How to keep AI developing without compromising safety and security
Christina Montgomery Francesca Rossi The introduction of generative AI systems into the public domain exposed people all over the world to new technological possibilities, implications, and even consequences many had yet to consider. Thanks to systems like ChatGPT, just about anyone can now use advanced AI models that are not only capable […]
Detecting faults: A stitch in time for manufacturing?
By Alessandro Chimera TIBCO’s director of digitalisation strategy The way we use data to monitor and control manufacturing systems has changed. TIBCO’s director of digitalisation strategy, Alessandro Chimera, explains the shape of the anomaly economy guiding operational performance management in manufacturing. “A stitch in time saves nine” is a well-known […]
Asia-Pacific most receptive to smart manufacturing usage globally
Companies believe smart manufacturing is key to their business’ future success, The State of Smart Manufacturing Report reveals. Plex Systems, a Rockwell Automation company in cloud-delivered smart manufacturing solutions, has announced the results of its 7th annual study, “The State of Smart Manufacturing Report.” The research reveals that smart manufacturing […]
Manufacturers need to leverage a data mesh for innovation and competitiveness
By Vinay Samuel, Founder and CEO, Zetaris The success of any manufacturing business depends on closely managing every element of the process. That starts with accessing raw materials, monitoring the actual process of manufacturing, the dispatch of finished goods and ensuring they are shipped to the customer. The key to […]
Decarbonise while you Digitalise
Nathan Knight, Hitachi Vantara’s Managing Director for Australia and New Zealand, makes the case for a coordinated approach to decarbonisation and digitalisation Imagine that manufacturers have a character on each shoulder, one with the word PROGRESS emblazoned across its chest, and the other, SUSTAINABILITY. When deciding where to invest precious […]
Industry 4.0 transforming manufacturing processes for increased efficiency
Frank Baldrighi, business development manager – ANZ, GETAC Thanks to digital transformation powered by artificial intelligence (AI), automation, and machine learning (ML), manufacturing processes are becoming smarter, more efficient, and safer. This transformation is often referred to as industry 4.0, or the fourth industrial revolution, and marks the beginning of […]
Propelling Smart Manufacturing in APAC to the next frontier with AI
Attributed to: Leonard Lee, President APAC, Beyond Limits As one of the global hubs for manufacturing, Asia Pacific (APAC) accounts for about 48.5% of the worldwide manufacturing output. In the region, opportunities are ripe for smart manufacturing to move to the next level, largely due to the well-developed manufacturing ecosystem […]
New cloud-based solutions bring speed and feline agility to unlock the power of manufacturing data
Historically, manufacturing data has been gridlocked, trapped in the devices, or the applications where it was created. “Today, owners of that data want to be a cheetah, a business cheetah,” said Brian Shepherd, senior vice president of software and control at Rockwell Automation. In the current global climate, a business […]
Embracing equity for women in STEM
This year’s International Women’s Day (IWD) follows the theme of “embracing equity” — focusing on giving fair opportunities for everyone to succeed. An example of a business invested in its people is, Sandvik Coromant, here highlighting the experience of their President, Helen Blomqvist. One of IWD’s key missions is to […]
Operational technology security in smart manufacturing
By Alex Mosher, Senior Vice-President of Global Enablement at Armis The business needs of Operational Technology (OT) environments are rapidly evolving where systems are increasingly connected to both enterprise networks and externally to the internet, exposing them to new and emerging cyber threats. This means that security becomes strategically important […]
Is low-code the future of manufacturing?
Jornt Moerland, Regional Vice President APAC of Mendix. Business leaders have been losing sleep in face of various challenges within the manufacturing industry. Decreasing production output, labour shortages, ongoing supply chain disruptions and inflation are just a few to be named. As noted by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, almost […]
Network Monitoring – The competitive differentiator in manufacturing
By Sebastian Krueger, Vice President APAC, Paessler Every industrial revolution brings along a learning revolution. Digitisation is transforming the world in ways people a few decades ago would have hardly imagined. You hail a taxi ride to take you to the best restaurant in town using your smartphone and get […]
Delivering supply chain resiliency across the fabricated metals industry with ERP
By Roger Landman, Head of Product Management at SYSPRO The fabricated metals industry inherently runs on very slim margins due to factors like fluctuating material costs, direct and indirect labour and overhead expenses. Global raw material costs are often dictated by the London Metal Exchange (LME), the largest exchange for options and futures contracts for base metals, which includes steel, aluminium, zinc, lead, copper and nickel. Besides the volatility of external global factors, the industry is also expected to meet specific, made-to-order, customer demands. With all these factors at play, it comes as no surprise that the industry is so heavily reliant on specific raw materials suppliers, manufacturing processes, labour and outbound logistics requirements. With ongoing supply chain disruptions, competitive advantage is being lost. According to the recent SYSPRO survey entitled ‘Realigning the links of the disconnected supply chain’, 82 percent of fabricated metal businesses have experienced supply chain and material handling disruptions, further eroding diminishing margins and ultimately customer service. Despite these challenges, only 12 percent of businesses have systems that support in servicing external customers. To build resiliency, metal fabricators should consider the right technology solutions to improve operational efficiencies, enhance external collaboration and meet unique customer demands. Maintaining a consistent supply of raw materials For decades, China has been a leading supplier of raw materials to the fabricated metals industry, partly due to its competitive pricing to match low industry margins. Russia has also been a top producer of materials such as aluminium, steel and nickel. But raw materials don’t just stop at metals. Gasses like Oxygen and Argon are essential in the welding of carbon steel and some high alloy steels. With ongoing challenges like global lockdowns, sanctions and other unavoidable disasters, distribution of these materials has also been severely delayed. Last year, several countries experienced […]