Automation World Gets Your Questions Answered

Are Robots Losing Steam in Manufacturing?

In this episode we’ll be looking at a recent report from A3 that indicates a significant drop in robot orders in the first half of 2024 and what that may mean for manufacturers considering near-term robot purchases and implementations.

What is Software-Defined Automation?

In this episode we connect with G Brooks-Zak of Outlier Automation to get insights on software-defined automation and how it can impact manufacturing, including what it means for IT/OT convergence, specific application benefits such as with predictive maintenance and AI, its current use in industry and cybersecurity.

Understanding Power over Ethernet

Now that Power over Ethernet (PoE) systems can deliver up to 90W of power per port, which is enough to operate the most power-hungry IoT sensors, devices and controllers, it makes sense to get up to speed on PoE technology and how it can be used on your network.

How Does Edge Computing Benefit Manufacturing?

Get insights on the issues associated with integrating edge computing into a legacy manufacturing environment, as well as how edge computing aids predictive maintenance, manufacturing operations resiliency and cybersecurity. Our guest for this podcast is Steve Mustard, former executive board member and president of the International Society of Automation and current president and CEO of National Automation.

How to Improve Production Accountability in Manufacturing

Production monitors provide real-time data visibility, enabling operators and managers to track and improve performance, identify issues and make informed decisions quickly to enhance manufacturing efficiency, reduce downtime and improve productivity.

Why Choose a Repositionable Motor?

Repositionable motors are designed for precise and variable motion control applications and differ from fixed-position motors in that they can easily adapt to different tasks or product configurations without the need for extensive mechanical adjustments. Their ability to quickly adapt to new settings helps drive manufacturing efficiency, reduce downtime and support mass customization. We connected with Ben Van Arsdale, an application engineer with Regal Rexnord’s Power Efficiency Solutions business segment, to learn more about these motors and why they're so popular in the electronics, automotive and packaging machinery industries.

How to Determine the Right Power Supply for Your Application

Learn about the main factors behind the difference in cost between industrial power supplies, what the Power Boost feature is, the value of a power supply's environmental ratings and certifications, the life expectancy of industrial power supplies and the relevance of their IIoT capabilities.

What Should Manufacturers Know About Snowflake?

In this podcast, we talk with Tim Long, global head of manufacturing at Snowflake,  to understand what the company's data cloud services offer to the manufacturing industries, especially considering the wide use of cloud services from Amazon, Microsoft and Google, as well as those from automation technology suppliers. We also discuss the use of Snowflake by well-known manufacturers such as 3M, Sub-Zero, Toyota.

Where AI is Proving Its Value and What's Coming Next

Research from Fluke Reliability and insights from Rockwell Automation show how artificial intelligence is changing predictive maintenance spending and how access to device dark data is poised to expand AI use and manufacturing software capabilities.

Is Low-Code Software Practical for General Manufacturing Use?

In this discussion with Ray Kok, CEO of Mendix, he explains how the development of common-use templates make it easier for manufacturing operations managers and engineers to create the apps they need without having to depend entirely on IT.