# PLEX Website > Curated sitemap content for LLM optimization. This file provides curated sections of the PLEX website. Each section groups related pages for LLM inference and optimization. ## PLEX Homepage - [Plex Smart Manufacturing Platform](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us.html) : Helping you gain complete control from the shop floor to the top floor was the reason Plex was founded. Learn more about the Plex Smart Manufacturing Platform. ## Learn about the industries the PLEX serves. - [Built for Manufacturing Across Industries](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/industries.html) : Connect the people, systems, and supply chains specific to your industry’s demands and meet industry-specific quality standards. ## Find product documentation, software downloads, tools, resources, training and more. - [About Us](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company.html) : - [Customer Support](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/support.html) : The Plex Customer Community. ## Find product documentation, software downloads, tools, resources, training and more. - [About Us](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company.html) : - [Customer Support](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/support.html) : The Plex Customer Community. ## Plex Products Catalog - [MES Systems: Manufacturing Execution System Software](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/products/manufacturing-execution-system.html) : Transform your manufacturing process with Plex MES. Enhance efficiency, improve visibility, and drive productivity in real-time. Discover more! - [Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/products/enterprise-resource-planning.html) : - [Supply Chain Planning (SCP) System: Manufacturing Software](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/products/supply-chain.html) : Streamline demand-supply planning and inventory with Plex. Sync ERP, MES, and real-time data for accurate forecasts and efficient production. - [Quality Management System (QMS)](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/products/quality-management-system.html) : - [Production Monitoring](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/products/production-monitoring.html) : - [MES Automation and Orchestration](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/products/mes-automation-orchestration.html) : - [Asset Performance Management (APM)](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/products/asset-performance-management.html) : - [Plex Connected Worker](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/products/connected-worker.html) : - [Plex Smart Manufacturing Platform Packaging](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/products/subscription-packages.html) : Visibility, quality, and control that scales with you. Your needs start at the plant level, and so does our packaging. - [Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT)](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/products/industrial-iot.html) : Leverage the full benefits of MES coupled with Industrial IoT (IIoT). - [Manufacturing Analytics](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/products/manufacturing-analytics.html) : Gain deeper insight into your operational and production performance with Plex Manufacturing Analytics. - [Plex Integration: Finite Scheduler by Rockwell Automation](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/products/plex-finite-scheduler.html) : ## Manufacturing Execution System (MES) / MOM Catalog - [Cloud-Based MES Basics](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/products/manufacturing-execution-system/cloud-based-mes-basics.html) : Learn about cloud-based MES and how it can streamline your manufacturing process. This page provides definitions, benefits, and solutions. - [Production Planning, Scheduling, and Management Software](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/products/manufacturing-execution-system/production-planning-scheduling-and-management-software.html) : Find out about production planning, scheduling, and management with Plex. Our tools and software ensure efficient production practices. - [What is a Manufacturing Execution System (MES)?](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/products/manufacturing-execution-system/what-is-mes.html) : A 101 guide outlining the features, functions and benefits of a Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES). - [Inventory Management Software](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/products/manufacturing-execution-system/inventory-management.html) : Inventory management: one of the many Manufacturing Execution System (MES)/MOM features you'll find on the Plex Smart Manufacturing Platform. ## Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Catalog - [Enterprise Accounting and Consolidation](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/products/enterprise-resource-planning/enterprise-accounting-and-consolidation.html) : - [Human Capital Management](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/products/enterprise-resource-planning/human-capital-management.html) : - [Financial Management](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/products/enterprise-resource-planning/financial-management.html) : - [Suppliers And Purchasing Management](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/products/enterprise-resource-planning/suppliers-and-purchasing-management.html) : ## Supply Chain Planning (SCP) Catalog - [Demand Management: A Critical Success Factor in the Food and Beverages Industry](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/products/supply-chain/demand-management-a-critical-success-factor-in-the-food-and-beverages-industry.html) : An agile demand management process is critical for success in the food & beverage industry. Optimize your demand management process with these five tips. - [What is Smart Supply Chain Management?](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/products/supply-chain/what-is-smart-supply-chain-management.html) : Learn about supply chain management and how it can benefit your business. We cover processes, strategy, and risk management. - [Demand Forecasting: An Industry Guide](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/products/supply-chain/demand-forecasting-an-industry-guide.html) : Learn about demand casting and how companies can use it to make better decisions in manufacturing, purchasing and other key business functions. - [Customers And Sales Management](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/products/supply-chain/customers-and-sales-management.html) : One of the many Supply Chain Management (SCM) features you'll find on the Plex Smart Manufacturing Platform. - [Capacity Planning: An Industry Guide](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/products/supply-chain/capacity-planning-an-industry-guide.html) : Find out more about capacity planning and how defining a strategy can help businesses monitor costs, increase flexibility and improve profitability. - [Supply Chain Planning: A Guide to Strategic Planning and Operations](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/products/supply-chain/supply-chain-planning-strategic-planning-and-operations.html) : Learn how Supply Chain Planning software automates processes, provides robust inventory forecasting and can empower teams to reduce costs through better, more precise planning. - [What Is Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP)?](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/products/supply-chain/about-sales-and-operations-planning.html) : Understand how manufacturers can use Sales & Operation Planning (S&OP) to improve customer service, reduce costs, and drive higher profitability. - [Supply Chain Planning and Collaboration](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/products/supply-chain/supply-chain-and-collaboration.html) : One of the many Supply Chain Management (SCM) features you'll find on the Plex Smart Manufacturing Platform. - [Product And Program Management](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/products/supply-chain/product-and-program-management.html) : One of the many Supply Chain Management (SCM) features you'll find on the Plex Smart Manufacturing Platform. - [MRP Software for SMBs](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/products/supply-chain/mrp-software-for-smbs.html) : Discover how disruptive technology can help small and medium-sized businesses match the pace of larger companies in technology, tools and infrastructure. - [MRP in an Uncertain World](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/products/supply-chain/mrp-in-an-uncertain-world.html) : Learn more about MRP and how companies are using modern systems to manage material requirements within factories to improve efficiency and cost. - [Inventory As A Percent Of Sales](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/products/supply-chain/inventory-as-a-percent-of-sales.html) : Discover how understanding inventory as a percentage of sales can help businesses measure working capital and optimize their inventory. - [Implementing a Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP) Process](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/products/supply-chain/implementing-sales-and-operations-planning-sop.html) : Use our Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) process overview as a template to define the roles, responsibilities, and timing of each step in your own strategy. ## Quality Management System (QMS) Catalog - [What Are the Different Types of Quality Management System (QMS)?](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/products/quality-management-system/types-quality-management-systems.html) : Learn about the different types of quality management system and how they can support your business today. - [What is a Quality Management System (QMS)?](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/products/quality-management-system/what-quality-management-system-qms.html) : This article covers what a quality management system (QMS) is, why it's important, and how it can help you grow your business. ## Asset Performance Management (APM) Catalog - [An Extensive Guide to Asset Performance Management (APM)](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/products/asset-performance-management/apm-guide.html) : Learn about asset performance management and how it can benefit your plant floor. We cover processes, strategy, and risk management. - [A Guide to Monitoring Machine Performance](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/products/asset-performance-management/machine-performance-monitoring.html) : Find out how you can measure manufacturing machine performance with machine condition monitoring software. - [What is the IIoT?](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/products/analytics-and-industrial-iot/what-is-iiot.html) : Looking for more information on the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT)? This article covers what IIoT is, why it's important and how it's used in manufacturing. - [What Is Connected Manufacturing and Why Should You Care About It?](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/products/analytics-and-industrial-iot/what-is-connected-manufacturing-and-why-care.html) : Learn about connected manufacturing and how it works with IIoT. This article covers why businesses should prioritize using AI in manufacturing. - [What Is a Smart Factory?](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/products/analytics-and-industrial-iot/what-is-a-smart-factory.html) : Learn everything you need to know about smart manufacturing and how you can implement it into your processes. ## Platform Catalog - [Cloud Infrastructure & Security](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/platform/cloud-infrastructure-and-security.html) : - [Plex Mobile](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/platform/mobile-application.html) : - [Availability and Performance](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/platform/availability-performance.html) : - [Manufacturing Automation](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/platform/manufacturing-automation.html) : ## Manufacturing Automation Catalog - [The Rise of Automation in Manufacturing](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/platform/manufacturing-automation/rise-automation-manufacturing.html) : This page has everything you need to know about the growing role of automation in manufacturing. We cover types, examples and advantages. ## Built for Manufacturing Across Industries Catalog - [Industrial Manufacturing](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/industries/industrial-manufacturing.html) : - [Automotive Manufacturing](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/industries/automotive.html) : - [Food and Beverage Manufacturing](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/industries/food-and-beverage.html) : - [Precision Metalforming and Fabrication Manufacturing](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/industries/precision-metalforming-and-fabrication-manufacturing.html) : - [Plastics and Rubber Manufacturing](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/industries/plastics-and-rubber.html) : - [High Tech and Electronics Manufacturing](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/industries/high-tech-and-electronics.html) : - [Aerospace Manufacturing](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/industries/aerospace.html) : ## Automotive Manufacturing Catalog - [Body And Exterior](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/industries/automotive/body-and-exterior.html) : The Plex Smart Manufacturing Platform digitizes the production process to ensure accurate stamping, bending and shaping of body panels and other exterior parts. - [Drivetrain](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/industries/automotive/drivetrain.html) : Manage drivetrain manufacturing complexity and quality to deliver to your automotive customer specifications with The Plex Smart Manufacturing Platform. - [Automotive Quality Management System: IATF 16949](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/industries/automotive/automotive-quality-management-system-iatf-16949.html) : Perform at the highest possible standards with an automotive quality management system. Learn about the IATF standards and benefits here. - [Body And Exterior](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/industries/automotive/interior.html) : Plex Manufacturing Cloud helps automotive interior manufacturers achieve enterprise visibility, quality control, and manage material diversity to meet strict design and efficiency goals. - [Why ERP is Crucial to the Automotive Industry](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/industries/automotive/why-erp-crucial-automotive-industry.html) : ERP is essential to the automotive industry. Find out why you should be using ERP software to refine your manufacturing processes. - [Guide to Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA)](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/industries/automotive/guide-failure-mode-and-effects-analysis-fmea.html) : FMEA is a process that supports businesses looking to identify failures and areas for improvement. Learn more here. - [Electrical](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/industries/automotive/electrical.html) : Electrical harness, lighting and component manufacturing requires detailed tracking, assembly and measurements to ensure products meet customer requirements. ## Food and Beverage Manufacturing Catalog - [Confectionary Manufacturing](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/industries/food-and-beverage/confectionary-old.html) : Ensure compliance and allergen management and adapt to seasonal, customer, and supplier demands. - [Built for Confectionary Manufacturers](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/industries/food-and-beverage/confectionary.html) : Learn how Plex gives you real-time visibility into your entire operations ensuring full compliance, effective allergen management, and ability to adapt. - [Beverage Manufacturing](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/industries/food-and-beverage/beverage-old.html) : Take control of high-speed operations, batch management, and new product introduction for water, flavorings, and alcoholic beverages. - [Built for Beverage Manufacturers](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/industries/food-and-beverage/beverage.html) : Learn how Plex helps you stay consistent, efficient, and nimble with master-level traceability made for beverage manufacturers like you. - [Packing](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/industries/food-and-beverage/packing-old.html) : Give your customers real-time information through Plex. Think outside the box and dig into data together to send waste and inefficiency packing. - [Food Traceability](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/industries/food-and-beverage/food-traceability.html) : Food traceability is a critical aspect of food safety and ensuring the safety of consumers’ health. - [Built for Private Label Manufacturers](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/industries/food-and-beverage/private-label-manufacturing.html) : See how the Plex Smart Manufacturing Platform provides the tracking, analysis, and quality management needed to help manufacture private label products. - [Private Label Manufacturing](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/industries/food-and-beverage/private-label-manufacturing-old.html) : Ensure high quality while delivering at the right times for your customers. - [Built for Snacks Manufacturers](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/industries/food-and-beverage/snacks.html) : Learn to manage changing customer demands, advance your product development, and decrease your time to market with the Plex Smart Manufacturing Platform. - [Food Manufacturing Software: MES – PLEX](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/industries/food-and-beverage/why-mes-critical-food-and-beverage-manufacturers.html) : Learn why MES is critical for manufacturing in the food and beverage industry, and how PLEX can optimize your plant floor. - [Snacks Manufacturing](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/industries/food-and-beverage/snacks-old.html) : Manage changing customer demands and fill rates, advance your product development, and decrease your time to market. - [Built for Bakery Manufacturers](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/industries/food-and-beverage/bakery.html) : When it comes to consistency and yield for bakery manufacturers, the Plex Smart Manufacturing Platform helps you put your money where your mix is. - [Built for Packing Manufacturers](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/industries/food-and-beverage/packing.html) : Discover how to work smarter with your customers by giving them access to real-time information with the Plex Smart Manufacturing Platform. - [Food & Beverage ERP](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/industries/food-and-beverage/food-beverage-erp.html) : Take control of your Food & Beverage ERP with purpose-built solutions and find out why F&B manufacturers prefer PLEX systems. - [Bakery](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/industries/food-and-beverage/bakery-old.html) : ## Make Your OperationsSmarter Catalog - [Resources](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/resources.html) : - [Contact Us](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/contact-us.html) : - [| Rockwell Automation](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog.html) : - [Case Studies](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/case-studies.html) : - [Industry Analyst Research](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/recognition.html) : - [| Rockwell Automation](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/customer-success.html) : - [Take the Next Step](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/demo-now.html) : We're excited to chat and fill you in on how smart manufacturing can change the way you make things. - [ERP Platform: Enterprise Manufacturing Software](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/enterprise-resource-planning-capterra.html) : Plex ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) delivers Enterprise-wide visibility in one holistic system means you can stop worrying about software maintenance and data consolidation and focus instead on your business. - [FCC North America](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/fcc-north-america-plex-platinum-support.html) : See how FCC North America found success with Plex's ERP for Manufacturers and Plex Platinum Support. - [About Us](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/landing-page.html) : Helping you gain complete control from the shop floor to the top floor was the reason Plex was founded. Learn more about the Plex Smart Manufacturing Platform. - [Scheduled Maintenance in Progress](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/maintenance.html) : - [CAPTERRA: Manufacturing Execution System (MES) / MOM](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/manufacturing-execution-system-capterra.html) : Plex Manufacturing Execution System (MES) provides manufacturing decision-makers immediate value through real-time, paperless production management that drives enterprise-wide compliance, quality, and efficiency. - [Motus Integrated Technologies](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/motus-integrated-technologies.html) : Motus Integrated Technologies Maximizes Plex and Premium Support to Streamline Operations. - [Olde Thompson](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/olde-thompson.html) : - [Knowledge Articles](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/knowledge-articles.html) : - [Webinars](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/webinars.html) : - [About Us](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/product-page.html) : Helping you gain complete control from the shop floor to the top floor was the reason Plex was founded. Learn more about the Plex Smart Manufacturing Platform. - [Plex Partner Terms and Conditions](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/plex-partner-terms-and-conditions.html) : Rockwell Automation and the undersigned company (“System Integrator”) agree that System Integrator will participate in Rockwell Automation’s System Integrator Program (“Program”) starting on the date of signature of this agreement subject to the following terms and conditions (“Agreement”). - [Production Monitoring with Manufacturing Automation](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/production-monitoring-manufacturing-automation.html) : This page has everything you need to know about the growing role of automation in production monitoring. We cover types, examples and advantages. - [Professional Services Terms](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/professional-services-terms.html) : These Rockwell Automation, Inc., professional services terms and conditions govern the services to be provided by Rockwell Automation, Inc. to the customer pursuant to a work order. - [Production Monitoring Online Terms](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/pmterms.html) : These Master Terms of Service (“MTOS”), as well as the Third Party Terms, the Professional Services Terms and the applicable Order Form (which are expressly incorporated by reference), govern the agreement between Customer and Plex (collectively, the “Subscription Agreement”). Plex and Customer may be referred to individually as a “Party” and collectively as the “Parties”. - [Production Monitoring Third Party Terms](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/pmterms-thirdparty.html) : A site dedicated to the compilation of licenses - [QMS for Dummies](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/qm-for-dummies.html) : Download this easy-to-understand guide for building a culture of quality, keeping up with changing regulations, unlocking data, and more. - [QMS: Quality Management System](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/quality-management-system-capterra.html) : The Plex Quality Management System (QMS) solution provides manufacturers with with a closed-loop digital system of record for industry and customer compliance. - [Plex Smart Manufacturing Platform](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/smart-manufacturing-platform.html) : Automate business processes and track data from the plant floor to the top floor for unmatched visibility, quality and control. - [Supply Chain Planning (SCP) System: Manufacturing Software](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/supply-chain-planning-capterra.html) : Face your toughest inventory challenges head-on with Plex DemandCaster Supply Chain Planning (SCP). - [Unsubscribe](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/unsubscribe.html) : - [About Us](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/component-page.html) : Helping you gain complete control from the shop floor to the top floor was the reason Plex was founded. Learn more about the Plex Smart Manufacturing Platform. - [Plex Partner Ecosystem](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/our-partner-ecosystem.html) : - [MES for Dummies](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/mes-for-dummies.html) : - [Plex Customer Care Plans](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/customer-care-plans.html) : - [See a Demo](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/demo.html) : See smart manufacturing in action and learn how Plex can help you increase efficiency and effectiveness in your manufacturing operation. - [Plex Trust Center](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/plex-trust-center.html) : ## Resources Catalog - [Toyota Supplier Practices Checklist](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/resources/toyota-supplier-practices-checklist.html) : Inside this checklist, you'll discover specific capabilities you're expected to have meet practices for being a Toyota supplier. - [Plex Systems Company Overview Brochure](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/resources/plex-systems-company-overview-brochure.html) : See how Plex has helped manufacturers around the world meet new expectations to produce more precisely, transparently and efficiently—all while reducing waste—and how Plex can help you Make It Smart. - [Limit the Cost of a Recall](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/resources/minimizing-cost-and-impact-of-a-recall-p2h.html) : Experiencing a recall can feel as daunting as an IRS audit. But when a problem emerges, there are proactive steps that can immediately help with investigation and mitigation. - [Ford Suppliers FMEA Checklist](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/resources/ford-suppliers-fmea-checklist.html) : When you’re a supplier to one of the world’s largest automakers, you’re forced to change when they change. - [FMEA Check List](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/resources/fmea-check-list.html) : Automotive Suppliers FMEA Checklist - Plex Systems provides resources and tools for suppliers to ensure compliance with FMEA standards. - [Toyota Shipping Confirmation System Integration](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/resources/toyota-shipping-confirmation-system-integration.html) : Maintain compliance as a Toyota supplier with help from this resource that shows you how Plex makes shipping validation easy. - [Total Economic Impact of the Plex Smart Manufacturing Platform](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/resources/total-economic-impact-plex-smart-manufacturing-platform.html) : See how one manufacturer achieved over 400% ROI with Plex in this quick snapshot of the Forrester Consulting Total Economic Impact™ study. - [Three Ways Industrial IoT (IIoT) Yields Bottom-Line Benefits](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/resources/three-ways-industrial-iot-iiot-yields-bottom-line-benefits.html) : This eBook looks at three key areas where utilizing Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) — the next generation of smart factory intelligence — can have a significant impact while reducing the management and maintenance burden across the enterprise. - [Three Reasons For Using One Smart Manufacturing System](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/resources/three-reasons-using-one-smart-manufacturing-system.html) : See how a single smart manufacturing platform across all plants can lead to better communication, real-time data visibility, and a more agile IT department. - [Take Control of Your Food and Beverage Plant Floor](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/resources/take-control-your-food-and-beverage-plant-floor.html) : Take control of your food and beverage plant floor. Your competitors have a key competitive advantage on their plant floor. Do you? - [Forrester Consulting Study: Achieving 412% ROI with Plex!](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/resources/forrester-consulting-study-achieving-412-roi-plex.html) : Discover how the Plex Smart Manufacturing Platform quickly delivered value and ROI for a leading manufacturer in this Forrester Consulting Study. - [Support for Toyota Supply Chain Requirements](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/resources/support-toyota-supply-chain-requirements.html) : As one of the most respected manufacturing companies in the world, Toyota sets the bar high incorporating The Toyota Way set of principles in the supplier collaboration process. - [Support for Honda Supply Chain Requirements](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/resources/support-honda-supply-chain-requirements.html) : Honda's supply chain requirements entail many core manufacturing principles. Here;s how Plex can help suppliers meet and adhere to Honda's expectations. - [State of Smart Manufacturing](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/resources/state-smart-manufacturing.html) : Download this report to learn how manufacturers are leveraging smart technology to overcome challenges while making processes faster and more effective. - [Smart Manufacturing Software Buyer's Guide](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/resources/smart-manufacturing-software-buyers-guide.html) : Use this smart manufacturing software buyer's guide to help you cut through the noise and make a confident and informed technology investment decision. - [Rockwell Automation Named Company of the Year in the Global Manufacturing Execution Systems Industry](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/resources/rockwell-automation-named-company-year-global-manufacturing-execution-systems-industry.html) : Our portfolio of MES solutions has earned us the Global Manufacturing Execution Systems Company of the Year Award from Frost & Sullivan. - [ERP for Food and Beverage Manufacturers](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/resources/erp-food-and-beverage-manufacturers.html) : With the cloud-delivered Plex Smart Manufacturing Platform, you’ve got options that range from stand-alone quality management to a fully integrated, end-to-end solution that will power your entire enterprise. - [Ransomware and the Plex Smart Manufacturing Platform](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/resources/ransomware-and-plex-smart-manufacturing-platform.html) : Download this whitepaper to get more information and answers your questions about Plex’s security posture when it comes to ransomware. - [Quality Management for Dummies](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/resources/quality-management-dummies.html) : Download this easy-to-understand guide for building a culture of quality, keeping up with changing regulations, unlocking actionable data, and more. - [Plex Value Engineering](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/resources/plex-value-engineering.html) : Plex Value Engineering is a structured, consultative approach predicated on solving real business problems through technology while helping firms define their current and future states, required capabilities, benefits, and return on investment from Plex Smart Manufacturing Platform adoption. - [The Plex Smart Manufacturing Platform for Commercial Bakeries](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/resources/plex-smart-manufacturing-platform-commercial-bakeries.html) : Inside this resource, you’ll learn how successful commercial bakery manufacturers rely on the Plex Smart Manufacturing Platform. - [ERP for Discrete Manufacturers](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/resources/erp-discrete-manufacturers.html) : With the cloud-delivered Plex Smart Manufacturing Platform, you’ve got options that range from stand-alone quality management to a fully integrated, end-to-end solution that will power your entire enterprise. - [ERP for Automotive Manufacturers](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/resources/erp-automotive-manufacturers.html) : PLEX ERP for automotive manufacturers. A single source of truth for everyone from your top floor to your plant floor. - [Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) APIs](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/resources/enterprise-resource-planning-erp-apis.html) : Plex offers several options for Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) for a variety of endpoints including customer orders, customer shipping, and just-in-sequence parts delivery. - [Digitize Your Product Quality Planning Process for Operational Excellence](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/resources/digitize-your-product-quality-planning-process-operational-excellence.html) : Digitizing product quality planning with APQP allows automotive manufacturing suppliers to reap benefits like improved compliance, error-proofing, and more. - [Plex for Precision Metalforming and Fabrication](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/resources/plex-for-precision-metalforming-fabrication.html) : See how the Plex Smart Manufacturing Platform helps you achieve fewer errors, greater productivity, improved profitability, and overall stronger operations. - [Finite Scheduling](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/resources/finite-scheduling.html) : Does your infinite or manual scheduling process get you down? Plex Finite Scheduling helps proactively schedule production without the guesswork. - [Plex Asset Performance Management (APM)](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/resources/asset-performance-management-apm.html) : Operational excellence in production manufacturing depends heavily on optimizing the performance of machines, equipment, and other assets used in production. - [Consistent and Clear: Increased Productivity, Better Quality, and Lower Costs Within Reach with Digital Work Instructions](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/resources/consistent-and-clear-increased-productivity-better-quality-and-lower-costs-within-reach.html) : Consistent and Clear: Increased Productivity, Better Quality, and Lower Costs Within Reach with Digital Work Instructions. - [Connecting People to People: Chat](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/resources/connecting-people-people-chat.html) : Connected worker chat technology revolutionizes team communication by providing seamless, timely, and ‘smart’ interactions. - [Close the Loop with Production and Maintenance Automation](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/resources/close-loop-production-and-maintenance-automation.html) : Learn how automation improves your machine health and ultimately boosts every KPI on your plant floor. - [Food Safety and Compliance Demo](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/resources/food-safety-and-compliance-demo.html) : Watch how Plex provides a single digital system that combines total traceability and integrated compliance for food and beverage manufacturers. - [Plex Batch Management Basics](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/resources/plex-batch-management-basics.html) : Watch this 2-minute video to learn how Plex helps you with batch management, hosted by expert Bernard Cohen. - [Plant Performance Monitoring Demo](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/resources/plant-performance-monitoring-demo.html) : The Plex Smart Manufacturing Platform provides the capabilities you need to capture real-time critical metrics, optimize yield, accurately manage production and throughput, and consistently exceed your customers’ demands. - [Quality Management Demo](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/resources/quality-management-demo.html) : What manufacturers need is an integrated system with features like real-time tracking, notifications, and reporting that make quality management a paperless and proactive process. - [The Plex Smart Manufacturing Platform™ for the Food & Beverage Industry](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/resources/plex-smart-manufacturing-platformtm-food-beverage-industry.html) : Learn how the Plex Smart Manufacturing Platform can help your business supercharge demand planning and produce more efficiently. - [Plex Accounting and Finance](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/resources/plex-accounting-and-finance.html) : Learn how Plex Accounting and Finance can help you streamline activities related to accounts receivable/payable, customer management, reporting, and more. - [Nucleus Research: Hot Companies to Watch in 2024](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/resources/nucleus-research-hot-companies-watch-2024.html) : Download this analyst report to learn why Nucleus Research recognized Rockwell Automation as one of the most exciting and successful companies of the year. - [Market Forecast Manager](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/resources/market-forecast-manager.html) : It’s next to impossible to drive accurate inventory decisions without first having confidence in your forecasts. - [Laying the Foundation for Data-Driven Operations and Digital Maturity](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/resources/laying-foundation-data-driven-operations-and-digital-maturity.html) : Use the data and insights in this IDC Analyst Brief to learn why becoming a manufacturing leader means enhancing your digital maturity. - [Fostering Operational Excellence Through Process Automation](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/resources/fostering-operational-excellence-through-process-automation.html) : Rely on this IDC Analyst Brief to learn how process automation and real-time data are the keys to reaching your operational goals and KPIs. - [Manufacturing Agility Through Mes Excellence](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/resources/manufacturing-agility-through-mes-excellence.html) : Discover how manufacturing agility helps your business keep up with demand, short product cycles, and constant change. - [Gaining Operational Control: Lean, Mean, or Somewhere In Between](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/resources/gaining-operational-control-lean-p2h.html) : See how a single source of data helps you keep operations lean. Download this white paper to see how a true commitment to lean manufacturing impacts more than just production. - [Maximize Your IIoT Strategy in the Cloud](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/resources/cloud-erp-turns-iiot-into-manufacturing-strategy.html) : See how cloud ERP enables IIoT - [Best Practices in Food Traceability](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/resources/best-practices-food-traceability-p2h.html) : A cloud-based software solution is the key to unlocking best practices in processing quality and traceability for food and beverage manufacturers. - [Your Keys to Real-Time Inventory Control](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/resources/your-keys-real-time-inventory-control.html) : - [Two-Tier ERP: How Plant-Level and Corporate ERPs Work Together](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/resources/two-tier-erp-plant-level-and-corporate-erps-together-p2h.html) : Whether SaaS, on-premises or hybrid, a two-tier ERP strategy will reduce costs, meet new business requirements and provide better business value. - [Manufacturing Control Starts at the Plant Floor](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/resources/take-control-shop-floor-p2h.html) : Master the shop floor with Plex's white paper, "Take Control of the Shop Floor." Learn how real-time data and analytics optimize operations, improve efficiency, and reduce downtime. Discover strategies for quality control and proactive decision-making. Explore our guide for practical solutions to enhance manufacturing management. - [3 Ways to Solve the Manufacturing Headcount Shortage and Meet Customer Demand](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/resources/solve-labor-shortage-in-manufacturing-and-meet-demand.html) : Learn how technology, including automation and smart systems, can enhance workforce efficiency and productivity. Gain insights into strategies for attracting, training, and retaining talent to meet growing market demands. Dive into our guide for effective approaches tailored to modern manufacturing challenges. - [Software as a Service (SaaS) Defined for Manufacturers](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/resources/software-service-saas-primer-p2h.html) : Delve into "Software-Service: The SaaS Primer" white paper by Plex to master Software as a Service (SaaS). Discover how cloud-hosted, scalable SaaS solutions reduce IT costs and enhance operational efficiency with automatic updates and easy access. Learn the key benefits that drive innovation across industries. Explore our guide for comprehensive insights into harnessing SaaS potential. - [Cloud MES: Automate, Track, and Scale](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/resources/manufacturing-execution-system-mes-in-the-cloud.html) : Unlock the potential of cloud-based Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) with our white paper. Learn how cloud MES drives scalability, cost savings, and real-time data insights while enhancing collaboration and security. Discover why integrating technologies like IoT and AI is crucial for modern manufacturing efficiency and innovation. Explore now to stay competitive in today’s industry landscape. - [Building a Digital Strategy for FSMA and Food Traceability Compliance](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/resources/building-digital-strategy-fsma-and-food-traceability-compliance.html) : Read this report from ABI Research to learn what FSMA Section 204 (d) means for quality and traceability strategies in your operations. - [Plant and Operations Management in the Age of Smart Manufacturing](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/resources/plant-and-operations-management-age-smart-manufacturing.html) : How can you leverage digital transformation in your plant and operations management strategy? Find out in this clear and direct eBook. - [MES For Dummies](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/resources/mes-dummies.html) : Get your easy-to-understand guide to controlling factory operations, improving production visibility and driving quality with MES. - [Demos](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/resources/demos.html) : - [Gartner® 2024 Market Guide for Quality Management System Software](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/resources/gartnerr-2024-market-guide-quality-management-system-software.html) : Quality sets the best manufacturers apart, but achieving high standards while dealing with workforce issues, business disruption, and rising costs can be a challenge. - [Forrester Consulting Study: The Plex Smart Manufacturing Platform™ Delivered 400% ROI](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/resources/forrester-consulting-study-plex-smart-manufacturing-platformtm-delivered-400-roi.html) : Read Forrester’s TEI study for real-world data on how Plex helps manufacturers save millions by reducing waste, improving productivity, and more. - [Plex Security](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/resources/plex-security.html) : - [See How Plex Production Monitoring Drives Visibility](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/resources/see-how-plex-production-monitoring-drives-visibility.html) : Click through this interactive demo to see how Plex Production Monitoring grants you the visibility you need to empower your operations. - [See How Plex QMS Improves Your Quality](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/resources/see-how-plex-qms-improves-your-quality.html) : Click through this interactive demo to see how Plex QMS helps you stay within regulations, control risk, and more directly control your quality. - [See Plex ERP in Action](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/resources/see-plex-erp-action.html) : Click through this interactive demo to see how Plex ERP helps you manage operator time, compile financial records, track production, and more. - [See How Plex Asset Performance Management Makes You Proactive](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/resources/see-how-plex-asset-performance-management-makes-you-proactive.html) : Click through this interactive demo to see how Plex Asset Performance Management helps you ensure optimal machine uptime, throughput, and maintenance. - [See How Guided Work Instructions Plex Can Help You Boost Operational Efficiency](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/resources/see-how-guided-work-instructions-plex-can-help-you-boost-operational-efficiency.html) : Click through this interactive demo to see how Guided Work Instructions help you boost operational efficiency, ensure product quality, and uphold the highest standards of operational excellence. - [The Plex Smart Manufacturing Platform](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/resources/plex-smart-manufacturing-platform.html) : The Plex Smart Manufacturing Platform unlocks the intelligent, real-time orchestration and optimization of business, physical, and digital processes across your entire value chain. - [Plex Quality Management System (QMS) Demo](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/resources/plex-quality-management-system-qms-demo.html) : Take control of your plant floor by integrating digital quality management into your production flow with Plex Quality Management System (QMS). - [6 Ways Error-Proofing Protects Your Plant Floor](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/resources/6-ways-error-proofing-protects-your-plant-floor.html) : In this ebook from Plex Systems, see ways that food and beverage manufacturers can protect their business and their customers by preventing errors. - [Allied-Locke Turns to Plex ERP for Cybersecurity and Trustworthy Data](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/resources/allied-locke-turns-plex-erp-cybersecurity-trustworthy-data.html) : Plex was chosen as the best ERP solution for Allied-Locke and the transition process kicked off in April 2023. - [The Shyft Group Charges Ahead with Plex and Commercial EVs](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/resources/shyft-group-charges-ahead-plex-commercial-evs.html) : Plex ERP has powered The Shyft Group’s ability to accelerate innovation. For their latest development, an electric delivery truck, they went from concept to functioning vehicle in just nine months. - [Fort Recovery Industries Moves Toward Perpetual Inventory, Gaining Visibility and Streamlining](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/resources/fort-recovery-industries-moves-toward-perpetual-inventory-gaining-visibility-and.html) : Under the leadership of new President & Chief Executive Officer Eric Showalter, who brought prior experience with Plex, by Rockwell Automation, Fort Recovery Industries undertook a transformative move to implement Plex in 2023. - [Lean Collaboration with Plex Connected Worker](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/resources/lean-collaboration-plex-connected-worker.html) : Lean Collaboration features within Plex Connected Worker digitally connects action taken on the plant floor to the larger organization. - [Advanced Supply Chain Planning](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/resources/advanced-supply-chain-planning.html) : Plex ASCP balances growth, cost, inventory and customer service levels for your manufacturing enterprise. - [The Rise of the Connected Worker: Navigating the Changing Industrial Landscape](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/resources/rise-connected-worker-navigating-changing-industrial-landscape.html) : Anthony Murphy discusses expected shifts in the manufacturing workforce as many skilled workers approach retirement. - [4 Essentials For Effective Food Safety Management](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/resources/4-essentials-effective-food-safety-management.html) : - [Rockwell Automation Named a Leader in the 2024-2025 IDC MarketScape for Worldwide Manufacturing Execution Systems](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/resources/rockwell-automation-named-leader-2024-2025-idc-marketscape-worldwide-manufacturing.html) : Download the IDC MarketScape for Worldwide Manufacturing Execution Systems report excerpt to learn more about why Rockwell Automation was positioned as an MES Leader. - [Best Maid Achieves 185% ROI and Improves Inventory Management with Plex](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/resources/best-maid-achieves-185-roi-and-improves-inventory-management-plex.html) : Discover how this food products manufacturer leveraged Plex ERP to eliminate spreadsheets, streamline operations, and boost the bottom line. - [Achieving Food Safety And Traceability Technology](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/resources/achieving-food-safety-and-traceability-technology.html) : Use this eBook to learn how to navigate the complexities of food safety and traceability with smart manufacturing technology. - [Gaining Operational Control: Lean, Mean, or Somewhere In Between](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/resources/gaining-operational-control-lean-p2h0.html) : - [2025 Gartner® Market Guide for Manufacturing Execution Systems](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/resources/2025-gartner-market-guide-manufacturing-execution-systems.html) : - [Plex Quality Management System (QMS)](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/resources/plex-quality-management-system-qms.html) : - [Batch Management for Process Manufacturers](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/resources/batch-management-process-manufacturers.html) : Plex’s Batch Management capability enables flexible scheduling of production runs using kettles, mixers, or other equipment with fixed capacities. - [ERP for Plastics and Rubber Manufacturers](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/resources/erp-plastics-rubber-manufacturers.html) : Plex ERP Benefits for Plastics and Rubber Manufacturers - [Plex Asset Performance Management (APM)](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/resources/plex-asset-performance-management-apm.html) : Read Plex Systems' brochure on driving insights and desired outcomes on the plant form using an Asset Performance Management (APM) solution. - [Plex Connected Worker and LNS Research Webinar](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/resources/plex-connected-worker-lns-research-webinar.html) : Watch this webinar by analysts from LNS Research and experts from Plex to explore the benefits of incorporating sustainable workforce strategies into your organization’s overall manufacturing process. - [Plex Quality Management](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/resources/plex-quality-management.html) : - [Plex QMS for Food & Beverage Manufacturers](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/resources/plex-qms-food-beverage-manufacturers.html) : - [Plex Is a Leader in the ABI Research Competitive Ranking of Quality Management System (QMS) Software Suppliers Report](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/resources/plex-leader-abi-research-competitive-ranking-quality-management-system-qms-software.html) : Independent third party research firm ranks Plex, by Rockwell Automation as a Leader and Top Implementer in 2024 QMS Suppliers report. - [Plex Human Capital Management](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/resources/plex-human-capital-management.html) : Learn how Plex Human Capital Management can