We’re bringing you a surprise this episode of “Automation Chat” by providing a guest episode from our sister publication Control magazine. Rockwell Automation just released its 9th Annual State of Smart Manufacturing Report, and for its “Control Intelligence” podcast, Control VP and Group Publisher Keith Larson interviewed Gerry Abbey, Rockwell Automation Manager of Analysts, Relations and Insights, to talk about the results.

You’ll learn how generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) rocketed up the technology priority list. Why cobots, AMRs, AGVs and wearables ranked highly in new areas for technology investments. How cybersecurity continues to increase as OT and IT work together more and connectivity increases between digital and physical operations. And more.

“Control Intelligence” is hosted by Control editors and provides in-depth discussions with industry experts about important topics in the process control and automation field. Episodes explore underlying issues affecting users, system integrators, suppliers and others. Subscribe on your favorite podcast app, and get an archive of past episodes at www.controlglobal.com/podcasts. 

And as always with each“Automation Chat" episode, The Journal’s Executive Editor Theresa Houck shares a family-friendly, silly Joke of the Day.

Resources from this episode:  

• Download the Rockwell Automation 9th Annual State of Smart Manufacturing Report.

Automation Chat is brought to you by The Journal From Rockwell Automation and Our PartnerNetwork magazine.

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** Named Best Podcast 2 Consecutive Years! 2022 & 2023 Apex Awards of Publication Excellence. 

Imagine using your phone to take a picture of a machine process or part, telling the software it’s not working, and the software providing suggestions and solutions for solving the problem. That’s what generative AI is doing right now.

In this episode, The Journal’s Executive Editor Theresa Houck discusses how Microsoft is doing this and changing the industrial metaverse. Based on a report by Contributing Editor Jim Montague from the 2023 Automation Fair event, you’ll see how Rockwell Automation and Microsoft are using generative AI, ChatGPT and other digitized tools to build better products and processes.

And as always, get your family-friendly, silly Joke of the Day.

Resources from this episode:

• Read the article online, “How Microsoft is Changing the Industrial Metaverse.”

Automation Chat is brought to you by The Journal From Rockwell Automation and Our PartnerNetwork magazine.

Find us on LinkedIn.

Find us on Facebook.

Find us on X (Twitter).

Please leave us a 5-star rating and a review.

** Named Best Podcast 2 Consecutive Years! 2022 & 2023 Apex Awards of Publication Excellence.

In this episode of Automation Chat, written by Rockwell Automation, The Journal’s Executive Editor Theresa Houck discusses how to limit access to networks, processes and intellectual property by using modern human-machine interface software with security features for user authentication, mobile use and more.

And as always, get your family-friendly, silly Joke of the Day.

Resources from this episode:

• Read the article online, “5 Ways to Make Your HMI Secure.”

Automation Chat is brought to you by The Journal From Rockwell Automation and Our PartnerNetwork magazine.

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Find us on X (Twitter).

Please leave us a 5-star rating and a review.

** Named Best Podcast 2 Consecutive Years! 2022 & 2023 Apex Awards of Publication Excellence.

In this episode of “Automation Chat," Executive Editor Theresa Houck reviews news highlights in industrial automation and manufacturing, including cybersecurity, HMI and edge computing research reports; ODVA’s cybersecurity network extension for EtherNet/IP; the WEF’s Scope 3 emissions in manufacturing white paper; awards for manufacturing and DE&I performance; and more.

As always, get your family-friendly, silly Joke of the Day.

Resources from this episode:

• ARC Advisory Group Report: Operator Panels Market Driven by IT/OT Convergence.

Please leave us a 5-star rating and a review — we appreciate it.

“Automation Chat" is brought to you by The Journal From Rockwell Automation and Our PartnerNetwork magazine.

** Named Best Podcast 2 Consecutive Years! 2022 & 2023 Apex Awards of Publication Excellence.

In this episode, The Journal’s Executive Editor Theresa Houck discusses how to go home safely at the end of your workday by applying good electrical safety practices. Written by Fluke Corp., you’ll learn key safe work methods for using electrical testing tools, including CAT ratings, NFPA 70E, visual inspection, verifying absence of voltage and more.

And as always, get your family-friendly, silly Joke of the Day.

Resources:

• Read the article online, “How to Go Home Safely at the End of Your Day.”

Please leave us a 5-star rating and a review.

