Advanced Manufacturing Now

Marty Edwards, vice president for operational technology security at Tenable, discusses how chief information security officers (CISOs) are integrating and converging across all aspects of security, including people, process and technology. The goal: get an enterprise-wide assessment of cyber exposure and overall risk.

Combining beautiful beaches with a disciplined, ready-made workforce, this podcast looks at the advantages of manufacturing in Okaloosa County, Florida. To discuss why a move to the Florida Panhandle might make sense, Bruce Morey senior technical editor for Manufacturing Engineering magazine is joined by Nathan Sparks, executive director of the Okaloosa County EDC.

A whole new layer of insight can be harvested inside factories with the data you already have, today. Companies are sometimes holding back from leveraging sensors and tools like AI and deep data analysis that would allow for it because of cultural gaps between, for example, IT and OT. Ownership issues can also be a problem if some are, say, building devices vs operating devices. Paul Boris, EVP at Praemo fights against using red herrings like security concerns inside the same factory to continue down the same old paths that limit performance. He understands how seductive risk avoidance can be. And he speaks frankly about this and other issues with Brett Brune, editor in chief of Smart Manufacturing magazine.

When it comes to machining, for as many opportunities as there are for amazing things to happen – there are just as many things that can go wrong. Dave O'Neil, vice president, SME Media, sits down with Don Davies, vice president, DP Technology Corp., the developer of Esprit CAM/CAD software to talk about how advancing technology is helping solve manufacturing challenges. Modern CAD/CAM systems are helping manufacturers increase productivity, cut waste, avoid disasters and boost profitability.

The manufacturing industry is on the precipice of a great remake where companies are accelerating from being merely producers of goods to producers of customer experiences. Digital processes has become a critical source of growth and a powerful way to increase brand equity whether its industrial, consumer packaged goods or anything in between. One way they are increasing effectiveness is leveraging consumer analytics, marketing automation and customer relationship management (CRM) systems. To discuss these trends and how best to take advantage of them, Bruce Morey senior technical editor for Manufacturing Engineering magazine is joined by Rishabh Dayal, Head of Digital Strategy, Enterprise and Claudia de Lavalle Digital Strategy Consultant, both of Adobe.

Aerospace is thought of as the industry with some of the most advanced technology, including automation. However, especially in automation, that may not be exactly true. In this podcast, Bruce Morey senior technical editor for Manufacturing Engineering magazine talks with Rick Schulz of FANUC America about some of the challenges and misperceptions in using automation more fully in aerospace manufacturing. Mistakes to be avoided, such as simply replacing humans with a robot, and how to use collaborative robots. The main message is that employing automation to its fullest requires a systematic approach to the entire manufacturing process.

As manufacturers work to keep critical operations humming along during the COVID-19 crisis, they're tasked with protecting workers health while ensuring business continuity and operational readiness. Russ Fadel, CEO at Augmentir, talks with Chris Mahar, Associate Editor, about how connected worker technology can benefit operations during today's pandemic and when things return to normal. Enabling manufacturers to maintain their critical operations even when key workers and vendors are unable to be on-site at a facility. *During the COVID-19 crisis, Augmentir is offering their Remote Assist tool free through the end of 2020.

April is National Welding Month and exciting things are happening within the industry. In this podcast, Chris Mahar, Associate Editor of Manufacturing Engineering magazine, talks with Monica Pfarr, Executive Director of the American Welding Society Foundation about what's happening in the industry and what AWS is doing to celebrate. From the industry as a whole to the current market temperature and the workforce, this podcast is a welding one-stop-shop.

Like many disciplines, metrology has taken giant steps in recent years as new technology creates new measurement technology that is faster, more accurate and easier to perform than ever before. In this episode, Alan Rooks, Editor in Chief of Manufacturing Engineering magazine, talks with Michael Wilm, business manager of calibration products for Renishaw Inc., about the emerging trends that are creating metrology challenges in the machine tool and motion control industry; the benefits of using six-degrees-of-freedom technology over single-degree-of-freedom measurement devices; and the labor-saving benefits of this technology for manufacturers and for their employees.

