Edition 11 – 10 Essential factors when choosing a production line supplier

If only buying a production line were as simple as clicking ‘add to cart’.

When your business is investing millions of euros or dollars on an assembly system that will serve as the heart of your manufacturing facility for the next five to seven years, you need to choose your service provider very carefully.

Edition 10 – Make your manufacturing smarter: AI computer vision

As we head into a new year, it’s time to clean house and explore new ways of making your manufacturing processes smarter, leaner, and more efficient.

Edition 09 – From digital sceptic to Digital Technician of the Year

For a walking example of digital sceptic turned digital ambassador, we chatted to Jaco Bezuidenhout, workshop manager at Mertech Marine. After implementing ODIN Checkpoint, an operational task management app, an initially reluctant Jaco saw the radical time-saving efficiencies it brought to his working day.

Edition 08 – Why outsourcing your core functions is bad for business

In pursuit of cost reduction and short-term profit, many manufacturing and technology companies make a critical misstep: they outsource the very functions that underpin their core value proposition.

Edition 07 – Will digital replace Lean and Six Sigma?

For the past century or so, modern manufacturing has been guided largely by Lean and Six Sigma principles. But is that all about to change with the rise of the digital factory?

Edition 06 – How data-driven decisions outperform gut feel

The arrival of Industry 4.0 has allowed organisations to collect – and analyse – more data than ever before. However, many people fail to understand the mindset shift required and how to start using data to make the best decisions for their organisation.

Edition 04 – Manufacturing: When NOT to use an AGV

Today, the automated guided vehicle, or AGV, is a common sight in warehouses and factories worldwide. It’s both a practical and flexible transport solution for applications from logistics to manufacturing.

In this article, we take a closer look at the specific use case of AGVs in a production environment.

Edition 01 – Demystifying the Digital Factory

For years, Industry 4.0 has been a buzzword promising a digital revolution in manufacturing. However, many manufacturers have been slower to adopt than expected – missing real opportunities to improve efficiencies and productivity.

This article aims to clear up some misconceptions and provide a practical roadmap for implementation.