help you cultivate a well-trained, productive, and aligned workforce working together to exceed your goals. - [Plex DFMEA](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/resources/plex-dfmea.html) : Learn more about how Design Failure Mode and Effect Analysis (DFMEA) in Plex QMS can help you make your quality more holistic. - [Plex Cloud Operations](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/resources/plex-cloud-operations.html) : Learn how Plex Cloud Operations provide your company with the security, availability, and scalability needed to succeed at what you do best. - [The Plex Digital Interactive Experience](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/resources/plex-digital-interactive-experience.html) : Click through this interactive demo of a simulated plant floor to learn how Plex helps manufacturers like you digitize and modernize operations. - [Plex Customer Support](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/resources/plex-customer-support.html) : Whether it is troubleshooting your configurations, providing usability assistance, or supporting break fixes, Plex Support Services is standing by to help. - [Plex DemandCaster Supply Chain Planning](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/resources/plex-demandcaster-supply-chain-planning.html) : Get greater visibility into your supply chain with a Supply Chain Planning (SCP) platform. - [Rapid ERP Success for Leaf Infusions](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/resources/rapid-erp-success-leaf-infusions.html) : To meet their aggressive timeline, Leaf Infusions turned to Control+M Solutions, a Gold-Level system integrator in the Rockwell Automation PartnerNetwork™, to deploy Plex ERP. - [Plex Production Monitoring Demo](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/resources/plex-production-monitoring-demo.html) : Maximize uptime and throughput to make faster, more confident decisions with Plex Production Monitoring. - [One Line, Many Batteries: How Ionetic and Rockwell Automation are Making Electrification Easier](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/resources/one-line-many-batteries-how-ionetic-and-rockwell-automation-are-making-electrification.html) : By leveraging Rockwell’s cutting-edge digital twin technology and Ionetic’s AI-supported, software-accelerated systems, we are finally breaking this cycle, delivering industry- transformative custom battery packs that meet the performance, cost, and time-to-market needs of a wide range of modern OEMs. - [Plex Production Monitoring](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/resources/plex-production-monitoring.html) : Gain real-time visibility into your shop floor with Plex Production Monitoring - track performance, downtime, and OEE with live machine data. - [Plex Professional Services](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/resources/plex-professional-services.html) : - [Plex MES for Metals](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/resources/plex-mes-metals.html) : Click through this interactive demo to see real screens and learn how Plex MES grants you the visibility and traceability you need to improve profitability. - [Plex Is the Overall Leader in the ABI Research Competitive Ranking of MES Software Suppliers Report](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/resources/plex-overall-leader-abi-research-competitive-ranking-mes-software-suppliers-report.html) : Discover why Plex was named the overall leader in ABI Research's competitive ranking of MES software - topping innovation and implementation for cloud-native manufacturing solutions. - [Plex MES for Food & Beverage](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/resources/plex-mes-food-beverage.html) : Click through this interactive demo to see real screens and learn how Plex MES grants you real-time visibility and traceability into your ingredients and equipment. - [Plex MES for Automotive](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/resources/plex-mes-automotive.html) : - [Plex MES Automation and Orchestration](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/resources/plex-mes-automation-and-orchestration.html) : - [Eurotranciatura Mexico Case Study Video](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/resources/eurotranciatura-mexico-case-study-video.html) : Learn how Eurotranciatura moved from a paper-based system to eliminating extra work and being able to make manufacturing decisions in a moment with Plex, reducing scrap rates and increasing efficiency, allowing for massive transformation for its business. - [Plex Manufacturing Execution Suite (MES) Solution Overview](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/resources/plex-manufacturing-execution-suite-mes-solution-overview.html) : Transform your shop floor with Plex's Manufacturing Execution Suite: automate production, ensure traceability, improve quality, and gain real-time visibility for smarter manufacturing. - [Plex Manufacturing Analytics](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/resources/plex-manufacturing-analytics.html) : Unify production, quality, finance, and supply chain analytics with Plex Manufacturing Analytics - turn raw data into actionable insights for smarter, data-driven manufacturing. - [Plex Supply Chain Planning](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/resources/plex-supply-chain-planning.html) : - [10 Warning Signs Your ERP and MES Systems are Killing Your Business](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/resources/10-warning-signs-your-erp-and-mes-systems-are-killing-your-business-p2h.html) : A cloud ERP system can deliver great benefits and support lean, efficient, and effective operations. - [How To Eliminate 5 Common ERP and MES Upgrade Challenges](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/resources/5-erp-upgrade-challenges-and-solutions-p2h.html) : Learn how your manufacturing business can adapt to rapid change, innovate quickly and refuse to be confined by old software models. - [6 Steps to Choosing the Right ERP and MES Systems](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/resources/6-steps-for-choosing-an-erp.html) : Buying an ERP system for your manufacturing business doesn’t have to take months and cause frustration. - [Food and Beverage Interview Video](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/resources/food-beverage-interview-video.html) : The Plex Smart Manufacturing Platform is purpose-built to meet the unique demands of Food & Beverage producers — helping manufacturers improve yield, ensure product quality, and maintain full compliance in a highly regulated and fast-moving industry. - [Connected Worker](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/resources/connected-worker.html) : The Plex Connected Worker solution helps organizations tackle these issues head-on by delivering digital work instructions, enabling lean, real-time collaboration, and supporting a human-centric approach to workforce development. - [Plex Named to Constellation Cloud ERP ShortList](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/resources/plex-named-constellation-cloud-erp-shortlist.html) : Download this Constellation Research ShortList for Product-Centric Cloud ERP and learn why Plex stands out from the competition for the fifth year in a row. - [Connect Your Workforce to Lead the Smart Manufacturing Revolution](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/resources/connect-your-workforce-lead-smart-manufacturing-revolution.html) : - [Gartner® Report: Use 3 Levels of Value to Manage Connected Factory Worker Initiatives](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/resources/gartner-report-use-3-levels-value-manage-connected-factory-worker-initiatives.html) : It’s no secret that manufacturing has entered a digital era, as companies increasingly seek to connect their enterprise from the front office to the shop floor. As part of this digital turn, manufacturers have also witnessed the rise of the connected factory worker - [Finite Scheduler by Rockwell Automation: Plex Integration](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/resources/plex-finite-scheduler.html) : Learn more about Plex Finite Scheduler and download the brochure. - [Ensuring Food Safety in Modern Manufacturing](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/resources/ensuring-food-safety-in-modern-manufacturing.html) : Plex’s Food Safety Brochure is designed to share digital solutions built to connect your people, systems, machines, and supply chains for better results. - [Plex Connected Worker (CW) Solution Overview](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/resources/plex-connected-worker-solution-overview.html) : Explore how Plex Connected Worker empowers manufacturers to overcome labor shortages, reduce training costs, and improve productivity, safety, and product quality through smart workforce solutions. - [Achieve Operational Excellence with ERP Software Designed For Automotive Manufacturers](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/videos/achieve-operational-excellence-erp-software-designed-automotive-manufacturers.html) : Plex's cloud-based ERP software enables automotive manufacturers to experience operational excellence, IT freedom, and quality business management tools in ways traditional ERP cannot. - [Hausbeck Pickles Trusts Their Family Business with Plex](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/videos/why-hausbeck-pickles-trusts-plex-with-brand-name.html) : See why Tim Hausbeck trusts his family name and business in the Plex Manufacturing Cloud. - [Why Shank's Extracts Chose Plex Cloud ERP](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/videos/real-time-data-cloud-erp.html) : Learn how Plex ERP's real-time data and cloud capabilities streamline manufacturing processes, improve production visibility, and connect your entire enterprise for better decision-making. - [FT Precision Transforms Shop Floor Control with Plante Moran and Plex Cloud ERP](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/videos/shop-floor-control-plante-moran-ft-precision-cs.html) : See how FT Precision revolutionized its shop floor control with Plex Cloud ERP and Plante Moran's guidance. Watch the video to learn about their digital transformation and real-time data benefits. - [Eurotranciatura Mexico - The Quest for Zero Defects](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/videos/eurotranciatura-mexico-quest-zero-defects.html) : See how Eurotranciatura Mexico uses Plex to control its quality processes to aid in its quest to deliver zero defects in millions of pieces produced. - [Eurotranciatura Mexico - From Paper to Digital](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/videos/eurotranciatura-mexico-paper-digital.html) : Switching from paper processes to digital systems was a big change for Eurotranciatura Mexico, but doing so with Plex gave their supervisors and quality team access to production information online. - [Eurotranciatura Mexico - Enabling Production Process Improvements](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/videos/eurotranciatura-mexico-enabling-production-process-improvements.html) : See how Plex enables Eurotranciatura Mexico's employees to think about production data differently. With relevant information on-hand, daily activities become opportunities to daily improve their production process. - [Shape Corp.'s Rapid Global Expansion Enabled by Integrated ERP](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/videos/global-erp-solutions-shape-cs.html) : Shape Corp.'s Rapid Global Expansion Enabled by Integrated ERP - [Shank's Extracts Improves Quality with ERP](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/videos/food-safety-quality-cloud-erp.html) : Food safety, people safety and quality are the backbone of any manufacturing company. See how Shank's Extracts leverages Plex ERP. - [A&K Delivers Superior Quality with Plex](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/videos/example-of-manufacturing-quality-improvement.html) : A&K Finishing exceeds customer quality expectations with lower scrap rates, driving continuous improvement, and using real-time information from the Plex Manufacturing Cloud. - [How Plex Improves Accuracy for A&K Finishing](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/videos/example-of-how-to-improve-inventory-accuracy-in-manufacturing.html) : A&K Finishing accurately measures paint depletion with the Plex Smart Manufacturing Platform. - [A&K Finishing Achieves Improved Inventory Management with Plex](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/videos/example-how-to-improve-inventory-management-in-manufacturing.html) : A&K Finishing eliminated manual inventory processes, reducing workload and saving time with the Plex Smart Manufacturing Platform. - [ERP System Implementation Helps Electronics Manufacturer Expand Globally](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/videos/erp-system-implementation-helps-electronics-manufacturer-expand.html) : Watch how Firstronic, an electronics manufacturing services provider, implemented Plex cloud ERP in order to scale faster, and focus more on their business to deliver innovative, quality products to their customers. - [How Plex Has Contributed to the Ongoing Success of Argent Tape and Label](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/videos/end-to-end-visibility-equals-success-for-argent.html) : See why Argent relies on the Plex Manufacturing Cloud to remain competitive and support their open book management. - [Firstronic Accelerates Growth with Successful ERP Implementation](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/videos/electronics-manufacturer-erp-implementation-firstronic.html) : Firstronic shifted off a legacy ERP solution and implemented Plex Cloud ERP in 90 days, enabling faster growth, better customer collaboration, and shortened lead times. - [Automotive Supplier Manufacturing - ERP Demo](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/videos/demo-of-erp-software-for-auto-industry.html) : The Plex Smart Manufacturing Platform lets you control your shop floor, connect your business, and unlock the potential of your people. - [Leveraging the Cloud for Customer Data Management](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/videos/customer-data-management-for-manufacturing.html) : Meeting demands of your customers is important. See how Wisco Industries leverages the Plex Smart Manufacturing Platform to respond to their customers’ needs. - [Control+M and Wisco: A Partnership in the Cloud](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/videos/controlm-solutions-helps-erp-implementation.html) : Control+M Solutions helps Wisco Industries move operations to the Plex Manufacturing Cloud. - [How Plex Improves Efficiency for A&K Finishing](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/videos/continuous-improvement-examples-manufacturing.html) : A&K Finishing better understands operations and processes, recording production and managing data from a centralized location out of the Plex Manufacturing Cloud. - [Wisco Industries Improves Accessibility and Efficiency](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/videos/quality-control-software-for-manufacturing.html) : Learn how quality control software for manufacturing, like Plex QMS, helps businesses streamline processes, ensure compliance, and improve product quality through real-time data, SPC, and closed-loop quality management. - [Shank's Extracts Tracks Research and Development with Cloud ERP](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/videos/product-research-development.html) : Discover how Shank's Extracts leverages Plex Cloud ERP to streamline product research and development, managing formulas, tracking revisions, and ensuring seamless transitions from R&D to production. - [Argent Sets Big Goals for Growth with The Plex Manufacturing Cloud](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/videos/plex-helps-argent-set-big-goals-for-future.html) : Learn how Argent Tape and Label utilizes The Plex Manufacturing Cloud to engage employees and achieve ambitious growth goals, like their '10 by 20' target, through enhanced transparency and alignment. - [G&W: Plex ERP System Provides "Total Package" to Manufacturers](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/videos/plex-erp-complete-solution-for-manufacturers.html) : From production control, to quality management, human resources and customer service, G&W Products leverages Plex ERP as its complete solution. - [Shank's Extracts Improves Workplace Safety](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/videos/cloud-erp-manufacturing-safety.html) : Plex ERP keeps Shank's employees safe, as product details are placed in the system to alert employees if they're handling a hazardous material. - [Argent Discusses Benefits of Being Proactive vs. Reactive in Manufacturing](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/videos/argent-sees-benefits-of-real-time-data.html) : See how Argent is empowering employees with data at their fingertips, and how this helps them be more responsive to customer demands. - [Paperless Manufacturing: How G&W Products Impresses Auditors with Plex](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/videos/paperless-manufacturing-with-cloud-erp.html) : With Plex, audits run much smoother in that you'll able to retrieve documents and records almost instantaneously. - [How Argent Leverages Manufacturing Data](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/videos/leveraging-manufacturing-data-with-plex-systems.html) : Plex enables your company to run a lean operation. Since everyone has access to the data, employees can make faster and smarter decisions - [Wisco Industries Makes Lean Process Improvements](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/videos/lean-management-system-eliminates-steps.html) : Streamline your shop floor data. The Plex Manufacturing Cloud eliminates redundant verification steps and the need for multiple systems, ensuring accurate data collection. - [Shank's Gains Real-Time Inventory Traceability](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/videos/inventory-traceability-shanks-extracts.html) : Enhance your quality control. Shank's Extracts leveraged Plex's ERP system to improve inventory traceability and achieve greater customer satisfaction. - [Thai Summit America Realizes 86% ROI](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/videos/thai-summit-america-realizes-86-roi.html) : Hear directly from Janice D'Amico, Executive IT at Thai Summit on how they generated an 86% ROI when moving from QAD to Plex. - [Shank's Extracts Improves Inventory Control with Cloud ERP](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/videos/inventory-traceability-control-cloud-erp.html) : Barcode scanners and Plex ERP enables private label manufacturer Shank's Extracts to get orders processed and out the door on time for their customers. - [Wisco Industries Gains Operational Efficiency with the Plex Smart Manufacturing](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/videos/inventory-management-with-plex-manufacturing-cloud.html) : See how Wisco transformed manufacturing with Plex and Control+M, achieving total inventory control, real-time planning, and drastic process time reduction. - [Moving Inventory Management to the Plex Smart Manufacturing Platform is a Win for Wisco Industries](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/videos/inventory-management-for-manufacturing-companies.html) : Transform your inventory management with real-time control via Plex. - [Dominion Liquid Improves Inventory Control](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/videos/inventory-management-control-dominion-liquid-cs.html) : See how Dominion Liquid Technologies, a liquid goods manufacturer, achieved enhanced traceability, quality, and inventory control with Plex ERP, transforming from paper-based processes to real-time efficiency and supporting significant growth. - [Ralco Industries Increases Customer Satisfaction with Cloud ERP](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/videos/inventory-control-ralco-industries-cs.html) : - [American Axle & Manufacturing Drives Innovation on the Shop Floor](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/videos/innovative-manufacturing-american-axle.html) : Discover how American Axle & Manufacturing partnered with Baker Tilly to implement Plex Cloud ERP, achieving a seamless, downtime-free go-live and driving continuous improvement in their metal formed products division. - [How Hausbeck Pickles Exceeds Expectations of the Largest Fast Food Companies](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/videos/hausbeck-pickles-driving-business-in-fast-food-landscape.html) : Learn how Hausbeck Pickles and Peppers leverages Plex ERP for real-time reporting, EDI, and rapid food traceability, enabling them to exceed the demanding expectations of the world's largest fast-food companies. - [How Plex Has Impacted Business for Argent Tape and Label](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/videos/improved-data-visibility-drives-performance-for-argent.html) : See how Argent drives their automotive business with Plex Manufacturing Cloud, gaining a single source of truth, real-time visibility, and enhanced traceability to ensure quality and boost leader efficiency. - [Discovering the Benefits of Plex DemandCaster with Olde Thompson](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/videos/discovering-benefits-plex-demandcaster-olde-thompson.html) : Learn how one food industry manufacturer leveraged Plex DemandCaster to overcome their supply chain challenges and grow their customer base. - [Constellium Standardizes MES Approach and Produces Valuable Data](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/videos/constellium-standardizes-mes-approach-and-produces-valuable-data.html) : Discover how this global aluminum manufacturer leveraged real-time information in Plex MES to improve operations and unlock key benefits. - [OWS Foods Gains Traceability, Efficiency, and Scale](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/videos/ows-foods-gains-traceability-efficiency-and-scale.html) : OWS Foods seamlessly brings an acquisition into the fold by leveraging Plex MES. - [Outdated Systems Slowing You Down?](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/videos/outdated-systems-slowing-you-down.html) : It’s time to see how Plex can help you stop managing around the issues and move forward with greater access, agility and accuracy. - [MES and ERP for the Manufacturing Industry](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/videos/mes-and-erp-manufacturing-industry.html) : Discover how this automotive supplier implemented a unified ERP system that supported their goals and moved their smart manufacturing journey forward. - [Kendrick Plastics Reduces Scrap with Plex MES](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/videos/kendrick-plastics-reduces-scrap-plex-mes.html) : How did Kendrick Plastics unlock the kind of visibility needed to solve 80% of their problems? With help from Plex MES. - [How the Plex Community Brings Users Together](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/videos/how-plex-community-brings-users-together.html) : Discover the ways Plex users interact, learn, and have fun in this video about the Plex Community. - [How Machine Learning Helps Manufacturers Save Millions in Inventory](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/videos/how-machine-learning-helps-manufacturers-save-millions-inventory.html) : Learn how the power of machine learning helped one food industry manufacturer better manage their inventory and project millions in savings. - [G&W: Cloud ERP Solution for Improving Inventory Management](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/videos/improve-inventory-management-with-cloud-erp-solution.html) : Eliminate inventory discrepancies and boost profitability with Plex ERP. G&W Products gained real-time visibility and control, decreasing inventory by 25% and reducing raw sheet stock significantly. - [Effortless Implementation of ERP Software Improves Operations for Major Supplier](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/videos/implementation-erp-software-operations-floracraft-cs.html) : Learn how FloraCraft streamlined operations with Plex ERP, improving forecasting, purchasing, and inventory accuracy to achieve 100% on-time order fulfillment for their customers. - [How Plex Impacts Business Processes for A&K Finishing](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/videos/how-to-improve-manufacturing-business-process.html) : Improve manufacturing processes with Plex. See how A&K Finishing gained centralized data, real-time visibility, and freed up managers to drive efficiency and continuous improvement. - [Plex Smart Manufacturing Platform 0](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/videos/plex-smart-manufacturing-platform-0.html) : To get ahead of the competition, you need manufacturing technology that is built to meet your needs wherever you are in your digital transformation journey. Watch the video now to see what a modern manufacturing platform can do for your business. - [How Real-Time ERP Data Boosts G&W Products' Profitability](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/videos/how-real-time-erp-data-benefits-manufacturers.html) : Discover the power of real-time ERP data. See how manufacturers gain critical visibility, improve decision-making, boost efficiency, and enhance responsiveness with Plex. - [Plex Helps Hausbeck Pickles Deliver on Their Promise of Quality](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/videos/how-erp-helps-manufacturer-improve-food-quality.html) : Enhance food quality and safety with ERP. Discover how Plex provides real-time traceability, digital quality checks, and comprehensive visibility to ensure compliance and elevate product excellence. - [How Hausbeck Pickles Manages and Supplies Inventory for Demanding Fast Food Chains](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/videos/how-erp-helps-hausbeck-manage-inventory.html) : See how Hausbeck Pickles transformed inventory management with Plex, achieving 99.6% accuracy, real-time visibility, and full traceability for significant savings and enhanced audit compliance. - [G&W: Cloud Technology Provides Manufactures Real-time Access Anytime, Anywhere](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/videos/how-cloud-based-technology-benefits-manufacturers.html) : Unlock scalability, real-time data, and operational agility with cloud-based technology. See how manufacturers leverage Plex Cloud ERP to connect everything and drive digital transformation. - [Summer Garden Food Manufacturing Improves Uptime](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/videos/summer-garden-food-manufacturing-improves-uptime.html) : Learn how this food manufacturer boosted uptime, enhanced OEE, and improved operator training with smart manufacturing software from Plex. - [Standardizing Success: How BIC Overcame Operational Silos to Integrate Technology and People](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/videos/standardizing-success-how-bic-overcame-operational-silos-integrate-technology-and-0.html) : BIC selected Plex MES to support a company-wide smart manufacturing initiative targeted to simplify and synchronize manufacturing tools, standards, and processes globally. - [Special Products Mfg Inc Reduces Costs 35](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/videos/special-products-mfg-inc-reduces-costs-35.html) : Special Products & Mfg., Inc. has been serving OEMs for over 50 years, specializing in metal fabrication, contract manufacturing, welding, and more for a number of industries. - [Rockwell Automation and McMaster University Join Forces to Develop the Workforce of the Future](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/videos/rockwell-automation-and-mcmaster-university-join-forces-develop-workforce-future.html) : The best education prepares people for the real world. - [Plex Smart Manufacturing Platform Plex Sustainable Solutions](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/videos/plex-smart-manufacturing-platform-plex-sustainable-solutions.html) : In the Plex 2024 State of Smart Manufacturing report, 98% of the manufacturers surveyed said they have some form of sustainability policy. - [MES for Dummies: Meet the Author Fireside Chat](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/videos/mes-dummies-meet-author-fireside-chat.html) : Ben Stewart, VP of Product and Strategy and Author of MES for Dummies has created, implemented, and managed a wide variety of Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) and Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) solutions. - [How To Calculate the ROI of a Smart Manufacturing Platform](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/videos/how-calculate-roi-smart-manufacturing-platform.html) : When it comes to manufacturing platforms and ERP systems, one of the most commonly asked questions is what is my ROI? - [The Rise of the Connected Worker: Navigating the Changing Industrial Landscape](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/videos/rise-connected-worker-navigating-changing-industrial-landscape.html) : In this interview with Ray Wang, Constellation Research, Inc., Anthony Murphy discusses expected shifts in the manufacturing workforce as many skilled workers approach retirement. - [BIC's Deployment of the Plex MES Solution](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/videos/bics-deployment-plex-mes-solution.html) : Read how one of the worlds most iconic brands used Plex MES to consolidate their software stack, standardize processes, eliminate silos, and more. - [BETA Technologies Reimagines Air Transportation](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/videos/beta-technologies-reimagines-air-transportation.html) : - [Arrow Fabricated Tubing Gains Inventory Accuracy](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/videos/arrow-fabricated-tubing-gains-inventory-accuracy.html) : With help from Plex DemandCaster, Arrow Fabricated Tubing improved supply chain planning forecasts and provided visibility to customers and leaders. - [Thai Summit America Drives Results with Plex](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/videos/thai-summit-america-drives-results-plex.html) : Thai Summit America demonstrates the power of smart manufacturing technology with their use of Plex. - [Accuride Enhances Product Validation And Testing](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/videos/accuride-enhances-product-validation-and-testing.html) : Watch this interview to hear how an automotive industry IT Director enhanced product validation and testing with the Plex Smart Manufacturing Platform. - [Community Days 2024: Plex Partner Ecosystem](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/videos/community-days-2024-plex-partner-ecosystem.html) : ## About Us Catalog - [News and Happenings](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom.html) : - [Events](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/events.html) : We love to meet our customers in real life—or virtually. Join us at these events, conferences, and webinars for the Smart Manufacturing community. - [Why Choose Plex?](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/why-plex.html) : Plex delivers the first smart manufacturing platform, including best-of-breed MES/MOM with integrated ERP, IIoT, supply chain management and much more. - [Plex Customers](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/customers.html) : - [Careers at Plex. Empower the World's Makers.](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/careers.html) : Since joining Rockwell Automation in 2021, Plex has elevated the employee experience to new heights with a “better together” mentality. Discover a new, fulfilling role in one of the many career opportunities available within the Rockwell ecosystem. ## News Room Catalog - [Mahindra Accelo Selects Rockwell Automation to Help Digitalize Manufacturing Operations](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/mahindra-accelo-selects-rockwell-automation-help-digitalize-manufacturing.html) : This press release details Mahindra Accelo's selection of Plex, by Rockwell Automation to achieve real-time plant visibility, enhance quality, and improve operational efficiency. Mahindra has facilities across India and the partnership signals Plex's commitment to supporting a global network. Read the full release to learn more. - [Plex Systems Announces New Solution to Help Manufacturers Improve Supply Chain Planning and Forecasting Accuracy](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/plex-systems-announces-modularization-smart-manufacturing-platform.html) : Plex Systems announces the Plex Market Forecast Manager, enabling manufacturers to integrate internal and external data to evaluate and scale supply chains. - [Plex MES from Rockwell Automation chosen by REE Automotive for EV platform production in EMEA](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/plex-mes-rockwell-automation-chosen-ree-automotive-ev-platform-production-emea.html) : REE Automotive, an automotive technology leader and provider of electric vehicle (EV) platforms, has adopted Plex Manufacturing Execution System (MES) to underpin its highly digitalized manufacturing operations as the company prepares for full-scale production in 2023. - [2024-2025 IDC MarketScape for Worldwide Manufacturing Execution Systems](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/2024-2025-idc-marketscape-worldwide-manufacturing-execution-systems.html) : Plex, by Rockwell Automation, a leader in cloud-delivered smart manufacturing solutions, has been recognized in three recent IDC MarketScape reports. Rockwell Automation was named as a Leader in in the IDC MarketScape: Worldwide Manufacturing Execution Systems 2024–2025 Vendor Assessment (Doc #US51813624, November 2024). - [Schaller Group Gains Visibility by Migrating to Plex, by Rockwell Automation](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/schaller-group-gains-visibility-migrating-plex-rockwell-automation.html) : This press release from Plex, by Rockwell Automation, shares the selection of Plex ERP, along with Plex MES and Plex QMS, by customer Schaller Group. Schaller Group is a precision metal forming and assembly company based in Michigan. The company is excited to digitally transform with Plex. Read the full press release to learn more. - [West-Bake to Improve Inventory Accuracy and Real time Decision Making Using Plex Smart Manufacturing Platform from Rockwell Automation](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/west-bake-improve-inventory-accuracy-and-real-time-decision-making-using-plex.html) : Real time data-driven approach to replace paper-based records and create a strong, scalable foundation for the capacity growth needed for further European expansion - [Smart Manufacturing Adoption Grew 50% Over Prior Year, New Survey Shows](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/sosm-smart-manufacturing-adoption-grew-50-percent-over-prior-year.html) : Plex's 7th annual State of Smart Manufacturing has been released. See what 300+ manufacturers had to say about smart manufacturing technologies. - [Rockwell Automation Names Robin Saitz Chief Marketing Officer](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/rockwell-automation-names-robin-saitz-chief-marketing-officer.html) : In her new role, Robin Saitz will lead the marketing of Rockwell's full portfolio with a focus on driving demand and building the brand globally. - [Rockwell Automation Named Leader in Gartner® 2023 Magic Quadrant™ for Manufacturing Execution Systems](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/rockwell-automation-named-leader-gartnerr-2023-magic-quadranttm-manufacturing.html) : See why Plex Systems was named a Leader for its MES solution in the Gartner® 2023 Magic Quadrant™ for Manufacturing Execution Systems Report. See the full Press Release. - [Futaba North America Group (FNA) to Standardize Automotive Manufacturing Operations on the Plex Smart Manufacturing Platform](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/futaba-north-america-group-fna-standardize-automotive-manufacturing-operations.html) : The Plex comprehensive suite of scalable, smart manufacturing solutions will deliver a world-class production system for FNA. - [Hexagon and Plex Systems Announce Partnership to Deliver Smart Manufacturing Solutions](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/hexagon-and-plex-systems-announce-partnership-deliver-smart-manufacturing.html) : Hexagon Manufacturing Intelligence and Plex Systems announced a new strategic partnership enabling them to co-sell Plex MES to Hexagon manufacturing customers. - [Plex Systems Announces Virtual PowerPlex 2020 Conference](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/plex-systems-announces-virtual-powerplex-2020-conference.html) : Plex Systems, which delivers the first smart manufacturing platform, today announced its annual user conference, PowerPlex, will be held virtually. - [Plex Systems Named a Leader in Three IDC MarketScapes for Worldwide SaaS and Cloud-Enabled ERP](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/plex-systems-named-leader-three-idc-marketscapes-worldwide-saas-and-cloud-enabled.html) : Plex Systems announces it was named a Leader in three IDC MarketScape reports evaluating ERP for small, midsize and enterprise businesses. - [Plex Systems Named a Strong Performer in Digital Operations Platforms](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/plex-systems-named-strong-performer-digital-operations-platforms.html) : Plex Systems announces it has been named a Strong Performer in The Forrester Wave™: Digital Operations Platforms For Manufacturing Businesses, Q3 2020. - [Plex Systems Names Petr Havelka Vice President of European Operations](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/plex-systems-names-petr-havelka-vice-president-european-operations.html) : Plex Systems announces Petr Havelka as VP of European operations, representing its commitment to deliver services and support to smart manufacturers globally. - [Plex Systems Positioned as a Major Player in Four New IDC MarketScapes for Supply Chain Planning](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/plex-systems-positioned-major-player-four-new-idc-marketscapes-supply-chain.html) : Continued supply chain turbulence drives businesses to adopt a modern, full-function, digital supply chain planning solution, like Plex DemandCaster. - [Plex Systems Receives IDC 2021 SaaS Customer Satisfaction Award for ERP](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/plex-systems-receives-idc-2021-saas-customer-satisfaction-award-erp.html) : IDC's SaasPath Survey finds ERP customers rate Plex significantly higher than its peers in multiple areas like data security, value, and ease of integration. - [Māori-Owned Sustainable Milk Company Miraka Invests in the Future with Rockwell Automation Plex ERP](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/maori-owned-sustainable-milk-company-miraka-invests-future-rockwell-automation.html) : Māori-owned sustainable milk company, Miraka, is investing in Plex by Rockwell Automation as a company-wide ERP system. - [Plex Systems Appoints Nathan Pieri to Lead Product Management](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/plex-systems-appoints-nathan-pieri-lead-product-management.html) : Plex Systems names Nathan Pieri group vice president of product management and product strategy, reflecting Plex's ongoing�growth and innovation acceleration. - [Plex Systems Recognizes Leading Partners with 2020 Impact Awards](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/plex-systems-recognizes-leading-partners-2020-impact-awards.html) : See the winners of the 2020 Plex Partner Impact Awards for partners committed to the success of manufacturers using the Plex Smart Manufacturing Platform. - [Plex Systems Study Finds Three in Four Manufacturers Behind in Adopting Smart Manufacturing](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/plex-systems-study-finds-three-four-manufacturers-behind-adopting-smart.html) : Plex Systems, in its 5th annual State of Manufacturing Technology Report, explores how smart manufacturers plan and implement digitally transforming programs. - [New Study Reveals Eighty Percent of Manufacturers See Smart Manufacturing as Key to Future Success](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/new-study-reveals-eighty-percent-manufacturers-see-smart-manufacturing-key-future.html) : Plex Systems announced the State of Smart Manufacturing, highlighting how smart manufacturers tackle challenges, drive ROI, and plan for future opportunities. - [Performance Friction Corporation (PFC) Brakes Chooses Cloud-Based Plex to Streamline Manufacturing Operations](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/performance-friction-corporation-pfc-brakes-chooses-cloud-based-plex-streamline.html) : Learn how Performance Friction Corporation (PFC) Brakes leverages cloud-based Plex to streamline operations on Plex's newsroom. Explore how PFC Brakes optimizes efficiency and enhances agility in manufacturing through innovative technology solutions. - [Plex Announces Enhanced QMS Solution Supporting Automotive Supplier Requirements for IATF 16949:2016](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/plex-announces-enhanced-qms-solution-supporting-automotive-supplier-requirements.html) : Plex QMS, already enabling manufacturers to deliver better margin and drive a culture of quality, now enables customers to meet FMEA requirements. - [Plex Launches Quality Management System to Help Manufacturers Meet Industry Regulations and Lower Costs](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/plex-launches-quality-management-system.html) : Plex Systems announced its Quality Management System (QMS) solution offering quick time to value for manufacturers addressing quality issues in their plants. - [Rockwell Automation Named Company of the Year in Global MES Industry by Frost & Sullivan](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/rockwell-automation-named-company-year-global-mes-industry-frost-sullivan.html) : Rockwell Automation’s FactoryTalk® ProductionCentre® MES and Plex Smart Manufacturing Platform™ recognized as leading MES solutions - [Rockwell Automation Completes Acquisition of Plex Systems](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/rockwell-automation-completes-acquisition-plex-systems.html) : Rockwell Automation, Inc. announced that it has completed the acquisition of Plex Systems, the leading cloud-native smart manufacturing platform. - [Plex, by Rockwell Automation Recognized in IDC MarketScapes](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/plex-rockwell-automation-recognized-idc-marketscapes.html) : Plex is revolutionizing the Manufacturing industry. Read our latest news and analyst coverage and see how our customers are transforming their businesses. - [Plex Systems Acquires Kors Engineering to Deliver Manufacturing Process Automation](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/plex-systems-acquires-kors-engineering-deliver-manufacturing-process-automation.html) : Plex Systems announced it has acquired Kors Engineering, a leading provider of plant floor connectivity and manufacturing process automation software. - [Rockwell Automation and Plex Systems Combine Events to Host ROKLive in Orlando, Presenting Vision for the Future of Industrial Transformation](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/rockwell-automation-and-plex-systems-combine-events-host-roklive-orlando.html) : Registration is now open for ROKLive 2022, an event for manufacturing professionals to connect and learn about the industry's latest innovations and solutions. - [Plex Systems to Celebrate MFG Day 2020 as Official Sponsor](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/plex-systems-celebrate-mfg-day-2020-official-sponsor.html) : Plex Systems announces its sponsorship of MFG Day 2020, a flagship initiative showcasing the reality of modern manufacturing careers. - [Plex Systems Chosen by ZEVx to Automate Manufacturing for Fleet Electrification and EV Platforms](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/plex-systems-chosen-zevx-automate-manufacturing-fleet-electrification-and-ev.html) : Cloud-native Plex MES from Rockwell Automation will help ZEVx accelerate their battery electric power systems strategy while improving data intelligence. - [Plex Systems Named to Constellation ShortList™ for Product-Centric Cloud ERP](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/plex-systems-constellation-shortlist-product-centric-cloud-erp.html) : Plex Systems was named among top cloud ERP platforms by Constellation Research on their Constellation ShortList™ for Product-Centric Cloud ERP in Q1 2021. - [Plex Systems Donates $50,000 to FIRST® and Creates Grant Program to Support Future Generations of Manufacturers and Innovators](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/plex-systems-donates-50K-creates-grant-support-future-manufacturers.html) : The Plex Smart Manufacturing Grant aims to inspire young people to become science and tech leaders by encouraging their involvement in FIRST activities. - [Plex Systems Helps Manufacturers Become More Efficient and Effective through Robotic Process Automation Partnership](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/plex-systems-helps-manufacturers-become-more-efficient-and-effective-through.html) : Plex Systems announces Robotic Process Automation (RPA) can now be added to the Plex Smart Manufacturing Platform via a new partnership with Thirdware. - [Rockwell Automation to Expand Industrial Cloud Software Offering with Acquisition of Plex Systems](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/rockwell-automation-acquisition-plex.html) : Rockwell Automation, Inc., and Plex Systems announced that Rockwell has entered into an agreement to acquire Plex. - [PowerPlex 2021 Celebrates Unstoppable Spirit of Manufacturers and Spotlights Need for Smart Manufacturing](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/powerplex-2021-celebrates-unstoppable-manufacturers.html) : Plex Systems announced its 20th annual conference, PowerPlex, bringing together more than 2,000 manufacturing professionals, partners, and industry experts. - [Plex Systems Wins National Best and Brightest Companies To Work For](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/plex-systems-wins-four-golden-bridge-business-and-innovation-awards.html) : Plex receives honor for its work culture for the 7th consecutive year. Plex was also recognized among metro Detroit's companies for the 13th consecutive year. - [Plex Systems Wins Four Golden Bridge Business and Innovation Awards](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/plex-systems-wins-12th-consecutive-best-and-brightest-award-workplace-excellence.html) : Discover how Plex Systems' advanced technology earned four Golden Bridge Awards, offering industry leaders comprehensive, data-driven solutions. - [COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Business Continuity Statement](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/covid-19-coronavirus-business-continuity-statement.html) : Plex is taking steps to ensure the safety and wellness of everyone in the Plex community given the recommendations from the WHO for the COVID-19 Coronavirus. - [Ceylon Can Collaborates with Rockwell to Transform Manufacturing Process](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/ceylon-can-collaborates-rockwell-transform-manufacturing-process.html) : - [Plex Systems Named a National Best and Brightest Company to Work For® Winner for Seventh Year](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/2019-national-best-and-brightest.html) : - [Plex Systems Boasts 11 Consecutive Years of Double-Digit Revenue Growth](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/11-years-double-digit-growth.html) : - [Plex Systems Achieves International Information Security Standards ISO 27001 Certification](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/plex-systems-achieves-international-information-security-standards-iso-27001.html) : Plex Systems proudly announces it has passed the ISO/IEC 27001:2013 audit for its Smart Manufacturing Platform. - [Plex Systems Positioned as a Major Player in 2022 IDC MarketScape Reports for SaaS and Cloud-Enabled Manufacturing and Operational ERP](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/plex-systems-2022-idc-marketscape-reports-saas-and-cloud-ERP.html) : Learn about Plex Systems' recognition in the 2022 IDC MarketScape Reports for SaaS and Cloud ERP on Plex's newsroom. Explore insights into Plex's innovative cloud-based ERP solutions and their impact on modern manufacturing operations. - [Plex Systems 2020 Impact Awards Recognize Outstanding Manufacturers](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/plex-systems-2020-impact-awards-recognize-outstanding-manufacturers.html) : Plex Systems recognizes manufacturers for using the Plex Smart Manufacturing Platform to change how they do business, drive innovation and lead manufacturing. - [Plex Systems Named a Top Workplace by Detroit Free Press](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/plex-systems-named-2017-top-company-in-michigan.html) : Discover why Plex Systems, recognized as a top company in Michigan, leads in innovative, data-driven solutions for industry leaders. - [Plex Systems Named a "Hot Companies" Finalist](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/plex-systems-named-a-hot-companies-finalist.html) : Discover why Plex Systems is recognized as a top innovator, offering industry leaders advanced, data-driven solutions with the Plex Platform. - [Plex Systems Named a "Breakout Vendor" for SaaS Business Applications](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/plex-systems-named-breakout-vendor-saas-business-applications.html) : Discover why Plex Systems is a breakout vendor in SaaS business applications, offering innovative, data-driven solutions for industry leaders. - [Plex Systems Named a Challenger in the 2021 Gartner Magic Quadrant for Manufacturing Execution Systems](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/plex-systems-named-challenger-2021-gartner-magic-quadrant-manufacturing-execution.html) : Plex, evaluated among MES vendors on Completeness of Vision and Ability to Execute, offers deep MES capabilities and a multi-tenant SaaS delivery model. - [Plex Systems Named Finalist for 2012 CODiE Awards](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/plex-systems-named-finalist-for-2012-codie-awards.html) : Discover how Plex Systems' innovative platform earned a finalist spot for the 2012 CODiE Awards, showcasing advanced, data-driven solutions for industry leaders. - [PowerPlex 2019: One More Manufacturing ERP Vendor Early to Embrace IIoT [MondayMusings]](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/powerplex-2019-one-more-manufacturing-erp-vendor-early-embrace-iiot-mondaymusings.html) : Discover how Plex's advanced ERP solutions leverage IIoT to drive innovation and efficiency in manufacturing. Stay ahead with comprehensive, data-driven insights. - [Plex Systems Sponsors Road Signs At Woodward Dream Cruise](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/plex-systems-sponsors-road-signs-at-woodward-dream-cruise.html) : Discover how Plex Systems showcases its advanced technological capabilities by sponsoring Road Signs at the Woodward Dream Cruise. Learn more now. - [Lisi Automotive Implements Plex ERP at Shanghai Facility](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/lisi-automotive-implements-plex-erp-shanghai-facility.html) : Plex by Rockwell Automation today announced multi-specialist supplier, Lisi Automotive, has chosen the Plex Smart Manufacturing Platform to digitally transform and streamline operations at its Shanghai-based facility. - [PowerPlex 2019 review - CEO Bill Berutti on why Plex's shift in cloud manufacturing strategy will fuel growth](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/powerplex-2019-review-ceo-bill-berutti-why-plexs-shift-cloud-manufacturing.html) : Discover Plex's innovative cloud manufacturing solutions and advanced technology capabilities, as reviewed by CEO Bill Berutti at PowerPlex 2019. - [PowerPlex 2019 - Toyotetsu takes the real-time cloud manufacturing plunge](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/powerplex-2019-toyotetsu-takes-real-time-cloud-manufacturing-plunge.html) : Discover how Toyotetsu leverages Plex's advanced cloud manufacturing for real-time data-driven solutions. Explore innovative tech for industry leaders. - [PowerPlex 2018 Draws World's Largest Gathering of Cloud Manufacturers](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/powerplex-2018-draws-largest-cloud-manufacturer-gathering.html) : Discover how PowerPlex 2018 