Manufacturing

2 min read

At  Automation Fair this week, we are announcing major enhancements to our Cisco Connected Factory solution with new wireless and mobility capabilities.  This solution, called Factory Wireless, builds on the joint Cisco/Rockwell Automation architecture, known as Converged Plantwide Ethernet (CPwE), as well as Cisco’s networking expertise with wireless and wired technologies and creates new flexible […]

1 min read

In a little over two weeks, many of my colleagues at Cisco are joining customers, ecosystem partners and strategic alliance partner   Rockwell Automation for their largest user conference, Automation Fair.  Automation Fair will be held at sunny Anaheim, California from November 19th thru the 20th. Every year, we showcase the best of our real-world, joint […]

3 min read

I can humbly say that I can now understand, embrace and apply the phrase that my grandfather often spoke, “Son, I’ve lived a little.  Trust your eyes more than your ears.   May the HOPE experienced by your ears be the reality of your eyes.” I, one day HOPE that the reality of equality and opportunity […]

4 min read

Authors: Randal Kenworthy and Doug Wycoff Innovation in manufacturing comes from many sources.   One of the core and traditional sources is the research and development (R&D) function within a manufacturing organization.   However, the requirements and traditional processes within those functions are changing. Manufacturers are beginning to see an increase in the amount of collaborative R&D […]

1 min read

As the seasons change and it turns to autumn, it’s almost that time of year to make plans to attend  Automation Fair.  As always, this event is a ‘can’t miss’ conference for all of you who are in controls, operations or IT for industrial companies.  This year, Automation Fair will be held in the West […]

3 min read

Data analytics has been an integral part of manufacturing management for most of its history. However, analytics has undergone both evolutionary and revolutionary changes over the decades with the advent of information technology and digital data gathering and analysis. Part One of this series takes a look at the evolution behind data analytics and new […]

3 min read

What is the current state of your plant’s floor? You might be using a mix of PCs and plant floor equipment (human-machine interface, or HMI) from a variety of manufacturers, installed over many years. Your PCs might even include software from numerous developers, created on different operating systems, and using different versions. Put simply, the […]

1 min read

Earlier this summer, I found myself in Madison, Wisconsin at the headquarters of one of our customers, Sub-Zero.  Sub-Zero is the leading brand of built-in refrigeration and in 2000, acquired the Wolf line of cooking appliances.    Both are the dream brands for anyone undertaking a kitchen remodel or dreaming of one (including my wife!).  The […]

2 min read

The appetite for the latest new products and services is growing exponentially driven by the 24 hour, on demand, social media driven, next day delivery expecting,  ‘selfie’ posing with the new shiny object, hyper informed consumer.  Satisfying the demand for this fast-paced consumer cycle requires manufacturers to move rapidly to stay ahead of competitors and […]