The trade war and disruption from the coronavirus are spurring companies to rethink their global supply chains, manufacturing processes, factory design, automation and workforce needs. In this episode, Alan Rooks, Editor in Chief of Manufacturing Engineering magazine, talks with Rosemary Coates, Executive Director of the Reshoring Institute, about how the trade war and COVID-19 have affected manufacturers worldwide, why it has more companies considering returning their manufacturing to the U.S., the hurdles and issues to leaving China, and what decision-makers should be thinking about when planning for manufacturing in the future. Click here for more information!

The manufacturing industry has always been interchangeable with producing customer goods. But, increasingly it is an industry that must transform itself to become a producer of customer experiences. Whether industrial, consumer packaged goods, or anything in between, manufacturers have begun investing in customer experience, or CX for shorthand. To discuss this new, emerging trend in this podcast, Bruce Morey, Senior Technical Editor for Manufacturing Engineering Magazine is joined by Rishabh Dayal, Head of Digital Strategy, Enterprise for Adobe and Claudia de Lavalle, Digital Strategy Consultant for Adobe.

In this podcast discussion with Rick Schultz of FANUC America and Bruce Morey, Senior Technical Editor for Manufacturing Engineering Magazine, current practices in aerospace machining is dissected. Many shops today stick with the tried and true to reduce risk to schedule and profit, but that tried and true is stuck in the 1980s and 1990s. Rick discusses practical ways to get the most out of 21st century machining technology, by programming for the part and not the machine.

Additive manufacturing has made an outsized impact on aerospace manufacturing in a short amount of time. In this episode, Alan Rooks, Editor in Chief of Manufacturing Engineering, talks with Sean Henson, Global Product Manager, Composites & Additive Manufacturing for Ascent Aerospace, about the growing role of additive in the industry; the investments Ascent has made in AM in recent years; the kinds of tooling Ascent provides customers through its large-scale LSAM printer, and design considerations for manufacturers when they use large-format AM.

Mark Kirby, Registered Professional Engineer and Additive Manufacturing Business Manager for Renishaw Canada and Bruce Morey, Senior Technical Editor for Manufacturing Engineering Magazine discuss the pluses and minuses of the still-emerging 3D printing technology that is sweeping the business press. We will take a look at common misconceptions and what, in our opinion, could be things to watch out for if any of our listeners are thinking about adopting 3D printing for their applications.

Smart Manufacturing magazine Contributing Editor Karen Haywood Queen speaks with Sridhar Tayur about what supply chain players are learning from COVID-19. The Carnegie Mellon professor covers the roles AM and cobots are playing. He also looks at what manufacturers should consider doing to be prepared for the next hugely disruptive event.

The use of automation is growing rapidly in aerospace manufacturing and many companies are looking for help navigating this new reality. In this episode, Alan Rooks, editor in chief of Manufacturing Engineering magazine, talks with Randy Woolridge, global product manager, automation & integration for Ascent Aerospace, about the services Ascent provides customers in aerospace manufacturing and integration; the investments Ascent has made in manufacturing and assembly technology over the last few years; and the growth in the aerospace manufacturing industry and Ascent's vision to keep pace with the industry.

One of the key challenges in aerospace manufacturing is how to measure and inspect the complex and demanding parts used in aerospace applications. In this episode, Alan Rooks, editor in chief of Manufacturing Engineering, talks with Mark O'Connell, applications engineer for ZEISS Industrial Quality Solutions, about the challenges aerospace components like airfoils pose for industrial metrology; how to integrate measurement and inspection into aerospace production lines; and how this type of equipment differs from solutions available 5-10 years ago.

Composites are increasingly becoming a key feature of the aerospace market. In this episode, Chris Mahar, Associate Editor, talks with Doug Decker, aerospace consultant and retired technical fellow at Northrup Grumman – winner of the 2019 J.H. "Jud" Hall Composites Manufacturing Award. Decker shares his insights about composites within the aerospace market and a bit of history on how he got to where he is today. Click here to make a nomination for the J.H. "Jud" Hall Composites Manufacturing Award for 2021

Pivot International CEO Mark Dohnalek talks with Smart Manufacturing magazine's Brett Brune about not only Industry 4.0 but also how manufacturers are breathing a sigh of relief because of the China Trade Deal First Phase, the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement and the arrival of Brexit. Dohnalek also details how Pivot has successfully alleviated trade tensions operationally.

