacturer still relying on Excel datasheets, other spreadsheets, and systems you implemented ages ago? This has been nothing but the norm in the manufacturing industry. While this approach is common and there is inherently nothing wrong with using these time-tested methods, it can pose challenges in terms of scalability, adaptability, and efficiency as the industry evolves into a more complex and volatile environment where data insights offer significant competitive advantages. In this white paper, we explore how the needs and expectations have changed in the manufacturing industry and how integrated manufacturing solutions offer a whole new level of efficiency and adaptability. We dive into traditional methods, like Microsoft Excel, and expand our horizons into tailored software solutions.

Our Complete Guide and Configuration Checklist; We’ve collected the most important information to consider before selecting the hardware platform for your project. In this guide you'll learn which variables, configuration options, software choices and more will inform the hardware you need to launch a successful project.

How to bring resilient, stable, and flexible computing to harsh edge environments: This eBook will help you understand the value of collecting, controlling, and acting upon data on edge devices, and illuminate some of the specific infrastructure needs to optimize far edge deployments.

Before you say, “No, not my business!” keep in mind that more than 90% of participants of our recent study are at moderate or high risk of fragmentation. Fortunately, fighting back is much easier than living with the problem. Find out how much fragmentation is throwing off your projects. Take the quiz or download the playbook now.

Accomplishing dynamic work means better managing your people and your data. When more people are working on the go, that becomes more complicated. Without the right mobile capabilities, businesses will create more Gray Work when trying to be effective when away from their desks — especially in trying to collaborate between the field and back office.

Work today is complex, flexible, and multidimensional, requiring a new approach to manage this dynamic work. With the right resources, you can see, connect, and control even your most complex projects – and manage the dynamic work that drives revenue. Quickbase commissioned Forrester Consulting to conduct a Total Economic Impact™ analysis, to determine potential benefits and cost savings that companies can experience with Quickbase.