became the largest cloud manufacturing event, showcasing Plex's advanced, data-driven solutions for industry leaders. - [Plex Systems Announces PowerPlex 2018](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/powerplex-2018-manufacturing-event.html) : Discover the latest in manufacturing innovation at PowerPlex 2018. Explore Plex's advanced, data-driven solutions tailored for industry leaders. - [PowerPlex 2019 Debrief: Manufacturing Focus as Operational Words](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/powerplex-2019-debrief-manufacturing-focus-operational-words.html) : Discover the latest innovations in manufacturing with Plex Platform. Explore data-driven solutions designed for industry leaders. - [Plex has been named a leader in the 2024-2025 IDC MarketScape for MES](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/rockwell-automation-named-leader-2024-2025-idc-marketscape-manufacturing-execution.html) : Rockwell Automation has been recognized as a Leader in the 2024-2025 IDC MarketScape for Manufacturing Execution Systems, and Plex, by Rockwell Automation, was named a Major Player in two IDC MarketScape reports for SaaS and Cloud-Enabled ERP applications. - [Plex Webinar: How to Survive and Thrive Through an ERP Selection and Implementation](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/plex-webinar-how-to-survive-and-thrive-through-an-erp-selection-and-implementation.html) : Discover how Plex's advanced ERP solutions empower industry leaders to thrive. Join our webinar for expert insights and innovative, data-driven strategies. - [Plex Systems Webinar Series Addresses How to Comply With New FSMA Rules](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/plex-systems-webinar-prepares-food-processors-for-changes-in-safe-quality-food-certification.html) : Discover how Plex Systems' webinar series helps industry leaders comply with new FSMA rules using advanced, data-driven technology. - [Plex Systems Webinar Prepares Food Processors for Changes in Safe Quality Food Certification](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/plex-systems-webinar-prepares-food-processors-for-2012-fsma-regulations.html) : Discover how Plex Systems' webinar equips food processors with advanced tools for upcoming Safe Quality Food certification changes. Stay ahead with innovation. - [Plex Webinar How Cloud Erp Drives Rapid Growth](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/plex-webinar-how-cloud-erp-drives-rapid-growth.html) : Discover how Plex's advanced Cloud ERP solutions drive rapid growth. Join our webinar for industry leaders seeking comprehensive, data-driven innovation. - [Plex Systems Opens Customer Support and Professional Services Office in Prague](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/plex-systems-opens-office-in-prague.html) : Discover how Plex Systems expands its global footprint with a new Prague office, offering cutting-edge, data-driven solutions for industry leaders. - [Plex Systems Wins 12th Consecutive Best and Brightest Award for Workplace Excellence](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/plex-systems-webinar-shares-best-practices-for-electronics-manufacturers.html) : Plex Systems announces its 12th consecutive recognition as one of Metro Detroit's Best and Brightest Companies to Work For. - [Plex Systems Webinar Explores Big Data for SMB's](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/plex-systems-webinar-explores-big-data-for-smbs.html) : Explore how Plex Systems leverages big data to empower SMBs with advanced, data-driven solutions in our latest webinar. Join industry leaders today. - [Plex Systems Webinar Prepares Food Processors for 2012 FSMA Regulations](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/plex-systems-webinar-guides-aerospace-manufacturers-in-rev-c-compliance.html) : Discover how Plex Systems' webinar equips food processors with advanced, data-driven solutions to meet 2012 FSMA regulations. Innovate with authority. - [Plex Systems Webinar Explores Big Data for Small to Medium-Sized Businesses](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/plex-systems-webinar-explores-big-data-for-small-to-medium-sized-businesses.html) : Discover how Plex Systems leverages big data to empower SMBs with advanced, data-driven solutions. Join our webinar for cutting-edge insights and innovation. - [Plex Systems Webinar Addresses Food Tracing Requirements](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/plex-systems-webinar-addresses-food-tracing-requirements.html) : Discover how Plex Systems' advanced platform addresses food tracing requirements with innovative, data-driven solutions for industry leaders. Join our webinar. - [Plex Systems Webinar Addresses Benefits of Cloud ERP](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/plex-systems-webinar-addresses-benefits-of-cloud-erp.html) : Discover the transformative benefits of Cloud ERP with Plex Systems. Join our webinar to explore advanced, data-driven solutions for industry leaders. - [Plex Systems: Wearable Tech on the Manufacturing Shop Floor](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/plex-systems-wearable-tech-manufacturing-shop-floor.html) : Discover how Plex Systems leverages wearable tech for innovative, data-driven manufacturing solutions. Stay ahead with advanced technology. - [Plex Systems Unveils New World Headquarters](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/plex-systems-unveils-new-world-headquarters.html) : - [‘Mythbusters’ Build Team to Keynote Plex Systems’ PowerPlex](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/powerplex-2018-keynote.html) : Discover the future of manufacturing with Plex's advanced, data-driven solutions. Explore PowerPlex 2018's keynote highlights for industry leaders. - [Plex Systems Participates in Vendor Shootout for ERP](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/plex-systems-participates-in-vendor-shootout-for-erp.html) : Discover how Plex Systems showcases its innovative ERP solutions at the Vendor Shootout, setting the standard for data-driven industry leadership. - [Australian Manufacturing: Rockwell Automation powers $3M advanced manufacturing lab for TAFE Qld](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/rockwell-automation-powers-3m-advanced-manufacturing-lab-for-tafe-qld.html) : A new state-of-the-art manufacturing lab, valued at $3 million, is set to be built by Applied Robotics at TAFE Queensland, powered by cutting-edge technologies from Rockwell Automation. - [Plex Systems Webinar Shares Best Practices for Electronics Manufacturers](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/plex-systems-webinar-series-addresses-steps-to-minimize-the-cost-of-quality.html) : Join industry leaders in a Plex Systems webinar to discover advanced, data-driven best practices for electronics manufacturing. Elevate your operations today. - [Plex Systems Webinar Series Addresses Steps to Minimize the Cost of Quality](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/plex-systems-webinar-series-addresses-how-to-comply-with-new-fsma-rules.html) : Discover how Plex Systems' webinar series empowers industry leaders with innovative, data-driven solutions to minimize the cost of quality. - [Plex Systems Secures $50 Million Round of Funding Led by T. Rowe Price, Joining Existing Investors Francisco Partners and Accel Partners](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/plex-systems-secures-50-million-round-of-funding-led-by-t-rowe-price.html) : Plex Systems secures $50M funding led by T. Rowe Price, reinforcing its innovative, data-driven platform for industry leaders seeking advanced technological solutions. - [Plex Systems Debuts Industrial IoT Solution Suite](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/plex-systems-releases-industrial-iot-application.html) : Discover Plex Systems' latest Industrial IoT application, offering advanced, data-driven solutions for industry leaders seeking innovative technology. - [Plex Systems Recognizes Leading Partners with Annual Impact Awards](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/plex-systems-recognizes-leading-partners-annual-impact-awards.html) : Discover how Plex Systems honors top partners with the Annual Impact Awards, showcasing advanced, data-driven solutions for industry leaders. - [Plex Systems One of the Best Companies to Work for in Metro Detroit](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/plex-systems-one-of-the-best-companies-to-work-for-in-metro-detroit.html) : Discover why Plex Systems is recognized as a top workplace in Metro Detroit, offering innovative, data-driven solutions for industry leaders. - [Plex Systems Launches Plex Online SmartPlex Mobile Application](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/plex-systems-launches-plex-online-smartplex-mobile-application.html) : Discover Plex Systems' new SmartPlex Mobile App, offering industry leaders cutting-edge, data-driven solutions for comprehensive operational excellence. - [Plex Systems Launches Plex Connect: Integrating the Manufacturing Cloud](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/plex-systems-launches-plex-connect-integrating-manufacturing-cloud.html) : Discover Plex Connect: Revolutionizing manufacturing with integrated cloud solutions. Harness advanced technology for comprehensive, data-driven industry leadership. - [Plex Systems Introduces Machine Learning to Help Companies Improve Demand Forecasting Accuracy](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/plex-systems-introduces-machine-improve-demand-forecasting.html) : Plex's new machine learning capabilities are designed to enhance forecast accuracy and improve customer service at lower levels of inventory coverage. - [Plex Systems Honors Top Partners](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/plex-systems-honors-top-partners.html) : Plex Systems announced Control+M Solutions and Revolution Group, Inc. as winners of Plex's annual partner awards for the value they bring to the Plex community. - [Plex Systems Highlighted at IFT12 Annual Meeting and Food Expo](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/plex-systems-highlighted-at-ift12-annual-meeting-and-food-expo.html) : Discover how Plex Systems showcased its cutting-edge technology at IFT12, delivering innovative, data-driven solutions for industry leaders. - [Plex Systems Transforms User Experience in the Manufacturing Cloud](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/plex-systems-transforms-user-experience-in-the-manufacturing-cloud.html) : Discover how Plex Systems revolutionizes manufacturing with advanced cloud solutions, offering industry leaders comprehensive and data-driven user experiences. - [Rockwell Helps Dairy Processor Miraka Streamline Operations and Live Their Values](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/rockwell-helps-dairy-processor-miraka-streamline-operations-and-live-their-values.html) : New Zealand-based Miraka, the world’s first dairy processor to get its power from renewable geothermal energy, has chosen Plex, by Rockwell Automation, to become even more efficient and sustainable. - [Plex Systems Earns National Recognition for Workplace Excellence](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/plex-systems-earns-national-recognition-workplace-excellence.html) : Discover how Plex Systems, recognized nationally for workplace excellence, delivers innovative, data-driven solutions for industry leaders. - [Plex Systems Earns 10th Consecutive Workplace Excellence Award](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/plex-systems-earns-10th-workplace-excellence-award.html) : Discover how Plex Systems' innovative platform has earned its 10th Workplace Excellence Award, setting the standard for advanced, data-driven industry solutions. - [Plex Systems to Sponsor and Exhibit at EASTEC 2013](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/plex-systems-to-sponsor-and-exhibit-at-eastec-2013.html) : Discover Plex Systems' innovative solutions at EASTEC 2013. Explore advanced, data-driven technologies designed for industry leaders. - [Plex Systems to Present Mfg. Tec Solutions at Vendor Shootout](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/plex-systems-to-present-mfg-tec-solutions-at-vendor-shootout.html) : - [Plex Systems to Define Pathway to Smart Manufacturing at Global Industry 4.0 Conference](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/plex-systems-talks-smart-manufacturing-at-industry-4-0-conference.html) : Discover how Plex Systems showcases advanced smart manufacturing solutions at the Industry 4.0 Conference, driving innovation for industry leaders. - [Rockwell Automation Named a Visionary; Plex Systems Named a Leader in 2022 Gartner Magic Quadrant for Manufacturing Execution Systems](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/plex-systems-named-leader-2022-gartner-magic-quadrant.html) : Rockwell's comprehensive portfolio accelerates Manufacturing Execution Systems transformation for more clients globally. - [Plex Systems Named a Challenger in the 2021 Gartner Magic Quadrant for Manufacturing Execution Systems](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/plex-systems-named-challenger-2021-gartner-magic-quadrant-manufa.html) : Plex, evaluated among MES vendors on Completeness of Vision and Ability to Execute, offers deep MES capabilities and a multi-tenant SaaS delivery model. - [Plex Systems Launches Production Monitoring to Help Manufacturers Gain Plant Floor Visibility](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/plex-systems-launches-production-monitoring-help-manufacturers-g.html) : Read about Plex Production Monitoring, a new quick-start solution that helps manufacturers gain visibility into real-time plant floor data. - [Plex Systems Introduces Machine Learning to Help Companies Improve Demand Forecasting Accuracy](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/plex-systems-introduces-machine-improve-demand-forecasting0.html) : Plex's new machine learning capabilities are designed to enhance forecast accuracy and improve customer service at lower levels of inventory coverage. - [Plex Systems Industry Leadership Recognized by Analysts, Gains Key Wins and Advances Product Offering](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/plex-systems-industry-leadership-recognized-by-analysts.html) : Discover Plex Systems' industry leadership recognition by analysts on Plex's newsroom. Explore insights into Plex's innovative contributions and transformative solutions reshaping the manufacturing landscape. - [Plex Systems Study: Four Reasons the 4th Industrial Revolution is Powering Manufacturing Today](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/plex-systems-study-finds-fourth-industrial-revolution-here.html) : Discover how the Plex Platform drives the Fourth Industrial Revolution with cutting-edge, data-driven solutions for industry leaders. - [Plex Systems Releases IntelliPlex, Now Accessible Within Plex Online to Create and Manage Business Intelligence Reports On-Demand](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/plex-systems-releases-intelliplex-now-accessible-within-plex-online.html) : Discover Plex Systems' IntelliPlex, now integrated with Plex Online. Advanced, data-driven solutions for industry leaders seeking innovation and comprehensive insights. - [Plex Systems Grows by 30 Percent in 2011](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/plex-systems-grows-by-30-percent-in-2011.html) : Discover how Plex Systems achieved 30% growth in 2011, showcasing advanced tech solutions for industry leaders seeking comprehensive, data-driven innovations. - [Plex Systems Honors Unstoppable Manufacturers with 2021 Impact Awards](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/plex-systems-honors-unstoppable-manufacturers-2021-impact-awards.html) : Plex Systems honors its 2021 Impact Award recipients for their leadership as manufacturers: Omega Bio-tek, Hatch Stamping Company, and Thai Summit America. - [Plex Systems Expert Addresses Impacts of FSMA Regulations](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/plex-systems-expert-addresses-impacts-of-fsma-regulations.html) : Discover how Plex Systems' expert insights on FSMA regulations drive innovation and provide industry leaders with cutting-edge, data-driven solutions. - [Solutions Review: Resilient Manufacturing: Embedding Quality with Leadership and Technology](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/solutions-review-resilient-manufacturing-embedding-quality-leadership-and.html) : Plex’s Brian Martensen writes for Solutions Review about how a strong quality management plan can be leveraged to future-ready a company’s manufacturing process. - [Refrigerated and Frozen Food: Harvest Food Group Boosts Inventory Management Through MES](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/refrigerated-and-frozen-food-harvest-food-group-boosts-inventory-management.html) : Dive deeper into the story behind Plex customer Harvest Food Group and learn how the food and beverage manufacturer leverages Plex MES for success. Be sure to read the full article. - [Australian Manufacturing: Rockwell Automation powers $3M advanced manufacturing lab for TAFE Qld](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/australian-manufacturing-rockwell-automation-powers-3m-advanced-manufacturing-lab.html) : TAFE Queensland is building a new, state-of-the-art manufacturing lab and has selected Rockwell Automation to power it. The company plans to leverage Plex to connect people, systems, and machines. - [Only 24% of Manufacturers Have Implemented Smart Manufacturing Initiatives](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/plex-systems-study-only-24-manufacturers-have-implemented-smart-manufacturing.html) : Discover insights from Plex Systems' recent study revealing that only 24% of manufacturers have implemented smart manufacturing practices. Delve into the challenges and opportunities surrounding the adoption of smart manufacturing technologies, and learn how Plex Systems is positioned to address these industry needs. - [Precision auto-parts maker HI_LEX chooses Plex Enterprise](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/precision-auto-parts-maker-hi-lex-chooses-plex-enterprise-resource-planning-erp.html) : Precision auto-parts maker HI‑LEX chooses Plex Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) System for all northwestern hemisphere production sites. - [Rockwell Automation Named a Leader in 2024-2025 IDC MarketScape for Manufacturing Execution Systems](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/-rockwell-automation-named-a-leader-in-2024-2025-idc-marketscape.html) : - [Design Engineering: Rockwell Automation helping The Shyft Group Reinvent the Wheel](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/design-engineering--rockwell-automation-helping-the-shyft-group-.html) : - [Quality Digest: Quality Control, Safe Food Rely on People and Technology](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/quality-digest-quality-control-safe-food-rely-people-and-technology.html) : In this article for Quality Digest, Plex’s Jim Bresler chimes into a conversation about quality control within the food and beverage industry. Bresler advises pairing a strong HACCP plan with technology that provides a single source of truth. Read the full text to learn more. - [Food Logistics: Building a Traceable Food Chain: A Comprehensive Guide to FSMA Compliance](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/plex-building-a-traceable-food-chain-a-comprehensive-guide-to-fsma-compliance.html) : - [Mike Rowe of "Dirty Jobs" to Keynote Plex Systems' Powerflex](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/powerplex-2017-manufacturing-keynote-speaker.html) : - [PowerPlex 2016: The Manufacturing Cloud is What's Now](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/powerplex-2016-manufacturing-cloud-what-now.html) : - [PLM think tank: Cloud PLM and the Old Enterprise Trap](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/plm-think-tank-cloud-plm-and-old-enterprise-trap.html) : Discover insights from the PLM Think Tank on the potential of Cloud PLM and the pitfalls of traditional enterprise approaches. Gain valuable perspectives on leveraging Cloud technology to enhance Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) strategies while avoiding common challenges. Stay informed with expert analyses to navigate the evolving landscape of PLM solutions. - [What's Next for the Plex Manufacturing Cloud](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/powerplex-2015-whats-next-for-the-plex-manufacturing-cloud.html) : Discover the future of manufacturing with Plex's advanced, data-driven cloud solutions. Stay ahead with innovative technology tailored for industry leaders. - [The Fabricator: The importance of visibility in modern metal fabricating](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/fabricator-importance-visibility-modern-metal-fabricating.html) : When Everyday Technologies owner Cody Lee joined the company, he knew the organization would benefit from a cloud-based ERP system. - [From the Cold Corner Podcast: Driving Efficiency with ERP](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/cold-corner-podcast-driving-efficiency-erp.html) : In this episode of From the Cold Corner: Driving Efficiency with ERP, a podcast produced by Refrigerated & Frozen Foods, Plex’s Jim Bresler is interviewed on ERP technology and the implementation story behind Plex customer Harvest Food Group. - [Plex Systems Wins Workplace Excellence Award for Ninth Consecutive Year](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/plex-systems-wins-workplace-excellence-award-again.html) : Discover how Plex Systems continues to lead in innovation, winning the Workplace Excellence Award for its advanced, data-driven platform solutions. - [MEDIA ALERT: Plex to host Webinar with Accuride and Constellation Research](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/plex-to-host-webinar-with-accuride-and-constellation-research.html) : Join Plex's webinar with Accuride & Constellation Research. Discover cutting-edge, data-driven solutions for industry leaders. - [Plex Webinar: ERP, the Cloud and the Cost of Complacency Featuring Analyst Cindy Jutras](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/plex-webinar-erp-the-cloud-and-the-cost-of-complacency-featuring-analyst-cindy-jutras.html) : Discover how Plex's advanced ERP solutions in the cloud can drive innovation and avoid complacency. Join analyst Cindy Jutras in this insightful webinar. - [Plex Systems Drives Manufacturing Productivity and Visibility with New Product Releases](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/plex-systems-enhances-erp-for-manufacturing.html) : Discover how Plex Systems revolutionizes manufacturing with advanced ERP solutions, offering comprehensive, data-driven technology for industry leaders. - [Plex Systems Earns Privacy Certifications from TRUSTe](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/plex-systems-earns-privacy-certifications-from-truste.html) : Plex Systems earns TRUSTe privacy certifications, showcasing our commitment to data security and innovation for industry leaders seeking advanced solutions. - [Plex Systems Executive Presents at Food Automation and Manufacturing Conference and Expo](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/plex-systems-executive-presents-at-food-automation-manufacturing-conference-and-expo.html) : Discover how Plex Systems' innovative technology drives data-driven solutions in food automation. Learn from industry leaders at the Food Automation & Manufacturing Expo. - [Plex Systems Executive to Speak at WESTEC](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/plex-systems-executive-to-speak-at-westec.html) : Plex Systems exec to speak at WESTEC on innovative, data-driven solutions for industry leaders. Discover advanced capabilities of the Plex Platform. - [Plex Systems Executive To Speak At International Manufacturing Technology Show](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/plex-systems-executive-to-speak-at-international-manufacturing-technology-show.html) : Discover how Plex Systems' advanced technology drives innovation in manufacturing. Join our executive at the International Manufacturing Technology Show. - [Plex Systems Executive to Address Manufacturers at Pacific Design and Manufacturing](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/plex-systems-executive-to-address-manufacturers-at-pacific-design-manufacturing.html) : Discover Plex Systems' cutting-edge solutions as our executive addresses manufacturing leaders at Pacific Design & Manufacturing. Explore innovation and data-driven success. - [Food Engineering: Are You Ready for FSMA’s Section 204(d) Food Traceability Rule?](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/food-engineering-are-you-ready-fsmas-section-204d-food-traceability-rule.html) : Plex’s Jim Bresler chimes into a comprehensive overview from Food Engineering about the upcoming FDA FSMA Section 204(d) rule requiring traceability for critical high-spoilage foods. - [Automation Chat: Connected Workers Help Boost Manufacturing Efficiency](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/automation-chat-connected-workers-help-boost-manufacturing-efficiency.html) : In a recent episode of the Automation Chat podcast by The Journal from Rockwell Automation, Anthony Murphy shares his thoughts on labor challenges the manufacturing industry will face as many skilled workers approach retirement and the talent gap created by the absence. - [Plex Systems Hosts Annual Beer Tasting](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/plex-systems-hosts-annual-beer-tasting.html) : Discover how Plex Systems blends innovation and networking at our annual beer tasting event, showcasing advanced data-driven solutions for industry leaders. - [Plex Systems Expert Addresses FSMA Compliance Solutions at Food Safety Summit](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/plex-systems-expert-addresses-fsma-compliance-solutions-at-food-safety-summit.html) : Discover how Plex Systems' expert addresses FSMA compliance with innovative, data-driven solutions at the Food Safety Summit. - [Plex Systems Named Finalist for Tomorrow](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/plex-systems-named-finalist-for-tomorrow.html) : Discover how Plex Systems, a finalist for Tomorrow's Technology Awards, is driving innovation with advanced, data-driven solutions for industry leaders. - [Plex Systems and Meijer Deliver 250,000 Bottles of Clean Drinking Water to Flint, Mich.](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/plex-systems-meijer-delivers-bottles-of-clean-drinking-water-flint-michigan.html) : Discover how Plex Systems leverages advanced technology to deliver clean drinking water to Flint, Michigan, showcasing innovation and data-driven solutions. - [Plex Systems Launches Production Monitoring to Help Manufacturers Gain Plant Floor Visibility](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/plex-systems-launches-production-monitoring-help-manufacturers-gain-plant-floor.html) : Read about Plex Production Monitoring, a new quick-start solution that helps manufacturers gain visibility into real-time plant floor data. - [Food Industry Executive: All-Hands-On-Deck Ensure Successful Plex Implementation for Harvest Food Group, Increasing Accuracy and Production Insights](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/food-industry-executive-all-hands-deck-ensure-successful-plex-implementation.html) : This publication from Food Industry Executive features a deep dive into a case study with Plex customer Harvest Food Group. - [Plex Systems Receives Top Award for Employee Enrichment, Engagement and Retention](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/plex-systems-receives-top-award-for-employee-enrichment-engagement-and-retention.html) : Discover how Plex Systems' innovative platform drives employee enrichment, engagement, and retention, earning top industry accolades. - [Automation USA: Rockwell Automation Helps The Shyft Group Accelerate Innovation and Adoption of Commercial EVs](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/automation-usa-rockwell-automation-helps-the-shyft-group-accelerate-innovation-and-adoption-of-commercial-evs.html) : - [Mobility Outlook: Mahindra Accelo Partners With Rockwell Automation For Manufacturing Digitalisation](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/mobility-outlook-mahindra-accelo-partners-rockwell-automation-manufacturing.html) : - [Bayrak Technik Benefits from Tighter Inventory Control and More Accurate ERP by Using the Plex Smart Manufacturing Platform from Rockwell Automation](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/bayrak-technik-benefits-tighter-inventory-control-and-more-accurate-erp-using-plex.html) : - [Smart Industry: Leveraging real-time production data: Q&A with Adam Mullen](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/smart-industry-leveraging-real-time-production-data-qa-adam-mullen.html) : - [3BL: Rockwell Automation Helps The Shyft Group Accelerate Innovation and Adoption of Commercial EVs](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/3bl-rockwell-automation-helps-shyft-group-accelerate-innovation-and-adoption.html) : - [Food Industry Executive: A Data-Driven Approach to Reducing Yield Loss and Improving Batch Accuracy](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/food-industry-executive-data-driven-approach-reducing-yield-loss-and-improving.html) : - [Industry Today: Midwest Character Inspires High-Tech Solutions](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/industry-today-midwest-character-inspires-high-tech-solutions.html) : - [Connected Worker Solution from Plex, by Rockwell Automation, Addresses Labor Crisis in Manufacturing](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/connected-worker-solution-plex-rockwell-automation-addresses-labor-crisis.html) : This press release from Plex, by Rockwell Automation announces the public availability of the new connected worker functionalities within the existing Plex MES product offering. Read this release and hear from Anthony Murphy, VP of Product Management, Plex, and Plex customer REACRO. - [Taiwan's First Implementation of Plex Cloud-based Manufacturing Execution System](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/taiwan-first-implementation-of-plex-cloud-based-manufacturing-execution-system.html) : This press release from Plex, by Rockwell Automation announces the selection and implementation of Plex Manufacturing Execution System (MES) by Taiwanese professional engineering manufacturer, Tien Yuen Machinery (TYC). This implementation marks an expansion of Plex’s presence into the region. - [Rockwell Automation Named as a Representative Vendor in 2025 Gartner® Market Guide for Manufacturing Execution Systems](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/rockwell-automation-named-representative-vendor-2025-gartner-market-guide.html) : Plex is revolutionizing the Manufacturing industry. Read our latest news and analyst coverage and see how our customers are transforming their businesses. - [Manufacturing Tomorrow: Leveraging Real-Time Production Data](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/manufacturing-tomorrow-leveraging-real-time-production-data.html) : Plex’s Adam Mullen writes for Manufacturing Tomorrow about the impact real-time production data can have on a company’s manufacturing operations. Read the full article to learn more. - [ERP in Action: Driving Manufacturing Efficiency Through Smart Scheduling and Inventory Visibility](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/erp-in-action-driving-manufacturing-efficiency.html) : Discover how The Metalworking Group leverages Aptean’s ERP Made2Manage Edition to streamline scheduling, boost inventory visibility, and enhance delivery performance in metal manufacturing. - [From Purchase to Progress: How ERP Modernization Revived a Legacy Metal Fab Shop](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/from-purchase-to-progress-transforming-a-legacy-job-shop.html) : Discover how Cody Lee transformed Everyday Technologies, a 1928-founded job shop, by implementing a modern ERP system and standardized quoting - boosting cost tracking, labor efficiency, and employee roles in metal fabrication. - [Nucleus Research: Nucleus Research Releases 2025 SMB ERP Technology Value Matrix](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/nucleus-research-nucleus-research-releases-2025-smb-erp-technology-value-matrix.html) : Nucleus Research’s 2025 SMB ERP Technology Value Matrix highlights how vendors like Acumatica, Epicor, and Oracle NetSuite are embedding AI agents to automate workflows, boost decision-making, and deliver real-time execution for lean teams. - [Plex Chosen as Partner by Somic America, Inc. to Modernize Technology Systems](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/newsroom/plex-chosen-as-partner-by-somic-america-to-modernize-technology-systems.html) : This press release from Plex, by Rockwell Automation announces the selection of Plex ERP, inclusive of Plex MES, by Somic America, Inc. Somic America is a leading tie one automotive supplier and is excited to digitally transform its operations with the Plex Smart Manufacturing Platform. ## Events Catalog - [Automation Fair](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/events/automation-fair.html) : Join Plex for this year’s Automation Fair® event in Chicago! Learn more about leveraging Plex for long-term manufacturing success alongside 10,000 problem-solvers, makers. and leaders. ## Automation Fair Catalog - [Automation Fair 2025: Plex Welcome Event](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/events/automation-fair/welcome.html) : Join us the Sunday night before Automation Fair 2025 in Chicago, IL for the Plex Welcome Event! ## Smart Manufacturing Blog Catalog - [Celebrating International Women’s Day at Plex](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/celebrating-international-womens-day-plex.html) : I have always thought of Plex as being a unique and rewarding place to work. Not only does the work challenge me, but it allows me to step outside of my job responsibilities and work on causes I’m passionate about, all for the betterment of the company. - [Food and Beverage Trends to Watch in 2020](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/food-and-beverage-trends-watch-2020.html) : For food and beverage manufacturers, 2020 promises to be another year of change. As we head into a new decade, here are three consumer-led food and beverage industry trends that have the capacity to change the food and beverage manufacturing landscape. - [CES for Manufacturers: Key Takeaways for Industrial Application](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/ces-manufacturers-key-takeaways-industrial-application.html) : I recently spent three days walking the halls of CES 2020 (the Consumer Electronics Show) in Las Vegas, and I can only describe it in one word: "insane." With over 2 million square feet of exhibits, 4,400 vendors, and 180,000 attendees, I felt even after three dedicated days, dozens of miles of walking, and one big blister, I still only scratched the surface. - [How Shop Floor Innovation Sparked Coastal Automotive’s Business Process Innovation](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/how-shop-floor-innovation-sparked-coastal-automotives-business-process-innovation.html) : Have you ever heard of IMPAXX™ foam? Even if you haven’t, there’s a good chance it has helped protect you while riding in a vehicle. IMPAXX foam is the flagship product of Plex customer Coastal Automotive. It’s an energy management foam that is used to provide stable and consistent impact response, and virtually every North American automaker puts it into its vehicles. What sets IMPAXX foam apart from the competition? It’s up to 91 percent lighter, but it still provides the highest levels of performance and durability. - [Unique Data Set Contextualizes COVID-19 Impact on Manufacturing](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/manufacturing-data-contextualizes-covid-19-impact-200319.html) : A mere week ago, the World Health Organization declared the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak a pandemic. In the weeks leading up to and following this announcement, governments, organizations, and businesses (including us here at Plex Systems), have taken measures to not only reduce the spread and impact of the coronavirus for the health and safety of the communities we live and work in, but also to ensure continued access to the medicine, food, supplies, and other goods that we depend on. - [3 Key Technologies to Focus on for Industry 4.0](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/3-key-technologies-focus-industry-40.html) : It’s no secret Industry 4.0 and the Fourth Industrial Revolution will influence the industry for years to come. This cyber-physical evolution is changing the way manufacturers make things, serve customers, run their plants, and do business. - [3 Reasons Why Real-Time Information Matters to Manufacturers](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/3-reasons-why-real-time-information-matters-manufacturers.html) : In order to make timely decisions, you need access to timely data. Unfortunately, for many manufacturers, the shop floor is a black box that is disconnected from the enterprise systems they rely on, so they must depend on reports. Those reports may take hours to prepare by specialists after manually being entered into a system from the paper that originally collected the data. The result is that business leaders are seeing what happened yesterday, last week, or even last month. But today’s executives want real-time data so that they can make real-time decisions—with real-time impact. - [Manufacturers: Unlock the Value of Industry Analysts](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/manufacturers-unlock-value-industry-analysts.html) : At a time when technology buyers are bombarded with software options from all angles, it can be difficult to determine which ones are legit and which ones you should avoid when you’re trying to select an ERP, MES, or Industrial IoT solution vendor. - [Manufacturers in Mexico Take on Industry 4.0 and IIoT](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/manufacturers-mexico-take-industry-40-and-iiot.html) : Mexico has traditionally been a desirable location for U.S. manufacturers to expand their facilities because of the low cost of labor. But the country has positioned itself as a viable competitor within the manufacturing industry. Mexico’s number one export is manufactured products and it is the seventh largest auto manufacturer—recently surpassing Japan as the second-largest U.S. auto parts exporter. - [Auto Industry Evolution Sparks Eurotranciatura Mexico’s Growth](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/auto-industry-evolution-sparks-eurotranciatura-mexicos-growth.html) : The atmosphere in the global automotive industry is becoming more electric—literally. The Global EV Outlook 2019 reports that the global electric vehicle fleet exceeded 5.1 million in 2018, up 2 million from the previous year and almost doubling new electric car sales. Those numbers are expected to grow exponentially. - [FABTECH: What We Are Learning from Our Manufacturing Leaders](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/fabtech-what-we-are-learning-our-manufacturing-leaders.html) : When you think of metal stamping and fabrication, you might not immediately think about the industry’s use of cutting-edge technology with precision metal design. But the fact of the matter is, the smart application of manufacturing technology is a key trait among manufacturers that succeed. - [What Does Corporate Social Responsibility Mean at Plex?](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/what-does-corporate-social-responsibility-mean-plex.html) : “Corporate social responsibility” has many definitions, but one that you’ll rarely come across is “a measure of great work/life integration.” It may be unconventional, but I hope it is far from surprising to you that Plex believes corporate social responsibility should be woven into the very fabric of an organization’s culture. And where does culture start? With people. - [With 2020 In Sight, We Take a Moment to Admire Manufacturers](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/2020-sight-we-take-moment-admire-manufacturers.html) : As we get ready to turn the page on 2020, it’s time to take stock of the year, and we can’t do that without taking a moment to take note of the one thing Plex was truly thankful for in 2019: the manufacturer. - [What Shop Floor Data Should You Collect?](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/what-shop-floor-data-should-you-collect.html) : As Industry 4.0 becomes more of a reality, smart manufacturers are looking for those precious insights promised by the industry analysts. But manufacturers have been collecting so much data for so long, it’s hard to know what to use and how to convert it into usable information. - [See Better Results with Plex: 3 Successful ERP System Customer Stories](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/see-better-results-plex-3-successful-erp-system-customer-stories.html) : What does a job well done look like to you? If you’re on the shop floor, it probably looks like a record production rate or an increase in inventory accuracy. If you’re on the top floor, it might look like a boost in your company’s profits. - [How Innovation in Manufacturing Can Help You Leverage the Benefits of the Fourth Industrial Revolution](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/how-innovation-manufacturing-can-help-you-leverage-benefits-fourth-industrial-revolution.html) : As a manufacturer, you need to do more. Not only to grow, but because your customers are demanding more of you—year after year. Even if you’re focusing on continuous improvement, you may need to add in manufacturing innovation to differentiate because it is a certainty that your competitors are doing more. - [Automotive Manufacturers See the Future in Big Data](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/automotive-manufacturers-see-future-big-data.html) : Recently, I was thrilled to receive an invitation to participate on a panel at the recent inaugural SpeedNews AeroAuto Conference. For the past five years, SpeedNews focused its conference solely on the aerospace industry. This year, organizers brought professionals from the automotive industry together with leaders from the aerospace industry to share best practices. - [3 Reasons to Transform Your Manufacturing Business Right Now](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/3-reasons-transform-your-manufacturing-business-right-now.html) : As a manufacturer, you are always evolving, and today there are some seismic shifts taking place with an unprecedented amount of technology and digital capabilities pushing the next step of your evolution forward. There are three areas that hit home with me and may also resonate with you: automation, innovation, and resource allocation. - [3 Keys to Digital Transformation for Your Manufacturing Business](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/3-keys-digital-transformation-your-manufacturing-business.html) : Digital transformation is a topic getting quite a bit of press lately. The term is very broad, but in the real manufacturing world there are lots of you doing some incredibly transformative and innovative things with your business. - [3 Ways Technology Enhances Modern Manufacturing Operations](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/3-ways-technology-enhances-modern-manufacturing-operations.html) : Manufacturers wrestle with a challenging environment—global economic uncertainty, political pressure on trade, and the need to properly time investments for the future. Driving efficiency, productivity, and higher quality remain top of mind objectives, and manufacturers remain vigilant evaluating the tools, processes, and technologies to help meet these goals. - [How Manufacturers Thrive in an Uncertain Economy](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/how-manufacturers-thrive-uncertain-economy.html) : How do you handle uncertain times? One strategy is to hunker down and “weather the storm.” For manufacturers, this often means limiting technology investments until the chaos subsides, then attempting to time technology improvements during high-growth periods. - [Supplier Expands Production with Manufacturing ERP Software](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/supplier-expands-production-manufacturing-erp-software.html) : Putting customers first is a mantra that FloraCraft takes to heart. The company has built its 70-year reputation as the world’s largest fabricator and supplier of Styrofoam™ brand foam products for the craft, floral, display, and special event industries on this guiding principle. Jim Scatena, FloraCraft’s President and CEO says it’s this philosophy that has helped his business remain so successful: - [The Manufacturing Digital Transformation: Connecting the Shop Floor](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/manufacturing-digital-transformation-connecting-shop-floor.html) : The constant hum of excitement about the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) is becoming louder and more intelligible every day. It is now clear that we are well passed the initial hype (even if that is not the case in most consumer-facing IoT) and opportunities for forward thinking manufacturers are real. The initial benefits are in two areas: analytics and connectivity. But analytics and all the other benefits of the IIoT start with connectivity. - [PowerPlex 2016: #WeMake Things](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/powerplex-2016-wemake-things.html) : This year’s PowerPlex conference April 25-28 in Detroit, Michigan had 1,200 attendees—that is to say, 1,200 “makers of things”— the largest gathering of cloud manufacturing professionals in the world. Each attendee’s badge told us, “we make automobile braking systems” or “we make beer” or “we make innovative ideas,” highlighting the manufacturing focus of Plex, as well as the company’s customers and partners. - [Analytics: The Key to More Efficient Operations and Better Products](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/analytics-key-more-efficient-operations-and-better-products.html) : Paul Wright, VP, Information Technology and CIO of Accuride, a leading global supplier of commercial vehicle wheels and wheel end components, shares his perspective on how Big Data and analytics has helped Accuride improve customer satisfaction and product quality, while at the same time improving efficiency and driving down costs. - [Will Jobs Be Lost to Automation?](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/will-jobs-be-lost-automation.html) : Product and technology innovation has transformed life as we know it in the last few decades, and the pace of change is only getting faster over the next decade. Inventors and innovators continue to look for ways to make life easier, automate repetitive tasks, and remove the likelihood of human error by teaching machines to do what humans would otherwise do. - [Manufacturers: Risk is an Opportunity, Not a Cost Driver](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/manufacturers-risk-opportunity-not-cost-driver.html) : As a fastener manufacturer, delivering high quality ensures (among other things) that scrap rates are kept low and first pass yield remains high. But did you know that it could also influence which business you’ll win next? - [General Data Protection Regulation and Plex Customers](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/general-data-protection-regulation-and-plex-customers.html) : The European Union’s (EU) General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is set to take effect May 25, 2018. Now is a good time to discuss the capabilities Plex offers to help customers meet their GDPR obligations. What is GDPR? - [Family-Owned, Precision Metalforming Company Ready for IIoT, Wearables, and What's Next](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/family-owned-precision-metalforming-company-ready-iiot-wearables-and-whats-next.html) : The phrase “manufacturing leader” often conjures images of large, multinational companies that are household names. Unfortunately, you rarely hear about leaders among smaller, often family-owned operations. Yet small manufacturers make up the majority of the market—98.5% of US manufacturing firms have less than 500 employees1—and have positive effects on local communities for generations. - [Active Planning at Plex and How Manufacturers Can Leverage It Too](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/active-planning-plex-and-how-manufacturers-can-leverage-it-too.html) : Most businesses do planning and budgeting using spreadsheets. Everyone knows how to use them and they provide a good enough tool but, they are error-prone and time-consuming when it comes to sharing and collaboration. Links get broken and formulas have to be manually copied and pasted. Not a great solution when business moves at light speed or when things change, and they always do. - [Four Key Considerations Manufacturers Need to Know with a Global ERP Implementation](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/four-key-considerations-manufacturers-need-know-global-erp-implementation.html) : In today's highly competitive marketplace, chances are good you're considering, have decided, or have been asked by customers or suppliers to expand your business across borders. Growing your company's global footprint can indeed bring competitive advantages. It also brings added complexity and the need to expand business processes to seamlessly encompass multiple locations. - [Why It’s Critical for Manufacturers to Embrace Digital Transformation Now](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/why-its-critical-manufacturers-embrace-digital-transformation-now.html) : Running a manufacturing business is not easy: complying with strict industry regulations, consistently producing quality products, and responding to a rapidly fluctuating customer demand. And your IT team (or person) doesn’t have an easy job, either. Their days are spent fighting fires, manually consolidating from paper-based processes, keeping point solutions running, creating reports, and tackling hardware and software updates. - [4 Ways Manufacturers Benefit from End-to-End Supply Chain Planning](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/4-ways-manufacturers-benefit-end-end-supply-chain-planning.html) : Leading manufacturers intuitively understand the importance of optimizing the flow of materials in their operations. They also are more mature in analyzing and interpreting the valuable data their businesses generate. - [Argent Sparks Growth and Employee Satisfaction with New Manufacturing Technology](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/argent-sparks-growth-and-employee-satisfaction-new-manufacturing-technology.html) : They’re under the hood of your car, on the medicine you take, and on the groceries you buy. They help shop floor operators make things like phone chargers, and you use them to figure out which flowers you should plant in your backyard. What are they? - [How Small Manufacturing Companies Can Lead the Industry](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/how-small-manufacturing-companies-can-lead-industry.html) : Most manufacturing firms in the U.S. are small—99 percent have less than 500 employees, 75 percent of which have less than 20 employees.1 And since small manufacturing companies are at the heart of creating the products the world uses, they are in the unique position to make changes at the grass root level that can lead the industry. - [Shank’s Extracts Takes Control of Inventory to Transform Business](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/shanks-extracts-takes-control-inventory-transform-business.html) : In 1899 when pharmacist Jacob Shank created a compound flavoring of vanilla bean to improve the taste of his medicine, he had no idea that this inspiration would turn into a successful business over a century later. Since then, his company—Shank’s Extracts—has steadily grown by doing what it does best: quietly make the best quality products possible while being a reliable partner for its customers. - [Firstronic Overhauls Its Processes to Beat the Competition](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/firstronic-overhauls-its-processes-beat-competition.html) : I recently had the privilege of presenting with Plex customer Sandy Kolp, Director of Program Management and Plant Manager, from Firstronic, LLC at IndustryWeek’s Manufacturing & Technology conference in Cleveland, Ohio. Firstronic is on a roll, having recently won IndustryWeek’s 2016 Plant of the Year award, along with four awards for Dependability