I’m in awe of how technology is advancing, getting smarter, more clever and more productive. I sometimes feel like a child on Christmas morning when first seeing the gifts under the tree — oh, the possibilities and excitement.
Just think about it: Whether your company is small or large, many innovations and trends in smart manufacturing are helping OEMs, producers and manufacturers provide better business outcomes. Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML). Hyperautomation. Data integration and smart analytics. Edge computing. The cloud. Fog computing. Robotics and cobots. Digital twins. Adaptive learning. Augmented reality (AR). Single Pair Ethernet. They’re like shiny gifts for our industry.
Smart systems and machines are changing how OEMs design and manufacturers operate. Plants and machines have to be better connected, more efficient, more flexible and safer. But you already know that.
What some people don’t know — or have learned the hard way — is that as they plan to modernize legacy components and equipment, including some of the innovations I listed above, it’s important to look at not just what technology they’ll be upgrading, but how they’ll be implementing it. Its scalability and potential to provide business value down the road. Creating a long-term view will help create a modernization plan that provides benefits both now and in the future.
You can learn more about how to do this and why it’s important in our cover story in our January 2023 magazine. And I hope you’re excited about the innovative technologies as I am. Until next time….
Theresa Houck
Executive Editor
The Journal From Rockwell Automation and Our PartnerNetwork
Join Executive Editor Theresa Houck and Chirayu Shah from Rockwell Automation for our award-winning “Automation Chat” podcast, “How Industrial Analytics Work & What’s Coming Next,” to learn about the role of advanced analytics in improving business results, and analytics trends and how they affect you. Listen on your podcast app, or watch their conversation on YouTube.
The Journal From Rockwell Automation and Our PartnerNetwork™ is published by Endeavor Business Media.
