1. Securing your Cybersecurity Future
One reality of our interconnected manufacturing world is the responsibility to depend on and protect our digital assets with the same vigor and urgency as we work to protect our human workers from workplace dangers. These threats are real, but they aren’t always the work of bad actors from the outside. Sometimes, it’s just bad business practices on the inside.
MxD, the manufacturing innovation institute that works in partnership with the U.S. Department of Defense to equip U.S. factories with the digital tools, cybersecurity and workforce expertise they need. Machine Design has partnered with MxD to present this series to our audience in an effort to call greater attention to develop a stronger cybersecurity strategy. This seven-part series has been created to give manufacturers a series of resources to understand and address the cyber security threat in their own operations.
2. Taking a Quantum Leap in Knowledge
Like cybersecurity, quantum computing is outside the reach of most manufacturers. Yet the potential of quantum computing begins with engineering, and we know how much engineers love a great challenge.
This is the first of a four-part video series. Part 2 can be found here, Part 3 here and Part 4 here.
To read more from Erik Garcell on this topic, check out “It’s Time to Get Started on Quantum Computing.”
3. On The Road Again
With pandemic restrictions now in their final phase before an expected May cancellation, we’re starting to get back out and talk to our industry experts and leaders in a more three-dimensional setting.
One of my most useful weeks of my year is the annual ARC Advisory Group Industry Leadership Forum in Orlando. It draws the top process industry experts and suppliers for four days of great insights into the strategies and success stories around digital transformation. I’ll be reporting from the ARC event next week, and since the event theme is “Driving Sustainability, Energy Transition, and Performance through Digitalization” there’s going to be a lot of talk about the roadmap for digital transformation and how those early adopters are achieving the benefits.
4. Design-Operate-Maintain—in Reverse
One of my guiding principles in manufacturing was learned at my first ARC event 20 years ago. The concept of Design-Operate-Maintain as a business model for manufacturers was an important foundation as the digital transformation has taken hold in recent years. Now we’re looking at the design process in new ways.
The plant component design process traditionally begins with design, and then the operations and maintenance teams are charged with making that design work. But as suppliers are emphasizing a systematic approach to design and sensors and analytics are providing greater insights into equipment health and productivity, the design-operate-maintain model is being re-evaluated.
Join Machine Design on March 3 at 1 p.m. Central time to take a look at how maintenance is becoming a central factor in the machine design process. The webinar will look at why considering the maintenance and operations of a machine or system first can pay dividends throughout the manufacturing process, and why companies should bring their operations and maintenance team members in at the start of the design process to ensure a successful outcome, with fewer delays and a faster time to market for products.
I’ll be joined on the webinar by Shon Isenhour, CMRP, CAMA and owner of Eruditio. We’ll discuss this idea and the importance of building a continuous loop of information and insight that connects every aspect of the plant floor.
For further insights on the importance of predictive maintenance in plant operations, review this four-part series presented by Machine Design and MathWorks.
5. IFPE Offers A Vision to the Future
Another major trade show is the triennial International Fluid Power Exposition on March 14-18 in Las Vegas. The event will cover fluid power, power transmission and motion control technologies, and with electric vehicles emerging as the future of transportation, these technologies will be essential to the development of the EV market.
IFPE is held in conjunction with the CONEXPO-CON/AGG construction equipment trade event, and the emergence of EVs in that market has helped guide the way to future uses in commercial and personal vehicles. Because of the importance of this conference, our affiliate publication Power & Motion has established a special channel to provide attendees with an in-depth preview of the companies and technologies at the 2023 event. You can access the IFPE channel here.