Expert perspectives on manufacturing automation, robotics, and industry trends
Amazon's deployment of 750,000 robots across its fulfillment network signals a shift in warehouse and manufacturing automation. We examine the technical systems behind the rollout and what it means for industrial integrators.
Why reshoring manufacturing to the U.S. depends on automation investment, and how robotic systems, flexible assembly cells, and smart integration close the labor cost gap with offshore production.
How the merging of information technology and operational technology is reshaping factory automation, from unified data architectures to real-time production analytics.
Explore the economics of small batch manufacturing automation, including when automation makes sense for low-volume production, how to calculate ROI, and strategies for flexible systems that handle frequent changeovers.
Practical strategies for addressing the manufacturing automation skills gap, from technician training programs to workforce development approaches that keep automated production lines running.
Explore how manual work is evolving in automated factories, where skilled human operators handle complex tasks that robots cannot, and how manufacturers balance automation with workforce development.
How manufacturing automation builds supply chain resilience through flexible production, nearshoring support, multi-sourcing capability, and reduced dependency on volatile labor markets.
Where industrial automation standards stand today — ISO, ANSI/RIA, OPC UA — and where they're heading. What OEMs and integrators should track.
A practical guide to diagnosing and resolving robot accuracy problems in industrial automation, covering mechanical wear, calibration drift, thermal effects, and systematic troubleshooting methods.
Practical guide to diagnosing and resolving common machine vision failures on the factory floor, from lighting drift to algorithm mistuning and communication faults.
Practical guide to diagnosing and resolving PLC communication errors across Ethernet/IP, PROFINET, and serial networks in industrial automation systems.
Practical guide to diagnosing and resolving common servo drive faults and alarms in industrial automation systems, covering overcurrent, overvoltage, encoder, and communication errors.