Special Edition: Factory of the Future

Data Analytics and the Smart Factory

Big data is becoming a strategic manufacturing tool.

May 2, 2019

Manufacturing in the 19th century was driven by steam. In the 20th century, it was electricity. Today, manufacturing is driven by data.

Manufacturing Fact vs. Science Fiction

Here’s a look at some manufacturing technologies of today that were once predicted in science fiction stories

John Sprovieri

May 16, 2019

Many technologies that we take for granted today were originally "invented" in science fiction. These include mobile phones, smart watches, tablet computers, holograms, electric submarines, antidepressants, radio, television, nuclear weapons, lasers, video conferencing, credit cards, wireless headphones, self-driving cars, unmanned aerial vehicles, escalators, radar, automatic doors, Tasers, virtual reality, space travel, individually targeted advertising, and even insect-derived foods.

IoT Promises a Future of Guaranteed Outcomes

Smart homes and autonomous driving will be built within ecosystems

Michael E. Fitzgerald

May 15, 2019

A decade or so from now, you may find yourself traveling along an interstate in a caravan. Your automobile is separated by just a few inches from the vehicle in front of you and the one behind as you speed along at 150 miles per hour.

Workforce Development in the Era of Industry 4.0

Industry 4.0 will change how we define manufacturing work

Zoe Leduc

May 14, 2019

The fourth industrial revolution has begun and with it, comes changes to the way manufacturing work is done. New technology, such as collaborative robots, the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) and machine learning, aims to make manufacturing safer, more efficient and faster than ever before.

Generative Design Software Is Transforming the Design Process

Aided by cloud computing and artificial intelligence, generative design software is promising to transform the design process

John Sprovieri

May 13, 2019

This article is not as good as it could be. I spent many days researching the topic, finding sources, conducting interviews, and finally writing and organizing what I learned. I could have included extra information or contacted additional sources. I could have polished one section or an-other. But, at some point, the article needed to be done.

Assembly Plants at the Forefront of Industry 4.0

The Future is Now

Austin Weber

May 10, 2019

Factories of the future will feature advanced technology, such as additive manufacturing, artificial intelligence, augmented reality, data analytics and digital twins. While many manufacturers are still ramping up their Industry 4.0 initiatives, several assembly plants are already at the forefront. They are embracing the Fourth Industrial Revolution and reaping the benefits.

Lights-Out Automation: Fact or Fiction?

Humans are the most flexible “machine” for assembly tasks

Austin Weber

May 9, 2019

Lights-out automation has been a dream of engineers for more than 200 years. The goal is to push a button and let machines work unattended.

IIoT Tech on Assembly Lines

Manufacturers increasingly rely on mobile and stationary technologies to obtain worker- and machine- performance data that optimizes plant productivity

Jim Camillo

May 8, 2019

With wearable devices increasingly being used on the assembly line, it's definitely time to update the old expression that 'What you wear says a lot about you.' A more appropriate thing for manufacturers to now say about their assembly line workers is, 'What you wear tells us a lot about your productivity.'

The Reality of Augmented Reality

Wearable devices empower assemblers to be more productive

Austin Weber

May 7, 2019

Traditionally, it's not unusual to see people wear goggles and other types of safety glasses in factories. But, a new class of wearable devices is becoming increasingly popular on assembly lines.

Deep Learning Machine Vision

In just a few short years, deep learning software has improved to the point that it can classify images better than any traditional algorithm—and may soon be able to always outperform human inspectors

Jim Camillo

May 6, 2019

For many years, pet food manufacturers have used machine vision software to verify the presence of unique characters, codes, colors and graphic shapes on packaging for dog and cat food. Today, however, these companies can complement this process by also verifying the presence of a dog or cat image on the packaging using deep learning vision software.

AI and Machine Learning in Manufacturing

Artificial intelligence and machine learning promise to improve maintenance, quality and supply chain management

John Sprovieri

May 3, 2019

Robots and other automation technologies have greatly increased productivity in today's factories. However, they still have one major limitation: They require people to tell them what to do.

Getting Started on the Road to Industry 4.0

Just as lean manufacturing is about more than eliminating waste, Industry 4.0 is not merely a matter of connecting machines and products via the Internet.

John Sprovieri

May 1, 2019

By now, we've all heard the hype: The Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) will fundamentally change manufacturing and offer a cornucopia of benefits, including increased efficiency, higher quality and more responsive supply chains.

Industry 4.0 Is Well Underway

John Sprovieri

May 1, 2019

Data analytics, augmented reality, generative design, artificial intelligence, cobots, additive manufacturing and other technologies are already helping manufacturers increase efficiency, reduce downtime, lower prices, differentiate themselves in the marketplace, and improve service, delivery and quality.