and Timely Delivery, Responsiveness, Value for Price and Technology at the 2017 Service Excellence Awards (SEA), sponsored by Circuits Assembly Magazine. - [How American Axle and Manufacturing Broke Down the Silos to Gain One Version of the Truth](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/how-american-axle-and-manufacturing-broke-down-silos-gain-one-version-truth.html) : If you have difficulty getting your arms around how your manufacturing business is actually performing, you are not alone. It’s the number one challenge many manufacturers I talk to want to tackle because it can mean the difference between running a successful company or managing a struggling company. - [Proof Positive: Modern Manufacturing Strategies Should Include Cloud ERP](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/proof-positive-modern-manufacturing-strategies-should-include-cloud-erp.html) : Modern manufacturing is too complex for manual processes, and relying on disparate systems to run your business drains precious time. In fact, thirty-eight percent of manufacturers say they face serious delays in decision making because of lack of timely information.1 - [Advanced Manufacturing Technology: Why You Might Be Farther Ahead Than You Think](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/advanced-manufacturing-technology-why-you-might-be-farther-ahead-you-think.html) : Technological capabilities are advancing exponentially, and business leaders everywhere are asking the question, “How do I take advantage of all these new capabilities without losing focus on my core business?” Manufacturers are no exception. - [Cloud ERP Technology Transforms IT Teams](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/cloud-erp-technology-transforms-it-teams.html) : What happens to IT staff in the move to cloud ERP? For many years now Mint Jutras has been asking survey participants in its annual Enterprise Solution Study what they find appealing about software as a service (SaaS). We give them quite an extensive list of potential benefits and allow them to select as many as they would like. - [How Manufacturers Survive and Thrive in Turbulent Times](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/how-manufacturers-survive-and-thrive-turbulent-times.html) : Uncertain economic times have one of two effects on the manufacturing psyche. Many companies hunker down and ‘weather the storm’ by limiting technology investment until the chaos subsides, trying to time their investment to high-growth periods. Very difficult to do. - [FT Precision Finds Continued Success in the Cloud](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/ft-precision-finds-continued-success-cloud.html) : FT Precision makes rocker arms for one of the world’s leading automotive OEMs, delivering products that are key to the performance of some of the worlds most efficient and reliable automobiles. Founded in 1994, FT Precision Inc. is a Japanese-parented, Ohio-based, automotive component supplier. - [Five New Year's Resolutions for Manufacturers](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/five-new-years-resolutions-manufacturers.html) : It’s that time of the year: time to set resolutions that’ll guide you through 2016. As a manufacturer, your goals might be to leverage plant floor data to improve efficiencies, streamline processes and more. Check out our New Year's Resolution infographic to see the changes manufacturers can implement to make 2016 a success. - [Food and Beverage Leaders Realize that Suppliers Will be the Key to Success](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/food-and-beverage-leaders-realize-suppliers-will-be-key-success.html) : The introduction of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) caused major changes in Food & Beverage manufacturing. Manufacturers are focused on food safety and traceability as well as how their organizations will have to handle ongoing issues. Even though this bill was signed into law back in 2010, companies today are still scrambling and working on complying with the continually evolving mandate and others like it. - [How Cloud Computing Is Enabling An Artisanal Manufacturing Renaissance](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/how-cloud-computing-enabling-artisanal-manufacturing-renaissance.html) : A manufacturing revolution is flourishing. Driven by passionate entrepreneurs, this revolution is translating their creativity, craftsmanship and commitment to exceptional quality into products that are changing entire industries. These revolutionaries bring a passion and intensity to every aspect of their businesses. - [COVID-19 Resources for Manufacturers](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/covid-19-resources-for-manufacturers-200320.html) : Given the pace of change with coronavirus (COVID-19) – both the spread of the virus, and the responses from local and federal governments – we are sharing resources and information that may be helpful to you as you determine your own company’s business continuity response and strategy in real time. - [Government Funding for Canadian Manufacturing Businesses: A Proactive Approach](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/government-funding-canadian-manufacturing-businesses-proactive-approach.html) : Manufacturers in Canada are often the primary recipients for government funding, as manufacturing grants tend to be more widely available than for any other industry segment, making industrial companies well-aligned to access financial incentives. - [Scary Stories to Tell on the Shop Floor](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/scary-stories-tell-shop-floor.html) : With Halloween around the corner, spooky stories aren’t far behind. But, for manufacturing professionals, the scariest season might not be limited to October 31st alone. Terror can take on a whole new meaning when it comes to nightmares on the shop floor. Here are the top phrases that might leave any plant manager with a legacy ERP system quaking. - [Shopping for a Manufacturing ERP? Consider Your Deployment Options](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/shopping-manufacturing-erp-consider-your-deployment-options.html) : Make no mistake about it: ERP is a major investment for any manufacturer. The new solution you choose may be Command Central for your employees for the next eight to 10 years—or longer. Many manufacturers begin their ERP research by looking into industry-specific features and functionality. - [How to Double the Size of Your Business While Cutting Scrap](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/how-double-size-your-business-while-cutting-scrap.html) : f you’ve noticed the sheer number of electric vehicles on the road today, you can imagine how quickly manufacturers within this industry are growing. One company in particular, Eurotranciatura Mexico recently doubled the size of its business in just a two-year period. - [How to Leverage Automation in Your Manufacturing Process](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/how-leverage-automation-your-manufacturing-process.html) : Management thinker Peter Drucker is often quoted as saying that “you can't manage what you can't measure.” In a manufacturing environment, this sage management advise can quickly feel impossible to achieve. - [3 Key Steps to Buying the Right ERP for Your Manufacturing Business](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/3-key-steps-buying-right-erp-your-manufacturing-business.html) : We’re not going to dance around it: buying a new ERP solution for your manufacturing business is a big deal. It’s a long, involved process. It requires buy-in from a diverse group of stakeholders. It involves a major investment (both in time and money). And you’ll have to live with the results for perhaps a decade or more. - [How is the Canadian Manufacturing Industry Responding to Change?](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/how-canadian-manufacturing-industry-responding-change.html) : The Canadian Manufacturing industry is undergoing significant change. Caused in part by new competitive pressures from globalization, an aging workforce, and aging production technologies, Canadian manufacturers are looking at new ways to innovate their key manufacturing processes to help sustain and improve their position in the global market. - [Cloud Manufacturing Software: Understanding SaaS Solution Availability](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/cloud-manufacturing-software-understanding-saas-solution-availability.html) : Cloud-based software is all around us. From the social networks you use to connect with family, to the app that you use to pay your friend back for lunch, the cloud enables the technology that we rely upon to process incredible amounts of data. - [Toyotetsu America, Inc. Leads Industry with Lean Supply Chain Visibility and Connected Manufacturing](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/toyotetsu-america-inc-leads-industry-lean-supply-chain-visibility-and-connected-manufacturing.html) : As a top ten supplier for Toyota, Toyotetsu America, Inc. (TTAI) saw an opportunity to influence and improve supplier communication and collaboration within its global supply chain by digitizing its operations. TTAI makes body parts, functional parts, and chassis parts for Toyota, Nissan, GM, Tesla, and Subaru. - [Women Leaders in Manufacturing and Technology: Facing Challenges, Taking Action, and Bridging the Gap](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/women-leaders-manufacturing-and-technology-facing-challenges-taking-action-and-bridging-gap.html) : The shortage of skilled workers in manufacturing is the biggest challenge facing the industry right now. In the U.S., some estimated two-million jobs will need to be filled in manufacturing over the next decade—and six out of 10 positions are currently unfilled.1 Women constitute one of US manufacturing’s largest pools of untapped talent; however, they still represent less than 30 percent of the manufacturing workforce.2 - [PowerPlex 2019: Highlights and Key Takeaways](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/powerplex-2019-highlights-and-key-takeaways.html) : It is hard to believe that last week’s PowerPlex 2019 has come and gone. More than 1,000 manufacturing technology professionals gathered to connect on evolving trends including Industry 4.0 and smart factories, the latest in cloud ERP and MES, the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), as well as the challenges and opportunities they face each day. - [PowerPlex 2019: What Manufacturers Love About Their Industry](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/powerplex-2019-what-manufacturers-love-about-their-industry.html) : When you walk into a room filled with manufacturers, one thing stands out: they really love what they do. You can feel the passion in the air. This was true while walking through the Plex Experience Lab & Solutions Expo, as you listen to conversations between sessions, and at networking events during PowerPlex 2019. - [3 Ways Manufacturers Are Tackling the Skilled Worker Shortage](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/3-ways-manufacturers-are-tackling-skilled-worker-shortage.html) : You’ve told us that finding and keeping a skilled workforce is one of your top challenges. And we know the gap is only going to increase with 25 percent of U.S. manufacturing employees are 55 years old or older and Baby Boomers are retiring at a rate of 10,000 people per day.[1] If that wasn’t challenging enough, you also might be missing out on additional revenue streams because you can’t hire employees fast enough to keep pace with increasing demands. - [How G and W Products Meets Manufacturing Challenges with People, Processes, and Technology](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/how-g-and-w-products-meets-manufacturing-challenges-people-processes-and-technology.html) : Pride. You sense that the minute you walk into G&W Products’ manufacturing headquarters in Fairfield, Ohio. You understand it when you talk to employees about their careers, their customers, and their resolute focus on quality products. I was fortunate to witness this firsthand by spending a day with G&W’s Director of Enterprise Technologies, Jeff Karan, walking their facilities, understanding their processes, talking to employees, and meeting its management team. - [Survey Says: Manufacturers, Choose Technology Wisely](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/survey-says-manufacturers-choose-technology-wisely.html) : There are thousands of technology innovations now available to manufacturers, from new equipment to robotics, software, business intelligence tools, wearables, and sensors. The sheer number of choices available means manufacturers must work harder than ever to find the signal in the noise. - [Motus Integrated Technologies Earns Industry Recognition](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/motus-integrated-technologies-earns-industry-recognition.html) : Running a complex manufacturing operation requires discipline from every employee in the company. Motus Integrated Technologies is an example of a global company that does it very well. The company produces stylish yet functional products—including headliners, trays, panels, and trim—for the most popular vehicles on the market today. - [The Strength of the Plex Community](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/strength-plex-community.html) : An ERP implementation is a big deal for any company. It’s essentially a heart or brain transplant since the system affects nearly all areas of the business. So, it’s understandable when manufacturers enter into an ERP selection and/or implementation with much trepidation. The last thing you want to do is upset production with a massive change management project. - [Reflecting on a Year of Plex Team Pride and Community Contributions](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/reflecting-year-plex-team-pride-and-community-contributions.html) : The year is quickly coming to a close, which means that it’s time to reflect back on what we’ve accomplished as a team here at Plex. As a culture that prides itself on fostering the professional development, well-being, and happiness of our people, here are a few things we’re particularly proud of, and what helps make Plex such a unique and innovative company. - [FABTECH 2018: Manufacturing Set to Grow--Finding Workers Still a Challenge](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/fabtech-2018-manufacturing-set-grow-finding-workers-still-challenge.html) : While at FABTECH 2018, North America's largest metal forming, fabricating, welding and finishing show in Chicago, we noticed that the industry is on the growth path. Production in the U.S. is estimated to grow 2.8 percent from 2018-2021.1 We’ve also seen that optimism within the manufacturing industry is at an all-time high. - [A Halloween Haunting: Scary Stories for Manufacturers](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/halloween-haunting-scary-stories-manufacturers.html) : We love the manufacturing industry. And some of us also love celebrating Halloween. What if we combined these two things by re-imagining some of today’s most popular thrillers set in a manufacturing environment? It’s not that farfetched. Let’s explore some ideas. - [GenZe Manufactures a Smart Product with a Big Mission](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/genze-manufactures-smart-product-big-mission.html) : The transportation industry is rapidly changing, and not just due to the explosive popularity of ridesharing solutions like Uber and Lyft. Just look at any major urban area, and you’ll see a fleet of bicycles joining rush hour traffic. Look a little deeper, and you’ll notice that the entire infrastructure is evolving, from upgraded parking spaces with chargers, to the proliferation of new lanes. - [Manufacturing Day Becomes Manufacturing Week for Plex Customer](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/manufacturing-day-becomes-manufacturing-week-plex-customer.html) : As part of our celebration of Manufacturing Day, we’re featuring Plex customers who participate in the event as an important part of their strategy to get young people excited about the career opportunities in the industry. - [Plex Customer Talks About the Importance of Manufacturing Day](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/plex-customer-talks-about-importance-manufacturing-day.html) : Manufacturing Day is an annual celebration of modern manufacturing and is meant to inspire the next generation of manufacturers, and occurs the first Friday of October. Created by the Founding Partner Fabricators and the Manufacturers Association in 2012, this event has steadily grown to showcase what manufacturers, like you, do every day to make the things that impact our world. - [Fastener Manufacturers Focus on On-Time Delivery to Stand Out](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/fastener-manufacturers-focus-time-delivery-stand-out.html) : Metal products like screws and bolts are often seen as a commodity but if you can become a preferred supplier to large OEMs, the opportunity is ripe to take advantage of higher margins. Finding reliable suppliers is a lengthy and tedious process for large OEMs. - [What Makes Plymouth Foam an Industry Leader? Innovation and Family](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/what-makes-plymouth-foam-industry-leader-innovation-and-family.html) : Back in 1978, foam products weren’t commonplace in Plymouth, Wisconsin. However, Tecwyn “Tec” Vance Roberts, a local engineer, realized that area industrial and commercial builders could benefit from a foam insulation product. Seeing this opportunity in the market, Tec set out to bring it to them. - [A Collaborative Approach Spells Success in the Plex Manufacturing Cloud](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/collaborative-approach-spells-success-plex-manufacturing-cloud.html) : Diversified metal component manufacturer JD Norman Industries has a goal to grow. With its main strategy being mergers and acquisitions, that means its manufacturing technology team must rely on an integrated ERP/MES solution that scales with the company, connecting each new operation to the enterprise. - [How a New Manufacturing System Improves Employees’ Lives](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/how-new-manufacturing-system-improves-employees-lives.html) : When A&K Finishing, a provider of plastic paint solutions for the automotive, office furniture, electronics, and commercial industries, selected the Plex Manufacturing Cloud as its system of record in 2016, the team expected to see improvements in their scrap rates, inventory management and quality control. - [Plastics and Rubber Manufacturers: 11 Tips to Help You Grow Your Business with Less](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/plastics-and-rubber-manufacturers-11-tips-help-you-grow-your-business-less.html) : It has almost become a cliché to say that manufacturers are under constant pressure to deliver higher quality products at a lower cost. But this cliché happens to be true—especially in the plastics and rubber sector. Given the sheer breadth of products you manufacture and the seemingly endless number of applications for these products, your target market is complex and constantly changing. - [How Wholesale Bakeries Can Manage a Complex Manufacturing Process](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/how-wholesale-bakeries-can-manage-complex-manufacturing-process.html) : When you think of manufacturing, your mind may not jump directly to a visual of rows of cupcakes and cookies or a seemingly endless batch of cake cruising down a conveyor belt, but wholesale bakeries have all the same challenges as other manufacturers—and then some! - [4 Manufacturing Efficiency Ideas to Consider This Summer](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/4-manufacturing-efficiency-ideas-consider-summer.html) : Summer is usually a slower time for manufacturers. In fact, you’ve probably already decided to take some time off and get out of town. Nobody will fault you for that. Everybody needs a break. But before you go, make plans to do something else with your summer: carve out time to gain a better understanding of your business. - [A Case for Digitizing Food Safety Management Systems](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/case-digitizing-food-safety-management-systems.html) : You don’t have to look any further than the recent E. coli outbreak caused by romaine lettuce – the worst E. coli outbreak since 2006 – to know that better food safety practices are essential to consumers’ health and wellness. Over the course of several weeks, nearly 200 individuals across 13 states became sick from the contaminated food. Five people have died to date, and nearly 100 were hospitalized. - [How A and K Finishing Delivers On-Time, Defect-Free Products Every Time with the Plex Manufacturing Cloud](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/how-and-k-finishing-delivers-time-defect-free-products-every-time-plex-manufacturing-cloud.html) : When A&K Finishing, a provider of plastic paint solutions for the automotive, office furniture, electronics, and commercial industries, opened its doors in 1990, they set out to be the “first to finish, with quality.” Nearly 30 years later, this philosophy remains true and they’re leveraging technology and lean manufacturing philosophies to deliver quality, just-in-time products to a list of high-profile global customers, including General Motors, Ford, BMW, and Toyota. - [Innovation – Plex Customers “Making Things”](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/innovation-plex-customers-making-things.html) : One of the lessons learned in Jerry Foster’s Innovation Keynote at PowerPlex 2018 is that innovation can take many forms. While we most often think of product innovation, there is also business process innovation, innovation in the way we communicate, and many other lenses through which we can view innovation. Here are several compelling examples of innovation highlighted at Plex 2018. - [PowerPlex 2018 – Innovation in Manufacturing Keynote](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/powerplex-2018-innovation-manufacturing-keynote.html) : As Jerry Foster, Plex CTO, sees it, “all in on innovation today will own the competition tomorrow.” However, innovation isn’t necessarily the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about manufacturing. We tend to think more about technology companies as being innovative – or companies that have introduced new business models such as Amazon, Uber or Airbnb. - [PowerPlex 2018 – Back to Detroit](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/powerplex-2018-back-detroit.html) : Introduction After hosting PowerPlex 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia, PowerPlex 2018 returns to its roots in Detroit, Michigan, one of the nation’s biggest manufacturing hubs. CEO Don Clarke welcomed the audience in his Opening Keynote, “Makers Making an Impact,” recognizing the Plex community of manufacturing professionals who are positioned at the intersection of manufacturing and technology. - [Does Your Manufacturing ERP Software Do These 4 Things?](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/does-your-manufacturing-erp-software-do-these-4-things.html) : Connected manufacturing is a business strategy that leverages cloud computing to harness operational and business data and promises greater visibility, efficiency, control, and customer satisfaction. Our customers have adopted this strategy —and they’ve been able to drive down costs while gaining greater visibility and control. - [7 Common Mistakes Manufacturers Make with ERP Implementations](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/7-common-mistakes-manufacturers-make-erp-implementations.html) : We’ve learned a lot about what success looks like from implementing the Plex Manufacturing Cloud at thousands of manufacturing plants across the globe. Many of these ERP implementation lessons have come from discovering what not to do. - [5 Things Manufacturers Will Take Away from a First-Time Experience at PowerPlex 2018](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/5-things-manufacturers-will-take-away-first-time-experience-powerplex-2018.html) : If you are a manufacturer and want to improve your operations with the help of technology, you may want to consider attending PowerPlex 2018. Why? This event is the world’s largest gathering of cloud manufacturing professionals who are driving the industry into the future. There are so many things you will take away from your experience attending for the first time, including: - [What Are the Benefits of Going Digital for Manufacturing Companies?](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/what-are-benefits-going-digital-manufacturing-companies.html) : Every business has its challenges. The challenges you, as a manufacturer, face today include fluctuating customer demand, supply chain planning, inventory cost control, compliance requirements—and a major technology evolution in the form of Industry 4.0. - [How to Determine ROI and Long-Term Value for a Manufacturing ERP System](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/how-determine-roi-and-long-term-value-manufacturing-erp-system.html) : Modernizing your ERP is a major investment in the long-term success of your manufacturing business. And like other manufacturers, you’re probably worried about the cost, the potential disruption to your business, and the kind of return you can expect from your investment. - [The Plex Manufacturing Cloud Helps Argent Empower Employees to Grow the Bottom Line](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/plex-manufacturing-cloud-helps-argent-empower-employees-grow-bottom-line.html) : When you think about traditional ERP configurations, access is usually limited to a select few. This is usually because the system requires coding expertise or the licensing is limited to a small number of users. - [Manufacturers: Is it Time to Break Up with Your Legacy ERP?](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/manufacturers-it-time-break-your-legacy-erp.html) : Break ups are never easy. As a manufacturer, ending your relationship with a legacy ERP system that no longer supports the agility and speed at which you do business can seem complicated. But there are many good reasons to move on. First and foremost, saying goodbye is necessary to the health of your manufacturing operations. - [How Kamco Takes On-Time Delivery to the Next Level](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/how-kamco-takes-time-delivery-next-level.html) : In the world of automotive suppliers, delivering what customers want, when they want it is key to survival. Delivering “how” they want it puts you in a class above all others. This strategy is what led Kamco Industries to win American Honda’s on-time delivery award—nine years in a row. Kamco, a subsidiary of Kumi Kasei, provides full-service product design and manufacturing of injection, sheet molded, and formed fiber felt products. - [Plex Customers Put Wearables and Augmented Reality to Work on the Shop Floor](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/plex-customers-put-wearables-and-augmented-reality-work-shop-floor.html) : I’m always amazed at what Plex customers are doing when it comes to advanced technology. Manufacturers, after all, have led us through major technology revolutions that have forever changed the world around us. And our customers continue to look forward as they actively explore how to use wearable and augmented reality/virtual reality (AR/VR) technology on the shop floor. - [Modernizing Your ERP: What Every Manufacturer Should Know](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/modernizing-your-erp-what-every-manufacturer-should-know.html) : If your company has an ERP and you’re struggling with lack of visibility into your manufacturing processes, lack of trust in the data, increased downtime, and rising costs—it may be time to modernize. Consumer demand is harder than ever to predict. - [Ready to Turn Your Biggest Manufacturing Challenges into Opportunities in 2018?](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/ready-turn-your-biggest-manufacturing-challenges-opportunities-2018.html) : Every business comes with its challenges. But, what if you could take your biggest manufacturing challenges—the ones you grapple with day-in and day-out—and turn them into competitive advantages? - [What is Connected Manufacturing and Why Should You Care About It?](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/what-connected-manufacturing-and-why-should-you-care-about-it.html) : Manufacturing is increasingly becoming part of the digital economy. Even if you are doing good as a business, you still need to respond to the changes taking place in your industry: shop floor (industrial) automation, additive manufacturing, lot sizes of one, cloud computing, analytics, mobility, and the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT). Because if you don’t, you risk losing your competitive edge. - [5 Steps to Gain Organizational Buy-In for Your ERP Project](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/5-steps-gain-organizational-buy-your-erp-project.html) : When your company has determined that it’s the right time to look at an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system, the first question that typically pops up goes like this: “Is our investment justified?” In other words, you’ll need to go about getting buy-in across your company because ERP touches every facet of your company. From our experience, this effort involves a few steps that are necessary to ensure that everyone is on board. - [5 Operational Challenges Manufacturers Can Address with Connected Manufacturing](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/5-operational-challenges-manufacturers-can-address-connected-manufacturing.html) : You grapple with operational challenges every day. It’s the nature of manufacturing with so many variables that go into making products. Getting a handle on these challenges is also do or die, because production must continue to meet customer demands. So, you do whatever is necessary to get inventory under control, respond to audits, reduce waste, and manage quality. - [Mobility in Manufacturing Offers New Opportunities on the Shop Floor](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/mobility-manufacturing-offers-new-opportunities-shop-floor.html) : The days of documenting inventory or production data on paper, collecting it, and manually collating it are over—at least they should be. Unfortunately, many manufacturers still rely on manual processes, when the combination of mobility and cloud provide a better alternative. - [Mobility Puts Power at Manufacturers’ Fingertips](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/mobility-puts-power-manufacturers-fingertips.html) : A recent industry study validated the importance of mobile devices in manufacturing, uncovering that 90% of manufacturers already use mobile phones, laptops and scanners, and an additional 30% plan to deploy consumer tablets. Mobility is simply part of the current and future connected manufacturing environment. But why? - [Manufacturers are Relying on Technology for More Responsive Supply Chains](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/manufacturers-are-relying-technology-more-responsive-supply-chains.html) : Agility and speed are the hallmarks of today’s supply chains due to increased global connectivity and competition. No longer is it enough to focus on quality, costs, or efficiency to remain competitive. Manufacturers today need to be responsive to shifts in customer demands, and they are realizing that the key to differentiation is in supply chain execution and flexibility. - [Connected Manufacturers are Driving the Fourth Industrial Revolution](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/connected-manufacturers-are-driving-fourth-industrial-revolution.html) : While some continue to herald the coming of the Fourth Industrial Revolution in manufacturing, many of today’s manufacturers are proving that it’s here already. Manufacturers are taking advantage of available technology to disrupt markets, accelerate innovation, and transform customer relationships. Yet, challenges still remain, like finding talent with the right skills and adjusting to fluctuating customer demand in the U.S. - [Mobility in Manufacturing: Connecting the Enterprise](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/mobility-manufacturing-connecting-enterprise.html) : Mobile ERP technology and modern manufacturing means you no longer have to be onsite to ensure that everything is running as planned. You have visibility and control from a smartphone, or any browser-enabled device anytime, anywhere. But mobility goes beyond the device. - [The Two Forces of Change Pressuring Manufacturing Businesses Right Now](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/two-forces-change-pressuring-manufacturing-businesses-right-now.html) : It’s no secret that manufacturing is currently undergoing a massive disruption. Products used to be more standardized, demand signals more consistent and predictable, and the underlying supply chains and systems were built accordingly. Efficiency and quality were enough to drive market leadership. But not anymore. - [Plex Powers Fast Food Industry Giant Hausbeck Pickles](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/plex-powers-fast-food-industry-giant-hausbeck-pickles.html) : If you enjoy pickles or peppers on your fast food meals or pizza, you’ve probably had a Hausbeck. Located in the heart of Michigan, pickle and pepper manufacturer Hausbeck Pickle Company has grown from providing pickles to local grocers to operating on an international scale. - [Plex Spoken Here: Are These Words in Your Plextionary?](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/plex-spoken-here-are-these-words-your-plextionary.html) : Plex Spoken Here: Are These Words in Your Plextionary? Have you ever had someone tell you that when you talk about your work, it’s like you’re speaking a different language? Here at Control+M Solutions, we get that all the time. And we have to admit it’s true: one doesn’t just use Plex or implement Plex—one speaks Plex. - [Digital Transformation in the Manufacturing Industry: Why Should You Care?](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/digital-transformation-manufacturing-industry-why-should-you-care.html) : The complexity and pace of customer demands have changed, which means you’ve likely had to evaluate if your manufacturing operations are keeping pace. Relying on manual processes and paper-based information is no longer sustainable if you want to compete. There are more and more companies willing to step in and take your market share. - [Manufacturers: What You Need to Know About Cloudwashing](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/manufacturers-what-you-need-know-about-cloudwashing.html) : If your company is looking for a new ERP system, you will likely discover the term “cloudwashing.” Our hope is that you discover it before you make a decision because you could be dealing with the limitations for a long time after. What is cloudwashing? - [Food and Beverage Manufacturers: Are Your Business Processes and Tools Eating Up Your Revenue?](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/food-and-beverage-manufacturers-are-your-business-processes-and-tools-eating-your-revenue.html) : Do you struggle to gather documentation when you need to show compliance to customer or industry reporting requirements? If so, you’re like many companies still using manual or paper-based quality processes during production. - [Wisco Employee Enjoys Fourth of July Thanks to Inventory Planning in the Cloud](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/wisco-employee-enjoys-fourth-july-thanks-inventory-planning-cloud.html) : Imagine one of the biggest U.S. holidays of the summer. Your family, friends, and coworkers have lots of activities planned including picnics, BBQs, games, swimming, and of course, fireworks. Everything is decked out in red, white, and blue ready to celebrate. Even the warm weather signals that the weekend will be something to remember. - [What’s It Like at an Award-Winning Manufacturing Plant?](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/whats-it-award-winning-manufacturing-plant.html) : We are proud of our customers. They are leading the manufacturing industry into the future and we’re not the only ones noticing how awesome they are. Many have won Excellence awards for doing what they do best: make amazing things. In 2016 alone, these customers were acknowledged for their manufacturing excellence: - [Polamer Precision Makes Innovation Its Mission](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/polamer-precision-makes-innovation-its-mission.html) : nnovation has always been at the heart of manufacturing, propelling the industry and the economy forward. Polamer Precision, an aerospace manufacturer, demonstrates this idea from its state-of-the-art, solar-powered facility in New Britain, CT, to the technology that runs the business. The organization is serious about data-driven innovation, and about changing the perception of manufacturing in the U.S. - [Digital Transformation: Manufacturers Need a Practical Approach—Not Hype](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/digital-transformation-manufacturers-need-practical-approach-not-hype.html) : Technologists love to learn, write, and prognosticate about new terminology, technology trends, and ideas that will impact the future. But as I once heard someone say, “innovation without practical impact is a science project,” and this holds true for digital transformation, a topic deservedly getting a lot of coverage these days. - [PowerPlex 2017 - Manufacturers Share Ideas, Discuss Skills Shortage and Give Back](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/powerplex-2017-manufacturers-share-ideas-discuss-skills-shortage-and-give-back.html) : Skills Shortage In conversations with attendees at this year’s Plex conference, the industry-wide skills shortage was a common frustration. Many businesses are using Plex to automate processes that were previously done manually, enabling some shop-floor activities to be done with fewer people, allowing reallocation of resources throughout the company. - [PowerPlex 2017 - Innovation in Action](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/powerplex-2017-innovation-action.html) : As PowerPlex 2017 wraps up this week, I find myself reflecting on the many great conversations I had with smart, interesting people who are working on making things. I was surrounded by innovation — businesses making innovative products, organizations with a rich history that have continuously evolved by innovating over time, and people who are doing new and unique things with Plex to differentiate their business. Here are a few highlights. - [For Plex Customers, the Future of Manufacturing is Now](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/plex-customers-future-manufacturing-now.html) : At this year’s PowerPlex 2017, participants were abuzz with ideas about where new technologies and emerging market trends will take them. I attended keynotes and break-out sessions and had the opportunity to talk one-on-one with individuals who “make things.” In doing so, I identified several common themes that provide insight into where manufacturing is headed and how customers will get there. - [2017 Plex Impact Award Winners: Manufacturing Pioneers](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/2017-plex-impact-award-winners-manufacturing-pioneers.html) : Plex loves its customers. All of us at Plex are passionate about their work, and we’re eager to see how each of them are shaping the future of manufacturing in their own innovative way. That’s why choosing the Plex Impact Award winners, which annually recognizes industry leaders, innovators, and transformers, is an exciting process for the Plex team. - [Here’s How to Build Your Team of Plex Champions](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/heres-how-build-your-team-plex-champions.html) : The Plex Manufacturing Cloud enables you to dramatically reduce the burden on your IT staff, infuse quality throughout production, and gain an incredible amount of visibility and control. It essentially becomes the technology foundation for transforming your business. - [Maximize Your Investment in the Plex Manufacturing Cloud with Continuous Improvement](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/maximize-your-investment-plex-manufacturing-cloud-continuous-improvement.html) : Once you’ve chosen, implemented, and worked with the Plex Manufacturing Cloud, you still aren’t “done” with it. Now it’s time to dig in and discover how to really maximize your investment. Just as your business continues to innovate and move forward, your Plex system will deliver updates that you can use to drive even more efficiency and results. - [5 Warning Signs That It’s Time to Consider Cloud ERP for Your Manufacturing Business](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/5-warning-signs-its-time-consider-cloud-erp-your-manufacturing-business.html) : We’ve compiled this list of warning signs many of our customers identified before moving to manufacturing ERP in the cloud. You know your systems are floundering when: - [Why the Cloud Is Key to Smart Manufacturing](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/why-cloud-key-smart-manufacturing.html) : If you’re still relying on manual processes or disconnected legacy systems to run your business, you’ll be spending too much time and effort to gain the visibility you need to remain competitive. SaaS-based cloud ERP is now a strategic choice for manufacturers who want to take advantage of the connectivity and scalability to improve their business. - [Wonton Food Predicts a Bright Future with Cloud ERP](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/wonton-food-predicts-bright-future-cloud-erp.html) : Wonton Food started from humble beginnings—producing high quality Asian food in Brooklyn, New York—to eventually become the largest manufacturer of noodles, wrappers and fortune cookies in the U.S. - [Cut Your Manufacturing Costs with Cloud ERP](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/cut-your-manufacturing-costs-cloud-erp.html) : Manufacturers who have embraced SaaS cloud ERP view this model as central to their ability to compete.1 And for good reason. The cost benefits make cloud ERP a compelling strategy—even to those who still believe they are better off “owning” the software. Below are examples of manufacturers who have lowered costs with cloud ERP: - [3 Important Ways Cloud ERP Helps You Improve Supply Chain Performance](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/3-important-ways-cloud-erp-helps-you-improve-supply-chain-performance.html) : Market dynamics force you to meet delivery and cost targets while collaborating more closely than ever before. Without visibility of your supply chain, it’s difficult to drive down the cost of operations and reduce your time-to-market. Manufacturing cloud ERP with supply chain planning (SCP) and management gives you greater visibility, agility, and collaboration since your supply chain operations are accurate and responsive. - [SaaS-Based Cloud ERP Drives Manufacturing Speed, Agility, and Digital Transformation](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/saas-based-cloud-erp-drives-manufacturing-speed-agility-and-digital-transformation.html) : Cloud ERP isn’t just for the early adopters anymore. It’s now gone mainstream and enables companies to increase flexibility using the latest technology. In a January 2017 report, Vendor Landscape: SaaS ERP Applications, 2017, Forrester states that “SaaS ERP increases speed and agility for digital transformation.” - [Gain a Competitive Advantage by Connecting Your Manufacturing Business](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/gain-competitive-advantage-connecting-your-manufacturing-business.html) : One of the reasons more manufacturing companies are moving their ERP and manufacturing execution system (MES) to the cloud is the ability to connect people, processes, machines, systems, and applications easily. What once was primarily an IT discussion has now become a business expectation—connect everything for a holistic, single version of truth for the enterprise. - [Firstronic Named an IndustryWeek Best Plant Award Winner](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/firstronic-named-industryweek-best-plant-award-winner.html) : A holistic approach to Lean Manufacturing led to big results for Plex customer, Firstronic. Firstronic, a premier electronics manufacturing services (EMS) provider serving the automotive, aerospace, commercial industries, has been named a Best Plant Award winner by manufacturing publication IndustryWeek. - [3 Manufacturers Who Fell in Love with Plex—and Why You May Be Next](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/3-manufacturers-who-fell-love-plex-and-why-you-may-be-next.html) : When manufacturers begin their search for the perfect match, what do they really look for in a cloud ERP system? If you’re like most of your peers, you want an ERP system that’s: - [How to Integrate Cloud ERP into Your Manufacturing Business](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/how-integrate-cloud-erp-your-manufacturing-business.html) : The word “integrate” has one connotation to technical people, and it usually involves making systems work together. I would like to use the word in another way: combining the best of two things so that they become a whole. In this case the two things I am talking about are: - [How Manufacturers Adapt to Changing Times](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/how-manufacturers-adapt-changing-times.html) : As a self-funded, starving college student, I spent the summer of my sophomore year working on the assembly line of an injection molding factory making Nerf footballs. Sounds like it should have been a fun job. It wasn’t. - [Data Silos: Why They’re Bad for Your Manufacturing Business](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/data-silos-why-theyre-bad-your-manufacturing-business.html) : If you have a hard time getting accurate information about how your business is operating and performing, you’re not alone. Most manufacturers we talk to who are running legacy ERP systems say that the inability to share or access data prevents them from gaining the visibility and control they need. - [Top New Year’s Resolution for Manufacturers in 2017](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/top-new-years-resolution-manufacturers-2017.html) : No doubt you’ve got a list of goals and objectives for your manufacturing business this year. What’s on your list? Delivering on time every time, moving the needle on lean initiatives, or maybe improving data accuracy? One thing is for sure: 2017 is the year to swap your legacy ERP system for native cloud ERP. - [How to Solve the Manufacturing Talent Gap: Unlock People Potential with Cloud ERP](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/how-solve-manufacturing-talent-gap-unlock-people-potential-cloud-erp.html) : As a manufacturer, you face some tough hiring challenges. A 2016 report from IDG states that nearly one-third of those surveyed list the lack of skilled workers as a major obstacle to growth, one which must be addressed to grow effectively. - [Automotive Industry Embraces the Industrial Internet of Things](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/automotive-industry-embraces-industrial-internet-things.html) : Recently, Plex Systems was invited to introduce a panel on the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) for the World Class Manufacturing track at the Center for Automotive Research (CAR), Management Briefing Seminar (MBS). - [Two Reasons Manufacturers Should Consider SaaS and Cloud ERP](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/two-reasons-manufacturers-should-consider-saas-and-cloud-erp.html) : Two Key Takeaways from the Forrester SaaS Report Forrester recently published a report highlighting six breakout SaaS vendors and the unique benefits delivered by SaaS solutions. The vendors that Forrester included in its May 2016 report, entitled Breakout Vendors: SaaS Business Applications, all had a track record of customer wins and fast growth, a strong ecosystem of partners and investors — with momentum, and proven customer success in large, complex organizations. - [The Power of Mobile ERP: 3 Benefits for Manufacturers](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/power-mobile-erp-3-benefits-manufacturers.html) : Mobile ERP is about more than just using phones and tablets to access data. It’s a two-way experience in which machine-to-machine communication is as relevant as human communication. Mobile ERP enabled by the cloud provides these three benefits: - [Oracle Hoping NetSuite Purchase Will Provide Entry to Cloud ERP Market](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/oracle-hoping-netsuite-purchase-will-provide-entry-cloud-erp-market.html) : If there was any remaining doubt that the ERP market has shifted to the cloud it was dispelled last week when Oracle announced its intent to buy NetSuite for $9.3B. Despite already owning four different ERP products the company has clearly recognized that native, multi-tenant SaaS products like NetSuite, Plex, Workday, and Salesforce.com are the future of enterprise software. - [Proud to Be One of Detroit’s Best and Brightest Companies](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/proud-be-one-detroits-best-and-brightest-companies.html) : For the eighth consecutive year, Plex Systems, a leader in cloud ERP for manufacturing, has been named one of Detroit’s Best & Brightest Companies to Work For®. This honor is particularly meaningful to us because it is based on input from the Plex team, who shared their opinions through an anonymous survey on Plex’s communications, work-life balance, education offerings, diversity, recognition, retention and more. - [Debunking Cloud Myths: All Cloud ERP Is Not the Same](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/debunking-cloud-myths-all-cloud-erp-not-same.html) : Mint Jutras, an ERP industry analyst firm, may have said it best: “All SaaS is cloud computing, but not all cloud computing is SaaS.