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Friday, May 30, 2008 |
More on travels with Gary. I stopped by Automation Direct yesterday to catch up with what's going on there. The news I can report is growth. Earth moving equipment all over the place. The company is adding warehouse space and offices like crazy. I also got teased with the possibility of new products. When I know more, you'll know more. But at least the growth is going two ways--more products for its distribution business and new technologies for its controller business. Oh, and by the way, I just saw the second really cool TV studio this year for broadcasting (usually over the Web) company meetings, training videos and the like. (The first was during my visit to Opto 22 last January. I have to get back there to try that one out ;-)
I'm about to leave to catch up on the growth and changes at B&R Automation then head home. Next week it's RS Tech Ed (Rockwell Software's annual gathering) in Orlando (with a side trip to see the grandson, of course).
8:51:19 AM 
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Manufacturing seems to be attracting Oracle's attention lately. Its marketing folks used to brief manufacturing press once every couple of years with no follow up. It's starting to pop up on the horizon more frequently now. In this case, ILS Technology has announced compliance with Oracle's Manufacturing Operations Center for its deviceWise 2.0 platform. A subtle, but key, point in this release is the term edge computing. This is a growing technology where a device is implemented between the factory floor data source and the ERP system in order to filter data to reduce network traffic and bog down the enterprise servers with too much data.
The deviceWise platform will be used to collect data from automation equipment and factory floor devices. deviceWise provides a high degree of edge processing which allows machines to distill data into real-time events and communicate directly to Oracle Manufacturing Operations Center, allowing users in the enterprise to monitor production and react to real-time events. With a direct conduit of information from operations, businesses can make more informed decisions that improve productivity and increase profitability.
"Oracle Manufacturing Operations Center represents Oracleâo[dot accent]s latest endeavor to enable enterprise users to get better access to real-time shop floor information," said Fred Yentz, chief operating officer of ILS Technology. "The deviceWise 2.0 platform's flexibility and scalability becomes a natural onramp for Oracle Manufacturing Operations Center. Working with Oracle allows our automation equipment partners and system integrators to be compatible with Oracle Manufacturing Operations Center, thereby accelerating the business value they can deliver to the end-user community. deviceWise simplifies the connection between the devices and the enterprise domains and brings value to the industry. Oracle's focus on real-time manufacturing event processing is likely to have a major impact in the manufacturing operations. We are pleased to be aligned with Oracleâo[dot accent]s industry leadership in this area."
Oracle Manufacturing Operations Center is part of Oracle's overall "Information-Driven Value Chains" strategy for supply chain management, which helps companies maximize value by connecting and optimizing their supply, demand and design chains. It is designed to increase the visibility and alignment between shop floor and ERP systems by managing the real-time data flows between the two.
"Oracle partners with innovative companies that offer complementary technology to enable our customers to succeed with their business goals," said Jon Chorley, Oracle VP of Supply Chain Strategy. "ILS Technology's deviceWise Embedded Edition platform enables leading-edge automation equipment vendors to natively connect to the Oracle Manufacturing Operations Center. In addition, deviceWise Enterprise Edition allows a wide variety of plant floor devices such as PACs, PLCs and RFID readers to supply the enterprise domain with a continuous flow of data. Combined with Oracle Manufacturing Operations Center, we will allow manufacturing customers to monitor activity in real time and transform the data into valuable business information."
"Customers need effective ways to integrate the systems used on the plant floor with the technology used in the enterprise," said Satoshi Takeda, Nagoya Works Controller Section Marketing manager, Mitsubishi Electric. "ILS Technology's deviceWise compatibility with Oracle points the way to a platform that provides cross-compatible connectivity. Specifically, our relationship with ILS Technology allows our e-F@ctory MX MES Interface IT solution to natively connect to the Oracle Manufacturing Operations Center. This simple direct connection enables unmatched power and flexibility in manufacturing. We look forward to supporting the Oracle Manufacturing Operations Center customers going forward."
