First article of a blog series: Build or Buy Software Manufacturers have recognized over the last several decades that software is as critical to a product and its users’ experiences as the hardware itself. Consider the software associated with automobiles; one major manufacturer has new system features added with over-the-air updates, and they may be not just software, but impact the functioning of the hardware, too. Consumer electronics such as smartphones have regular system updates, but at least one manufacturer has proven that storing and selling the data that enrich the user experience i ..read more

This article was written based on the presentation by Tarun Chopra, Head of Manufacturing Services, Danfoss Group IT, at the MES and Industry 4.0 Summit 2023 in Porto, Portugal. Danfoss is a 90-year-old manufacturing leader in three segments: Power Solutions, Climate Control, and Power Electronics and Drives. Organic growth, mergers and acquisitions have contributed to our growth. We now have 97 plants in more than 100 countries and are still growing, nearly doubling in size in the past decade alone. As we enjoyed such success, it became increasingly clear that more growth and profi ..read more

This article is based on the presentation by Didier Chavet, Head of Manufacturing IT Operations, Micron Technology, at the MES and Industry 4.0 Summit 2023 in Porto, Portugal: The Role of AI in Manufacturing. Use Cases from Semiconductor company”. Technology has been at the forefront of industrial automation since 1978, evolving through the third and fourth industrial revolutions to now spearheading the fifth, Industry 5.0, by integrating AI into its operations. Micron’s manufacturing plants, built on the advancements from previous industrial revolutions, are more than 95% automated. Micron’s ..read more

It’s been over two decades since the Agile Manifesto shook up the software development landscape, ushering in a new era of adaptability and flexibility. Agile development, with its iterative progress and real-time stakeholder input, stands in stark contrast to the rigidity of the waterfall model. However, in regulated industries such as medical device manufacturing and pharma, where adherence to strict standards is paramount, embracing this flexibility presents its own set of challenges. I recently had an opportunity to delve into these challenges during my presentation at the Critical Manufac ..read more

The Evolutionary Path to a Robust Digital Twin Amidst the excitement of Industry 4.0, always fertile in new concepts and trends, it has become increasingly common for a supposed new type of application to appear, provided by vendors and consultants, the digital twins. But as Bart Simpson already realized, it is a concept, not an application, and definitely not a shortcut to achieving smart manufacturing benefits. Unfortunately, it is necessary to understand that the path to I4.0 is a path of sophistication, but also of maturity. The digital twin is, in essence, a timeless concept rooted in th ..read more

How can a MedTech manufacturer secure its position as a valued partner in the fast-changing healthcare industry? It all comes down to being reliable on many fronts. Achieving without fail high performance in quality, cost, speed, compliance, and flexibility may sound daunting. Yet leading MedTech companies are finding a solution in implementing modern MES. MedTech Opportunity Healthcare is improving, in part due to smart, connected medical devices or MedTech. Opportunities for MedTech companies are expanding rapidly. According to Statista, Medical Technology revenue is due to grow at over 4.73 ..read more

IIoT World featured an interview with CM CEO Francisco Lobo on his perspectives on the role of AI in manufacturing and how IoT and MES are complementary in their contribution to the future of manufacturing. Following are highlights from the interview and additional discussion. AI Taking Over? Not Really! AI has always been a topic filled with concern and curiosity when it is discussed in manufacturing. Concern stems from the school of thought that AI, coupled with advanced robotics and automated machinery, will replace the human workforce, and curiosity stems from the ability of AI to make bus ..read more

Critical Manufacturing was recognized as a Leader for three years in a row in the Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ report. By applying a graphical treatment and a uniform set of evaluation criteria, the Gartner Magic Quadrant helps you quickly ascertain how well technology providers are executing their stated visions and how well they are performing against Gartner’s market view. Vendors are evaluated based on their completeness of vision and ability to execute. Figure 1 below showcases the most recent Gartner Magic Quadrant for Manufacturing Execution Systems. Leaders execute well against their curr ..read more

Critical Manufacturing was recognized as a Leader for three years in a row in the Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ report. By applying a graphical treatment and a uniform set of evaluation criteria, the Gartner Magic Quadrant helps you quickly ascertain how well technology providers are executing their stated visions and how well they are performing against Gartner’s market view. Vendors are evaluated based on their completeness of vision and ability to execute. Figure 1 below showcases the most recent Gartner Magic Quadrant for Manufacturing Execution Systems. Leaders execute well against their curr ..read more

Electronics manufacturers have always needed to be agile; now new business models, markets, and materials are putting even greater pressure on manufacturing operations. That means it’s no longer adequate to manage the SMT lines perfectly. The entire plant must have access to the data it needs at all times, from any area of the facility and beyond. Plus, anywhere in the enterprise might need access to accurate, timely, and in-context data from production. Manufacturing Data Continuity SMT lines may be the heart of many electronics operations. However, SMT lines nearly always have essential oper ..read more