E D IT
RP’ SO GL O
RIALB AL
L E A RE
D ACH
A publication of
ENGINEERING
AdvancedManufacturing.org | Month Year March 2017
CONTENTS MARCH 2017 VOL. 158, NO. 3 c FEATURES
43 / SENSE AND SENSIBILITIES: THE EVOLUTION OF AUTOMATION
Security, safety, mobility and even a measure of autonomy are just some of the areas in which automation is moving forward.
51 / ERP SOFTWARE HELPS BIG BUILDERS GRAPPLE WITH GLOBAL COMPLEXITY
Managing far-fl ung, large-scale operations is no small or easy task, but new ERP choices can ease the pain.
59 / MARRIAGE OF CONVENIENCE
As both robots and lasers improve their capabilities, they prove to be even better partners in more applications.
SHOP SOLUTIONS
35 / RETOOLING REMOVES BOTTLENECKS IN SPLINING JOB
Machining shaft splines presents special problems because the required form tools substantially increase cutting forces.
38 / TOOLING A LARGE MACHINE FOR TURBINE SHAFT MACHINING
Scaling up and tooling a multiproduct machining center (mpmc) to machine a giant turbine shaft for a US power engineering group was a challenge for Weingärtner Maschinenbau (Kirchharm, Austria).
72 / SHOP UPGRADES LATEST TOOL, CUTTER GRINDER TECHNOLOGY
Pro-Cut Tooling Ltd., a Hull, UK-based manufacturer, supplies and services a wide range of woodworking cutting tools, including saw blades, diamond tools, router cutters, tungsten carbide (TCT) and high speed steel (HSS) cutters.
ON THE WEB
BULD TO ORDER OR BUILD TO STOCK?
65 / WHY OPTICAL METROLOGY IS ON THE MOVE
Recently, the power of optical metrology combined with automation has been recognized. What makes automating metrology operations so important?
Manufacturers are responsible for creating products for their customers. Of course, a production system needs to be in place to understand how much product needs to be made. Companies can choose from two inventory methods: build-to-order (BTO) or build-to-stock (BTS). Both are valid, yet how do they affect your ERP decisions? This article by Aaron Continelli, president of Cre8tive Technology and Design, compares the methods and their relationship to ERP. More at
http://tinyurl.com/jqba2or
2
AdvancedManufacturing.org | March 2017
Cover: Automation plays a big role in the stamping and robotic welding work Ralco Industries (Auburn Hills, MI) does for the automotive industry. In addition, the company uses Cloud ERP software to help lower freight costs, scrap rates and downtime. Photo courtesy of Plex Systems.
DEPARTMENTS
6 / UPFRONT Manufacturing Quality and Agility Via Automation
8 / CONNECT & ENGAGE
10 / ADVANCED MANUFACTURING NOW
Automation Meets Postprocessing
13 / SME SPEAKS Manufacturing is Changing—Are We Ready?
17 / NEWSDESK
Ford, Caterpillar Expect Tougher 2017
22 / SOFTWARE UPDATE Taking a Virtual Factory Approach in New Tooling Management Systems for the IIoT
29 / TECH FRONT
New Lasers Could Power Communications, Computing 74 / AUTOMATE PRODUCTS 78 / PRODUCT PREVIEWS 84 / CLASSIFIEDS 85 / AD INDEX
86 / WORKFORCE PIPELINE San Diego Machine Tech Program Leads the Way to Jobs, Puts San Diego City College on the Map
88 / VIEWPOINTS
Automation Integration: Build Bridges to Everywhere
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92