“ There are huge benefits with systems made for the cloud versus those that are simply hosted in or converted to the cloud, and understanding those differences is important in an environment where software vendors do everything they can to confuse buyers. - [How Cloud ERP Drives Manufacturing Innovation](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/how-cloud-erp-drives-manufacturing-innovation.html) : Manufacturing has always been driven by innovation, from the first production line to modern sensors and robotics. Today, wearables and other connected tools are poised to transform how things are made. A central force in this transformation is cloud ERP—which now reaches all the way from materials in the supply chain to the employees and equipment on the plant floor to the hands of the customer. - [MFC Netform Capitalizes on Demand with Impressive Automated Operations](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/mfc-netform-capitalizes-demand-impressive-automated-operations.html) : Dennis Howlette, Co-Founder of Diginomica, shares highlights of his tour of the MFC Netform factory. MFC Netform is primarily a maker of powertrain parts for the automotive industry using flow forming processes. - [Debunking Cloud Myths: Total Cost of Ownership](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/debunking-cloud-myths-total-cost-ownership.html) : I always welcome conversation about this statement – “ERP is much cheaper to run if I just own the software instead of renting it in the cloud.” It’s an opportunity to expose the true cost of legacy software ownership. TCO analysis is too often limited to comparing one-time license costs to ongoing subscription costs, ignoring more significant ‘ownership’ costs that add up. - [How Manufacturers Survive and Thrive in Turbulent Times](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/how-manufacturers-survive-and-thrive-turbulent-times-0.html) : Uncertain economic times have one of two effects on the manufacturing psyche. Many companies hunker down and ‘weather the storm’ by limiting technology investment until the chaos subsides, trying to time their investment to high-growth periods. Very difficult to do. - [The Connected Plant Floor – Automated and Efficient](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/connected-plant-floor-automated-and-efficient.html) : One of the things I liked best about the recent PowerPlex 2016 conference was hearing first-hand feedback from customers. Many stories centered on the increased productivity and efficiency that a connected plant floor offers and how the Plex Manufacturing Cloud enables that connectivity. - [Debunking Cloud Myths: Security and Reliability](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/debunking-cloud-myths-security-and-reliability.html) : At every trade show we attend, someone comes up and says, “I just don’t trust that the cloud is secure or reliable.” This myth comes from years of misinformation and, frankly, perceptions created by software vendors that have poor cloud solutions and are desperately playing catch-up. - [IIoT and Smart Connected Manufacturing - Only in the Cloud](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/iiot-and-smart-connected-manufacturing-only-cloud.html) : Manufacturing is evolving right before our eyes with companies looking for ways to make faster, more accurate decisions. The need for better automation and data communication, combined with the availability of smart technology to support it, has piqued the interest of companies looking to take that next step in modernizing production capabilities. - [Manufacturing in Uncertain Times: Flexibility is King](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/manufacturing-uncertain-times-flexibility-king.html) : Over the last few years, there’s been an exciting upturn in the interest that large US and European corporations have had in the manufacturing industry. There have even been signs of “on shoring” manufacturing capabilities. There are lots of economic reasons why a change in heart has happened, not least the desire to better serve customers through faster deliveries, more customization and better quality. - [Legacy ERP Leaves User Communities Alone in the Wilderness](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/legacy-erp-leaves-user-communities-alone-wilderness.html) : Customer communities can provide a great way to extend ERP value. Vibrant communities provide a venue where users collaborate on everything from desired roadmap functions to best practices, processes, templates and tricks of the trade. - [Legacy ERP Vendors Make You an Offer You Can Refuse](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/legacy-erp-vendors-make-you-offer-you-can-refuse.html) : One of the worst situations manufacturing IT groups routinely deal with is having to upgrade ERP software. This may not seem like a big deal, but consider how intertwined ERP is in a manufacturing company, from finance to production to logistics. - [The Legacy ERP Money Pit](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/legacy-erp-money-pit.html) : Manufacturers face churning market conditions – changing commodity prices, fluctuating energy and transportation rates, and labor challenges. Avoiding unanticipated expenditures, focusing on driving down costs, and improving agility are imperative. - [A Year of Innovation and Changes on the Manufacturing Plant Floor](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/year-innovation-and-changes-manufacturing-plant-floor.html) : We’re excited about 2016 and all the innovations we’ll see implemented on the manufacturing plant floor. But before we get too far into the new year, here are the five most popular Plex Manufacturing blogs from 2015, which feature our customers, the Plex Manufacturing Cloud and innovative technology. - [Five Business Benefits Driving Manufacturing Cloud ERP Solutions](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/five-business-benefits-driving-manufacturing-cloud-erp-solutions.html) : Business needs drive technology adoption, not the other way around, and more and more manufacturers are turning to a modern cloud ERP solution to address those needs. Cloud ERP software solutions, particularly SaaS, have passed into mainstream adoption. It is not a matter of if your company adopts it, but when and to what degree (at the plant level or across the entire enterprise). - [Handcrafted Candies in the Cloud: How Sanders Found Success](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/handcrafted-candies-cloud-how-sanders-found-success.html) : As dozens of Sanders cherry cordials pass under the enrober, a molten waterfall coats them in pure, dark chocolate. Two candymakers use gloved fingers to create the classic “Sanders Twirl” atop the candy before it enters the cooling tunnel. - [Why Cloud? SaaS Matters.](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/why-cloud-saas-matters.html) : When you consider cloud-based services, it’s important to understand not just the features and functionality of the solution, but also the differences in the underlying delivery model. Consider a cell phone as compared to a land-line: they both perform the same function, but one allows you to roam untethered. - [Know Thy Cloud: 3 Pillars That Define Cloud](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/know-thy-cloud-3-pillars-define-cloud.html) : Prospects and customers constantly ask us to help them cut through the noise and understand why SaaS-based ERP delivered via native cloud is different, and how it can benefit their business. Many flavors of cloud exist even within the specific realm of cloud ERP solutions, but native cloud, or cloud applications specifically and exclusively delivered as a service have unique and impactful benefits. - [The Cloud: Transforming Global Manufacturing](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/cloud-transforming-global-manufacturing.html) : “It used to be that you had to be a pretty big company before you had multiple plants and before you were serving Asian markets and European markets. That's not the case today,” says Jim Shepherd, vice president of Strategy at Plex. “Even our smallest customers often have multiple sites in multiple countries. - [The Appeal of Saas ERP](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/appeal-saas-erp.html) : Attitudes towards cloud and software as a service (SaaS) have changed dramatically in recent times, particularly with respect to software that runs your business. While just a few short years ago Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) might have been considered the last bastion of resistance to SaaS, today the majority of businesses have some sort of cloud strategy that involves ERP and the shift to the cloud has definitely begun. - [Plex Benchmarks: Driving Insights through Community and Cloud](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/plex-benchmarks-driving-insights-through-community-and-cloud.html) : The cloud is moving the manufacturing industry forward, improving the performance of manufacturing operations management in the process. Manufacturers heavily rely on industry benchmarks such as surveys and other publicly reported data to measure the success of their organization. - [From Webcams to Wearables, Manufacturers Find Novel Uses for Technology on the Shop Floor](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/webcams-wearables-manufacturers-find-novel-uses-technology-shop-floor.html) : Who would have anticipated that the webcam – an inexpensive device designed for video chats – would play a vital role in keeping manufacturing operations running? For maintenance technicians who venture to different machines and locations in the plant every day, mobile access to information is vital. - [Could Detroit be the Next Technology Hub?](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/could-detroit-be-next-technology-hub.html) : Last week’s Fortune article asks the question: Is Detroit the next Silicon Valley? While on the surface these two areas seem quite different – one known for auto manufacturing and the other a hub for technology – the two areas are more similar than you might think. Today, the industries are colliding and shop floors are going hi-tech. - [Manufacturing's Resurgence](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/manufacturings-resurgence.html) : Last week I had the opportunity to attend Forbes’ second annual Reinventing America Summit, a gathering of key players in the advanced manufacturing ecosystem. The innovation, ingenuity and enthusiasm on display reinforced my conviction in the resurgence of American manufacturing and our ability to compete globally. - [Electronics Manufacturing Moves to the Cloud](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/electronics-manufacturing-moves-cloud.html) : “We focus on what we can offer that nobody else can,” explains Firstronic CEO John Sammut. “Our differentiators have become better shop floor controls, advanced technology, speed-to-market and flexibility.” Based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Firstronic makes electronic components for automotive, industrial and medical industry customers. - [Valentine’s Day Floats on a Cloud](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/valentines-day-floats-cloud.html) : While Valentine’s Day has been celebrated since the 18th Century, it wasn’t until 1861 that candy makers placed their chocolates into heart-shaped boxes. The rest, as they say, is history. But what goes into making all the chocolates and truffles, and managing the increased demand for holidays like Valentine’s Day? - [2015 Detroit Auto Show](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/2015-detroit-auto-show.html) : Nowhere is the spirit of making things more alive than on the floor of the Detroit Auto Show. This year there’s a ton of buzz about new exotics from Ford and Acura, because who doesn’t secretly want a new GT as their grocery-getter! - [The Internet of Making Things: The Connected Torque Wrench](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/internet-making-things-connected-torque-wrench.html) : For more than 100 years the torque wrench has been an essential and valuable tool for manufacturers because it applies specific torque to a fastener, such as a nut or bolt. Torque can be the difference in the performance of the end product, whether that’s the power output of a diesel engine or the fit-and-finish of the latest iPhone. - [Why More Manufacturers Are Finding Quality Maturity in the Cloud](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/why-more-manufacturers-are-finding-quality-maturity-cloud.html) : All manufacturers—from startups to those in the Fortune 100—are concerned with quality. However, where each is along the path to quality maturity varies. At LNS Research, we like to refer to the process of progressing forward on this path as an “endless journey,” because with an ever-evolving set of quality obstacles as well as continual innovation in strategies and technologies, there’s room for even leading companies to improve year over year. - [Success Is ... Shape Corp.](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/success-shape-corp.html) : Manufacturing quality takes many forms, from the consistency and flavor of ice cream to the perfectly aligned stitches that glide across the dashboard of a luxury automobile. Quality can be about precision, fit and even about experience. For Shape, quality is about safety. - [The Lego Hand](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/lego-hand.html) : Topics like quality, efficiency, process and cost can dominate almost any manufacturing conversation. End-customer satisfaction depends on consistent quality and high value; as an industry, we spend billions of dollars annually to implement practices and technologies to make things better. - [Repairing the Clumsy Relationship between People and Technology: Wearables on the Shop Floor at TEDxDetroit](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/repairing-clumsy-relationship-between-people-and-technology-wearables-shop-floor-tedxdetroit.html) : Google Glass, Bluetooth and other emerging mobile and wearable technologies are poised to transform manufacturing practices and how people interact with materials on the plant floor. Imagine pairing Google Glass with RFID tags to create a way for people to see inside boxes and around corners without using their hands. - [What A and D Suppliers Need to Know About Quality and Compliance in 2014](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/what-and-d-suppliers-need-know-about-quality-and-compliance-2014.html) : There’s a lot happening in A&D right now. While public focus will likely always remain on large organizations—Boeing, Airbus, Raytheon, and more—the ears of executives leading tier 3, 2, and 1 suppliers must be burning. Nearly all of today’s large A&D OEMs are looking to the supplier network to identify areas for improvement, and it’s putting pressure on those organizations to make serious improvements in quality management and compliance capabilities. - [Has Manufacturing Forgotten that "Quality Is Free"?](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/has-manufacturing-forgotten-quality-free.html) : All the recent news about recalls in the motor vehicle industry got me thinking about quality management. In 1979 I was the VP of Manufacturing in a company producing switches and motors for the appliance industry. - [Plex CMO Heidi Melin Talks Marketing Technology](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/plex-cmo-heidi-melin-talks-marketing-technology.html) : Today’s highly connected digital world has evoked a shift in everything from the way people communicate with each other to how companies conduct business. We see it all the time in manufacturing – companies selecting Cloud ERP technology after putting careful thought into their business processes and the infrastructure to keep operations running. - [The Difference Between Active and Passive Compliance](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/difference-between-active-and-passive-compliance.html) : I had an interesting conversation last week with a company that was evaluating new ERP systems. One of the principal drivers for replacing their old business system is compliance and traceability. Today they use a combination of manual processes and disconnected systems to track material usage, quality, and production activities. - [Cloudwashing](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/cloudwashing.html) : Wow have we made progress! It used to be that architectural changes in ERP systems required rewriting the code, but now you can do it by simply editing the web page and issuing a press release. ERP “paradigm shifts,” like the ones from mainframes to minicomputers or host-based to SOA, consumed thousands of software engineers’ efforts and sent the majority of vendors to the ERP graveyard. - [Guest Post: Cloud: the Key to Global Sourcing Strategy](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/guest-post-cloud-key-global-sourcing-strategy.html) : Developing a global sourcing model to serve a world-wide customer base as well as to manage global operations in a seamless way, manufacturers have adopted a ‘build anywhere-ship anywhere strategy.’ Adopting a cloud manufacturing system is emerging as the best strategy to quickly enable these capabilities. - [How Plex Is Revolutionizing Manufacturing with Two-Tier ERP](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/how-plex-revolutionizing-manufacturing-two-tier-erp.html) : Bottom line: Two-tier ERP strategies provide companies with a convenient approach to isolate and contain legacy ERP systems – which like asbestos - can do much damage in any company if left uncontained. - [How Cloud Computing Is Enabling An Artisanal Manufacturing Renaissance](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/how-cloud-computing-enabling-artisanal-manufacturing-renaissance-0.html) : A manufacturing revolution is flourishing. Driven by passionate entrepreneurs, this revolution is translating their creativity, craftsmanship and commitment to exceptional quality into products that are changing entire industries. These revolutionaries bring a passion and intensity to every aspect of their businesses. - [Why Put a Software Company in Detroit?](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/why-put-software-company-detroit.html) : One of the fun things about my job as VP of Strategy is that I get to brag about what we are doing at Plex to friends and acquaintances and occasionally total strangers. But inevitably they will always get around to asking the question – “Why would you put a software company in Detroit?” - [R.I.P. Business ByDesign](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/rip-business-bydesign.html) : There was a major brouhaha when word leaked out that SAP was finally burying its ill-fated cloud-based ERP system, Business ByDesign. I assume it must have been a slow news week because no one could really have been surprised. - [Rethinking Business Innovation at the Cloud Business Summit](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/rethinking-business-innovation-cloud-business-summit.html) : I recently had the pleasure of traveling to Times Square in New York City to attend Saugatuck Technology’s one-day executive event, the Cloud Business Summit. The event brought together more than 100 CIOs, CFOs and CMOs from large national enterprises to hear how the convergence of cloud, big data, mobile and social media is “Rethinking Business Innovation.” - [Five Strategies for Streamlining Bidding and Estimating in Aerospace and Defense](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/five-strategies-streamlining-bidding-and-estimating-aerospace-and-defense.html) : In many aerospace and defense companies, bidding and estimating is part art and part science – and one of the powerful series of strategies for driving profitable revenue growth. Add in how complex and different these workflows are across companies and the challenge of attaining greater accuracy and efficiency becomes clear. - [10 Strategies for Making Compliance a Competitive Advantage in Aerospace and Defense](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/10-strategies-making-compliance-competitive-advantage-aerospace-and-defense.html) : We define quality as a product or service that meets and exceeds customers’ expectations on a consistent basis. Accomplishing this in aerospace and defense — an industry known for its complexity and depth of compliance and quality management requirements — is an ongoing challenge. - [Meeting the Challenge of Future Growth Using Two-Tier ERP Strategies](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/meeting-challenge-future-growth-using-two-tier-erp-strategies.html) : In speaking with industrial, high tech and commercial aerospace manufacturers, a common theme emerges: None of them have the luxury of waiting on reports created over days or weeks because ERP systems are out of step with strategic priorities. Their customers are demanding more responsiveness, more accuracy, and greater speed of quoting and order completion than ever before. - [Guest Post: The Turning Tide of Acceptance for Cloud ERP in Manufacturing](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/guest-post-turning-tide-acceptance-cloud-erp-manufacturing.html) : Even though cloud ERP has been able to gain traction across most industries and company sizes, manufacturers have been notoriously slow to come on board. Manufacturers were first to utilize ERP itself, but have been somewhat reluctant to move away from what has worked for them in the past. I experienced this firsthand last year when I presented some of my research on cloud ERP to a group of manufacturing-based IT executives. - [Record-Breaking Implementation, Made Possible by the Plex Manufacturing Cloud](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/record-breaking-implementation-made-possible-plex-manufacturing-cloud.html) : What do you say when an ERP solution is implemented in just a third of the time expected to go live? “Awesome!” “Unbelievable!” “Wow!” Or like the CFO, you might say it “exceeded my expectations” and that you’re “extremely satisfied.” - [Five Strategies for Becoming a Demand-Driven Manufacturer Using Cloud Computing](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/five-strategies-becoming-demand-driven-manufacturer-using-cloud-computing.html) : It’s time for more manufacturers to question what being demand-driven really means by looking at their businesses the way their customers do. Having accurate forecasting processes, a finely-tuned sales and operations process (S&OP) or being great at new product development and introductions isn’t enough. These are all great attributes, but they must be synchronized into a cohesive strategy if a manufacturer is going to become demand-driven. - [Evolution of the IT Department in the Age of the Cloud](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/evolution-it-department-age-cloud.html) : There’s no question that the cloud presents a disruptive technology that inevitably leads to rethinking – and often restructuring – the objectives of internal IT departments. An internal IT department – once considered critical to the success of the business enterprise – has, in many cases, become obsolete. - [Making Cloud Security a Competitive Advantage in Aerospace and Defense](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/making-cloud-security-competitive-advantage-aerospace-and-defense.html) : As aerospace and defense (A&D) manufacturers balance agility and speed with the need for ever-increasing vigilance and security, they are also facing the daunting task of keeping IT systems aligned with their changing business strategies. This conflict of speed versus security is especially challenging in the area of cloud computing. - [Roundup of Aerospace and Defense Forecasts and Market Estimates for 2013](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/roundup-aerospace-and-defense-forecasts-and-market-estimates-2013.html) : The paradox of how much to spend on national defense and security versus social programs is a challenge all nations are facing today. Emerging economies are projected to be the most adept at managing this paradox. However, given their relatively higher levels of gross domestic product (GDP) growth versus their slower-growth (and often larger) counterparts — and once you consider that many of these countries have aerospace programs and initiatives planned or already in place — the paradox becomes even more challenging. - [How Cloud-Based Business Intelligence Is Redefining Industrial Manufacturing](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/how-cloud-based-business-intelligence-redefining-industrial-manufacturing.html) : It’s time for manufacturers to quit using analytics like a rearview mirror and more like a compass that points them in a more profitable direction. Analytics and business intelligence (BI) are the catalysts that give manufacturers the ability to break down the silos that separate departments, divisions and processes, and galvanize their business around customers. - [Ten Predictions of How Cloud Computing Will Revolutionalize Aerospace and Defense in 2014](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/ten-predictions-how-cloud-computing-will-revolutionalize-aerospace-and-defense-2014.html) : Bottom line: Security, suppliers’ ability to scale production quickly, and an intense focus on the cost of quality will dominate aerospace and defense in 2014. Deloitte is forecasting the global aerospace and defense industry will experience 5% growth in 2014, with the majority of growth being driven by projected record-setting replacement cycles of obsolescent commercial aircraft. - [Ten Ways Cloud Computing is Revolutionizing Aerospace and Defense](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/ten-ways-cloud-computing-revolutionizing-aerospace-and-defense.html) : Synchronizing new product development, supply chain, production and Maintenance, Repair & Overhaul (MRO) strategies across Aerospace and Defense (A&D) manufacturers while reducing costs continues to make cloud platforms a viable option in A&D. - [Guest Post: Analytics vs. Intelligence – Do You Know the Difference?](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/guest-post-analytics-vs-intelligence-do-you-know-difference.html) : Business analytics is often the next evolutionary step after business intelligence (BI), which is all about convenient access to enterprise information in a form that is useful to executives and managers. As I had discussed in a previous blog post, the goal of a useful BI system is to help an organization collect, maintain, and organize business data to develop strategy and build a competitive advantage. - [Mobility Boosts the Data Accessibility Benefits of the Cloud](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/mobility-boosts-data-accessibility-benefits-cloud.html) : Automotive manufacturers don’t succeed by standing in place. In an industry focused on motion, today’s suppliers need to apply the same speed and agility to their manufacturing operations that they expect from the products they build. - [Common Concerns About Running a Manufacturing Business in the Cloud: What is the Reality?](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/common-concerns-about-running-manufacturing-business-cloud-what-reality.html) : Many people assume that high performance real-time manufacturing processes require an on-premise solution and are not a natural fit for the cloud. In a manufacturing firm, everything starts from the plant floor – so the core Manufacturing Execution System, well integrated into the rest of the enterprise solution(s), is critical. - [Why Now is the Time to Move to Cloud ERP](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/why-now-time-move-cloud-erp.html) : Manufacturing has changed forever. Manufacturing businesses face intense competitive pressures. Dynamic supply chains and hyper-accelerated production cycles are just a few of the factors that require them to minimize costs, improve productivity and speed time-to-market. - [Why Customer Commitment Gets Far More Than Lip Service in the Cloud](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/why-customer-commitment-gets-far-more-lip-service-cloud.html) : “The customer is king.” “The customer is No. 1.” Most organizations brag about their commitment to the customer — to the point where I suspect many people have become skeptical of these kinds of statements. This is especially true in business technology, where customers historically have found it hard to get the great service they were initially promised. - [Guest Post: 350 Million Transactions - What Does It Mean in Manufacturing?](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/guest-post-350-million-transactions-what-does-it-mean-manufacturing.html) : Critics who question the growth of the cloud delivery model will likely be stopped in their tracks when they hear about one of our recent manufacturing milestones. Manufacturers who use Kors Engineering’s MACH2 product to automate cloud transactions with plant floor machines through programmable logic controllers (PLCs) have now cumulatively managed more than 350 million plant floor transactions with this tool. - [Manufacturing Enterprise Technology: The Best Is Yet to Come](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/manufacturing-enterprise-technology-best-yet-come.html) : This week, I have the privilege of welcoming several hundred Plex customers to PowerPlex, our company’s 12th annual user conference in Columbus, Ohio. We’re engaging in many of the typical user conference activities – introducing new features, training on existing product functions and networking. But the spirit in the air is far from typical for a user conference. - [Guest Post: Increasing Employee Engagement Through Increased Operations Visibility](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/guest-post-increasing-employee-engagement-through-increased-operations-visibility.html) : There is a lot of interest in visibility these days, and rightly so. Visibility throughout the enterprise and to the far reaches of the supply chain is becoming more and more pervasive through the evolution of sensors, RFID, Internet connectivity, cellular technology, location services (GPS) and even the Internet of Things — which recognizes that nearly everything can and will be visible and connected in the foreseeable future. - [Read Between the Lines: The Importance of Barcoding in Manufacturing Processes](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/read-between-lines-importance-barcoding-manufacturing-processes.html) : When is the last time you saw a barcode label on a product? Last night at the grocery store? On a magazine you read the other day? Do you even notice them anymore? If you’re in manufacturing, you most definitely notice them. The codes on the thousands of labels you see each day tell you everything you need to know about the parts your organization receives, produces and ships. - [The Cloud in the Room: Considering Cloud ERP for Your Business](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/cloud-room-considering-cloud-erp-your-business.html) : It’s there, swirling around, and it’s getting harder to ignore. It’s been the center of manufacturing conversations for quite some time, but perhaps you’re not sure what to make of it, or how you can apply it to your business. What is it? - [A Chance to Transform: 5 Key Questions to Ask ERP Vendors](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/chance-transform-5-key-questions-ask-erp-vendors.html) : Are you heading into an ERP selection project? Or are you heading into a manufacturing transformation project? We’ve found that top-performing manufacturers use their active ERP project for something greater. - [Guest Post: Measuring the Cost of Quality in Electronics Manufacturing](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/guest-post-measuring-cost-quality-electronics-manufacturing.html) : The complex global supplier network, dynamic customer demands, and the need for short and effective NPI cycles provide little room for error in the electronics industry, especially when it comes to managing the quality of processes and products. A slight hiccup somewhere along the value chain could have significant effects on the bottom line down the road. - [Guest Post: Electronic Documentation Eases FSMA Compliance](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/guest-post-electronic-documentation-eases-fsma-compliance.html) : On the two-year anniversary of the passage of the Food Safety Modernization Act, or FSMA, the agency proposed its first two major FSMA rules – and the food industry finally got a glimpse into the FDA’s expectation of preventive controls. A major part of compliance is documentation. According to the FSMA, if it isn’t recorded, it didn’t happen. - [Guest Post: Improving the Inventory Process](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/guest-post-improving-inventory-process.html) : It’s January – and for many companies, that means going through the rigors of the annual physical inventory. Is your company about to count everything in the warehouse, or just finishing up the process? Are you happy about it? - [Cloud ERP Implementations: One Year Later](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/cloud-erp-implementations-one-year-later.html) : As you plan ahead for your manufacturing company in 2013, take a long, hard look at your systems. Traditional enterprise systems often take many months, or years, before they’re fully implemented – then more months and years before they make any real impact on overall business performance. - [Barcoding Grandfather Dies, But His Legacy Lives](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/barcoding-grandfather-dies-his-legacy-lives.html) : Last month, the technology world lost a true pioneer. N. Joseph Woodland, known as the “grandfather of barcoding,” died at age 91. This sad news gives us pause to reflect on what Woodland’s innovation has meant for the business world. - [The Case for a Smarter Approach to ERP Integration](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/case-smarter-approach-erp-integration.html) : We work with manufacturers in a range of industries and find evidence of a common scenario, no matter the size company: the need for data integration. For the manufacturing enterprise, there are compelling business reasons to improve the level of integration between a company’s ERP system and other mission-critical applications. - [4 Things You Need in a SaaS-based Manufacturing ERP and MES Solution](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/4-things-you-need-saas-based-manufacturing-erp-and-mes-solution.html) : As more businesses move to SaaS (software-as-a-service) applications, some manufacturers still have some uncertainty about data safety and security, as well as uptime and reliability in the cloud. If moving your operations to the cloud seems foreign to you, or if you aren’t sure how to evaluate cloud versus on-premise ERP and MES systems, just remember these four things: availability, reliability, scalability, and security. - [Capacity Planning: A Critical Element of the Production Process](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/capacity-planning-critical-element-production-process.html) : Imagine this: You’ve won the big contract. You’ve dotted every i, crossed every t, and the paperwork is freshly signed and initialed. Yet, despite your efforts to check capacity before negotiations began, by the time you’re able to start the job new orders have rolled in, and your timeline is now at risk. - [Spend Time with Family and Friends This Holiday Season (Instead of Counting Inventory)](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/spend-time-family-and-friends-holiday-season-instead-counting-inventory.html) : It’s that time of year again. When tinsel and toys fill nearly every store window on nearly every corner of nearly every street in the U.S.A. It’s also when most manufacturers block days off on the calendar to do a physical inventory. - [Manufacturing Chaos to Calm: Gaining Control Over Inventory](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/3-ways-manufacturers-can-improve-inventory-management.html) : Edge Manufacturing is in a bind. Their largest customer, ABC Corporation, just ordered 210 solar-powered attic fans to be delivered by the end of this month—ABC’s biggest order ever. Edge’s inventory manager, Jim, isn’t sure the warehouse has enough raw material to fill that many orders. And, there’s only one way to find out: pull up spreadsheets. - [In Supply Chain Management, Transparency Is the New Normal](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/supply-chain-management-transparency-new-normal.html) : While supply chain management is often considered its own function within the manufacturing enterprise, effective supply chain communication is critical to virtually every area of the business. But old-school relationships between OEMs and tier suppliers were often marred by distrust, suspicion and adversity. - [Plex Supports mikeroweWORKS Foundation and America’s Hardest Workers](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/plex-supports-mikeroweworks-foundation-and-americas-hardest-workers.html) : If you follow Executive Producer and TV Host Mike Rowe on Facebook or listen to his podcast, The Way I Heard It, you’ll be treated to stories about America’s skilled trade workers and how they’re making a difference. These stories inspire all of us at Plex who are privileged to support the manufacturing community. - [PowerPlex 2016: Women Leaders in Manufacturing and Technology](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/powerplex-2016-women-leaders-manufacturing-and-technology.html) : This event was the second annual PowerPlex session devoted to women. This year’s panel included a cross-section of strong, articulate, and successful women in executive positions who had great advice for women pursuing careers in technology and manufacturing. - [Why Aren’t There More Women in Manufacturing?](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/why-arent-there-more-women-manufacturing.html) : The manufacturing industry has undergone tremendous transformation. Smart machines line the plant floor, products are customized in near real time, and mobile devices are used to provide insight into operations 24x7x365. - [Finding the Right Talent for Your Culture](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/finding-right-talent-your-culture.html) : I was recently invited to speak at the Elite Suite Series, an event hosted by the 101 Best & Brightest Places to Work organization. (Bragging alert: For three years running, Plex has been named an “Elite” winner for employee enrichment, engagement and retention at the Metropolitan Detroit’s 101 Best and Brightest Companies to Work For annual awards competition.) - [Plex Partners with Gleaners to Help End Hunger in Southeastern Michigan](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/plex-partners-gleaners-help-end-hunger-southeastern-michigan.html) : Giving back to our communities is in our blood. It was part of the very core of Plex when it was founded in 1995, and it is a tenet we still hold dear today. Each year, Plex employees nominate and vote on a focus charity they’d like to support. - [Designing an Adaptable User Experience for Manufacturing Today (and Tomorrow)](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/designing-adaptable-user-experience-manufacturing-today-and-tomorrow.html) : Technology is in transition. Technology is always in transition, but today that transition is noticeably changing how we operate. One of the biggest changes we are adapting to in manufacturing is the move from desktops and workstations to handheld devices. - [Why We’re Thankful for Manufacturing Technology This Thanksgiving](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/why-were-thankful-manufacturing-technology-thanksgiving.html) : When you sit down this Thanksgiving to enjoy a feast with your loved ones, there will be many food options available to those who come together to break bread. Grandma’s pumpkin pie might be the best pie you’ve ever eaten. Uncle Carl’s green bean casserole is, well, edible. My specialty is pecan pie! - [Shop Floor Data Means More Business Insight for Hatch Stamping](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/shop-floor-data-means-more-business-insight-hatch-stamping.html) : For many manufacturers, finding a way to improve reliability, extend reach, and minimize time to value feels like the old adage “cheap, fast, or good: pick two.” In many scenarios, that’s the reality—but not all. - [How Great Expectations Are Driving Tech Adoption and Auto Supplier Success](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/how-great-expectations-are-driving-tech-adoption-and-auto-supplier-success.html) : The automotive industry is changing by the minute. New regulations, new markets, new product-line focuses, new consumer demands. Amid this rapid evolution, automotive supply chain is up against a growing number of daily challenges to achieve a single, yet very layered goal: meet and exceed the expectations of some of the world’s biggest brands. - [3 Things About ERP Implementations Most Manufacturers Don’t Know](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/3-things-about-erp-implementations-most-manufacturers-dont-know.html) : A recent survey conducted by Mint Jutras and commissioned by Ultra Consultants looked at ERP implementations—whether they are doomed to fail or whether ROI expectations are high enough. For small- to mid-sized manufacturers, ERP is an endeavor that becomes necessary as the business grows since managing a complex operation with spreadsheets is unsustainable. - [Parts Manufacturer Consolidates Operational and Shop Floor Data with Cloud ERP - Video](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/parts-manufacturer-consolidates-operational-and-shop-floor-data-cloud-erp-video.html) : Who is Avon Gear? Headquartered in Shelby Township, Michigan, Avon Gear Company manufactures precision-machined components and subassemblies for heavy industrial equipment manufacturers. The company has experienced steady growth since its beginnings in 1974 and continues to look for ways deliver quality products to its customers. - [Ongoing ERP Training Prevents Brain Drain](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/ongoing-erp-training-prevents-brain-drain.html) : Have you experienced brain drain within your organization when skilled employees left, resulting in knowledge gaps? If this is your problem, we have the solution. The best way to combat brain drain is to engage your organization in ongoing ERP training. - [Demystifying IIoT: Terms Every Manufacturer Should Know](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/demystifying-iiot-terms-every-manufacturer-should-know.html) : By now, you’ve heard a lot about the industrial Internet of things (IIoT). It’s a network of always-connected things and systems that produce a steady stream of data, which can generate compelling synergistic analytics that could be used to increase the overall efficiency of a manufacturing operation among other things. - [Industrial IoT and the Pragmatic Manufacturer: Lessons Learned from Prime Day 2019](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/industrial-iot-and-pragmatic-manufacturer-lessons-learned-prime-day-2019.html) : There is quite a lot of hype surrounding the Industrial Internet of Things (IoT) within the manufacturing industry. Large-scale Industrial IoT pilots driven by enterprise-focused technology companies paint pictures of fully-connected and automated plants, complete with Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) that promise ROI but require large early investments of time and capital. - [2019 PMA IoT Experience: What Metalformers and Fabricators Can Do with Shop Floor Data](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/2019-pma-iot-experience-what-metalformers-and-fabricators-can-do-shop-floor-data.html) : I was surprised while speaking at the IoT for Manufacturers event held by MetalForming Magazine, how many people raised their hands when I asked who was attending their first IoT conference: nearly the entire audience. - [6 Myths About an Industrial IoT Implementation](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/6-myths-about-industrial-iot-implementation.html) : As more manufacturers take a serious look at the benefits of Industrial IoT, understanding what an implementation will involve becomes important. But before we get into the list of myths about an Industrial IoT implementation, I’d like to reiterate what I’ve said about Industrial IoT before: - [Hype vs. Reality: What’s Really Happening with Industrial IoT in Manufacturing?](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/hype-vs-reality-whats-really-happening-industrial-iot-manufacturing.html) : Reading any of the major technology media outlets, you will find stories of big manufacturers that are heavily investing in Industry 4.0 projects. Stories like these would make anyone believe that U.S. factories are filled with robots, machines, and sensors that transmit real-time data about everything from product engineering to quality to production performance—and that the data is being used to predict how to run a more efficient manufacturing business. - [PowerPlex 2019: Navigating Frenetic Change - How Manufacturers Can Thrive During Technology Disruption](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/powerplex-2019-navigating-frenetic-change-how-manufacturers-can-thrive-during-technology.html) : Ever think about how far we’ve come since AOL was introduced? Plex CTO Jerry Foster does. As the leading innovator at a manufacturing cloud software company, Jerry knows firsthand how technological advancements help companies drive and respond to rapid change. The pace of business is picking up, and nobody has seen this more than manufacturers. - [Why Should You Care About Industrial IoT?](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/why-should-you-care-about-industrial-iot.html) : You are a manufacturing supplier that prides yourself on quality performance and on-time delivery. You’ve invested heavily in production equipment and have the best people to help your run the business. You have a manufacturing ERP system that keeps all of your departments connected to the latest information and enables them to work effectively from customers to suppliers and from the top floor down to the shop floor. - [2019 PMA Leadership Conference: Forming Our Future](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/2019-pma-leadership-conference-forming-our-future.html) : One thing became very clear to me attending the 2019 PMA Leadership Conference, there is no shortage of challenges facing the manufacturing industry right now. Tariffs are making raw materials so expensive it’s difficult to compete. The skilled worker shortage continues to be a thorn most manufacturers are still grappling with. And the need to innovate while driving efficiency is always critical. - [Manufacturing and the Digital Thread to Industry 4.0](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/manufacturing-and-digital-thread-industry-40.html) : Change is not a word that many people think of when it comes to the manufacturing industry. Words like precise, quality, reliability, efficiency are more commonly associated with manufacturing. But change is happening, and it’s increasing in speed. Manufacturing, as a sector, is changing dramatically and strategically. - [Future of Manufacturing Roundtable: The future is bright, but comes with growing pains](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/future-manufacturing-roundtable-future-bright-comes-growing-pains.html) : Plex Systems recently brought together industry analysts and its customers for the second Future of Manufacturing Roundtable (FoMR). This collaborative day seats manufacturing technology leaders on Plex’s customer advisory board next to experts who write about enterprise software day-in and day-out, which always leads to a lively conversation about the future of the manufacturing industry. - [Manufacturing Industry Enthusiasm Off the Charts at IMTS 2018 and Hanover Messe USA](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/manufacturing-industry-enthusiasm-charts-imts-2018-and-hanover-messe-usa.html) : Not only did the International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS) and collocated Hanover Messe USA break records by setting an all-time high for exhibitors and attendees, but these events also captured something more important: a sense of unbridled global optimism in the manufacturing industry. - [Breakthrough Technologies Impacting Manufacturing and the Way We Make Things](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/breakthrough-technologies-impacting-manufacturing-and-way-we-make-things.html) : Technology has seen rapid advancements in the past decade—and it only seems to be happening faster as each year passes. When it comes to breakthrough technology, manufacturing certainly has seen its share, most recently due to trends like Industry 4.0 and transformative connectivity made possible by the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT). - [“What Is Your IIoT Strategy?” Is the Wrong Question](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/what-your-iiot-strategy-wrong-question.html) : Manufacturers need to do more! Competitors are doing more--and perhaps at a lower cost. Customers expect more--and may demand a discount assuming that you're continuously improving. The recent technology trends seem to miss the fact that it’s your business strategy that's the thing. Not technology for technology sake. - [LiveWorx: Augmented Reality, IIoT, and the Future of Manufacturing](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/liveworx-augmented-reality-iiot-and-future-manufacturing.html) : If you’re wondering whether augmented reality (AR) is on the horizon for manufacturing, you can stop. It’s here, and it will change the way manufacturers use technology to benefit their businesses. By bringing together the digital and physical, AR has the power to dramatically change many manufacturing business processes such as training and asset management. - [The Path Manufacturers Should Take Toward Industry 4.0](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/path-manufacturers-should-take-toward-industry-40.html) : The benefits of Industry 4.0 are crystal-clear. So, why aren’t manufacturers making it their top priority to embrace everything this new approach entails? In other words, why has adoption been so slow? According to TechVentive, it’s because many companies still lack the basic technology infrastructure that must be in place before they can exploit Industry 4.0. - [Industrial Automation and IIoT: What’s Next for Manufacturers?](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/industrial-automation-and-iiot-whats-next-manufacturers.html) : The question you probably get asked a lot by technology folks is what is your Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) strategy? I’d like to suggest that this is the wrong question. If these technology folks really had your business requirements in mind, they should be asking: what are your business strategies to leverage the value this evolution in technology enables? - [Technology Advancements Impacting Your Manufacturing Business Right Now](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/technology-advancements-impacting-your-manufacturing-business-right-now.html) : There are major technology advancements that have made today’s economy more connected than ever before. Whether you recognize these technologies or not, they will have an impact on your business. Your competition may already be ahead of you in taking advantage of these, but you can put yourself in the driver's seat to steer your business in the right direction. - [Connectivity, Automation, and IIoT Power the Modern Shop Floor](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/connectivity-automation-and-iiot-power-modern-shop-floor.html) : Manufacturing starts on the shop floor. It’s where material moves, product is created, ultimately, where the work gets done. Every day, new devices and equipment are providing manufacturers with new opportunities for innovation and connection. In its four years, the 2017 State of Manufacturing Technology Report surveyed more than 150 manufacturers and reveals how manufacturers are leveraging connectivity with the cloud. - [4 IIoT Use Cases That Show Real Business Impacts for Manufacturing](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/4-iiot-use-cases-show-real-business-impacts-manufacturing.html) : By now, you’ve heard about the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT). You may have even talked about it with your team but, if you’re like a lot of small to mid-sized manufacturing companies you are still in the early stages of investigating what IIoT means to your business. - [Industry 4.0: How Advancements in Manufacturing Technology Are Transforming the Industry](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/industry-40-how-advancements-manufacturing-technology.html) : In the United States, economic growth has been a bit sluggish in the past decade. When you look at global economic growth, there's one common factor with all that causes the economy to grow. It’s manufacturing. Due to a number of contributing economic, political, and market factors across the globe, there’s a significant revolution that’s underway within the manufacturing industry. - [Advanced Manufacturing Technologies Provide Endless IIoT Opportunities](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/advanced-manufacturing-technologies-provide-endless-iiot-opportunities.html) : The Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) has a potential economic impact of $1.2-$3.7 trillion a year in 2015. Because of this enormous opportunity, many of metro Detroit’s technologists are talking about ways to integrate IIoT – where they can apply it, how they can benefit from it, and even how it can be used in their products and by customers. - [Real-World Examples of IIoT in Manufacturing](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/real-world-examples-iiot-manufacturing.html) : As a manufacturer, any new technology must have operational meaning, purpose, and application for you to consider it. The buzz around the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) promises improved operational efficiency, higher quality, and cost savings. In fact, manufacturers who have begun their IIoT journey are achieving realistic, incremental enhancements to support their business strategies. - [Small to Mid-Sized Manufacturers: It’s Time to Take Advantage of the IIoT Opportunity](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/small-mid-sized-manufacturers-its-time-take-advantage-iiot-opportunity.html) : Manufacturers across all industries are investing in Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT)-enabled devices and according to TATA Consultancy, they’re already reaping benefits: an average of 28.5 percent increase in revenues between 2013 and 2014.1 IIoT is not just for the big manufacturing