Automation World Gets Your Questions Answered

How to Connect Legacy Equipment for Data Acquisition and Analysis?

In this episode of the Automation World Gets Your Questions Answered" podcast series, we connect with Luke Stephenson of Enterprise Automation to understand the best methods for connecting older devices and machines for data analysis.

How Can New Material Handling Technologies Support Adaptive Manufacturing Concepts?

In this episode, we connect with Jeff Johnson, U.S. mechatronics product manager at Beckhoff, to learn more about how Beckhoff's XPlanar material handling system uses levitating tiles to move parts and products for assembly and/or packaging applications.

What is MTTR and MTBF?

In this episode, we connect with Sam Russem of system integration firm Grantek to better understand Meantime to Repair (MTTR) and Meantime Before/Between Failure (MTBF). We explore how these metrics are applied and calculated and how they can benefit manufacturing operations.

Can Operations Technology Be Secured and Managed With IT Tools?

In this episode, we connect with James Destro of ServiceNow and Carey Blunt of Fujitsu to explore how operations technology (OT) devices can be discovered, secured, and managed with the same kinds of tools used by IT, with an eye toward downtime avoidance and change management for asset management and cybersecurity.

Is Fieldbus Technology Still Effective?

In this episode of the "Automation World Gets Your Questions Answered" podcast series, we connect with Duane Grob of system integration firm Avanceon to learn about the combined use of fieldbus and Ethernet industrial networking technologies, even as Ethernet increasingly becomes the plant floor network of choice.

How to Train Workers for Automated Environments

Modern industrial workforce training requires the ability to assess workers’ skills and deliver the training needed in bite-sized, memorable steps to ensure retention. Training also often requires the use of simulation to adequately prepare industrial workers and be delivered in a hands-free format so the employee can do their job as they’re being guided to complete various tasks. Find out how these new training technologies are being deployed to improve operations and ensure worker safety in this conversation with Vincent Higgins of Honeywell Process Solutions.

Moving Control System Maintenance to a Proactive Strategy

In this episode of the "Automation World Gets Your Questions Answered" podcast series, we connect with Bart Winters of Honeywell Process Solutions to learn about shifting your industrial control systems from a reactive to a proactive maintenance strategy.

Can MES Replace SCADA?

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.

What Are Digital Workflows for Manufacturing?

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. 

How to Effectively Implement Edge Computing

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.