Advanced Manufacturing Now

Catalytic CEO Sean Chou explains the difference between process automation and robotic automation, as well as what it looks like to use automation to augment existing workflows. Importantly, he describes how manufacturers can use automation to do more with less—to lessen supply chain pressures that have grown because of globalization and the Covid-19 crisis. And he details which processes manufacturers can automate to optimize resources and productivity.

Robotics have come a long way since the first industrial robot was installed at General Motors. Denise Ebenhoech, Regional Head of Advanced Robotics Applications at KUKA Robotics, sits down with Chris Mahar, Associate Editor, to discuss recent developments within mobile robots. From cleans rooms to job shops to moving entire airplane assemblies, autonomous mobile robots are helping manufacturers succeed in today's advanced manufacturing landscape.

John Deere's Eric Johnson discusses the company's additive manufacturing journey—with an eye toward helping small and medium businesses get going in AM. Learn about the early days of getting one of the first AM parts, as well as unrealistic expectations of the technology and how John Deere is creating value with the technology today. Finally, Johnson provides tips on unlocking the value of AM for your business in five key applications.

Joe LaRussa, director of seat industrial engineering at Brose North America, takes on one of the most challenging topics in manufacturing today: Nurturing, recruiting and retaining talent that will help advance the industry's digital transformation.

Grinding is a vital process for manufacturing and finishing precision parts, but some manufacturers overlook some of the key ways they can improve the grinding process. In this episode, Alan Rooks, editor in chief of Manufacturing Engineering magazine, talks with Doug Henke, technical specialist for DCM Tech, serving the South & Southeastern United States and Mexico, about the main reasons a manufacturer should take the time to optimize their grinding processes; the root causes of some common grinding problems; high level optimization tips for grinding operators; and how selecting the proper abrasive can be a difficult task but is essential.

Bruce Morey, Senior Technical Editor for Manufacturing Engineering Magazine in this podcast engages in a wide ranging discussion on Digital Twin technology with Ron Beck, Marketing Strategy Director for Aspen Technology, Inc.

David Tucker, automotive strategy and production development manager at HP 3D Printing, and Kyle Harvey, business unit manager for additive manufacturing at Extol, talk about HP's recent announcement of polypropylene as a material for AM, as well as how Extol is involved in HP's expansion of its 3D printing business.

Crean Inc. President James Crean discusses the post-pandemic future of manufacturing. His firm has been helping companies implement smart manufacturing tech so they can be more flexible and able to pivot, whenever necessary. Supply chains need to be brought back to the U.S., in part because of mass customization and "Amazon-time" demands, he says. He also prescribes ways for smaller companies to take advantage of demand shifts in the marketplace.

In this podcast, Bruce Morey, Senior Technical Editor for Manufacturing Engineering magazine host Tom Jones and Isaiah Weiner, senior managers for Amazon's Cloud Services to Simulation & High Performance Computing and its role as one of the enablers that the Cloud provides for discrete manufacturing.

In this podcast, Bruce Morey, Senior Technical Editor for Manufacturing Engineering Magazine discusses with Vince Bovino, of the Bovino Consulting Group how four basic principles around incentive pay can improve an organization's performance and profitability.