When it comes to manufacturing – especially machining – the toolroom is the heart of an operation. The critical tool management, cleaning, assembly, presetting and delivery that comes out of the toolroom is what keeps manufacturing life pumping out on the shop floor. Chris Mahar, Associate Editor, talks with Jeff Schemel, North American Sales Manager at Rego-Fix, about how automating their toolroom can benefit manufacturers. As technologies advance, automated toolrooms are enabling manufacturers to perform better in today's competitive environment.

Alan Rooks and Brett Brune, editors in chief of Manufacturing Engineering and Smart Manufacturing, respectively, preview some of the actionable information readers can find in the February issues.

Terry Wohlers, a renowned expert on additive manufacturing, and Bruce Morey, Senior Technical Editor for SME's Manufacturing Engineering Magazine, discuss the present and future of AM in the medical and dental fields. Applications are discussed and skepticism addressed as the industry anticipates RAPID + TCT in Anaheim April 20-23 and the Additive Manufacturing for Medical Yearbook SME will publish in April.

When it comes to making something move, whether it be a robot arm, machine head, assembly line or more, you need to get the power from where it is generated to where the movement happens – enter gearboxes. Mike Quaas, President of DieQua, sits down with Chris Mahar, Associate Editor, to talk about the world of automation and how gearboxes are critical to its deployment. Gearboxes have been around for hundreds or years, but today's engineers have more choices than ever in how to utilize their power.

SME Interviewed Reid Coe, President of COE Press Equipment at FABTECH in November 2019. This podcast explores Advanced High Strength Steels and the impact on Coil Processing Equipment. Advanced High Strength Steels are certainly making an impact in the auto industry, and we learn about the challenges they pose to processing equipment. The podcast covers the purpose of coil feed equipment in the pressroom, why advanced strength steels are more difficult to handle, and some of the design changes that COE implemented to process AHSS?

SME interviewed onsite at FABTECH Shawn Miely, Senior Marketing Manager for Pro Segment of MakerBot. Founded in 2009, MakerBot was one of the first companies to make 3D printing accessible and affordable with its first 3D printer, the Cupcake CNC. This podcast features a discussion about the new MakerBot Method X in general, new materials available, and additive manufacturing for professionals.

As manufacturers continue to see demand for tighter tolerances and less waste, new solutions are needed to solve challenges. Dave O'Neil, Vice President of SME Media, sits down with Patrick Cratty, Assistant Product Manager and Richard Bevers, Southern District Manager for BIG Kaiser Precision Tooling, to talk about new technology and products. Hitting upon how digital technology and advanced workholding designs are improving machining and eliminating persistent manufacturing issues.

SME interviewed at FABTECH Greg Morehouse. He is the Executive Vice President for operations, Acieta, a leading RIA certified and FANUC Authorized System Integrator. This podcast describes how Acieta defines custom automation and how one should approach the task of engaging an integrator like Acieta in procuring an automation system, whether your shop has three people or 300.

When it comes to making decisions for manufacturing, you don't know what you don't know. But solutions exist for changing this. Chris Mahar, Associate Editor for Manufacturing Engineering, talks with Egbert Schröer, Principal Program Manager Azure Industrial IoT & AI at Microsoft, to talk about artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things. Technologies that are enabling manufacturers to improve their business and manufacturing operations by uncovering the unknown. Click here for more information!

Today, an iPhone has more than 100,000 times the processing power of the computer that took Neil Armstrong to the moon in Apollo 11 – and the size and capabilities of today's computer boards are making an even more monumental change in how we manufacture. All this technology gives manufacturers the capability to operate, as stated in The Six Million Dollar Man, "better, stronger, faster." Christoph Berlin, Partner Program Manager at Microsoft sat down with Associate Editor Chris Mahar to talk about smart manufacturing and Microsoft's Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) vision. Click here for more information!

