Welcome back! After a hiatus, I am excited to reintroduce the Five Minute Gemba newsletter. As we step in to 2025, I want to share some reflections, news, and set the tone for the new year for the newsletter and beyond. Reflections on 2024, LLM Influence Last year I discovered a powerful ally, what I dubbed my "best $20 a month employee" aka ChatGPT. I then started working … [Read more...]
Unlocking Potential with CIMCO Teachware
In the ever-evolving world of manufacturing and CNC machining, staying ahead of the curve isn’t just an advantage—it’s a necessity. One of the most powerful tools for training, documentation, and procedural clarity is CIMCO Teachware. Originally designed to enhance education and training programs, this versatile platform offers much more than meets the eye. What is CIMCO … [Read more...]
CMMC 2.0 and the Encrypted Shop Floor: How OT-Max Helps You Meet Compliance
In recent years our experience bridging the gap between IT and OT has been called upon often. As time goes on, rules change, standards change, and we're all required to adapt. It's often not simple answers, there is a lot of interpretation about how to achieve some of the loftier requirements. One of them just got a heck of a lot easier, CMMC 2.0 and your shop floor … [Read more...]
28 Years Later: A Journey of Gratitude and Growth
It’s hard to believe, but 28 years ago, I was unemployed for the first time since the month after graduating high school. It was December, and I’d just stepped away from my role at Sherwin-Williams to join a friend’s IT services business. But as I dug into what a 1099 arrangement really meant, I saw a different path. A fork in the road appeared—one of those moments that shape … [Read more...]
CIMCO Editor Training and Educational Resources Revisited
So much has changed in 10 years This has been for us a very popular page, however due to huge changes in the CIMCO Editor world, it was time to revise it. What has changed since 2014? Multiple new versions, with the latest being 2024 and version 2025 just around the corner! A super fast new Simulation Kernel and Solid Simulation within Editor to compliment backplot. … [Read more...]
Unified Name Space (UNS): Future-Proofing Manufacturing for the AI Era
In manufacturing, data isn’t just information—it’s a potential treasure trove of insights. With advanced technologies like artificial intelligence, machine learning, and neural networks become more approachable, preparing to manage and integrate data effectively today is crucial. At Managed Solutions, we’ve built our reputation bridging IT and OT systems including ERP and MES … [Read more...]
Introducing OT-Max: A Game-Changer for Secure CNC Machine Connectivity
At Managed Solutions, we have always been passionate about helping manufacturers optimize their operations while keeping things secure and efficient. That’s why we are excited to introduce OT-Max, a powerful tool designed to bridge the gap between CNC machines and modern networks. Whether you are running legacy equipment or cutting-edge systems, OT-Max provides a secure, … [Read more...]
The Limited Half-Life of Data Collection Only Solutions
A few years ago, I had a conversation with a customer that has stuck with me ever since. They had implemented a subscription-based data collection system and were thrilled with how quickly it was up and running. But as time went on, their excitement had turned to frustration. To the point where they realized to move forward they had to make a change. That conversation was … [Read more...]
Updating Your Keyfile on the CIMCO License Server (Offline Activation)
Today we will explain how to update your CIMCO software license file on the CIMCO license server. This is Article 2 in a 2-part series explaining the offline activation process. If the server being updated has internet access, please click to view Article 1 which covers online activation. While not difficult, the offline activation does take more time. There are two parts to … [Read more...]
Updating Your Keyfile on the CIMCO License Server (Online Activation)
Today we will explain how to update your CIMCO software license file on the CIMCO license server. This is Article 1 in a 2-part series explaining the online activation process. If the server being updated does not have internet access, please click here to view Article 2, which explains how to use an offline request file. There are two parts to this process. First is … [Read more...]