"Manufacturing businesses need a growing volume of high quality information about operations to make customer commitments, react to market changes and manage global value chains," said Bob Mick, VP Emerging Technology, ARC Advisory Group. "Oracle's Manufacturing Operations Center addresses this challenge, and will be most effective when it can access any of the very diverse information that is stored in factories and plants. ILS Technology is providing Oracle customers with additional options for information collection with a focus on eliminating unnecessary software layers. Many customers will find this a fast and cost effective way to get at some of the hard to reach information stores."
8:42:29 AM
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The Automation Federation is quickly moving to its new goal to be a leading voice for engineering in workforce development programs. It has contracted with the Piedmont Triad Partnership to manage a roundtable of manufacturing executives and business leaders to give advanced manufacturing a voice in workforce development efforts in the region. The Advanced Manufacturing Industry Cluster will explore workforce development issues within sector, including education, training and retraining, skill gaps, and workforce development opportunities.
PTP was selected as one of 13 regional areas in the country to be awarded a WIRED (Workforce Innovation in Regional Economic Development) grant through the U.S. Department of Labor. The $15 million grant, announced in February of 2006, funds the creation of four targeted industry clusters in the region: Advanced Manufacturing, Creative Enterprises/Arts, Health Care, and Logistics/Distribution.
"Through our management of the Advanced Manufacturing Industry Cluster, we'll have the opportunity to bring the recognized expertise of our member organizations and all we have to offer to over 1400 manufacturing companies in the region," said Automation Federation Chairman Steve Huffman. "This initiative furthers our mission to increase awareness about advanced manufacturing and develop the next generation of automation professionals."
"We anticipate great success with the leadership of the Automation Federation," said Theresa Reynolds, WIRED Project Manager. "We hope our region can become a workforce development model for other regions across the country and around the world, and we're confident that the Automation Federation's network of experts can help us achieve our goals."
8:31:47 AM
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I'm sensing the beginning of a new trend--asset management of intellectual property. Actually, it's not so much the realization that companies have intellectual property in algorithms and control routines, it's about better ways to protect and manage those assets.
Opto 22 has added "Secure Strategy Distribution System" to its PAC Project automation software suite. This product gives Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) and machine builders the ability to encrypt both firmware and control programs so they can only be uploaded or downloaded to a controller via use of a secure encryption key. This allows them the ability to secure controllers they embed in machines preventing unauthorized users from loading and running code or accessing or downloading preloaded control programs without use of a shared encryption key. This guarantees that the Opto 22 firmware or control program update is authentic and has not been modified.
"The competitive landscape for OEMs today dictates that they need more sophisticated ways to protect themselves from reverse-engineering, piracy, sabotage, and other infringements on their intellectual property," says Nick Riley, Senior Project Engineer at Opto 22. "The Secure Strategy Distribution System features in our latest version of PAC Project give us as a manufacturer the opportunity to help alleviate some of our valued OEM customer concerns in this area, particularly as they ship their machines abroad."
8:26:07 AM
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Corporate charities are a tricky thing. Is it altruism, or just public relations? Same with covering them. But this looks like a good cause--and one of which I was unaware. Raising money to fight childhood cancers sounds like a good cause to me. Although this appears to be an employee-generated event, so it shows the power of people getting together.
Nilfisk CFM, a leading industrial vacuum manufacturer located in Malvern, PA, will join forces with Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation by hosting Lemon Days, its twist on the charity's annual Lemonade Days, which over the years has raised millions of dollars for childhood cancer research.
The 2-day employee event will be 100% lemon-inspired, complete with decorations and employee-made baked goods. In addition, Rita's water (430 Lancaster Pike, Frazer, PA) has graciously donated its Alex's Lemonade-flavored ice, and staff will be encouraged to wear yellow in celebration of the event. Employees are encouraged to give a donation of $10 in order to take part in the day's festivities, all of which will be donated.
