As you might have guessed, there is no magic box for Industry 4.0. It is and will be a concept like True North in the Toyota Production System - a journey, not a destination. Along the way, we'll understand that connecting various systems is hard work, and many unique challenges will be faced. We have legacy platforms, duplicate/conflicting standards, niche vendors, … [Read more...]
Using Barcode Readers with CIMCO Software
In this article we'll review some common and advanced usage of barcode readers with CIMCO Software. The role of barcode readers in Smart Manufacturing Barcode readers provide for quick and accurate data acquisition, limiting errors from data entry. CIMCO's use of barcode readers has evolved over the years from very basic functions to intricate and powerful multi-step schemes. … [Read more...]
Introducing the Five-Minute Gemba
Managed Solutions started out as a IT Services company in the late 1990s. Much like today, the late 90s to early 2000s were time of great change with new technologies frequently upsetting the old way of doing business. "Growing up" around this environment has shaped our business philosophy to be practical, adaptive and creative. Today, we are tasked with helping many forward … [Read more...]
You may need data management if…
It's no secret here that we love working with CIMCO Manufacturing Data Management (MDM). Over the last eight years or so, more and more of our customers have found data management to be an essential tool. Some with our nudging and many on their own recognizing how it resolves some significant bottlenecks. After a recent conversation with an IT manager at a prospect it became … [Read more...]
A Historic Opportunity for US Manufacturing
The Covid-19 situation is terrible in so many ways. The loss of life, freedom, and the incredible amount of debt being accrued to name a few. One positive thing about it, however, is that awareness has sharply risen on the importance of having local manufacturing and supply chains. This represents a historic opportunity to re-align some of our national priorities around … [Read more...]
Data is Currency: Preparing for Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning and Neural Networks
Lurking somewhere in your computer systems is data that in the future will be able to improve awareness, efficiency, and profitability at your company. This is possible by allowing you to more readily adapt data hungry technologies such as AI, machine learning and neural networks.((The more data you have, the more accurate and useful these technologies are)) You've already made … [Read more...]
CIMCO Tech Tip – Connecting Excel to the CIMCO Database using ODBC
CIMCO Manufacturing Data Management does a great job of storing and controlling all of your manufacturing data. CIMCO Machine Data Collection does a great job tracking all of your machine metrics. They both also include a complete report system that can be customized and accessed via their respective clients. As is often the case, sometimes you may want to include some of this … [Read more...]
Traceability Using CIMCO Software
One way to help digitally transform manufacturing companies is to implement enhanced traceability. This can be useful to ensure that required tolerances and procedures have been followed, as well as provide additional data related to the manufacture of a given component or product. For example a company may need to provide documentation to show that a part was within all … [Read more...]
Advanced IoT Keurig Coffee Machine Data Collection
Prior to this year, it had been 6 years since Managed Solutions participated at the Westec show. While keeping up with the expanding needs of our customers, the task of preparing for Westec was growing in urgency. Two ideas were percolating here: to be more personal/welcoming and to feature something different. In order to capture our desired culture we settled on the "Westec … [Read more...]
Sacramento Area Manufacturers Mobilize to Ensure Bright Future
In June of last year we shared some examples of manufacturer led initiatives that are working to tackle the biggest challenges they face. The challenges are predominantly the skills gap and workforce development issues. Now it is 2019, and have an update for you. In an Email update from SVMI executive director Dean Peckham to supporters and manufacturers Dean laid out the … [Read more...]