“Automation Chat" is brought to you by The Journal From Rockwell Automation and Our PartnerNetwork magazine.

** Named Best Podcast 2 Consecutive Years! 2022 & 2023 Apex Awards of Publication Excellence.

The renewable energy sector is leading the global energy transition away from fossil fuels. To keep up with this explosive growth in demand, renewable energy manufacturers must modernize operations to increase reliability, efficiency and their ability to scale quickly — all without sacrificing product quality.

In this episode, Executive Editor Theresa Houck talks with Craig Blondin, Industry Sales Manager, Hybrid, at Rockwell Automation, about how the sector can do this to satisfy manufacturers awaiting these renewable energy products.

They also discuss breakthrough technologies that enable faster speed to market and increased capacity, empowered workers, realized ESG goals and bolstered financial performance.

And as always, get your family-friendly, silly Joke of the Day.

Resources from this episode:

• Blog: “Scaling Sustainability.”

In this episode, written by Reid Schook, President of CoreTigo Inc., Executive Editor Theresa Houck discusses what the IO-Link Wireless standard is, and how it helps optimize production to operate with reduced manual operations and changeovers and increased throughput.

And as always, get your family-friendly, silly Joke of the Day.

Resources from the episode:

• Read the article online, “How IO-Link Wireless Enables Flexibility and Capacity.”

Please leave us a 5-star rating and a review — we appreciate it.

“Automation Chat" is brought to you by The Journal From Rockwell Automation and Our PartnerNetwork magazine.

** Named Best Podcast 2 Consecutive Years! 2022 & 2023 Apex Awards of Publication Excellence.

In this episode, Executive Editor Theresa Houck explains how the Panama Canal became horribly backed up with freighters, and its profound effects on the global supply chain. This is a follow-up to last week’s episode (Jan. 29, 2024) about trends & strategies to mitigate supply chain disruptions.

As always, get your family-friendly, silly Joke of the Day.

Resources:

• “Automation Chat” Podcast January 29, 2024, Episode #85: “11 Trends & Strategies for Mitigating Supply Chain Disruptions.”

Please leave us a 5-star rating and a review — we really appreciate it.

“Automation Chat" is brought to you by The Journal From Rockwell Automation and Our PartnerNetwork magazine.

** Named Best Podcast 2 Consecutive Years! 2022 & 2023 Apex Awards of Publication Excellence.

** Named Best Podcast 2 Consecutive Years! 2022 & 2023 Apex Awards of Publication Excellence.

In this episode, Executive Editor Theresa Houck highlights 11 key trends and strategies industrial firms are using to mitigate supply chain disruptions.

Then she interviews Steve Riordan, Global Director, Consulting & Supply Chain Capability at Kalypso, A Rockwell Automation Business. They talk about what’s causing disruptions; how automation is helping manufacturers; what specific challenges the food & beverage and retail & apparel industries are facing; and changes he sees coming.

And of course, get your family-friendly, silly Joke of the Day.

Resources:

• Article: “4 Strategies For Creating a More Agile, Resilient Supply Chain.”

Please leave us a 5-star rating and a review — it helps us a lot, and we really appreciate it.

“Automation Chat" is brought to you by The Journal From Rockwell Automation and Our PartnerNetwork magazine.

The ability to replace human organs could be more impactful on humanity than cell phones — and it’s happening now. In this “In Case You Missed It” episode, we bring the written word to life by reading an article from The Journal. Executive Editor Theresa Houck reads story, “A Look Inside a Ground-Breaking Human Tissue Foundry.”

It’s written by Mike Bacidore, Editor in Chief of our sister publication Control Design and contributing editor for The Journal, based on his tour of BioFabUSA, created by the Advanced Regenerative Manufacturing Institute. You’ll see how automation, life sciences, and engineering unite to create amazing disruptive tools and FDA-compliant manufacturing processes for organ regeneration, and the profound impact tissue regeneration could have on people’s lives and the health care system.

Resources from this episode:

• Read the article online: “A Look Inside a Ground-Breaking Human Tissue Foundry.”

Please give us a 5-star rating and write a review — it helps us, and we really appreciate it.

Brought to you by The Journal From Rockwell Automation and Our PartnerNetwork magazine.

** 2 Consecutive Awards for Best Podcast, 2022 & 2023 APEX Awards of Publication Excellence.