enterprises. Yes, the big companies often have more infrastructure and legacy system dependency than you might. - [What Automotive Manufacturers Need to Drive Success in Today’s Complex Markets](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/what-automotive-manufacturers-need-drive-success-todays-complex-markets.html) : Complexity in automotive manufacturing is growing. The systems that support your business are likely just as complex—70 percent of manufacturers see an increase in complexity in their organization’s ERP ecosystem due to changing business environments. You need to manage your supply chain and customer demands but the one thing you have the most control over is your own operations. - [HK Metalcraft’s Advanced Manufacturing Technology Approach: A Family Legacy](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/hk-metalcrafts-advanced-manufacturing-technology-approach-family-legacy.html) : Joshua Hopp is the fourth-generation owner of a manufacturing business that specializes in precision metal stampings. His father, Raymond, installed a company-wide ERP system back in the 80s when no one else in the industry even considered it. Nearly three decades later and that once cutting-edge ERP now required customization after customization to keep pace with customer demands. - [Techonomy Detroit: The Transformational Power of Tech](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/techonomy-detroit-transformational-power-tech.html) : Recently I had the privilege of participating in Techonomy Detroit, a gathering of business, civic, nonprofit and academic leaders, where I was able to take a step back from my daily focus on the Plex Manufacturing Cloud and think about the broader impact of technology and manufacturing on communities and society. - [Plex Insight: Internet of Things Brings Increased Manufacturing Intelligence](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/plex-insight-internet-things-brings-increased-manufacturing-intelligence.html) : For FloraCraft, the world’s largest fabricator and supplier of foam products for the craft, floral, display and special event industries, one-tenth of a penny determines a product’s profitability. Like FloraCraft, the manufacturing industry has always been data-driven, and the greatest proof of this is perhaps manufacturers’ historic understanding and focus on the cost of goods sold. - [China Serves as Potential Model for Post-Coronavirus Manufacturing Resurgence](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/china-potential-model-for-post-coronavirus-manufacturing-resurgence-200326.html) : Over the weekend, China announced it would be reopening its tourist attractions. It’s an encouraging turnaround for the country, which has experienced more than 80,000 confirmed cases since the virus broke around Chinese New Year. As the first country to experience the devastation of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), China is also serving as a model for recovery. - [Data Analytics Use Maturing Among Manufacturers](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/data-analytics-use-maturing-among-manufacturers.html) : The face of manufacturing looks very different in 2019 than it did 10 years ago; increased competition, downward pricing pressures, tougher supply chain requirements, ageing infrastructure, and a diminishing manufacturing workforce—manufacturers have been challenged to look for ways to do more with less in order to remain competitive. - [Two Low-Cost Technologies are Transforming Plant Floors](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/two-low-cost-technologies-are-transforming-plant-floors.html) : Manufacturing facilities are filled with expensive equipment. Multi-million-dollar investments can make, or break, a company’s ability to compete and grow. But in today’s connected shop floor environment, smaller, low-cost tools are delivering competitive advantage. - [Big Questions About Big Data](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/big-questions-about-big-data.html) : Big data is everywhere. It seems everyone is talking about it, but there’s still so much confusion around it. To top it off, more data is coming in every day, faster than before, and in formats not easily synchronized. Businesses need ways to store it, access it and turn it into a competitive edge. But how? - [Making Sense of MES and MOM](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/making-sense-mes-and-mom.html) : If you’re serious about improving your manufacturing operations and have shopped around for systems to help you achieve your goals, you’ve probably run into two commonly used terms: manufacturing execution system (MES), and manufacturing operations management (MOM). Just when you learned what MES meant, you probably discovered that MOM means basically the same thing. - [Canada APMA 2019: Survival of the Fastest—and Most Adaptive](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/canada-apma-2019-survival-fastest-and-most-adaptive.html) : I recently had the privilege of speaking at Canada’s Automotive Parts Manufacturer’s Association (APMA) Annual Conference and Exhibition in Windsor, Ontario and what struck me was the amount of change happening within this industry. One example of this is for the first, time conference organizers added an entire day to the schedule dedicated to technology. - [Romeo Power Innovates for a Clean, More Sustainable Future](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/romeo-power-innovates-clean-more-sustainable-future.html) : Romeo Power is a battery technology company looking to create an emission-free future. The company designs more energy efficient, lighter lithium-ion battery packs that take electric vehicles (EV) further without gas or emissions. Romeo Power also designs scalable energy storage systems that help businesses and utilities save money, survive and prevent power outages, and harness wind and solar. - [How to Create the Next Generation of Manufacturers](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/how-create-next-generation-manufacturers.html) : Us technologists solve problems...we can always wait for politicians or lawyers...but why wait? Inventor and entrepreneur and FIRST® founder Dean Kamen closed his keynote at PowerPlex 2019 with this call to action, referencing not only the role of science and technology in solving problems through innovation—but also the astounding shortage of skilled workers manufacturers face today. - [Manufacturers: The Future Workforce Starts with First](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/manufacturers-future-workforce-starts-first.html) : It’s no secret: the future of manufacturing depends on workers. And right now, manufacturers are facing an astounding worker shortage. Experts predict the skills gap may leave an estimated 2.4 million manufacturing positions unfilled between 2018 and 2028, putting manufacturers at serious risk of not being able to keep pace with customer demands. - [North American Auto Manufacturing Suppliers: Why You Need to Digitize Your APQP Processes](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/north-american-auto-manufacturing-suppliers-why-you-need-digitize-your-apqp-processes.html) : To be compliant with some automotive OEMs, you must show that you meet advanced product quality planning (APQP) standards—or you can’t compete. If you’re like a lot of the automotive industry suppliers we talk to, producing necessary documentation is mostly likely a time-consuming paper chase between customers, engineering, quality, and others. - [3 Must-Do Steps for Manufacturers to Cut Costs and Still Grow](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/3-must-do-steps-manufacturers-cut-costs-and-still-grow.html) : Squeezing every dime out of operations in the name of optimal efficiency is a key strategy for today’s manufacturers. But running a bare-bones business makes it difficult to handle the increased demand that comes with growth. So how can manufacturers continue to cut costs without inhibiting their infrastructure’s ability to expand and grow? - [5 Tips on Selecting an ERP from Manufacturers Who've Been There, Done That](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/5-tips-selecting-erp-manufacturers-whove-been-there-done.html) : If you are in the midst of choosing an ERP system, we understand your struggle. You’re trying to please executives and end users alike. You have dozens of possible platforms to consider. And it’s important for you to get this right, because you want your system to last at least 10 years (or more). We’ve helped many companies through the ERP evaluation process. Here are our top five ERP selection and implementation tips to get you started. - [How to Build a Solid Business Case for a Quality Maturity Program](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/how-build-solid-business-case-quality-maturity-program.html) : “Quality is Job One” was the mantra Ford put forth in the memorable 1980s advertising campaign, and improving quality still ranks number one on executive agendas at many manufacturing companies in nearly every industry. Delivering high quality products to the market is no longer a differentiator—it’s an imperative. - [What’s Next for Wearables: Google Glass and Ring Scanners Find Practical Uses in Manufacturing Operations Management](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/whats-next-wearables-google-glass-and-ring-scanners-find-practical-uses-manufacturing.html) : Why wearables? We’re at an unprecedented time in technology evolution, where things like battery capacity, processor performance, display quality, cloud computing, wireless communication and sensor precision are all coming together to enable whole new classes of smart, connected devices. - [Guest Post: Can You Afford Unprofitable Customers and Products?](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/guest-post-can-you-afford-unprofitable-customers-and-products.html) : During a visit to a local manufacturing company, I learned that the company had recently undergone a difficult transition. After taking a close look at their business and their customers, it had become obvious that margins were significantly different between one group and another. Some products and customers were profitable to serve; others, not so much. - [How to Optimize your Manufacturing Workforce](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/how-optimize-your-manufacturing-workforce.html) : It is increasingly challenging to stand up a workforce of skilled operators, but by automating error-prone tasks and operationalizing your procedures, you can mitigate the risk to production and the business. Easy-to-use tools with built-in error-proofing make it easy for your workforce to do the right thing—because it’s the easy thing to do. - [CES 2019: Emerging Technology for Use in Manufacturing](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/ces-2019-emerging-technology-use-manufacturing.html) : CES is the annual consumer electronics show held every January in Las Vegas. It is “the world's gathering place for all those who thrive on the business of consumer technologies.” This year’s event, CES 2019, took place January 8-11, 2019. - [Wondering How to Select an MES Vendor? Consider the latest Gartner Magic Quadrant for MES](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/wondering-how-select-mes-vendor-consider-latest-gartner-magic-quadrant-mes.html) : At the end of the day, your main concern is delivering on customer demands as efficiently and as cost-effectively as possible. The systems that run your business are essential to making this possible. Your investment is not trivial, and those systems need to be reliable so there are little, if any, disruptions to production. - [Why Manufacturers Should Consider Cloud-Based MES Solutions](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/why-manufacturers-should-consider-cloud-based-mes-solutions.html) : Everything you do is focused on the shop floor. A manufacturing execution system (MES) provides the foundation for operations to schedule, manage, and track each step during production. - [Automotive Manufacturing Suppliers: Have You Made the Transition to IATF?](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/automotive-manufacturing-suppliers-have-you-made-transition-iatf.html) : I attended the Automotive Industry Action Group’s (AIAG) Annual Quality Summit in September and the topic of urgency was the required transition from the ISO/TS 16949 quality standard to the new IATF 16949:2016 specification championed by the International Automotive Task Force (IATF), www.iatfglobaloversight.org. - [Award-Winning Manufacturer, Accuride, Transforms Business with Plex](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/award-winning-manufacturer-accuride-transforms-business-plex.html) : Running a profitable manufacturing business is no easy task. When faced with a decision to either invest, sell, or close up shop, it gets even tougher. Recently, I had the privilege of visiting Accuride Corporation’s Rockford, IL plant named “Gunite” in honor of a specific alloy the founder created back in 1854. - [Wearables on the Shop Floor: CES 2017](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/wearables-shop-floor-ces-2017.html) : Wearables and augmented reality aren’t so futuristic anymore because more manufacturers are seeing the opportunity to use these technologies to impact shop floor productivity, product quality, and top-line growth. That’s why Barrie Vince, Plex software architect and one of the original developers of the Plex Manufacturing Cloud, visited the Consumer Electronics Show (CES). - [Quality 4.0 and the Industrial IoT](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/quality-40-and-industrial-iot.html) : Quality is one of the top concerns of most manufacturers. End customers demand quality products so OEMs demand quality performance all the way down their supply chains. There’s no tolerance for delivering anything but a quality product. - [Hausbeck Pickles Leverages Data-Driven Quality Management](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/hausbeck-pickles-leverages-data-driven-quality-management.html) : Hausbeck Pickle Co. produces an average 400,000 pounds of pickles or peppers a day for some of the world’s largest fast food restaurants including Subway, Burger King, Domino’s Pizza, Taco Bell, and KFC. The nearly 100-year-old company headquartered in Michigan also manages 900 50,000-pound tanks for brining pickles. For every 33,000 lbs. - [A and K Finishing Moves from Manual, Paper-based Quality and Inventory Processes to up Its Game](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/and-k-finishing-moves-manual-paper-based-quality-and-inventory-processes-its-game.html) : For every large manufacturing company that is in the midst of a digital transformation, there are hundreds of small to mid-sized manufacturers still relying on manual, paper-based processes—and it’s taking a toll on their ability to manage quality and inventory. - [How to Become a Preferred Manufacturing Supplier](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/how-become-preferred-manufacturing-supplier.html) : Becoming a preferred supplier is a status most manufacturers want to attain and keep. To achieve this, you need to keep a close eye on quality performance while managing all the work involved with proving compliance. After all, your customers use compliance as a way to weed out lower performing suppliers so the two go hand in hand—even though compliance presents a whole set of headaches for you. - [Digitize, Connect, and Comply: Manufacturers Need a Risk-Based Approach](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/digitize-connect-and-comply-manufacturers-need-risk-based-approach.html) : Manufacturing industry standards have undergone significant changes in recent years in an attempt to respond to quality issues in products that resulted in personal injury, and deaths. You have likely seen the rise of the trend toward risk-based quality compliance that focuses on mitigating quality risks through prevention versus the more traditional approach of detection, or catching quality failures before products are shipped to customers. - [Manufacturing Chaos to Calm: Operationalize Quality](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/manufacturing-chaos-calm-operationalize-quality.html) : When it comes to quality management, our friends at the fictitious Edge Manufacturing are grappling with lack of visibility and control. Edge manages quality control on paper. So, it’s hard to verify whether quality procedures have taken place in a timely manner or whether operators just check boxes to move materials onto the next step to avoid production halts. - [Mistake Proofing in Manufacturing by Eliminating Manual Processes](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/mistake-proofing-manufacturing-eliminating-manual-processes.html) : If you are still relying on manual, paper-based processes, quality is difficult to sustain and It’s likely you don’t even know exactly how much it’s costing you. The fact is, you rely on your quality control managers to ensure that operators are performing checks when and how they’re supposed to at appropriate intervals. - [Does Your EDI Reduce Errors or Increase Complexity?](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/does-your-edi-reduce-errors-or-increase-complexity.html) : If you’re a supplier in the automotive supply chain, you know Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) guidelines well. You know it’s required by OEMs and Tier One suppliers and that failure to comply means getting locked out of the competitive landscape. - [Taking the Risk Out of Automotive Supplier Compliance](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/taking-risk-out-automotive-supplier-compliance.html) : Keeping up with industry requirements and regulations is critical if you’re an automotive supplier/manufacturer. If you don’t, you won’t be competitive for automotive business where compliance to ISO, and soon International Automotive Task Force (IATF), is a requirement not an option. - [How to Operationalize Quality Control on the Shop Floor](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/how-operationalize-quality-control-shop-floor.html) : Ensuring that quality controls are in place is a never-ending task for operations and quality managers. And it’s especially hard to do if you’re using manual, paper-based documentation. The key is to tie operational performance with a production control plan and work instructions that everyone has access to, and because plans are revised and instructions may change, it's ideal to have online access in real time. - [What You Don’t Know About Manufacturing Traceability Could Hurt Your Business](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/what-you-dont-know-about-manufacturing-traceability-could-hurt-your-business.html) : You likely use some type of traceability procedure to comply with customer and market mandates and/or for service, safety, and process improvement purposes. However, if you are relying on manual processes, you are likely missing critical steps in the production process where errors may occur. - [Why Manufacturing Traceability Is Key to Reducing Errors](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/why-manufacturing-traceability-key-reducing-errors.html) : Paper records are prone to errors, difficult to manage, and may be impossible to find in a timely manner, like within two hours as the FDA requires. High profile recalls have increased in recent years and culpable manufacturers have paid high costs to their businesses and their brands. - [Error-Proofing Your Manufacturing Business with a Single Source of Truth](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/error-proofing-your-manufacturing-business-single-source-truth.html) : Your production operations are likely an automated and complex choreography of people and machines working together to produce products of predictable, repeatable quality. But manufacturing is complex and all the moving parts can be difficult to keep up with, which opens the door to mistakes. - [Before and After: Lean Manufacturing with Better Operational Control](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/before-and-after-lean-manufacturing-better-operational-control.html) : Are your lean efforts focused on delivering a few key results or do you have total operational control to enable continuous improvement? A true commitment to lean manufacturing can result in bottom line improvements throughout your company, not just in production. - [Ways to Make Quality and Compliance Your Competitive Advantage: A Step-by-Step Guide](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/ways-make-quality-and-compliance-your-competitive-advantage-step-step-guide.html) : Learn these five steps from Plex Systems to digitize and up-level your manufacturing quality compliance for a competitive advantage. - [Shank’s Extracts Puts Quality at the Heart of Its Business for a Sweet Future](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/shanks-extracts-puts-quality-heart-its-business-sweet-future.html) : The challenge of a private label manufacturer is to make the highest quality products—but quietly. Why? Because it’s all about making the customer look good. Shank’s Extracts knows how to make customers look good with its vanilla, other extract, natural and artificial flavors, food colors, and syrups because the company has been doing it since 1899. - [Guest Post: What Are We Reshoring?](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/guest-post-what-are-we-reshoring.html) : We live in a global market. But when it comes to unskilled assembly-type jobs with a high labor content, let’s be honest: These are gone from the U.S. forever. Any of this kind of work that comes back to North America will only be because automation removes the labor content, since our robots can perform “manual” labor cheaper and more reliably than untrained or unskilled workers in other parts of the world. - [Digitizing Continuous Improvement in the Global Automotive Supply Chain](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/digitizing-continuous-improvement-global-automotive-supply-chain.html) : As an automotive supplier, there is a lot you need to manage and deliver in a complex global supply chain. First and foremost, your customers demand that you demonstrate the ability to meet their requirements or you lose their business. - [Connectivity and Visibility in the Supply Chain Critical for Global Manufacturing](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/connectivity-and-visibility-supply-chain-critical-global-manufacturing.html) : Supply chain visibility helps manufacturers drive down the cost of operations and speed time-to-market. Visibility is difficult to achieve however without connectivity. Connectivity between systems enables more visibility throughout the supply chain—from demand to order to delivery and everywhere in between. - [5 Areas Every Supply Chain Leader Should Focus on to Sustain Competitiveness](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/5-areas-every-supply-chain-leader-should-focus-sustain-competitiveness.html) : As a supply chain leader, you must have a broad understanding of how your entire business flows from sales to procurement to engineering to service. You also need access to a reliable and holistic set of data or you’ll feel more like you’re fighting fires instead of delivering on customer demand. - [Manufacturers: How Connected is Your Supply Chain Planning?](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/manufacturers-how-connected-your-supply-chain-planning.html) : Unless you have supernatural abilities, you’re like most humans who can’t accurately predict the future. But as a manufacturer—you need an effective way to “see” into future customer demand so you can allocate the right amount of inventory, optimize production, and keep customers happy. - [Common Manufacturing Supply Chain Challenges and How to Overcome Them](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/common-manufacturing-supply-chain-challenges-and-how-overcome-them.html) : The goals of supply chain management and execution is to create a positive customer experience and achieve operational excellence. All too often, execution falls short either because of unanticipated changes or not enough visibility. - [How Champion Plastics Uses EDI Integration to Stay Ahead in the Manufacturing Industry](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/how-champion-plastics-uses-edi-integration-stay-ahead-manufacturing-industry.html) : In today’s fast-paced world, manufacturers like Champion Plastics need speed and agility to quickly respond to constant market changes. Champion Plastics, a custom injection molding manufacturer of functional plastics for the automotive industry, was looking to change its Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) system to meet the needs of a large customer. - [7 Best Practices for More Accurate Inventory Tracking and Reporting](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/7-best-practices-more-accurate-inventory-tracking-and-reporting.html) : Inventory traceability and tracking is all about creating a paper trail of inventory that reflects physical reality. Many companies manually record inventory basics like shipping receipts for raw materials, warehousing, issues from stock to production, and shipments of finished goods to customers. - [Technology and Growth: Which Is the Chicken and Which Is the Egg?](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/technology-and-growth-which-chicken-and-which-egg.html) : American manufacturing is definitely bouncing back. This year’s growth is expected to exceed both 2012 rates and GDP increases. There’s no question that things are looking up. There’s also no doubt that manufacturers are exploring new tools to manage growth, including advanced technologies. - [Hausbeck Pickles is Proud to Be a Strategic Business Partner for Its Customers](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/hausbeck-pickles-proud-be-strategic-business-partner-its-customers.html) : Celebrating over 90 years of making quality pickles and peppers proves that Hausbeck Pickle Company must be doing it right. This family-owned and run business has a proud history of delivering what its customers want, when they want it. - [The Top Five Things to Know from IndustryWeek’s Manufacturing and Technology Show](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/top-five-things-know-industryweeks-manufacturing-and-technology-show.html) : In early April I joined hundreds of manufacturing and technology professionals at the IndustryWeek Manufacturing & Technology Show in Pittsburgh both as a presenter on the role of leadership and culture in business transformation, and as an attendee. - [3 Principles for XR in Manufacturing](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/3-principles-xr-manufacturing.html) : It’s no secret that most manufacturers are focused on value-added activities, and often have little resources for technology research and development exploration—unless its dedicated to the development of new products. Decisions to invest in capital to run the business are not taken lightly. - [AWE: Another Indicator the Wearables Are Coming… for Manufacturers](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/awe-another-indicator-wearables-are-coming-manufacturers.html) : Wearables aren’t just for gaming anymore. While that statement shouldn’t be a surprise, you might be surprised to learn—as I was—at the sheer number of AR, VR and XR devices now available on the market, and the industries they’re being applied to. From playing volleyball, to learning to ballroom dance, to owning and feeding a virtual pet, to being able to pilot and land a plane in an emergency – it was all at Augmented World Expo. - [Manufacturers: Expect a Prolonged Recovery](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/manufacturers-expect-a-prolonged-recovery-200401.html) : A lot has changed around the world since we at Plex reported last week’s findings. The number of reported COVID-19 cases in the U.S., Italy, and Spain have each surpassed China. Italy is starting to see a modest decline in new cases. - [While New COVID-19 Cases in Asia and Europe Flatten, Manufacturing Recovery Lags](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/new-covid-19-cases-in-asia-europe-slows-manufacturing-recovery-lags-200408.html) : According to the latest Plex data on global smart manufacturing production, overall manufacturing activity (see graph, below) is still dropping, while reports that the rate of new COVID-19 cases in some Asian and European countries we’ve been tracking are flattening and slowing, respectively. - [The Value of Continuing Project Education During a Crisis](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/continuing-education-during-a-crisis-200409.html) : As COVID-19 continues to impact business of all shapes and sizes across the globe, we are seeing upheaval in society we thought only existed in popular works of fiction. With more than 80 percent of the global workforce affected by full or partial workplace closures, it goes without saying that many companies are trying to figure out the best way to get work done. - [Worker Health and Safety Becomes a Global Conversation](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/worker-health-safety-becomes-global-conversation-200413.html) : Any plant manager will tell you that the health and safety of their workers has always been a top priority. But as the COVID-19 crisis wages on, manufacturers around the world are having to quickly adapt their already robust safety initiatives to include strict protocols to prevent the spread of the virus. - [Thoughtful Supply Chain Planning in the Face of Rapid Change](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/thoughtful-supply-chain-planning-in-face-of-rapid-change-200407.html) : There’s little that could properly prepare the world for the magnitude of global events such as the COVID-19 global pandemic. These situations not only impact us as individuals, but often highlight critical vulnerabilities in our business processes. - [Distillers Step Up Amid Global COVID-19 Crisis](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/distillers-step-up-amid-global-covid-19-crisis-200406.html) : During times of fear and uncertainty, heroes can take many unexpected forms. While the global COVID-19 crisis wages on, manufacturers are rising to meet society’s critical needs in order to prevent the spread of disease and preserve the health and safety of those on the frontlines. - [Precision Metalforming Association Provides COVID-19 Response Resources for Manufacturers](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/precision-metalforming-association-provides-covid-19-response-resources-for-manufacturers-200402.html) : Manufacturers: Wondering how you can remain connected and ensure business continuity in a world where work environments are changing, supply chains are being disrupted, and uncertainty abounds? - [Global Manufacturing Community Activity Diverges from China Recovery Model](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/global-manufacturing-community-activity-diverges-from-china-recovery-model-200414.html) : Global manufacturing activity continues to drop – now producing at approximately 20% of where rates were four weeks ago, when we saw the start of a steep decline in activity. - [Auto Companies Pivot Production to Make Much-Needed Healthcare Supplies](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/auto-companies-pivot-production-to-make-much-needed-healthcare-supplies-200414.html) : Some of the most critical healthcare supplies needed to protect frontline workers and the machines needed to help those affected by coronavirus, such as access to N95 masks, face shields, gloves, and ventilators, are in short supply. This dire need is hitting as the U.S. prepares to experience peak cases of COVID-19 the weeks of April 6 and April 13. Some of the companies that have stepped up most visibly to develop much-needed supplies to the frontlines are automotive suppliers and OEMs. - [Declining Manufacturing Production Turns the Corner](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/declining-manufacturing-production-turns-the-corner-200422.html) : This week’s global data marks a turning point: the decline of manufacturing production is starting to flatten, and in some regions and industries, even shows an upturn in activity. For instance, let's first look at two of our bigger data sets – manufacturing in the United States and China, both of which are showing signs of improvement (see graphs below). U.S. data set - [Manufacturing Leaders Share COVID-19 Response](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/manufacturing-leaders-share-covid-19-response.html) : In today’s volatile global environment, manufacturers around the world being tasked with adapting to fluctuating supply chain demands, meeting new regulatory requirements and addressing shifting customer needs – all while protecting the health and safety of their workers. - [4 Ways to Improve the Quality of Supply Chain Planning](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/4-ways-improve-quality-supply-chain-planning.html) : The rise of automation, shop floor analytics, and the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) have impacted the manufacturing industry and enhanced production with the introduction of timely data for more informed decision making. But what about major shifts like enhanced in-car connectivity, growing demand for electric vehicles, or adjusting to changing customer preferences? Are manufacturers equipped to effectively react to market changes in the short and long-term within their supply chain planning operations? - [Auto Bolt Undergoes Digital Transformation with the Help of Cumulus and Plex](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/auto-bolt-undergoes-digital-transformation-help-cumulus-and-plex.html) : Auto Bolt is a proud American cold-heading bolt manufacturer with over 65 years of experience in quality bolt-making. In 2017 the company took the leap and decided to take on the implementation of the Plex Manufacturing Cloud as the foundation for the company's digital transformation. - [Medical Device Manufacturers Answer the COVID-19 Call](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/medical-device-manufacturers-answer-covid-19-call.html) : Medical device manufacturers like Okay Industries are finding ways to support healthcare individuals and industries by becoming more creative and resourceful. - [Manufacturing Production Holds Steady While Automakers Plan to Reopen](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/manufacturing-production-holds-steady-while-automakers-plan-reopen.html) : See Plex Systems' analysis of global automotive production's recovery from COVID-19 and learn why production may increase quicklky in the next few weeks. - [Restarting Plex ERP After An Unprecedented Shutdown](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/restarting-plex-erp-after-unprecedented-shutdown.html) : Manufacturers should ask these questions to ensure a smooth, profitable restart of operations and your Plex ERP and MES system post-COVID-19. - [5 Reasons to Attend PowerPlex 2020](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/5-reasons-to-attend-manufacturing-conference-2020.html) : PowerPlex, the annual user conference that brings together manufacturers from around the globe, is set to take place May 12-14, 2020 in Detroit. If you haven’t already heard the news, early bird registration opened today. If you’re not familiar with PowerPlex, this nearly 20-year-old conference has annually been the gathering place for manufacturing and technology leaders well before “smart manufacturing,” “digital manufacturing” and “Industry 4.0” became the buzzwords we know so well today. - [How Jagemann Answered the Call for PPE Amid COVID-19 Pandemic](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/how-jagemann-answered-call-ppe-amid-covid-19-pandemic.html) : Hear from Amy Jagemann of Jagemann Stamping about how COVID-19 has changed the way they view business, personal lives and the safety of their community. - [Successful Efforts to Flatten the Curve Set Stage for Growth While Chinese Auto Suppliers and Metalformers Ramp Up](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/successful-efforts-flatten-curve-set-stage-growth-while-chinese-auto-suppliers-and.html) : See Plex Systems' latest analysis of manufacturing production trends as efforts to “flatten the curve” are taking effect. - [5 Key Takeaways from the 5th Annual State of Manufacturing Technology Report](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/5-key-takeaways-5th-annual-state-manufacturing-technology-report.html) : Read about how technology, when applied strategically, with solid execution and collaboration, is a defining factor in overcoming business challenges. - [COVID-19 Update: Top Four Things to Know about Manufacturing Production This Week](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/covid-19-update-top-four-things-know-about-manufacturing-production-week.html) : See where Plex Systems is observing signs of increased production as COVID-19-related restrictions relax globally and manufacturers restart operations. - [Key Takeaways from PowerPlex: Day 2](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/key-takeaways-powerplex-day-2.html) : See the day's PowerPlex 2020 recap featuring updates on the Plex Smart Manufacturing Platform, Plex Impact Award winners and COVID-19's impact on manufacturing. - [Plex and Life Remodeled's Detroit 2018 Volunteer Project](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/plex-and-life-remodeled-detroit-2018.html) : Since I’ve been at Plex, I’ve noticed something special about the people at this company: they care. They care about the community we live in and about giving back. One example of this is a recent project with the Life Remodeled organization. The mission of this organization is to identify inner-city neighborhoods in Detroit and remodel a community asset, repair owner-occupied homes, and mobilize volunteers to transform lives. - [Key Takeaways from PowerPlex: Day 3](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/key-takeaways-powerplex-day-3.html) : See the PowerPlex 2020 updates about the new Plex Market Forecast Manager and a partnership bringing RPA to the Plex Smart Manufacturing Platform. - [4 Reasons Why Your Business Needs Connected Manufacturing](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/why-your-business-needs-connected-manufacturing.html) : There are major shifts occurring right now in your industry: fluctuating customer demand, new manufacturing modes, and changing business technology that are affecting what you do every day. Your tried and true methods may not be as flexible to this new world as you need them to be. Your existing processes and systems may not be able to keep up with the increased demands on your business. - [Disrupting Habits in Manufacturing](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/disrupting-habits-manufacturing.html) : If you’ve spent time in tech circles, or if you’ve watched the show "Silicon Valley,” the term “disruptive technology” is used to describe anything new in tech. Unfortunately, the term is overused, and like most items on the Gartner Hype Curve, a lot of today’s “disruptive technologies” will quietly die out before they truly have the chance to disrupt anything. We saw this with all the hype around Segway, TiVo… the list goes on. - [Thank You for Helping Us Support the Flint Community](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/flint-community-water-support.html) : Last month, our colleague and Flint, Mich. native Marcus Jones started a a GoFundMe account to bring safe, clean drinking water to the people of Flint. What began as a campaign to raise $2,000 for the Flint community quickly grew into much, much more. - [Business Transformation Leaders: Plex Partner Control+M Helps Manufacturers Face Disruption Head-On](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/business-transformation-leaders-plex-partner-controlm-helps-manufacturers-face-disruption-head.html) : Hear from Patti Nowak, founder and owner of Control+M, about business on the other side of the COVID-19 pandemic. - [Global Manufacturing Activity Continues Upward Trend, with Aerospace and Defense Seeing 57% Growth](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/global-manufacturing-activity-continues-upward-trend-aerospace-and-defense-seeing-57-growth.html) : Join Plex Systems and see how manufacturing is recovering and increasing in food and beverage and aerospace verticals as COVID-19 continues. - [Plex’s No BS Guide to MES](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/plexs-no-bs-guide-mes.html) : See how “MES For Dummies” explains what you need to know about manufacturing execution systems (MES) and how you can use it to up level manufacturing operations. - [May Manufacturing Data Shows Signs of Rebound](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/may-manufacturing-data-shows-signs-rebound.html) : See the latest update in which Plex Systems' unique COVID-19 related data suggests cautious optimism is warranted, as evidence of a rebound gains steam. - [PowerPlex 2020: Learnings and Insights](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/powerplex-2020-learnings-and-insights.html) : See the top 5 takeaways from Plex Systems' virtual conference, PowerPlex 2020, as we look toward the future of Smart Manufacturing. - [Global Manufacturing Activity Increases for Fifth Consecutive Week](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/global-manufacturing-activity-increases-fifth-consecutive-week.html) : See Plex Systems' analysis of manufacturing's fifth consecutive week of growth, led by the automotive industry, as signs of COVID-19 recovery continue. - [Global Manufacturing Production Continues to Increase, North America Leads the Way](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/global-manufacturing-production-continues-increase-north-america-leads-way.html) : As COVID-19 restrictions loosen, see where Plex Systems has identified production growth in global manufacturing. - [The Hatch Stamping Transformation Story: From Humble Beginnings to Global Leadership](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/hatch-stamping-transformation-story-humble-beginnings-global-leadership.html) : Read about Hatch Stamping Company's incredible growth trajectory accomplished through steady commitments to quality, innovation and its customers. - [Food and Beverage Manufacturers Lead the Charge in Return to Pre-COVID-19 Levels of Activity](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/food-and-beverage-manufacturers-lead-charge-return-pre-covid-19-levels-activity.html) : In this Plex Systems' data set, see what areas of manufacturing are seeing growth and which are taking longer to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. - [Robotic Process Automation (RPA) for Manufacturers Drives Automation](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/robotic-process-automation-rpa-manufacturers-drives-automation.html) : Read about how achieving efficiency through robotic process automation (RPA) can be a key to success for modern manufacturers. - [Global Manufacturing Production Activity Grows by 10%](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/global-manufacturing-production-activity-grows-10.html) : Read the latest analysis from Plex Systems to see which industry has reached 80% of pre-coronavirus production, and which has exceeded it. - [Global Manufacturing Not Slowed by COVID-19 Spikes, Outbreaks](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/global-manufacturing-not-slowed-covid-19-spikes-outbreaks.html) : See how global manufacturers are weathering new COVID-19 spikes and outbreaks in the U.S. and China in this analysis by Plex Systems. - [Manufacturing Production Activity Begins to Echo 2019 Trends](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/manufacturing-production-activity-begins-echo-2019-trends.html) : Manufacturing production trends are normalizing, though the impact of new COVID-19 outbreaks could affect progress. See Plex Systems' analysis. - [Why IIoT Serves a Critical Role During the COVID-19 Pandemic](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/why-iiot-serves-critical-role-during-covid-19-pandemic.html) : Learn how IIoT is helping manufacturers adapt to having limited plant-floor staff while ensuring greater access to data and control remotely. - [Global Manufacturing Production at 91% of Pre-Pandemic Rates](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/global-manufacturing-production-91-pre-pandemic-rates.html) : Read Plex Systems' latest analysis of global manufacturing production's continued climb toward 2019's levels as the COVID-19 pandemic continues. - [Global Production at 94% of Pre-COVID Activity Levels](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/global-production-94-pre-covid-activity-levels.html) : See Plex System's analysis of the global manufacturing community's resilience and continued recovery from COVID-19's impact. - [Global Manufacturing Activity Increases for Fourth Consecutive Week](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/global-manufacturing-activity-increases-fourth-consecutive-week.html) : See which country has become the first to exceed pre-pandemic manufacturing production in this analysis from Plex Systems. - [How to Error-Proof Your Plant Floor](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/how-error-proof-your-plant-floor.html) : Learn some ways smart manufacturers benefit from error-proofing in this preview of the 6 Ways Error-Proofing Protects Your Manufacturing Business Ebook. - [What You Should Know about the Ontario Automotive Modernization Program (O-AMP): Up to $100k in Tech and Training Grants](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/ontario-automotive-modernization-program-o-amp-funding-manufacturers.html) : Learn how Ontario, CA Automotive manufacturers can receive funding through O-AMP when they introduce new lean manufacturing or technology to their business. - [Global Manufacturers Reach 99% Pre-COVID Production with 90% of Workforce](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/global-manufacturers-reach-99-pre-covid-production-90-workforce.html) : Global manufacturing production at 99% of pre-COVID levels despite reduced workforces; see the analysis from Plex Systems. - [Hype vs. Reality: What’s Happening with IIoT In Manufacturing?](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/hype-vs-reality-whats-happening-iiot-manufacturing.html) : Hear from Plex Systems on how to interpret the hype around the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), and see how it fits within the Industry 4.0 movement. - [5 Common Myths About Implementing IIoT](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/5-common-myths-about-implementing-iiot.html) : Debunk the top IIoT myths and understand how to tie it to real business value, based on Plex Systems' 25 years of working with manufacturers. - [3 Reasons Why Traceability is Key to Reducing Errors on Your Plant Floor](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/3-reasons-why-traceability-key-reducing-errors-your-plant-floor.html) : See how implementing a system that provides full traceability for inventory and reporting can help you reduce errors on your plant floor and avoid recalls. - [Trends Indicate Return to “Normal,” China Sees Uptick in Activity](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/trends-indicate-return-normal-china-sees-uptick-activity.html) : While the U.S. and Canada saw an expected decline in manufacturing production over Labor Day, overseas production showed continued growth. See the analysis. - [How Manufacturers Can Use Data to Build Future Resiliency](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/how-manufacturers-can-use-data-build-future-resiliency.html) : Hear from Machine Metrics how manufacturers can plan for a resilient future by thoughtful management of people and resources, and using data to make decisions. - [U.S. Manufacturers Exceed Pre-Pandemic Levels of Production Activity](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/us-manufacturers-exceed-pre-pandemic-levels-production-activity.html) : In this analysis from Plex Systems, read about a significant milestone as U.S. manufacturers surpass pre-COVID-19 rates of manufacturing production. - [CanExport Funding During COVID-19: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/canexport-funding-during-covid-19-frequently-asked-questions-faqs.html) : The CanExport program provides up to $75k in funding for businesses seeking to access new international markets. Find answers to common questions and COVID-19 updates in this FAQ. - [Global Manufacturing Community at 102% of Pre-Pandemic Rates of Activity](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/global-manufacturing-community-102-pre-pandemic-rates-activity.html) : Read the update from Plex Systems on manufacturing's continued recovery from the pandemic with global production now at a level not seen since early March. - [Global Manufacturing Continues to Expand; Reaches 104% Pre-Pandemic Rates of Activity](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/global-manufacturing-continues-expand-reaches-104-pre-pandemic-rates-activity.html) : Read Plex Systems' latest analysis of global manufacturing production's continued climb, with production rates at 104% of pre-pandemic levels. - [Want to Frighten a Manufacturer this Halloween? Start Here.](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/want-frighten-manufacturer-halloween-start-here.html) : Learn about some of the scariest situations and dilemmas facing modern manufacturers in this post from Plex Systems. - [Manufacturers Maintain Momentum, Make Progress on Production Losses](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/manufacturers-maintain-momentum-make-progress-production-losses.html) : As manufacturing production holds steady, join Plex Systems as it looks at the year over year impact of production lost to the early days of the pandemic. - [Food and Beverage Manufacturer Shows Off Benefit of an Agile Manufacturing Process](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/food-and-beverage-manufacturer-shows-benefit-agile-manufacturing-process.html) : Learn how Olde Thompson was able to bring in new customers, keep production on track with skyrocketing demand, and gain a leg up on the competition. - [STEAM Education is Critical to Powering Manufacturing Innovation](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/steam-education-critical-powering-manufacturing-innovation.html) : Read why STEAM education plays a key role in growth for the U.S. economy and in helping manufacturers realize the promise of truly smart manufacturing. - [ERP Inventory Management Must-Haves: Attribute- and Date-Code System](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/erp-inventory-management-must-haves-attribute-and-date-code-system.html) : Managing customer-specific quality attributes and expiration dates is a must for food and beverage companies. Is your inventory management system delivering? - [Global Manufacturers Close the Pandemic-Produced Production Gap](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/global-manufacturers-close-pandemic-produced-production-gap.html) : Hear from Plex Systems as it examines the resiliency of manufacturers in North America, Europe, and Asia while the world grapples with the pandemic's impact. - [A Season of Gratitude: Recognizing Manufacturers that Keep the World Running](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/season-gratitude-recognizing-manufacturers-keep-world-running.html) : As we take time to reflect this Thanksgiving, we are especially thankful for the manufacturers who keep our world going. - [Despite Spike in COVID-19 Cases, Global Manufacturing Production Reaches New High](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/despite-spike-covid-19-cases-global-manufacturing-production-reaches-new-high.html) : Plex Systems' recent data shows that despite a surge in COVID-19 cases, global manufacturing production jumped to 108% of pre-pandemic levels. See the analysis. - [BRC Rubber and Plastics Continues Reputation of Dependability with Plex](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/brc-preserves-reputation-with-plex-systems.html) : Plex met BRC’s requirement for a cloud solution that can be quickly implemented at all facilities & ensures real-time access to manufacturing operations. - [How to Speed Up Your Recall Response—and Transform Your Entire Business](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/how-speed-your-recall-response-and-transform-your-entire-business.html) : Read