Automation World Gets Your Questions Answered

In this episode, we connect with Sam Russem, director of the smart manufacturing practice at Grantek (a system integration company), to answer a reader's question about whether it's possible to replace supervisory control and data acquisition systems with manufacturing execution systems technology? Sam address the overlaps and differences between the two technologies and how their functions can be combined, with an example of a manufacturer that has already done it.

In this episode, we connect with James Destro of ServiceNow to learn how digital workflow software can provide visibility into plant floor equipment and direct operations on a day-to-day basis to connect people, functions, and systems. 

In this episode we discuss how to successfully plan for and implement edge computing technologies at both OEM and manufacturing/processing facilities. Featured in this podcast are Stratus Technologies' Aric Prost, senior director of OEM and VAR Programs, and John Vicente, chief technology officer.

In this episode, we connect with  Brent Kooiman, senior project engineer and design manager at Interstates, to learn about the differences between general purpose and inverter duty motors and the types of industrial applications each are best suited for.

Get a better understanding of how manufacturers are actually using cloud computing today and how it can be leveraged for optimal application by smaller manufacturing organizations in this discussion with Brian Fenn, COO of system integration company Avanceon.  

In this episode, we connect with Daymon Thompson, automation product manager for Beckhoff USA, to learn more about the trends around combining previously separate automation functions into one system for ease of access and use. We explore this topic broadly and focus specifically on the integration of vision and machine control.

In this episode, we connect with Justin Kolbe of Henkel to learn how economic and technology factors are affecting the development and use of industrial automation technologies today.

In this episode, we connect with Bill Pollock, CEO of Optimation (a system integration company), to explore how industrial companies are moving forward with their digital transformations. We discuss how to assess current operations, avoid common mistakes, and apply metrics to measure the level of your plan's success.  

In this episode of the “Automation World Gets Your Questions Answered” podcast series, we connect with McKenzie Reed of Harting to learn about one of the more important recent advances in industrial communications technology—Single Pair Ethernet (SPE). During our discussion with Reed, he explains the difference between SPE and standard industrial Ethernet, SPE’s speed and distance capabilities, SPE’s ability to deliver power and data, the move to standardize SPE and how it works with industrial Ethernet protocols, the benefits SPE brings to end users, and the availability of SPE products.

In this episode, we connect with Matt Ruth, president of Avanceon (a system integration and engineering services company) to learn about the connections between supply chain operations and automation technologies, ranging from analytics and MES to HMI and SCADA software.