Daniel Cortez, North American applications manager at MC Machinery, gives the low down on what challenges modern manufacturers are facing in today's market. He also opines on emerging trends that can help manage the challenges. Additionally, he explains the concept of manufacturing velocity, as well as why head technology is so important in fiber technology.

Cobots, like other robot equipment, started in material handling applications. However, this year, Universal Robots is introducing welding applications and other heavy duty metal fabrication. This podcast interviewed onsite at FABTECH Universal Robots' senior manager of application development, Joe Campbell. Universal Robots was one of the first companies to offer collaborative robots and built a business around partnering with third party developers of end-effectors and end-use. Joe will explain how cobot technology has evolved to the point of safely offering a cost-effective solution for welding, working with end-effectors offered by third party developers

Keeping stamping equipment operating at peak efficiency is vital for fabricating shops. In this podcast, Alan Rooks, Editor in Chief of Manufacturing Engineering magazine, talks with Joe Bortolameolli, product manager for Marposs, about why the use of monitoring systems on stamping equipment is useful and necessary, how the Brankamp monitoring system from Marposs works, its availability on OEM equipment and as a retrofit solution, and the key production issues monitoring equipment is able to identify.

Industry 4.0, Automation and 3D printing are three of the hottest topics in manufacturing, and this podcast targets all three! Listen in as Alan Rooks, Editor in Chief of Manufacturing Engineering magazine, talks with Steve Fruehe, pre-sales solutions consultant, and Zach Gray, strategic business developer for Siemens about the basics of digitalization; approaches to gathering and storing the required data; and how app development figures into the equation. We also discuss new products and services for the fabrication and additive markets; how robotics has changed the landscape of fabrication and additive manufacturing; and what's happening at the Siemens Additive Manufacturing Experience Center in Germany.

Can you imagine laser tube and sheet cutters that you can wheel around and plug into a wall outlet? 3D Fab Light makes such machines. In this podcast, Alan Rooks, Editor in Chief of Manufacturing Engineering magazine, talks with Joel Rosenberg, CEO of 3D Fab Light Inc., about where the startup idea for FabLight Tube & Sheet came from, how the company is able to manufacture in the high-cost San Francisco Bay Area, how its sheet and tube cutting machines operate on 110V 20A wall outlet power, and their capabilities in terms of thicknesses, cutting beds, and tube sizes.

Kevin Smith, senior commercial application engineer at Markforged, explains how the Markforged Metal X 3D printing process works, for starters. He also gets into how FFF metal printing differs from DMLS and other processes. And he goes over materials that can be printed on the Metal X, as well as the applications that are best suited for metal 3D printing.

Lubrication has always been a key issue on manufacturing plant, but new technology has advanced the science of lubrication in remarkable ways. In this podcast, Alan Rooks, Editor in Chief of Manufacturing Engineering magazine, talks with Jerry Robinson, division manager for Castrol LubeCon about lubrication issues and trends that manufacturers are dealing with; common lubrication challenges they face; and new services and products that Castrol LubeCon is focusing on.

Everyone knows that companies like Amazon have turned the business of purchasing consumer products upside down. But how is online purchasing changing the business-to-business purchasing world? Alan Rooks, Editor in Chief of Manufacturing Engineering magazine, sat down with Kevin Weadick, President of Zoro.com, to find out. In this podcast, they discuss how B2B purchasing has traditionally been handled and how online purchasing is changing that equation; how online consumer shopping is setting expectations for B2B online purchasing; how manufacturers can navigate a "mixed market" of purchasing some of their products offline, and some online; and the services that Zoro has rolled out as well as the services it will be introducing in the future.

Time is money and reliability is what a company's reputation is built on. Chris Mahar, Associate Editor of Manufacturing Engineering, speaks with Mike Marr, Applications Technician at Hoffmann Group USA, about their Parabolic Performance Cutting (PPC) series and Garant Master Tap line. Discussing how manufacturers can reduce costs, provide process reliability and reduce machining times in both machining threads and 5-axis copy milling.