how Barrett Petfood Innovations (BPI), achieved full traceability and enhanced their operations by adopting Plex Systems' cloud-based technologies. - [Plex Acquires Kors Engineering to Drive Automation and Efficiency for You](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/plex-acquires-kors-engineering.html) : This combination enables manufacturers to gain greater control of their plant floor and get them closer to fully embracing the promise of Industry 4.0. - [Plex’s No BS Guide to Supply Chain Planning](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/plexs-no-bs-guide-supply-chain-planning.html) : Learn how to take your manufacturing business from reactive to proactive in the Supply Chain Planning for Dummies guide brought to you by Plex. - [Leverage OEE with Smart Technology to Improve Production](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/leverage-oee-smart-technology-improve-production.html) : OEE is a key tool for food & beverage manufacturers to unlock insights to improve product quality, avoid production issues, and prevent potential shutdowns. - [Get Inspired by Unstoppable Leaders at PowerPlex 2021](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/get-inspired-unstoppable-leaders-powerplex-2021.html) : Hear how several unstoppable leaders overcame adversity, inspired entire communities, and made history when you attend PowerPlex 2021. Register today! - [Catch Plex Leaders and Special Guests During PowerPlex Main Stage Experiences](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/catch-plex-leaders-and-special-guests-during-powerplex-main-stage-experiences.html) : Bill Berutti, Nathan Pieri, and Jerry Foster are ready for the PowerPlex main stage and they’re bringing the guests (and insights) you won’t want to miss. - [PowerPlex 2021 Key Takeaways Part 1: Smart Manufacturing for All](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/powerplex-2021-key-takeaways-part-1-smart-manufacturing-all.html) : Catch up on all the impactful manufacturing insights, conversations, moments, and other key takeaways from the first half of PowerPlex 2021. - [PowerPlex 2021 Key Takeaways Part 2: Unlimited Possibilities](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/powerplex-2021-key-takeaways-part-2-unlimited-possibilities.html) : PowerPlex 2021 is a manufacturing conference designed by manufacturers for manufacturers. Discover all the best highlights from this year’s conference here! - [Producing 32 Million COVID Tests with the 2021 Business Operations Transformer Impact Award Winner](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/producing-32-million-covid-tests-2021-business-operations-transformer-impact-award-winner.html) : The 2021 Business Operations Transformer Award winner quickly scaled up production to help fight COVID-19 worldwide. Congratulations to Omega Bio-tek! - [What Is An Additive Manufacturing Execution System?](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/what-additive-manufacturing-execution-system.html) : Learn about an Additive MES and how it can streamline your manufacturing process. This page provides definitions, benefits, and solutions. - [Reinventing Accuracy, Efficiency, and Safety with the 2021 Innovator Impact Award Winner](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/reinventing-accuracy-efficiency-and-safety-2021-innovator-impact-award-winner.html) : Hatch Stamping leveraged new technology to improve operations, increase safety, and win the 2021 Innovator Impact Award. Here’s how they did it. - [Setting (and Raising) the Bar with the 2021 Industry Leader Impact Award Winner](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/setting-and-raising-bar-2021-industry-leader-impact-award-winner.html) : Thai Summit America set an impressive example for any manufacturer to follow, and that’s why they’re taking home the 2021 Industry Leader Impact Award. - [Unpacking the Forrester Consulting TEI™ Study: What Does 412% ROI Really Mean?](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/what-does-412-percent-roi-really-mean.html) : The Forrester Consulting TEI™ study of the Plex Smart Manufacturing Platform grants an unbiased look at the value manufacturers realize from the solution. - [The State of Smart Manufacturing: See the Report Your Competitors Are Reading](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/state-smart-manufacturing-see-report-your-competitors-are-reading.html) : Read the latest State of Smart Manufacturing Report to discover your competitors’ thoughts on tech investment, employee growth, and industry obstacles. - [Preview the Forrester Consulting Total Economic Impact™ Study](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/preview-forrester-consulting-total-economic-impact-study.html) : Read a preview of the Forrester Consulting TEI™ study of the Plex Smart Manufacturing Platform to discover key findings, benefits, and insights. - [Feetures and Benefits: Lessons in Change, Growth, and Giving Back](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/feetures-and-benefits-lessons-change-growth-and-giving-back.html) : Plex DemandCaster customer Feetures leans on core values for healthy conflict resolution, engaged employees, generosity, and impressive growth. - [The People Behind the Platform: Jeff Bugayong, Director of Support Services](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/people-behind-platform-jeff-bugayong-director-support-services.html) : Have you met the people who make the Plex Smart Manufacturing Platform possible? This month, learn more about our Direct of Support Services Jeff Bugayong. - [Production Monitoring Software: Turning Insight into Action](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/production-monitoring-software-turning-insight-action.html) : With production monitoring software, valuable insights can lead to action, lower cost, process improvement, and better quality. - [The Importance of Quality KPIs in Manufacturing](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/importance-quality-kpis-manufacturing.html) : With the right KPIs for quality, a QMS system and production monitoring software can supercharge your quality benefits. - [The People Behind the Platform: Sami Naser, Account Development Representative](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/people-behind-platform-sami-naser-account-development-representative.html) : Have you met the people who make the Plex Smart Manufacturing Platform possible? This month, learn about our Account Development Representative Sami Naser. - [7 Food and Beverage Manufacturing Stats You’ve Never Seen (But Your Boss Will Care About)](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/7-food-and-beverage-manufacturing-stats-youve-never-seen-your-boss-will-care-about.html) : Looking for the food & beverage smart manufacturing stats that’ll capture the attention of your boss and other company leaders? We’ve got you covered. - [7 Manufacturing Stats You’ve Never Seen (But Your Boss Will Care About)](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/7-manufacturing-stats-youve-never-seen-your-boss-will-care-about.html) : Throw these smart manufacturing stats on your boss’s desk. You’ll be surprised how fast they buy in – and how fast you get that promotion you’ve wanted. - [Smart vs. Unsmart: Improving your Manufacturing Execution System Journey](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/smart-vs-unsmart-improving-your-manufacturing-execution-system-journey.html) : Make the smart decision for your food and beverage company. Solve supply chain headaches and much more by implementing the right manufacturing execution system. - [Smart vs. Unsmart Manufacturing Execution System Decisions: Which Are You Making?](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/smart-vs-unsmart-manufacturing-execution-system-decisions-which-are-you-making.html) : A smart manufacturing strategy has led you to consider implementing a manufacturing execution system, but not all are as smart as you think. - [Periodic vs. Perpetual Inventory: What’s the Difference?](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/periodic-vs-perpetual-inventory.html) : What is the difference between a periodic inventory system vs a perpetual inventory system? The answer lies in the methodology and software capability. - [3 Spooky Manufacturing Trends Haunting Your Halloween](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/3-spooky-manufacturing-trends-haunting-your-halloween.html) : Skip the scary movie – regardless of your industry, these three terrifying manufacturing trends are sure to send a chill down your spine. - [The People Behind the Platform: Kaushala Kandasamy, Sr. Manager of Cloud Operations](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/people-behind-platform-kaushala-kandasamy-sr-manager-cloud-operations.html) : Have you met those who make the Plex Smart Manufacturing Platform possible? This month, learn about our Sr. Manager of Cloud Operations Kaushala Kandasamy. - [The Importance of Quality Control in Manufacturing](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/importance-quality-control-manufacturing.html) : Quality control can make or break a manufacturing company. And for those looking to optimize their quality process, software can help. - [Plex Systems’ Nandini Srinivasan Honored with The Manufacturing Institute’s 2021 STEP Ahead Award](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/plex-systems-nandini-srinivasan-honored-manufacturing-institutes-2021-step-ahead-award.html) : Plex is proud to announce that Nandini Srinivasan, VP of Quality Assurance, has been named a 2021 STEP Ahead award winner by The Manufacturing Institute. - [How the Efficiency of Inventory Management Affects Your Company](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/how-efficiency-inventory-management-affects-your-company.html) : Efficient inventory management can drive more cash to operations and improve production processes. - [Starting Down Your Quality Journey: The Importance of Digitized Quality Processes (Part 1 of 3)](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/quality-journey-part-1-digitized-quality-processes.html) : Modernize your quality journey with data from IDC's Digital Manufacturing Study of 680 publicly traded manufacturers in part one of a new blog series. - [The People Behind the Platform: Marcus Jones, Mid-Market Account Executive](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/people-behind-platform-marcus-jones-mid-market-account-executive.html) : Have you met those who make the Plex Smart Manufacturing Platform possible? This month, learn more about our Mid-Market Account Executive Marcus Jones. - [The Role of Quality Assurance in Manufacturing](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/role-quality-assurance-manufacturing.html) : Quality assurance plays a big role in manufacturing. Coupling it with software optimizes quality and make continuous improvement of QA a reality. - [Progressing Down Your Quality Journey: Extending Quality Management into the Supply Chain (Part 2 of 3)](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/quality-journey-part-2-quality-management-supply-chain.html) : In part two of this guest blog series from IDC, explore how to modernize your quality journey while improving your supply chain. - [The Last Mile in Your Quality Journey: Building a Quality Culture for Continuous Improvement (Part 3 of 3)](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/quality-journey-part-3-quality-culture-for-continuous-improvement.html) : In part three of this guest blog series from IDC, learn how fostering a quality culture breaks down silos, allows teams to thrive, and empowers employees. - [Smarter, Together: What Does Influence Mean to Plex? (Part 1 of 4)](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/smarter-together-what-does-influence-mean.html) : In part one of this blog series, learn the four essential ways Plex approaches influence and how that makes us smarter, together. - [Inventory Valuation Methods – Which One Works for You?](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/inventory-valuation-methods-which-one-works-you.html) : Choosing the right inventory valuation method impacts taxes, COGS, and profitability. Inventory software provides greater confidence in that valuation. - [5 Steps for Improving Your Product Quality](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/5-steps-improving-your-product-quality.html) : Quality steps can improve production quality at the factory level. Combined with software, you can take that quality to the next level. - [The People Behind the Platform: Angie Sheperd, Director of Professional Services](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/people-behind-platform-angie-sheperd-director-professional-services.html) : Have you met the people who make the Plex Smart Manufacturing Platform possible? This month, learn about Angie Sheperd, Director of Professional Services. - [Smarter, Together: How Plex Customers Influence Product Direction (Part 2 of 4)](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/smarter-together-how-plex-customers-influence-product-direction.html) : In part two of this blog series, learn about seven ways Plex captures and utilizes customer influence for continuous improvement. - [IoT Traceability Software Eliminates Surprises in Manufacturing](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/iot-traceability-software-eliminates-surprises-manufacturing.html) : Traceability impacts safety, efficiency, and profitability. But IoT software can help manufacturers trace products end-to-end to deliver valuable insights. - [How OEE and Manufacturing Software Improves Efficiency](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/how-oee-and-manufacturing-software-improves-efficiency.html) : OEE can point out areas for improvement, but using advanced software to manage your OEE can provide greater insights resulting in higher OEE accuracy. - [Electricity, Sustainability, and Robots: Lessons from CES 2022](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/electricity-sustainability-and-robots-lessons-ces-2022.html) : Attending the 2022 Consumer Electronics Show gave me a glimpse at upcoming technologies that are likely to impact companies in the manufacturing industry. - [The People Behind the Platform: Lokesh Gupta, Director of Product, Plex APM, and Platform](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/people-behind-platform-lokesh-gupta-director-product-plex-apm-and-platform.html) : Have you met the people who make the Plex Smart Manufacturing Platform possible? This month, learn about Lokesh Gupta, Director of Product, APM, and Platform. - [Smarter, Together: Measuring Customer Influence at Plex (Part 3 of 4)](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/smarter-together-measuring-customer-influence.html) : In part three of this blog series, explore the specific key performance indicators and metrics that grant Plex a complete view of customer engagement. - [Monitoring, Tracing, and Tracking Manufacturing Processes: What’s the Difference?](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/monitoring-tracing-and-tracking-manufacturing-processes-whats-difference.html) : Tracking manufacturing processes is critical today. Smart manufacturing platforms can help monitor, track, and trace production for better efficiency. - [Smarter, Together: Connecting Customer Influence to Positive Business Outcomes (Part 4 of 4)](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/smarter-together-connecting-customer-influence-business-outcomes.html) : In the final post of this series, explore specific examples of how customer influence leads to achieving positive, tangible, and measurable business goals. - [The People Behind the Platform: Drew Flint, Distinguished Engineer](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/people-behind-platform-drew-flint-distinguished-engineer.html) : Have you met the people who make the Plex Smart Manufacturing Platform possible? This month, learn about our Distinguished Engineer Drew Flint. - [Understanding the Impact of the Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) Calculation](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/understanding-impact-overall-equipment-effectiveness-calculation.html) : Understanding the OEE calculation and how it works better informs decision-making. But when coupled with IoT software, OEE delivers even greater insight. - [Utilizing Automation in Manufacturing Processes: The Future Is Here](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/utilizing-automation-manufacturing-processes-future-here.html) : Today, using automation in manufacturing processes is a must. And with a robust smart manufacturing platform, companies can reach new levels of efficiency. - [Key Takeaways From the 7th Annual State of Smart Manufacturing Report](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/key-takeaways-7th-annual-state-smart-manufacturing-report.html) : Review these 3 key takeaways from the 7th Annual State of Smart Manufacturing Report to help your business adapt and grow strategically. - [9 Reasons for More Visibility in Your Manufacturing Plant](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/9-reasons-more-visibility-your-manufacturing-plant.html) : Gaining visibility in your manufacturing plant will help you drive continuous improvement, reduce scrap, limit downtime, and much more. - [The People Behind the Platform: Diana Robbins, Customer Communications and Programs Manager](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/people-behind-platform-diana-robbins-customer-communications-and-programs-manager.html) : Have you met those who make the Plex Smart Manufacturing Platform possible? This month, say hi to Customer Communications & Programs Manager Diana Robbins. - [Staying Competitive in 2022 and Beyond](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/staying-competitive-2022-and-beyond.html) : To help you stay competitive in the midst of change, here are some key stats to think about from the 2022 State of Smart Manufacturing Report. - [What Plex’s ISO/IEC 27001:2013 Security Certification Means for Manufacturers](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/iso-iec-27001-2013-security-certification.html) : Plex’s ISO/IEC 27001:2013 security certification means manufacturers can focus on what they do best knowing that their digital environment is safe. - [Seeing Through the Sales Pitch: 10 Questions to Ask ERP Vendors](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/seeing-through-sales-pitch-10-questions-to-ask-erp-vendors.html) : Ask ERP vendors these questions to uncover the facts you need to make a faster, informed, and appropriate decision for your manufacturing environment. - [Solving the Downtime Riddle](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/solving-downtime-riddle.html) : Downtime issues in manufacturing can feel like a complicated puzzle, but solving them will take more effort than solving your daily Wordle. - [The Top 3 Challenges Facing Manufacturers (and How to Solve Them)](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/top-3-challenges-facing-manufacturers-and-how-solve-them.html) : Let’s dig into the top challenges facing manufacturers like you and look at ways you can solve the problems holding your business back. - [Your 5 Steps to Smart Manufacturing Adoption](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/your-5-steps-smart-manufacturing-adoption.html) : You’ve heard that smart manufacturing can help you adapt to a changing market and unlock opportunity, but where do you start? - [The People Behind the Platform: Megan Fisher, Sales Development Team Lead](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/people-behind-platform-megan-fisher-sales-development-team-lead.html) : Have you met those who make the Plex Smart Manufacturing Platform possible? This month, say hi to Sales Development Team Lead Megan Fisher. - [Mobile Smart Manufacturing Platforms: The Parkour of the Plant Floor](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/mobile-smart-manufacturing-platforms-parkour-plant-floor.html) : Smart Manufacturing Mobile Applications can extend the reach and performance of a cloud-based platform even more, making you a production Parkour athlete. - [7 Reasons to Attend ROKLive 2022](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/7-reasons-attend-roklive-2022.html) : If you haven’t registered for ROKLive 2022, then we’ve got 7 reasons for you to attend the best manufacturing technology conference you’ll ever find. - [What Does the Future of Smart Manufacturing Look Like?](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/what-does-future-smart-manufacturing-look.html) : Discover the power of smart manufacturing solutions and trends in this example from Plex CTO Jerry Foster. - [Charging Ahead: Enabling Electric Vehicle Manufacturing with Smart Technology](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/enabling-electric-vehicle-manufacturing-smart-technology.html) : As electric vehicle ramps up and gasoline autos ramp down, Plex's smart manufacturing platform can help manage and overcome obstacles on the way to a digital and green future. - [Overcoming Challenges in the Food and Beverage Industry](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/overcoming-challenges-food-and-beverage-industry.html) : Manufacturers in the food and beverage industry are facing a number of challenges that can be overcome with the right insights and technology. - [Add These ROKLive Sessions to Your Agenda](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/add-these-roklive-sessions-your-agenda.html) : Whether you’ve registered for ROKLive 2022 or just want to learn more about the event, here are a few sessions you won’t want to miss. - [Digital Connectivity: The “Key” to Empowering Manufacturing Teams](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/digital-connectivity-key-empowering-manufacturing-teams.html) : Like the Florida Keys, manufacturing plants and interplant departments have traditionally been islands. But today, manufacturing doesn’t need to remain islanded and isolated in its own data. - [How Do 300+ Manufacturers Feel About Supply Chain Planning?](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/how-do-300-manufacturers-feel-about-supply-chain-planning.html) : Download the Supply Chain Planning Edition of the 7th Annual State of Smart Manufacturing Report to reveal the thoughts of 300+ manufacturers. - [Explore the Key Topics of ROKLive 2022](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/explore-key-topics-roklive-2022.html) : At ROKLive 2022, you’ll discover 100+ sessions covering the latest technologies, insights, and best practices organized within 14 easy-to-digest key topics. - [Why Cybersecurity Is Critical in Manufacturing](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/why-cybersecurity-critical-manufacturing.html) : As device proliferation continues and is embedded deeper into business operations, several factors point to the need for more robust security requirements within manufacturing. - [Automotive Manufacturing Is More Resilient Than Ever](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/automotive-manufacturing-more-resilient-ever.html) : Automotive manufacturers relied on technology to adapt well over the last few years, but studies show that there is still room to grow. - [Are You Meeting Ford’s FMEA Quality Software Requirements?](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/are-you-meeting-fords-fmea-quality-software-requirements.html) : Make sense of new Ford FMEA software requirements for automotive suppliers and learn how to remain in compliance with an application like Plex QMS. - [Skilled Trades in Manufacturing Are Evolving](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/skilled-trades-manufacturing-are-evolving.html) : As many people entering the workforce are questioning the value of a four-year degree, skilled trades in manufacturing are rightfully getting more attention. - [The Top 10 Moments of ROKLive 2022](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/top-10-moments-roklive-2022.html) : Whether you attended ROKLive 2022 or couldn’t make it, let’s look back at the most memorable moments of the best manufacturing conference of the year. - [Using a Smart Manufacturing Platform for System Consolidation](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/using-smart-manufacturing-platform-system-consolidation.html) : The Plex Smart Manufacturing Platform consolidates legacy software and harnesses your data to improve processes and decision-making. - [Benchmark Your Cybersecurity Strategy Against 300+ Manufacturers](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/benchmark-your-cybersecurity-strategy-against-300-manufacturers.html) : Download the Cybersecurity Edition of the 7th Annual State of Smart Manufacturing Report to reveal best practices from 300+ manufacturers. - [The People Behind the Platform: Jan Brezina, Senior Engagement Manager](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/people-behind-platform-jan-brezina-senior-engagement-manager.html) : Have you met the people who make the Plex Smart Manufacturing Platform possible? This month, learn about Senior Engagement Manager Jan Brezina. - [Don’t Let Digital Connectivity Be Your Nightclub Bouncer](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/dont-let-digital-connectivity-be-your-nightclub-bouncer.html) : Read on to find out how the Plex Smart Manufacturing Platform can drive value in your company by empowering everyone with access to the insights they need. - [The Benefits of ESG Initiatives in Manufacturing](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/benefits-esg-initiatives-manufacturing.html) : Implementing ESG initiatives helps manufacturers reduce emissions, attract exceptional talent, and increase profits by an average of 29%. - [How Smart Manufacturing Platforms Empower Sustainability](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/how-smart-manufacturing-platforms-empower-sustainability.html) : Sustainability is an increasingly important part of ESG for manufacturing. Smart manufacturing platforms have the capability to track sustainability variables accurately and control waste and cost. - [The People Behind the Platform: Ana Clérisse, Senior Delivery Consultant](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/people-behind-platform-ana-clerisse-senior-delivery-consultant.html) : Have you met the people who make the Plex Smart Manufacturing Platform possible? This month, learn about Senior Delivery Consultant Ana Clérisse. - [How Is Automation Changing the Manufacturing Sector?](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/how-automation-changing-manufacturing-sector.html) : Learn why investment in industrial automation and once-hyped technologies is accelerating for manufacturers of all shapes and sizes. - [The Digital Thread and Regulatory Challenges for Food and Beverage Manufacturers](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/digital-thread-and-regulatory-challenges-food-and-beverage-manufacturers.html) : A digital thread allows food and beverage companies to stay on top of changing regulations by automating critical data and compliance issues in real-time. - [A Guide to Process Automation](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/guide-process-automation.html) : Process automation was traditionally partial and fragmented. Today, smart manufacturing platforms make full automation a reality. - [How Risk and Complexity Are Linked in Manufacturing](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/how-risk-and-complexity-are-linked-manufacturing.html) : Risk rises as manufacturing complexity rises, and it's hard to manage this risk manually. But with a smart manufacturing platform, risk and complexity can be managed digitally. - [Your Answer for Managing Major Manufacturing Disruption](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/your-answer-managing-major-manufacturing-disruption.html) : Using a smart manufacturing platform and digital technology helps businesses close gaps and optimize business processes during disruption. - [Enhancing Product Validation and Testing with the 2022 Innovator Impact Award Winner](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/enhancing-product-validation-and-testing-2022-innovator-impact-award-winner.html) : The 2022 Innovator Impact Award winner reinvented product validation and testing while improving productivity and reducing costs. Congrats to Accuride! - [Preparing for the Future with the 2022 Industry Leader Impact Award Winner](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/preparing-future-2022-industry-leader-impact-award-winner.html) : The 2022 Industry Leader Impact Award winner expanded into multiple facilities while preparing for the future. Congrats to Old World Spices & Seasonings! - [The Shift to Electric Vehicles and Its Impact on Automotive Suppliers](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/shift-electric-vehicles-and-its-impact-automotive-suppliers.html) : Explore recent statistics that show how automotive suppliers are adapting to EV production while pivoting budgets and processes accordingly. - [Streamlining Production with the 2022 Business Operations Transformer Impact Award Winner](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/streamlining-production-2022-business-operations-transformer-impact-award-winner.html) : The 2022 Business Operations Transformer Award winner consolidated systems while leveraging real-time data to the fullest. Congrats to Kendrick Plastics! - [The People Behind the Platform: Carly Pascaretta, Associate Customer Success Manager](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/people-behind-platform-carly-pascaretta-associate-customer-success-manager.html) : Have you met the people who make the Plex Smart Manufacturing Platform possible? This month, learn about Associate Customer Success Manager Carly Pascaretta. - [North American Food Safety and Quality: Your NAFS22 Recap](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/north-american-food-safety-and-quality-your-nafs22-recap.html) : NAFS22 set the stage for sharing quality insights, ideas, and best practices for food and beverage manufacturers. Enjoy these top takeaways! - [What IIoT Can Do for Manufacturers](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/what-iiot-can-do-manufacturers.html) : IIoT combined with a smart manufacturing platform will improve your company's performance to help you stay competitive and improve bottom-line results. - [When You Don’t Know What’s Broken: Fighting Frightening Manufacturing Monsters](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/fighting-frightening-manufacturing-monsters.html) : Don't let unfamiliar sounds and scary data send you into a panic. Using a smart manufacturing platform improves quality and productivity to unlock hidden treats. - [The Machines Are Not out to Get You: Making AI Work for Your Manufacturing Operation](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/machines-are-not-out-get-you-making-ai-work-your-manufacturing-operation.html) : AI in manufacturing is now a reality. By demystifying its application, manufacturers can determine the best way to put it to work in their operations. - [Manufacturing Execution Systems: How MES KPIs Inform and Predict](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/manufacturing-execution-systems-how-mes-kpis-inform-and-predict.html) : MES KPIs provide insights that help manufacturers enhance visibility and control over the production floor while connecting the enterprise with data. - [The People Behind the Platform: Nagesh Kadam, Sr. Technical Support Rep](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/people-behind-platform-nagesh-kadam-sr-technical-support-rep.html) : Have you met the people who make the Plex Smart Manufacturing Platform possible? This month, learn about Sr. Technical Support Rep Nagesh Kadam. - [Industry 4.0: Go Big or Go Small - Just Go](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/industry-4-0-go-big-or-go-small-just-go.html) : Industry 4.0 technologies level the playing field for small companies. A smart manufacturing platform can help large and small companies improve processes incrementally or "all-in." - [Leverage Your Data to Unlock Hidden Capacity and Supercharge Processes](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/leverage-your-data-unlock-hidden-capacity-and-supercharge-processes.html) : Lower costs and increase throughput when you unlock hidden capacity in your organization’s most expensive components: your manufacturing equipment. - [Production Monitoring KPIs – Greater Visibility Means Higher Production](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/production-monitoring-kpis-greater-visibility-means-higher-production.html) : Production monitoring software offers greater visibility in manufacturing. This visibility produces KPIs that improve productivity and increase efficiency. - [Quality Management in an Age of Disruptive Supply Chains](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/quality-management-age-disruptive-supply-chains.html) : Quality management is always challenging. But with massive disruption to supply chains, it's impossible to manage properly without a smart manufacturing platform. - [What Your Clipboard Won’t Tell You, Your Data Will](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/what-your-clipboard-wont-tell-you-your-data-will.html) : Manual data collection is error-prone, biased, and subject to omissions. A smart manufacturing platform can empower your data to reveal what clipboards won't. - [The Future of Automotive: Your 2022 OESA Supplier Conference Recap](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/future-automotive-your-2022-oesa-supplier-conference-recap.html) : This year’s OESA automotive supplier conference featured industry experts covering topics including EV production, the workforce shortage, and innovation. - [The Right MES Is Out There: Industry Experts Make Their Picks](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/right-mes-out-there-industry-experts-make-their-picks.html) : When it’s time to implement a manufacturing execution system, rely on these trusted industry analysts reports as you do your research. - [ERP KPIs: Not Just for Execs Anymore](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/erp-kpis-not-just-execs-anymore.html) : Long considered an exclusive part of executive decision-making, ERP systems work hand in hand with smart manufacturing platforms to deliver powerful KPIs to the manufacturing floor. - [From Farm to Factory: How Fertilizer and Material Shortages Affect Food and Beverage Manufacturers](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/farm-factory-how-fertilizer-and-material-shortages-affect-food-and-beverage-manufacturers.html) : Fertilizer shortages compound an already difficult era of disruption for food and beverage manufacturers. A smart manufacturing platform is the most effective way to address these challenges. - [Cure Your Downtime Blues with Smart Platform Views](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/cure-your-downtime-blues-smart-platform-views.html) : Downtime causes the blues for everyone, but relying on smart manufacturing principles helps limit downtime, improve operations, and increase efficiency. - [Your 6 Steps to Quality Management Success](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/your-6-steps-quality-management-success.html) : Whether you’ve found the right QMS for your manufacturing company or are still searching, these 6 steps to quality management success are a must. - [Using a Smart Manufacturing Platform to Empower Overall Equipment Effectiveness](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/using-smart-manufacturing-platform-empower-overall-equipment-effectiveness.html) : OEE is a powerful tool for improving performance. A smart manufacturing platform empowers OEE beyond manual data to dig into deeper insights for action. - [Plan – Do – Check – Act: An Essential Quality Management System Framework](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/plan-do-check-act-essential-quality-management-system-framework.html) : When it comes to your quality management system, relying on the Plan, Do, Check, Act framework ensures compliance while meeting modern customer needs. - [Workforce, Quality, and Technology: Old Struggles, New Angles](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/workforce-quality-and-technology-old-struggles-new-angles.html) : Did you miss PMA’s Metal Stamping Technology Conference? Then these quick stats, trends, and overall highlights are for you. - [Seize Opportunities for Growth with the 8th Annual State of Smart Manufacturing Report](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/seize-opportunities-growth-8th-annual-state-smart-manufacturing-report.html) : Move your business forward with these key takeaways from over 1,350 manufacturers in the 8th Annual State of Smart Manufacturing Report. - [A New Look at the Cost of Quality](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/new-look-cost-quality.html) : Learn how the cost of quality KPI can be transformed into a goal of 100% quality with smart manufacturing software. - [Where Did My Product Demand Go?](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/where-did-my-product-demand-go.html) : Learn how machine learning can help manage demand and remove the surprise from supply chain planning. - [How Smart Manufacturing Lets You Create the KPIs You Need](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/how-smart-manufacturing-lets-you-create-kpis-you-need.html) : Rely on smart manufacturing KPIs to empower every member of your organization with real-time, actionable data that can progress your strategy and goals. - [Walking a Tightrope: How Automotive Manufacturers Find Balance in Digital Transformation](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/walking-tightrope-how-automotive-manufacturers-find-balance-digital-transformation.html) : Learn how automotive manufacturers can use smart manufacturing technology to keep their balance in a new digital age. - [Where Did My Raw Materials Go?](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/where-did-my-raw-materials-go.html) : Advanced demand and supply planning software from Plex DemandCaster makes visibility a priority to help you stay ahead of the competition. - [Key Takeaways from the Smart Manufacturing Software Buyer's Guide](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/key-takeaways-smart-manufacturing-software-buyers-guide.html) : Smart manufacturing is the only way to address the challenges manufacturing faces today. Here are a few of the key takeaways from the Plex Smart Manufacturing Buyer's Guide. - [The 3 Pillars of Effective Sales and Operations Plans](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/3-pillars-effective-sales-and-operations-plans.html) : The three pillars of effective sales and operations plans affect nearly everything you do, including promotions, pricing, inventory management, and supplier. - [The Role of Salespeople in the Demand Planning Process](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/role-salespeople-demand-planning-process.html) : Building strong relationships with your sales teams can offer significant advantages. Learn more about the role of salespeople in the demand planning process. - [Are Product Reviews part of your S&OP Process?](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/are-product-reviews-part-your-sop-process.html) : Do you review your product portfolio on a regular basis? Assess profitability or potential profit-loss, demand behaviors, life-cycle management and more here. - [E&O Inventory Management](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/eo-inventory-management.html) : Inventory is an ongoing challenge for companies - especially if it's considered outdated and over-stocked. Learn more about E&O inventory management here. - [MRP and Inventory Management](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/mrp-and-inventory-management.html) : In the world of inventory management, there is a term, Excess & Obsolete, E&O, used to designate two classes of undesirable inventory. Find out more here. - [Is Poor Inventory Management Creating Chaos in Your House?](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/poor-inventory-management-creating-chaos-your-house.html) : Is your poor inventory management creating chaos in your house? Planning for changes in demand for products is a situation everyone has to deal with. - [5 Ways to Reduce Lead Times in Your Supply Chain](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/5-ways-reduce-lead-times-your-supply-chain.html) : The single biggest frustration a customer will have with any business is waiting. These five tips can help you reduce lead times in your supply chain. - [Chief Supply Chain Officer Responsibilities](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/chief-supply-chain-officer-responsibilities.html) : Supply chain planning requires the implementation of best practices in network design and demand forecasting. We cover this and all the responsibilities of a Chief Supply Chain Officer. - [The Difference Between S&OP and Budgeting & Why It Matters](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/difference-between-sop-and-budgeting-why-it-matters.html) : Discover the easiest way to understand the difference between sales and operations planning and budgeting with PLEX DemandCaster. - [Emerging New Trends Changing Supply Chain Management Today](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/emerging-new-trends-changing-supply-chain-management-today.html) : What are the current trends in supply chain management? This article covers six key trends causing significant impact and change to the supply chain. - [5 Most Common Mistakes Made in Sales Forecasting](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/5-most-common-mistakes-made-sales-forecasting.html) : Businesses must cope with fluctuations in demand, supply of raw materials, and shipping. Read these five common mistakes made in sales forecasting. - [5 Warning Signs of Ineffective Demand Planning](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/5-warning-signs-ineffective-demand-planning.html) : When properly executed, demand planning puts you in the best position to deliver exceptional customer service while improving profitability. In contrast, both of those goals are often at risk when demand planning is ineffective. You can head off problems by looking for early signs that your demand planning efforts may be “less than stellar” and need some improvement. Before getting to those, a definition is in order. - [What is the Difference between Planning and Scheduling?](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/what-difference-between-planning-and-scheduling.html) : Any company with operations and production will be dealing with planning and scheduling challenges. This article covers both critical functions in more detail. - [What Is Lead Time Variability and How Can You Beat It?](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/what-lead-time-variability-and-how-can-you-beat-it.html) : Lead time variability is a problem in any supply chain/manufacturing environment. Learn more about lead time variability and how you beat the system. - [The Benefits of Operational Planning](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/benefits-operational-planning.html) : Sales and Operation Planning (S&OP) could be the least understood aspect in Supply Chain. Learn more about the benefits of operational planning here. - [Sales & Operations Planning: The Key to Managing Change](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/sales-operations-planning-key-managing-change.html) : Discover the key to managing change in your sales & operation planning. We have highlighted the bedrock principle of supply chain management for manufacturers. - [Integrating Planning and Scheduling: How Is It Done?](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/integrating-planning-and-scheduling-how-it-done.html) : Modern manufacturing operations are constantly challenged to be flexible, yet efficient. Find out how to integrate planning and scheduling here. - [Demand Management: Linking the Market to Operations Management](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/demand-management-linking-market-operations-management.html) : All businesses, whether they're commercial companies or non-profit altruistic enterprises, can manage demand by linking the market to operations management. - [The Forecast and the Plan: What’s the Difference?](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/forecast-and-plan-whats-difference.html) : Imagine a new professional, walking into her first Sales and Operations Planning Meeting at the multinational corporation who hired her only a few weeks earlier. This is a big moment for the new employee.The meeting might be awash with numbers, spreadsheets, graphs, and interactions between people that she doesn’t yet understand completely. Managers might talk a language that is rather unfamiliar. She understandably may feel somewhat overwhelmed. - [Relationship between supply logistics and supply chain management with technology](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/relationship-between-supply-logistics-and-supply-chain-management-technology.html) : Technology is changing just about every industry today. Find out more about the relationship between supply logistics and SCM within technology. - [The Future of Inventory Management: Five Predictions](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/future-inventory-management-five-predictions.html) : For many companies, inventory management is where all the elements of the supply chain converge. Find our five predictions for the future here. - [MRP – A Key Enabler of Agile Manufacturing](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/mrp-key-enabler-agile-manufacturing.html) : Over its roughly fifty-year lifespan, Material Requirements Planning (MRP) has become a key enabler of agile manufacturing. Learn more here. - [Smart Manufacturing Concept Defined](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/smart-manufacturing-concept-defined.html) : What exactly is the smart manufacturing concept? Dave Turbide says it comes down to visibility and connectivity. Find out more here. - [The Long and the Short of It: Variables in Managing Long and Short Supply Chain Legs](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/long-and-short-it-variables-managing-long-and-short-supply-chain-legs.html) : Supply chain planning can be a daunting task. As economies globalize at a faster rate, just keeping pace will become increasingly difficult. - [Demand Planning: What Is It and Why Do You Need It?](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/demand-planning-what-it-and-why-do-you-need-it.html) : Estimating future demand is one of the most valuable activities your organization can undertake. Learn more about demand planning and why it's important. - [What is CPFR in supply chain?](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/what-cpfr-supply-chain.html) : CPFR stands for collaborative planning, forecasting, and replenishment. You can learn more about CPFR and its role in the supply chain here. - [The Importance of Effectively Managing Raw Materials Inventory](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/importance-effectively-managing-raw-materials-inventory.html) : Discover the importance of effectively managing raw materials inventory in a world where sourcing, producing and delivering products is increasingly complex. - [Do You Know the True Cost of Your Supply Chain?](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/do-you-know-true-cost-your-supply-chain.html) : Many product companies are beginning to see aspects of their supply chain increasing in complexity. Do you know the true cost of your supply chain? - [Demand Planning vs. Supply Planning: Balance is the Key to Success](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/demand-planning-vs-supply-planning-balance-key-success.html) : Organizations that manage a supply chain have to continually balance a number of priorities. This article covers Demand Planning vs Supply Planning. - [Computational thinking in today’s industry](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/computational-thinking-todays-industry.html) : Learn more about computational thinking in today's industry. This article includes useful information for manufacturers and a definition from Industry Week. - [What makes a great demand planner?](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/what-makes-great-demand-planner.html) : What characteristics does a great demand planner have? Most importantly, they can solve complex problems. Being creative and objective is a vital part of their job! - [Seven Advantages of Integrated Demand and Supply Planning](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/seven-advantages-integrated-demand-and-supply-planning.html) : Teamwork, practice, and a clear strategy are essential for integrated demand and supply planning. Find seven advantages of developing an integrated strategy here. - [S&OP vs. SIOP: What’s the Difference?](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/sop-vs-siop-whats-difference.html) : There are small differences between sales and operation planning (S&OP) and sales, inventory and operations (SIOP). Find out what they are in this article. - [Nine Factors That Influence Inventory Planning and Optimization](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/nine-factors-influence-inventory-planning-and-optimization.html) : Inventory planning is hard to do. As supply chain complexity continues to expand, more and more factors are influencing planning and optimization. - [Forecast vs. Demand Plan - do you know the difference?](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/forecast-vs-demand-plan-do-you-know-difference.html) : Do you know the difference between a forecast vs. demand plan? We provide a definition for both and explain key differences here. - [Calculating Safety Stock: Simpler Might Not be Better](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/calculating-safety-stock-simpler-might-not-be-better.html) : Safety stock is the extra stock you maintain to mitigate the risk of running out of raw materials. Find out how to calculate your safety stock here. - [How do you choose your aggregation levels?](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/how-do-you-choose-your-aggregation-levels.html) : Traditionally you could choose top-down or bottom-up, but that is not necessarily the case anymore. Find out how to choose your aggregation levels here. - [Sales and Operations Execution for the Short Term](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/sales-and-operations-execution-short-term.html) : Sales and operations planning usually looks ahead at least three months, so short term execution can often be a problem. Find out more here. - [Demand and Supply Planning in Unpredictable Times](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/demand-and-supply-planning-unpredictable-times.html) : Managing day-to-day operations and accommodating customer needs is challenging. Learn more about demand and supply planning in unpredictable times. - [The Method in the Madness – Choosing the Best Demand Planning Method](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/method-madness-choosing-best-demand-planning-method.html) : Aligning demand with supply is a critical function for any company. This article helps businesses find a demand planning method that works for them. - [How Demand Planning Fits into Integrated Business Planning](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/how-demand-planning-fits-integrated-business-planning.html) : Companies should be looking to align the processes in their supply chain. This article covers how demand planning fits into integrated business planning. - [Strategies for Optimizing Customer Service Levels](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/strategies-optimizing-customer-service-levels.html) : Discover our recommendations for optimizing your customer service levels to improve efficiency and achieve operational excellence. - [6 Tips to Improve Inventory Management through Automation](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/6-tips-improve-inventory-management-through-automation.html) : For companies with outdated or manual systems, these six tips will help managers and decision-makers improve inventory management through automation. - [6 Questions that will Improve Your Capacity Planning Strategy](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/6-questions-will-improve-your-capacity-planning-strategy.html) : Capacity planning