"Lemon Days will get the whole office involved, and because Alex Scott was from the Delaware Valley, this particular charity holds an even greater place in all of our hearts." said Paul Miller, VP and General Manager of Nilfisk CFM. "We are truly inspired by Alex, and excited to honor her memory by holding this event."
Lemonade Days is a three day national event that grew out of Alexandra "Alex" Scottâo[dot accent]s front yard lemonade stand, and is held every year over the same June weekend. During Lemonade Days, dedicated volunteers host thousands of Alex's Lemonade Stands across the country, raising over $1 million for childhood cancer research in one weekend. June 2008 will mark the 5th Annual Lemonade Days with an estimated 10,000 volunteers at over 2,000 Alex's Lemonade Stands around the nation.
Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation (ALSF) emerged from the front yard lemonade stand of cancer patient Alexandra âo[ogonek]Alexâo[caron] Scott (1996-2004). At the age of 4, Alex announced that she wanted to hold a lemonade stand to raise money to help find a cure for all children with cancer. Since Alex held that first stand, the Foundation bearing her name has evolved into a national fundraising movement, complete with thousands of volunteers across the country carrying on her legacy of hope. To date, Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation, a registered 501(c)3 charity, has raised more than $19 million towards fulfilling Alex's dream of finding a cure, funding over 80 research projects nationally including those examining leukemia, brain tumors, neuroblastoma, Wilm's tumor, lymphoma, and osteosarcoma among others.
Corporate charities are a tricky thing. Is it altruism, or just public relations? Same with covering them. But this looks like a good cause--and one of which I was unaware. Raising money to fight childhood cancers sounds like a good cause to me. Although this appears to be an employee-generated event, so it shows the power of people getting together.
Nilfisk CFM, a leading industrial vacuum manufacturer located in Malvern, PA, will join forces with Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation by hosting Lemon Days, its twist on the charity's annual Lemonade Days, which over the years has raised millions of dollars for childhood cancer research.
The 2-day employee event will be 100% lemon-inspired, complete with decorations and employee-made baked goods. In addition, Rita's water (430 Lancaster Pike, Frazer, PA) has graciously donated its Alex's Lemonade-flavored ice, and staff will be encouraged to wear yellow in celebration of the event. Employees are encouraged to give a donation of $10 in order to take part in the day's festivities, all of which will be donated.
"Lemon Days will get the whole office involved, and because Alex Scott was from the Delaware Valley, this particular charity holds an even greater place in all of our hearts." said Paul Miller, VP and General Manager of Nilfisk CFM. "We are truly inspired by Alex, and excited to honor her memory by holding this event."
Lemonade Days is a three day national event that grew out of Alexandra "Alex" Scottâo[dot accent]s front yard lemonade stand, and is held every year over the same June weekend. During Lemonade Days, dedicated volunteers host thousands of Alex's Lemonade Stands across the country, raising over $1 million for childhood cancer research in one weekend. June 2008 will mark the 5th Annual Lemonade Days with an estimated 10,000 volunteers at over 2,000 Alex's Lemonade Stands around the nation.
Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation (ALSF) emerged from the front yard lemonade stand of cancer patient Alexandra âo[ogonek]Alexâo[caron] Scott (1996-2004). At the age of 4, Alex announced that she wanted to hold a lemonade stand to raise money to help find a cure for all children with cancer. Since Alex held that first stand, the Foundation bearing her name has evolved into a national fundraising movement, complete with thousands of volunteers across the country carrying on her legacy of hope. To date, Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation, a registered 501(c)3 charity, has raised more than $19 million towards fulfilling Alex's dream of finding a cure, funding over 80 research projects nationally including those examining leukemia, brain tumors, neuroblastoma, Wilm's tumor, lymphoma, and osteosarcoma among others.
6:42:58 AM
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© Copyright 2008 Gary Mintchell.
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