When it comes to being successful, manufacturers today have more tools than ever to succeed. Chris Mahar, Associate Editor of Manufacturing Engineering, talks with Jeff Lage, President, Advanced Manufacturing Technologies at Ellison Technologies, about how Industry 4.0 is helping manufacturers improve operations through data collection and insights. Providing tips on how businesses can get the most capacity out of their machines, remove waste and enable their machines do more.

Manufacturing is changing and so is factory automation and robotics. Chris Mahar, Associate Editor of Manufacturing Engineering, sits down with Amber Fulmer, Eastern Sales Manager for North America at OnRobot US, about collaborative robots and the future of automation in manufacturing. Highlighting the importance and variety in end-of-arm tooling that is available for collaborative robots and how it impacts the work that gets done.

When it comes to assembly, especially of today's sensitive electronics, batteries and more, precision is key. Chris Mahar, Associate Editor of Manufacturing Engineering, speaks with Greg Cooke, Applications Engineer for Promess, about servo technology and its benefits in assembly operations. Providing details about how servo technology can save money, applications where it makes the most sense and recent advancements in the space.

Manufacturing is thriving and advancing – creating new challenges for manufacturers looking to fill openings and attract tomorrow's skilled workers. Chris Mahar, Associate Editor of Manufacturing Engineering, speaks with Tony Christopher, Regional Sales Manager for Carr Lane Manufacturing, about labor challenges affecting manufacturing and how to attract and retain tomorrow's workforce.

Ever since the first industrial robot went online in 1961, manufacturers have been asking what, where, how and why should they turn to automation and robotics. Chris Mahar, Associate Editor of Manufacturing Engineering, speaks with Chris Voss, National Service Manager for Acieta, about the questions and answers facing manufacturers looking at robotics. Sharing how manufacturers can improve profitability, revenue, safety and quality through implementation of robotic automation systems.

Every manufacturer aims for faster, better parts. While chip making time is often the focus when it comes to time savings, Chris Mahar, Associate Editor of Manufacturing Engineering, talks with Steven Baier, Vice President of Sales for Haimer USA, about time savings that go beyond cutting time. Highlighting how consistency, balanced tooling and presetting are helping manufacturers produce better parts in less time – improving their bottom line.

Turning to software over paper reports does more than just save trees. Chris Mahar, Associate Editor of Manufacturing Engineering, talks with David McPhail, President and CEO of Memex Inc., about how manufacturers can utilize technology to improve efficiency, reduce downtime and boost productivity and profits across their business. Leveraging software to solve elusive waste in any facility.

Cutting tool technology continues to advance, and manufacturers can take advantage of a wide range of new cutting tool products. In this episode, Alan Rooks, Editor in Chief of Manufacturing Engineering magazine, talks with Tim Easton, National Sales Manager for NTK Cutting Tools about the company's role in the North American market; key new product developments; attributes of the NTK staff and how they work with customers; as well as forthcoming new products and new tool materials.

The world of industrial 3D printing is constantly changing, and innovations are appearing in rapid succession. In this podcast, Alan Rooks, Editor in Chief of Manufacturing Engineering magazine, talks with Dylan George, Application Engineer for Ultimaker North America, about what these changes mean for users of industrial 3D printing. Topics discussed include the Materials Alliance that Ultimaker founded; which industries have best embraced the benefits of 3D printing; end use cases; the new Ultimaker S3, a smaller printer; and the Ultimaker S5 Pro Bundle, an automated 3D printing solution.

Today's workforce is changing and workers stretch across four different generations. Chris Mahar, associate editor of Manufacturing Engineering, talks with Denise Ball, Workforce Education Specialist at Tooling U-SME, about how manufacturers can succeed in this new environment. Offering tips on how to attract and retain new generations of workers without alienating more experienced employees and their contributions.

In this podcast, Bruce Morey, Senior Technical Editor of Manufacturing Engineering Magazine, talks with John Barnes, Founder and Managing Director of The Barnes Group Advisors and Purdue Instructor about earning a certificate in additive manufacturing.

Will Hastings, Solutions Engineer at Velo3D and an expert in sourcing metal AM parts, talks about the ultimate in "support free:" FreeFloating. How is it possible to release your parts from the build plate? What are the benefits of FreeFloating? How do you select parts for FreeFloating? Hastings explains.