BIRMINGHAM, Mich.—As manufacturers mark International Automation Professionals Day, the focus turns to the people and systems behind some of the most advanced assembly operations in the United States.
Disruptions are inevitable—but being unprepared isn’t. Eddy Azad, founder and CEO of Parsec Automation, explains how manufacturers can build resilience through continuous improvement, visibility and long-term thinking to stay competitive.
Manufacturers are moving quickly to adopt AI and automation, but the way those systems are designed may be introducing new risks. On an upcoming episode of ASSEMBLY Audible, Chris Draper, CEO and co-founder of morriganAI, explains why the placement of humans within AI systems can determine whether those systems are safe or not.
DALLAS—Pudu Robotics is opening a new U.S. headquarters in Dallas as part of a broader effort to expand its robotics footprint across industrial and commercial environments.
Mark Woeppel explains why many plants fall into a cycle of expediting and reactive decision-making, sharing examples of assembly operations overwhelmed by incomplete builds, conflicting priorities and systems that cannot keep pace with real-world conditions. He also introduces the Theory of Constraints as a way to restore stability.
AYER, Mass.—Creative Materials Inc. has strengthened its manufacturing capabilities for regulated industries after achieving new certifications tied to quality, environmental management and defense-related production.
HANNOVER, GERMANY—Humanoid robots equipped with physical AI are being piloted by Accenture, SAP and Vodafone Procure & Connect to perform inspection and safety monitoring tasks in industrial environments.
The pilot focuses on using humanoid robots to identify inefficiencies, safety risks and process issues by performing visual inspections and reporting findings into enterprise systems in real time. The robots are designed to operate alongside existing automation and human workers, providing additional visibility into day-to-day operations.
ZURICH, SWITZERLAND—ABB Robotics has introduced a new family of collaborative robots designed to combine the flexibility of cobots with the speed and payload capabilities typically associated with industrial robots.
ROCHESTER HILLS, MI—FANUC America has introduced a new lightweight collaborative robot designed to make it easier for manufacturers to automate small, high-mix tasks without permanent installation or complex integration.
Boeing has shipped a major section of the Space Launch System (SLS) core stage for NASA’s Artemis III mission, marking a shift in how the company is assembling and delivering rocket components to support faster production timelines.
