Blog

ICS Security Solutions to Protect Critical Business Operations

“The computer running the water treatment plant hasn’t been touched in 20 years.”

This statement would make any IT professional cringe given that security risks have been a concern of IT departments for decades, as their foundations are built on innovation and security, the need to constantly evaluate technology, remain compliant, and take measures to stay ahead of potential breaches. So when there’s a computer that has not been assessed and updated in 20 years, it’s basically an open door to a cybersecurity attack, one that could shake a business to its core, and along with it, customer faith and shareholder confidence. Read more

Avoid Obsolescence Risk with PLC Retrofitting

Increase Operational Productivity and Reduce Machine Downtime

Older legacy control systems can be more than just a headache for manufacturers to deal with. Utilizing obsolete parts make it increasingly more difficult to purchase replacement parts – a sometimes lengthy process depending on part availability – with the length of operational downtime dependent on the availability. Once the part is available, then there’s the associated task of the programming resources required to get your factory up and running again.

Between the cost of system repairs and system down time, you can easily start to chip away at your bottomline. And when left unaddressed for too long, eventually your old control system will be the culprit behind more frequent unplanned downtime. Yet, the biggest risk with PLC and HMI solutions becoming obsolete and failing comes if you don’t have a back-up of the program. Read more

Benefits of PLC Remote Access to Manufacturers

Integrating more efficiency makes way for competitive advantages

As you may be experiencing first-hand, world events like COVID-19 impact the ability for manufacturers to insure uninterrupted production given supply-chain pinch points as suppliers, transport logistics, etc. are affected by government regulations. And for those manufacturers who have a labor force impacted by illness, or who have had to limit operations due to resource availability, the fear of a total stop in production is an added stress at this already heightened time.

To minimize downtimes and stoppages from a machine performance perspective, and to have a plan to cover workforce absences, forward-thinking manufacturers are setting up their factories with remote access to machines for monitoring, troubleshooting and maintenance purposes. With PLC remote access offering fast, secure and easy remote monitoring, the short-term investment produces a quick return for most companies who are realizing the need to transform the way in which they work in the wake of COVID-19 and its impact on the global economy. Read more

Custom Machine Automation Benefits

Successfully Combining Custom Automation Equipment With Your Manufacturing Workforce

From assembly lines and quality checks to engineers and overseers, people have always played a vital role in the manufacturing of products worldwide. However, in recent years the need to exceed the expectations of the vast and growing economic patterns, manufacturing automation has slowly taken over and changed the way companies operate. From complex robotic systems to custom machine automation solutions, many roles once held by large individual workforces have been replaced, but also, human interaction has been reallocated to other positions needed to support industrial automation processes. Read more

Justifying the Cost of OEE Solutions

Considerations for Small-Mid Size Manufacturers

You can’t improve upon what you can’t measure. And having made a large investment in industrial automation machines and processes, ideally you want to achieve the maximum return on that investment and have continuous availability of reliable equipment with precision performance. Leveraging OEE (Overall Equipment Effectiveness) solutions are the most efficient way to track your equipment operating levels as well as to discover new ways of improving productivity. Track real-time data, accuracy, capacity, behavior history and more using specially designed IIOT devices to give you the information needed to improve. Read more

Outsourcing an Automation System Integrator

Benefits to Industrial Manufacturers

Manufacturers looking to expand their operations and market share are keenly focused on operating more efficiently and increasing productivity, all while controlling costs and potentially working with limited staffing growth. And with today’s manufacturing processes being more advanced and complicated than ever before, manufacturers are investing in customized automation solution s to support their operations and business objectives. With that investment inevitably follows the question about who will support the company’s industrial controls systems? Is it better to staff the project internally or to seek outside help in the way of an PLC system integrator? Read more

Domestic Suture Cutting and Tipping Machines Exemplify Pros of ‘Buying Local’

Benefits of USA Made Custom Medical Automation Equipment, Specifically Suture Cutting and Tipping Machines

In the medical device industry, the U.S. is well known globally for its ability to continually churn out innovative products as compared to its European and Asian counterparts. This R&D investment into innovation is key as larger medical device companies and healthcare providers look to get a lot leaner and are posed to use their purchasing power to shop around for solutions aligned with their lean objective. Additionally, as the healthcare industry focuses on delivering high-quality care while reducing costs, the supply chain will be a critical target for driving cost reductions and greater efficiencies.

For domestic medical device manufacturers, shopping for solutions locally can provide the innovation and efficiencies needed to maintain competitive positioning. Take for example suture tipping & cutting machines, which have been largely manufactured overseas in the last decade. By leveraging a USA manufactured version, large medical device companies and suture manufacturers can support their business and lean manufacturing objectives with the following benefits: Read more

How to Evaluate Medical Suture Tipping & Cutting Machines

suture tipper With today’s medical manufacturers vying for top position in the industry, they are working to meet new market challenges, quickly responding to customer demands and uncovering new opportunities. And one of the critical keys to success – the ability to be more efficient than ever before. So, when it comes to procuring custom medical manufacturing equipment, such as a suture tipping and cutting machine, while common core capabilities exist among manufacturers, it will be the ones that can offer a high-quality end product while increasing efficiency that will lend a competitive edge.

When sourcing a suture finishing machine, a checklist can not only help standardize the process, but it can also help medical manufacturers ensure that their purchase meets all of their customers’ quality standards and requirements, while meeting their own efficiency objectives.
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