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The digital transformation buzz in manufacturing The buzz around Industry 4.0 and digital transformation in manufacturing is becoming incessant. The call for AI, VR, Digital Twins – it can all seem a bit daunting. However, beneath the buzzwords and hype, behind the (what we like to call) ‘Icing technologies’ (that are exciting and shiny but sit on top of an already well designed factory), you get to the real substance of real value these technologies can generate for your business.  In fact, the Manufacturer’s Annual Manufacturing report found that while 73% of manufacturers believe that digital technologies will produce ROI,

Digital calibration management The industry is becoming more digital everyday. Everything from using robots in production, to taking a tablet onto the shopfloor, through to sensors on your machines. And, these tools are driving considerable improvements in manufacturing companies big and small. However, digital calibration management may not be the first thing that comes to mind when thinking digital. But, there’s significant potential for streamlining processes through adoption of digital calibration systems. And these can improve the overall productivity of quality teams. Previously, our blog discussed the 4 main types of calibration software on the market. And, with the movement towards connected

The Nadcap Audit is an accreditation process has been designed to benefit both company and customer. With over 2,800 accredited Suppliers of Special Processes, being Nadcap approved is a crucial element of working in the industry and supplying into aerospace.  For many companies looking to supply into aerospace, the process of gaining accreditation can be daunting, and even for experienced metal finishers, preparing for your external auditors can be stressful.  To help more companies streamline this process, we’ve worked with our Nadcap approved customers to create an easy-to-follow guide on how to prepare for your Nadcap Audit, including tips and tricks make

What is Industry 4.0? Industry 4.0 is the next revolution in industrialization, or as many are calling it ‘the Fourth Industrial Revolution’, and is the current trend of automation and data exchange in manufacturing technologies. But what is Industry 4.0? What does it mean? What are the main challenges? And what can it do for your business? Let’s find out.  Building ‘The Smart Factory’ The aim for industry 4.0 is to create ‘smart factories’ that utilise automated computing algorithms to monitor physical processes, and make decentralized decisions. Once these factories have evolved into smart factories they will have the capabilities

Streamline heat treatments operations with the right software Ten years ago, Apple advertised its newest iPhone model with the slogan, “there’s an app for that.” Since that time, specialised software and apps have proliferated beyond just consumers. Many different manufacturing companies used specialised software for everything from benchmarking to monitoring WIP. But, heat treatment companies that serve the aerospace industry have lagged behind other manufacturing sectors. Cutting-edge heat treatment technology – manual workflow monitoring Many heat process companies use cutting-edge technology in their heat lines but still rely on generic MRP systems that aren’t compatible with the heat treatment workflow.

With AS9100 Revision D now active, it’s vital that all aerospace companies are aware of and understand the changes made to the accreditation and what needs to be done to conform to the updates. The last thing you want is to be audited against the new standard to be found breaching one of the new specifications. AS9100 – What is it? In 2016, AS9100 Revision C saw an update alongside that of the ISO 9001 standard. Following its previous patterns, the aerospace accreditation continues to encompass the most recent version of ISO 9001 with additional aerospace specific requirements. AS9100 certification

If you’re new to the world of Industry 4.0, it can seem like this big, daunting phenomenon, but it’s really quite simple! – Industry 4.0 is the next revolution in industrialisation or as many are calling it ‘the Fourth Industrial Revolution’. It is the current trend of automation and data exchange in manufacturing technologies. There’s a lot involved in Industry 4.0, but we’ve examined the complex revolution in detail, and are able to bring to you the 10 nuggets of advice to help you succeed in Industry 4.0. 1. Create a Smart Factory The aim of Industry 4.0 is to

MRP, ERP and Production Control software packages are all associated with manufacturing systems – software that plans and schedules work, manages your inventory, and streamlines paperwork. Whilst they are similar in many ways, there are some important differences that should be considered when choosing which to use in your business. Implementing the wrong system can be a costly mistake and its effects can influence your company for the long term, so it’s important to choose the right one and make the most of your budget. So, what are the differences, and which system is best for you? ERP systems –

Do you need a Scheduler? Like many manufacturing companies, you’d love to be able to achieve all your delivery dates either on-time or early. But juggling multiple resources and dozens – if not hundreds – of jobs at the same time with machine down-time and changing priorities can make delivering all jobs on-time in full virtually impossible. So, you’re probably asking yourself the question: could I Improve OTIF Performance with a Scheduler. The spreadsheets approach Following a manual system, Spreadsheets are often the go-to first option for Production Planners. They are great for many reasons, but might not be the