has always been a core strategic process in the manufacturing industries. These six questions will help you optimize your planning strategy. - [Top 5 Production Capacity Planning Challenges You Should Know](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/top-5-production-capacity-planning-challenges-you-should-know.html) : Modern manufacturing is a complex endeavor. That's why we've put together a list of production capacity planning challenges manufacturers should know about. - [5 Steps to Digitize Your Inventory Planning Process](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/5-steps-digitize-your-inventory-planning-process.html) : Many companies cite "inventory optimization" as a goal. With these five steps, you can digitize your inventory planning process. - [A Comprehensive Guide to Predictive Inventory Planning and Management](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/comprehensive-guide-predictive-inventory-planning-and-management.html) : Inventory management remains an important operational feature that determines the successes and failures of enterprises. Read our comprehensive guide here. - [5 Tips to Hacking Distribution Requirement Planning in the Food and Beverage Industry](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/5-tips-hacking-distribution-requirement-planning-food-and-beverage-industry.html) : One-third of our food and drink goes to waste. Read our five expert tips on hacking distribution requirement planning in the food and beverage industry. - [5 Keys to Managing Supply Chain Planning in Uncertain Times](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/5-keys-managing-supply-chain-planning-uncertain-times.html) : With the world having been plunged into uncertainty during the COVID-19 pandemic, it's more important than ever for businesses to manage their supply chain. - [Demand Forecast Accuracy - A Better Way to Fight the Bullwhip Effect](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/demand-forecast-accuracy-better-way-fight-bullwhip-effect.html) : With robust analytics and visualization of real-time data, DemandCaster can improve demand forecast accuracy to tame the bullwhip effect. - [Supply Chain Planning to the Rescue - Cash Flow Management During COVID-19](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/supply-chain-planning-rescue-cash-flow-management-during-covid-19.html) : During the best of times, managing cash flow can be challenging. This article covers how supply chain planning can help businesses cope after COVID-19. - [Safety Stock How Much is Too Much (or too Little)?](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/safety-stock-how-much-too-much-or-too-little.html) : Do we really know how to get levels of safety stock balanced? This article has information on how much is too much (or too little) safety stock. - [Capacity Planning in Today's Uncertain Environment](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/capacity-planning-todays-uncertain-environment.html) : Simply put, "capacity planning" is the process businesses use to make decisions on how much capacity is needed to meet demand. Find out more here. - [Supply Chain Planning in a Recession](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/supply-chain-planning-recession.html) : COVID-19 brought unprecedented disruption to supply chains. This article offers advice to business leaders planning their supply chain during a recession. - [Consumption-Based Planning - Danger Ahead](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/consumption-based-planning-danger-ahead.html) : Before we talk about consumption-based planning, here’s a cautionary tale. On dark, curvy roads during bad weather, warning signs and lights are critical in helping prevent accidents. If the signs are too close to the curve, momentum and slow response can spell disaster. But even the location of the sign can be a relative factor; with speed, vehicle weight, vehicle size, and experience of the driver all contributing to the ability to navigate safely past the danger ahead. - [Advantages of Cloud vs. On Premises Planning Software](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/advantages-cloud-vs-premises-planning-software.html) : For companies considering the purchase of supply chain planning software, one major decision to be made up-front is whether to purchase on-premises or cloud-based software. Traditionally, on-premises software applications were the norm. These systems offered automation, advanced features, and the ability to improve productivity and accuracy within supply chains. - [Contextualizing Inventory for Planning](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/contextualizing-inventory-planning.html) : Contextualizing inventory for planning can help companies manage their supply chains after a few years of uncertainty. Find out more here. - [How Data Accuracy in Your ERP Impacts Supply Chain Planning](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/how-data-accuracy-your-erp-impacts-supply-chain-planning.html) : Understanding how data accuracy in your ERP impacts supply planning will support companies looking for new ways to streamline their business processes. - [6 Best MRP Practices For Manufacturers](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/6-best-mrp-practices-manufacturers.html) : Manufacturers utilizing MRP to plan material requirements can ensure data integrity and accuracy using these six best practices. - [Low Forecast Inventory Accuracy and the Impact on Inventory](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/low-forecast-inventory-accuracy-and-impact-inventory.html) : Find out more about people's attitudes towards forecast inventory accuracy and what impact this can have on inventory management. - [The Delicate Balance of Safety Stock vs. Safety Time](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/delicate-balance-safety-stock-vs-safety-time.html) : With disruption such as COVID-19 rapidly shifting consumer tastes, market volatility, and human error, the threat of both overstock and stockouts is always present. On the one hand, companies strive to have enough stock available to manage their order position and fulfill service level agreements. On the other, excess inventory can drive up costs and restrict cash flow. So what part does safety stock or safety time play in this? - [Supply Chain Affects Everyone — Outlining KPIs and Metrics for Leaders and Decision-Makers](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/supply-chain-affects-everyone-outlining-kpis-and-metrics-leaders-and-decision-makers.html) : Decisions made by managers and business leaders defines the success of any enterprise. Learn how to outline KPIs and metrics for the supply chain. - [Forecasting and Demand Planning in the Age of Machine Learning](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/forecasting-and-demand-planning-age-machine-learning.html) : With the right demand planning strategy, you can supercharge forecasts to optimize your inventory and make your manufacturing environment more proactive. - [2021 State of Supply Chain Planning](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/2021-state-supply-chain-planning.html) : As 2021 begins to take shape, leaders are looking for guidance on what to expect next. This article covers the current state of supply chain planning. - [Unlocking Hidden Value: The Worth of Supply Chain Planning](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/unlocking-hidden-value-worth-supply-chain-planning.html) : Today's global commerce is driven by massive supply chains. This article explains the value of planning and it's role in unlocking hidden value in your supply chain. - [How Supply Chain Planning Impacts Business Agility](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/how-supply-chain-planning-impacts-business-agility.html) : As disruptions impact companies worldwide, business innovation has taken on a new urgency, Find out how supply chain planning is impacting business agility. - [Demand Planning in Food and Beverage: Keeping it Agile](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/demand-planning-food-and-beverage-keeping-it-agile.html) : There has rarely been a time when the need for agility in demand planning for food and beverage was more evident than now. Learn more here. - [When it’s Time to Come Home – Reshoring and Supply Chain Planning](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/when-its-time-come-home-reshoring-and-supply-chain-planning.html) : Discover why the implications of reshoring and supply chain planning are important for businesses. Find out everything you need to know with DemandCaster. - [Automotive Demand Planning – Staying Agile in Today’s Environment](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/automotive-demand-planning-staying-agile-todays-environment.html) : The automotive industry must learn to cope with one of the most complex supply chains in the world to meet demand. Learn more about demand planning here. - [Leveraging Demand and Supply Planning to Unlock the Value of MRP](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/leveraging-demand-and-supply-planning-unlock-value-mrp.html) : With a robust MRP system, manufacturers can better control inventory, plan production accurately, and optimize their workflow. Learn more here. - [From Volatile to Value-driven – Forecasting in an Uncertain World](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/volatile-value-driven-forecasting-uncertain-world.html) : Forecasting in a complex supply chain has always been challenging. Discover how businesses can optimize their supply chains to capture the highest value. - [Inventory Optimization During Disruption](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/inventory-optimization-during-disruption.html) : Following a series of significant disruptions in recent years, supply chain professionals are searching for ways to optimize their inventory. - [The Role of Demand Planning KPIs in Supply Chain Management](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/role-demand-planning-kpis-supply-chain-management.html) : What are demand planning KPIs? KPIs are a critical part of demand planning and software can improve their accuracy. Learn more here. - [The Challenges in Global Supply Chain Management](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/challenges-global-supply-chain-management.html) : With unprecedented disruptions, global supply chain management faces more challenges than ever before. Learn more about these challenges with Plex DemandCaster. - [Taking Stock – How World Events are Continuing to Shape Supply Chain Strategy](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/taking-stock-how-world-events-are-continuing-shape-supply-chain-strategy.html) : This article looks at how recent global events have affected supply chain planning, with an in-depth examination of the bullwhip effect. - [Demand Forecasting vs. Demand Planning: What’s the Difference?](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/demand-forecasting-vs-demand-planning-whats-difference.html) : What's the difference between demand forecasting and planning? Understanding the distinction can help you choose software to manage complex demand issues. - [Dealing with Today’s Supply Chain Issues](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/dealing-todays-supply-chain-issues.html) : Today's supply chain issues offer enormous challenges. From labor shortages to port congestion, software can help navigate demand. - [The Impact of Technology in Supply Chain Management](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/impact-technology-supply-chain-management.html) : New and emerging technology doesn't have to operate alone. It can be combined with powerful supply chain management software to deliver actionable insights. - [Demand Planning Models in Today’s Manufacturing Environment](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/demand-planning-models-todays-manufacturing-environment.html) : Demand models involve complex data sets and calculations. Using software can help mature demand planning systems and increase forecast accuracy. - [How Demand Planning and Inventory Management Work Hand in Hand](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/how-demand-planning-and-inventory-management-work-hand-hand.html) : Traditionally, demand planning and inventory management operated in different worlds. Technology and software now allow the two to work together. - [Which Demand Planning Certifications Are Right for You?](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/which-demand-planning-certifications-are-right-you.html) : There are many demand planning certifications. Using Demand and Supply Planning software from DemandCaster means you make the most of your training. - [The Ins and Outs of the End-to-End Supply Chain](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/ins-and-outs-end-end-supply-chain.html) : With the advancement of technology and software development, an end-to-end supply chain is a reality. See how DemandCaster turns data into end-to-end insights. - [How to Improve Supply Chain Management in a Complex World](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/how-improve-supply-chain-management-complex-world.html) : With unprecedented disruption, supply chain managers must review current practices to improve supply chain management in a complex world. - [The Basics of Supply Chain Management Applications](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/basics-supply-chain-management-applications.html) : Web-based Supply Chain Management applications make demand planning more accurate. With better forecasting, companies hit their deliveries with confidence. - [Inventory Management Tips for Small Businesses](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/inventory-management-tips-small-businesses.html) : Read our inventory management tips for small businesses. Plex software can improve accuracy and drive value without tying up cash. - [Supply Chain Management Skills for Today’s New Normal](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/supply-chain-management-skills-todays-new-normal.html) : With advancing technology intersecting with unprecedented disruption, supply chain professionals should improve their skills to meet new challenges. - [The Benefits of Constrained Capacity Production Leveling](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/benefits-constrained-capacity-production-leveling.html) : Plex DemandCaster's new Constrained Capacity Production Leveling ties production to capacity for smoother production processes. Learn more here. - [Can Your Supply Chain Adapt to Changes?](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/can-your-supply-chain-adapt-changes.html) : Demand and supply planning must adapt to be agile, flexible, transparent, and rely on data and software to navigate the new normal. - [Securing Your Supply Chain Plan](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/securing-your-supply-chain-plan.html) : Learn how advanced security helps Plex DemandCaster provide best-in-class supply chain planning software that protects your data while optimizing your supply chain. - [Are You Wasting Your Planner’s Time?](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/are-you-wasting-your-planners-time.html) : Demand and supply planning requires focus. New technology can reduce non-value-added tasks and let planners do what they do best. - [New Machine Learning Feature for the Plex DemandCaster Advanced Business Planning Software](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/new-machine-learning-feature-plex-demandcaster-advanced-business-planning-software.html) : This machine learning feature is an addition to Plex DemandCaster's Advanced Business Planning software that helps planners realize more accuracy. - [What Changes Can You Make to Lower Your Inventory Cost?](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/what-changes-can-you-make-lower-your-inventory-cost.html) : Using cloud-based software from Plex DemandCaster, companies can rely on accurate data to manage inventory and implement optimization strategies effectively. - [How Much Value Can Supply Chain Planning Unlock for Your Business?](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/how-much-value-can-supply-chain-planning-unlock-your-business.html) : Supply chain planning is vital to scheduling, managing demand, and filling orders. Discover the value supply chain planning can unlock for your business. - [What Tools Do You Have for Planning and Managing Your Supply Chain?](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/what-tools-do-you-have-planning-and-managing-your-supply-chain.html) : Supply chain planners need the right tools to forecast correctly. Demand and supply planning software from DemandCaster means you have the right tool every time. - [Who Should be Involved in the Supply Chain Planning Process?](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/who-should-be-involved-supply-chain-planning-process.html) : Supply chain planning is a team effort. Plex DemandCaster Supply Chain Planning software allows companies to use near real-time data to create agile teams. - [How Can Your Supply Chain Planning be Improved?](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/how-can-your-supply-chain-planning-be-improved.html) : Supply chain planning can make or break an operation. Use best-in-class software to automate supply chain planning and improve your supply chain planning processes. - [How Consistent is Your Planning Process?](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/how-consistent-your-planning-process.html) : How consistent is your planning process? Use best-in-class planning software from Plex DemandCaster to ensure your planning process is consistent. - [Which KPIs Should You Use for Supply Chain Planning?](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/which-kpis-should-you-use-supply-chain-planning.html) : Using demand and supply software to accurately track KPIs using real-time data helps planners manage the supply chain with confidence. - [Does Your Supply Chain Differentiate You from Your Competitors?](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/does-your-supply-chain-differentiate-you-your-competitors.html) : A data-driven, automated supply chain will help your company stand out among competitors. Read here to find out how an effective supply chain plan improves performance. - [That's Just Your Opinion](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/thats-just-your-opinion.html) : Demand and supply planning was as much an art form as a science for many decades. The process was guided by human intuition, gut feeling, and experience and was aided by tools such as calculators and spreadsheets. These were all combined to produce forecasting that was an assumption at best and highly variable at worst. Software increased forecasting accuracy, reducing the height of the peaks and depths of the valleys in terms of variance. - [Simmer Down! Bringing Balance to Your Supply Chain Plans](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/simmer-down-bringing-balance-your-supply-chain-plans.html) : Sometimes it seems supply chains are coming apart at the seams and overheating due to disruption. Bring balance to your supply chain with DemandCaster. - [Put Your Best Face Forward](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/put-your-best-face-forward.html) : The supply chain for health and beauty manufacturing carries many unique challenges. Our Demand and Supply Planning software can help manage these challenges. - [Unbox Your Inventory Strategy](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/unbox-your-inventory-strategy.html) : The threat of disruption and inflation has presented supply chain management with new challenges. Unbox your inventory strategy with Plex DemandCaster. - [Just Ship it Already!](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/just-ship-it-already.html) : Discover how software by Plex DemandCaster helps automate forecasting, manage supply chains in real time, and reduce or eliminates waste and overages. - [Lock it Down with Supply Chain Planning Software](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/lock-it-down-supply-chain-planning-software.html) : Read here to learn how supply chain planning software streamlines and automates supplier relationships and adds value for both parties. - [Don't Get Too Close to the Flame](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/dont-get-too-close-flame.html) : Plex DemandCaster Demand and Supply Software lets planning professionals use data-driven insights to navigate successfully and stay away from the flames. - [Dial in Quality with Smart Manufacturing](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/dial-quality-smart-manufacturing.html) : Smart manufacturing isn't just about production rates - it can enable amazing quality improvements at a level not possible by human management alone. - [Where Did My Inventory Go?](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/where-did-my-inventory-go.html) : Missing inventory can be maddening, increasing costs and rippling through the supply chain. Learn how Plex DemandCaster can help. - [Where Did My Profit Go?](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/where-did-my-profit-go.html) : No one wants to lose profits. But it's especially hard when you don't know where they went. Demand and supply planning software will help you find your profit and then some. - [Clearing Your Manufacturing Hurdles with the Right Software](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/clearing-your-manufacturing-hurdles-right-software.html) : Manufacturing is a lot like a hurdle race, with many barriers to clear in pursuit of success. Smart manufacturing software can help companies clear these hurdles with energy and time to spare. - [Beating the Devil in the Details](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/beating-devil-details.html) : Smart manufacturing software lets you drill down to the details to understand what is happening and why. The trends uncovered lead to higher quality and greater productivity. - [Take Us to Your Leader](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/take-us-your-leader.html) : Smart manufacturing leverages many new and emerging technologies to improve processes and transform companies. - [Where Did My Quality Go?](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/where-did-my-quality-go.html) : Demand and supply planning software links your entire supply chain to the quality process to identify areas for improvement. - [Supply Chain Technology Adoption: Opportunities and Obstacles](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/supply-chain-technology-adoption-opportunities-and-obstacles.html) : This year’s State of Smart Manufacturing Report revealed the supply chain opportunities and obstacles for over 1,300 manufacturers. - [Improving Operator Efficiency with Asset Performance Management KPIs](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/improving-operator-efficiency-asset-performance-management-kpis.html) : Learn how asset performance management KPIs empower operators to increase their efficiency and align with long-term goals. - [Where Did My Production Data Go?](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/where-did-my-production-data-go.html) : Manual processes mean missing data and inaccurate KPIs. Using production data management software lets you create a strong digital foundation to make accurate decisions with precise and dynamic KPIs. - [Where Did My Machine Data Go?](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/where-did-my-machine-data-go.html) : Companies that use APM software to capture data and automate processes can build a robust digital foundation that drives their internal supply chain. - [Bring in the Cat and Lock the Door: Securing Your Manufacturing Data](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/bring-cat-and-lock-door-securing-your-manufacturing-data.html) : Your smart manufacturing data needs to be behind a strong and secure door. Here are some threats to consider when choosing the right smart manufacturing software. - [Make Compliance a Value-Added Feature of Your Operations](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/make-compliance-value-added-feature-your-operations.html) : Compliance is here to stay. Instead of approaching it as a task or a headache, turn it into a value proposition with a smart manufacturing platform. - [Where Did My Forecast Accuracy Go?](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/where-did-my-forecast-accuracy-go.html) : Software improves forecasting accuracy and optimizes processes so managers can make better decisions and forecast with precise control of their data. - [Where Did My Plant Performance Go?](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/where-did-my-plant-performance-go.html) : Learn how companies can turn to software to improve maintenance strategies and achieve full visibility over their processes. - [Think Strategically to Act Tactically](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/think-strategically-act-tactically.html) : Adopting a smart manufacturing platform is a game-changing step. But it takes a sound strategy to develop the outline that allows tactical action once deployed. - [Gain a Competitive Edge in Quality with Better Data](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/gain-competitive-edge-quality-better-data.html) : With a quality strategy backed by modern technology, a manufacturer can boost profitability, improve sustainability, and empower their workforce. - [Where Did My OEE Go?](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/where-did-my-oee-go.html) : Using robust MES and other software to access real-time data and insights will help you improve OEE across your entire internal supply chain. - [Where Did My Scrap Go?](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/where-did-my-scrap-go.html) : Using software like a robust QMS connected to a smart manufacturing platform lets you keep track of and reduce scrap. - [Changing the World While Encountering New Competitors](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/changing-world-while-encountering-new-competitors.html) : Learn about GM’s current EV strategy as you read our takeaways from the automotive company’s annual townhall meeting hosted by OESA. - [95% of Manufacturers Are Prioritizing Sustainability in 2023](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/95-manufacturers-are-prioritizing-sustainability-2023.html) : Read key takeaways on sustainability and ESG as reported by real manufacturers in the 2023 State of Smart Manufacturing Report. - [Where Did My Audit Data Go?](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/where-did-my-audit-data-go.html) : Learn how to use robust software such as an advanced QMS to digitize audit data and utilize advanced analytics to render more value. - [How Smarter Manufacturing Makes You the Envy of the Neighborhood](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/how-smarter-manufacturing-makes-you-envy-neighborhood.html) : Manufacturing is a crowded field that’s changing rapidly due to digitization. It’s time to use smart manufacturing software to stand out from the crowd. - [Where Did My Supplier Performance Go?](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/where-did-my-supplier-performance-go.html) : Supplier performance drives a significant portion of a manufacturing company’s success. As the starting point of a company’s raw materials and components, it’s crucial to the quality of the final output of finished goods.Because of its importance, supplier performance management is a critical part of Supply Chain Planning (SCP). And supplier performance management software is essential for organizations looking to optimize their supply chain processes and maintain a competitive edge. Improve your supply chain quality with supplier performance management software. Monitor supplier and vendor capabilities, ensure adherence to quality standards, and reduce production delays and costs. Contact us to learn more. - [Process Automation in the Automotive Industry: There's a Lot More to Do](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/process-automation-automotive-industry-theres-lot-more-do.html) : When thinking of automotive production, most people imagine fast and efficient production lines with clean floors, automated robotics, and a production process that produces new, shiny vehicles. With those images, many may assume process automation is at its peak.Technology has always been a hallmark of automotive production. Today, internal combustion vehicles are as much computers as cars, and that trend will increase as EV adoption accelerates. - [2023 Report Findings: Smart Manufacturing Provides Stability in Food & Beverage](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/2023-report-findings-smart-manufacturing-provides-stability-food-beverage.html) : Change is scary - something that’s true for individuals as well as manufacturers. In manufacturing, an industry's steady and predictable growth can allow for stable markets, plannable operational strategies, and precise control. The growth in complexity in manufacturing has already shifted most managers and executives to embrace digitization to get the most out of production, control costs, and optimize operations. Recent studies are proving that the reliance on managing the above factors using manual systems is waning. - [Best Maid – An Automation Fair Sneak Peek](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/best-maid-automation-fair-sneak-peek.html) : Sometimes, opportunity awaits those who reach for it. Other times, it can be part of a dynamic shift to a new way of doing business and a new way of thinking. When Best Maid needed to refine and sharpen its performance and inventory accountability to take in the growth it was experiencing, Plex was the answer. Best Maid represents an iconic traditional brand with a well-known reputation. But in the modern era, growth and the drive for more stringent certification such as Safe Quality Food (SQF) meant they needed to reexamine their system to drive quality and performance at the granular level. - [Why Technology Adoption in 2023 Means Adding Staff and Skills](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/why-technology-adoption-2023-means-adding-staff-and-skills.html) : Discover how your peers and competitors are addressing workforce challenges with new data from the 8th Annual State of Smart Manufacturing Report. - [What Are We Looking At?](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/what-are-we-looking.html) : Driving in conditions of low visibility is never a good idea. Like a blinding snowstorm in gusty winds, millions of flakes obscure your view until you can’t see what is in front of you. First, you lose sight of the lines in the road. Then, you lose the definition of where the road even is until an unfortunate decision due to lack of visibility leads to disaster.You wouldn’t want to drive your car in those conditions, yet many manufacturers are settling for such a lack of visibility in their operations. But what leads to that level of difficulty? And what can be done about it? many manufacturers are settling for such a lack of visibility in their operations. But what leads to that level of difficulty? And what can be done about it? - [Quality From Top to Bottom – Highlighting the New Plex “Quality Management for Dummies” eBook](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/quality-top-bottom-highlighting-new-plex-quality-management-dummies-ebook.html) : Traditional manufacturing required as much art as science. Settings were done with gear ratios, levers, and calipers. But modern companies can no longer run their production that way. Fortunately, today, digital settings and automated recipes allow incredible precision for production processes.That same digital precision available to run production is now used for managing quality. For forward-looking companies seeking to immerse their production capabilities in a closed-loop continuous pursuit of quality, the value of a robust QMS system is hard to overstate. A QMS isn't just a quality monitor. Instead, a digital QMS integrates with operational systems to drive a culture of quality and focus on continuous improvement. - [How Demand Drives Execution](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/how-demand-drives-execution.html) : The days of manual surveys, interviews, and gut feeling to predict demand accurately are gone. And in their traditional form, they were never going to close the data gap in time for accurate and agile execution. - [Automation Fair 2023 – Driving Digital Quality with Plex QMS](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/automation-fair-2023-driving-digital-quality-plex-qms.html) : Taking place on November 6-9 in Boston, MA, Automation Fair 2023, presented by Rockwell Automation, will showcase today's cutting-edge industrial automation technology.Automation Fair 2023 is the premier event for industrial automation and a must-see for those undergoing digital transformation. This year, Plex, by Rockwell Automation, will present several speakers to discuss their advancements in smart factory automation. Automation Fair 2023 is the premier event for industrial automation and a must-see for those undergoing digital transformation. This year, Plex, by Rockwell Automation, will present several speakers to discuss their advancements in smart factory automation. - [Automation Fair – From Chaos to Control Maximizing Efficiency With Plex DemandCaster Supply Chain Planning](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/automation-fair-chaos-control-maximizing-efficiency-plex-demandcaster-supply-chain-planning.html) : Continuing with our discussion of how Plex Systems products will play a role in Rockwell Automation's Automation Fair 2023 in Boston, MA, November 6-9th, 2023: Ara Surenian, Vice President of Product Management – Rockwell Automation, sat down to discuss how Plex DemandCaster Supply Chain Planning software can help maximize efficiency by bringing control to chaos. Continuing with our discussion of how Plex Systems products will play a role in Rockwell Automation's Automation Fair 2023 in Boston, MA, November 6-9th, 2023: Ara Surenian, Vice President of Product Management – Rockwell Automation, sat down to discuss how Plex DemandCaster Supply Chain Planning software can help maximize efficiency by bringing control to chaos. - [Is Your Manufacturing Operation a Haunted House?](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/your-manufacturing-operation-haunted-house.html) : A door opens with a creaking sound. Faint groans are heard just around the corner. And the distinct sight of a completely bandaged entity is seen shuffling down a corridor. Is it a haunted house? A scary abandoned building? Or is it your manufacturing process?While haunted houses can be a fun way to celebrate Halloween, they’re not so fun when they reflect a harsh reality within your plant. That creaking door? It’s the sound of a maintenance worker opening a machine to address another ghost problem because of unplanned downtime. When your operations feel like a haunted house, smart manufacturing solutions can help you take control and reserve the frights for October 31. - [Why Manufacturers Must Embrace Data-Driven Operations](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/why-manufacturers-must-embrace-data-driven-operations.html) : There was a time in manufacturing before personal computers (PCs). Data was manually tracked, and decisions were made based on experience, gut feelings, and guesswork. But the lowly PC changed all that. Suddenly, companies could store more data and utilize spreadsheets to analyze operational aspects.As much as that was a big leap in operational improvement, it still relied on an overabundance of siloed, error-prone, and manual data. And while decision-making improved, it needed to be optimized. Today, manufacturing is on the cusp of a much more significant leap forward, and one that makes the arrival of the PC pale in comparison. As manufacturing industry executives realize and embrace the power of their operational data, they know that to be a true manufacturing industry leader, they will need to embrace data-driven operations and become a technology leader. - [Digitization: Taking a Deep Dive into Improving Quality](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/digitization-taking-deep-dive-improving-quality.html) : Digging out persistent quality problems takes a deep dive into real-time data, and that takes digitization with today’s best quality management tools and techniques. - [The Journey from Process Improvement to Continuous Improvement](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/journey-process-improvement-continuous-improvement.html) : If manual data collection is holding you back from true continuous improvement, then it’s time to rely on software and automation made for manufacturers. - [Reducing Costs and Gaining Shop-Floor Insights: ParkOhio – Assembly Components Group Is the 2023 Industry Leader Impact Award Winner](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/reducing-costs-and-gaining-shop-floor-insights-parkohio-assembly-components-group-2023.html) : Discover how ParkOhio – Assembly Components Group leveraged smart manufacturing solutions to find success as the 2023 Industry Leader Impact Award Winner. - [Digital Building Blocks for Sustainability: Part 1](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/digital-building-blocks-sustainability-part-1.html) : Many companies have a goal of “circular manufacturing” or zero waste. However, the level of data analysis required to achieve this cannot be accomplished with traditional operational methodologies. New and more precise equipment will be a part of the solution, but only a part. - [Inflation: Saying the "I" Word Out Loud](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/inflation-saying-i-word-out-loud.html) : Inflation - it’s the dreaded “I” word. After decades of historically low rates, it came back with a vengeance and continues to disrupt operations everywhere.There are virtually no sectors of the economy nor any industry untouched as prices have risen across every category. Most of these categories, like energy, transportation, raw materials, labor, and others, impact manufacturing directly, placing pressure on profit margins and spurring many producers to make hard choices about raising prices for their goods or discontinuing popular but lower-margin products.After decades of historical lows, inflation is back and causing challenges for manufacturing. But smart manufacturing technology and solutions can help you improve processes and fight inflation digitally. - [A Year of Expansion and Success for Superior Trim: 2023 Transformer Impact Award Winner](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/year-expansion-and-success-superior-trim-2023-transformer-impact-award-winner.html) : See how Superior Trim leveraged smart manufacturing solutions to improve processes and become the 2023 Transformer Impact Award Winner. - [The Top 5 Moments of Automation Fair® 2023: Relive the Excitement](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/top-5-moments-automation-fairr-2023-relive-excitement.html) : Whether you missed the event or want to relive it, discover the most insightful and exciting moments in these Automation Fair 2023 highlights! - [Looking Beyond Your Horizons in 2024](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/looking-beyond-your-horizons-2024.html) : Put yourself in the mindset of settlers from long ago exploring a new landscape. As they started each new day, their effort to understand what was beyond the horizon faced a manual and labor-intensive process. Several scouts would head off in different directions, hoping it was the right path to answers. They had to endure harsh conditions, uneven terrain, obstacles like rivers and mountains, predators, and many other challenges. Today’s manufacturers can use modern technology to see beyond their demand, production, and inventory horizons to boost operations and cut costs. - [Digital Building Blocks for Your Enterprise](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/digital-building-blocks-your-enterprise.html) : From the most straightforward shed to the highest skyscraper, every structure is built with a complex assortment of components. These “building blocks” give the structure support and strength and allow it to be used as designed.As manufacturing industries rapidly adopt Industry 4.0 technologies to create smart and fully digital manufacturing systems, companies are realizing that digital building blocks are just as essential. As smart manufacturing becomes a reality across industries, it is important to select the building blocks of digital transformation that will empower your company and employees. - [Digital Building Blocks for Operational Efficiency](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/digital-building-blocks-operational-efficiency.html) : Industry 4.0 technology will show massive growth within the current decade. And this will drive growth of robotics for manufacturing and supply chain and increase the need for a robust smart manufacturing platform. - [Digital Building Blocks for Leadership](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/digital-building-blocks-leadership.html) : Manufacturers inevitably begin with operational efficiency, cost reduction, and process improvement during the foundational stages of a digital journey. Beyond that, the tendency is to retain vestiges of traditional thinking that “wall off” other functional areas as separate from the production focus. A quality of culture requires strong leadership. And digital tools can help provide a strong foundation for that culture. - [Digital Building Blocks for Quality](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/digital-building-blocks-quality.html) : Few industries are as demanding on quality and performance than the complex automotive industry. Here is how smart manufacturing software can drive quality across an auto plant. - [Digital Building Blocks for Sustainability: Part 2](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/digital-building-blocks-sustainability-part-2.html) : There is increasing interest in reducing carbon emissions as part of overall sustainability. This particularly applies to manufacturing where both awareness and regulations are encouraging producers to explore ways to mitigate or eliminate their emissions. Continuing our discussion of sustainability as a digital building block in manufacturing, let's look at how software can help monitor, track, and reduce carbon emissions and increase sustainability. The digital software tools provided by smart manufacturing software allow companies to leverage their factory and enterprise data to create a more sustainable production process to significantly reduce or eliminate emissions - [The 2023 Innovator Impact Award Winner: The Shyft Group Electrifies and Pursues Innovative, Sustainable Excellence](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/2023-innovator-impact-award-winner-shyft-group-electrifies-and-pursues-innovative-sustainable.html) : Learn how The Shyft Group leveraged smart manufacturing solutions to reinvent operations and become the 2023 Innovator Impact Award Winner. - [Contents May Settle, But You Don't Have To](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/contents-may-settle-you-dont-have.html) : Manual data forces companies to settle on their quality, but smart manufacturing technology means quality is driven by real-time data and clear visibility. - [When Customers Come Knocking: The Link Between Demand and Execution](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/when-customers-come-knocking-link-between-demand-and-execution.html) : Today’s customer demands have manufacturers embracing digital solutions to improve their entire production processes and systems. - [Automotive Manufacturing Trends for the Balance of the Decade](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/automotive-manufacturing-trends-balance-decade.html) : As the lines between technology and production blur, auto manufacturers must embrace smart manufacturing as an imperative to remain competitive. - [Improve Your Improvements by Digitizing Processes](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/improve-your-improvements-digitizing-processes.html) : Digitizing and automating processes improves performance and efficiency, but it also enables true continuous improvement throughout the enterprise. - [How Smarter Manufacturing Helped These Companies Beat 2023’s Biggest Challenges](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/how-smarter-manufacturing-helped-these-companies-beat-2023s-biggest-challenges.html) : Challenges related to quality, visibility, and supply chains slowed down manufacturers in 2023, but these organizations rose above the obstacles. - [What Can Manufacturers Learn from Brass Aluminum’s Quest for Visibility and Automation?](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/what-can-manufacturers-learn-brass-aluminums-quest-visibility-and-automation.html) : Discover how one manufacturer is reaping the benefits of smart manufacturing technology and learn what that means for your operations. - [Great Leadership Builds Great Culture. Great Culture Creates Great Products.](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/great-leadership-builds-great-culture-great-culture-creates-great-products.html) : Leadership that prioritizes employee satisfaction, supports bi-directional feedback, and embraces innovation creates a high-performing company culture. - [Will It Go Round in Circles?](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/will-it-go-round-circles.html) : Until recently, the concept of a circular economy and circular production was aspirational. But technology and big data analytics ties critical functions together to build a digital foundation where circular production is possible. - [From Reactive to Proactive: Big Data Analytics & Supply Chain Management](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/reactive-proactive-big-data-analytics-supply-chain-management.html) : With continuing uncertainty and disruption in supply chains, companies can't afford to be reactive in response to demand. Big data analytics as part of a robust demand and supply planning software system lets you make proactive decisions to improve supply chain performance. - [Success with Suppliers: How to Ensure Your Partner & Supplier Network Meets Your Quality Standards](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/success-suppliers-how-ensure-your-partner-supplier-network-meets-your-quality-standards.html) : As supplier networks increase in complexity, rely on digital threads to enable traceability that leads to better products and happier customers. - [Overcoming Challenges to Becoming a Quality Leader](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/overcoming-challenges-becoming-quality-leader.html) : Learn how digitization unlocks the real-time manufacturing data you need to overcome today’s challenges and become a true quality leader. - [Laying the Groundwork: Current State Analysis & Understanding the Data Communications Landscape – Part 1](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/laying-groundwork-current-state-analysis-understanding-data-communications-landscape-part-1.html) : By setting a strong foundation, you can streamline communication between automation and control systems and enterprise business systems. - [Digitization: Getting the Whole Story from Your Data](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/digitization-getting-whole-story-your-data.html) : Smart manufacturing technology holds vast potential, but to make the most of any solution, you first need to digitize operations and access real-time data. - [Overcoming Challenges to Becoming an Operations Leader](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/overcoming-challenges-becoming-operations-leader.html) : Becoming a manufacturing operations leader and achieving operational excellence requires beating challenges related to quality, inventory, silos, and more. - [Key Takeaways from the 9th Annual State of Smart Manufacturing Report](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/key-takeaways-9th-annual-state-smart-manufacturing-report.html) : Get quick stats and insights from over 1,500+ manufacturers in this brief summary of the latest State of Smart Manufacturing Report. - [Bring Your Production Schedule into the Modern Era Using Smart Manufacturing](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/bring-your-production-schedule-modern-era-using-smart-manufacturing.html) : Production planning and scheduling can become complicated quickly. Use finite scheduling to bring your production schedule into the modern era. - [Edge Computing: Preprocessing Data for Efficient Integration with ERP & MES Systems – Part 2](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/edge-computing-preprocessing-data-efficient-integration-erp-mes-systems-part-2.html) : Your ERP or MES will provide incredible data insights, and with edge computing, you can unlock that data’s full power by collecting and managing it properly. - [How AI Is Revolutionizing the Present and Future of Inventory Optimization](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/how-ai-revolutionizing-present-and-future-inventory-optimization.html) : AI is advancing in many business applications. Now, it is also an emerging tool for inventory optimization. - [Overcoming Challenges to Becoming a Supply Chain Leader](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/overcoming-challenges-becoming-supply-chain-leader.html) : Exceptional supply chain leadership means moving away from manual systems and toward advanced smart manufacturing technology and software. - [Unlocking Supply Chain Success: 6 Tips for Seamless Implementation](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/unlocking-supply-chain-success-6-tips-seamless-implementation.html) : Most software implementations fail. But it doesn't have to be that way with your demand and supply planning rollout. Here are some tips and best practices for you to consider. - [How to Win a Food Fight with the Competition: Quality & Compliance](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/how-win-food-fight-competition-quality-compliance.html) : Ensure quality and compliance in food & beverage manufacturing with proactive solutions and smart technology. Tackle changes without compromising quality. - [Interactive Work Instructions Redefine What Workers Can Achieve](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/interactive-work-instructions-redefine-what-workers-can-achieve.html) : Empower your team with Interactive Work Instructions to streamline workflows, reduce downtime, and enhance productivity. - [How to Win a Food Fight with the Competition: Yield Management & Materials](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/how-win-food-fight-competition-yield-management-materials.html) : Food manufacturing faces unique challenges due to yield loss. Learn how smart technology can optimize materials management to increase profit and revenue. - [You Can't Climb the Whole Mountain at Once](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/you-cant-climb-whole-mountain-once.html) : Which smart manufacturing tools do you need and when? Discover how to improve transparency, automate tasks and unify operations for optimal performance. - [How an Advanced ERP Improves Standard Production Costing and Profitability](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/how-advanced-erp-improves-standard-production-costing-and-profitability.html) : Improve standard production costing and profitability with an advanced ERP system. Gain cost visibility and optimize resources for better decision-making. - [The Edge of Tomorrow: Unveiling the Potential of Edge Computing](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/edge-tomorrow-unveiling-potential-edge-computing.html) : Discover how edge computing optimizes data processing, reduces latency, and enhances security in smart manufacturing. Learn about real-time analysis, data filtering, and more. - [The Edge of Tomorrow: Edge Computing Reshaping Manufacturing](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/edge-tomorrow-edge-computing-reshaping-manufacturing.html) : In the vast expanse of a modern factory floor, the rhythms of production echo beneath the vigilant gaze of towering machinery. Workers and robots perform in a well-choreographed ballet of precision and speed. This industrial symphony is orchestrated by a frequently overlooked catalyst of contemporary innovation – edge computing. - [Every worker. Every step. Transform your operational efficiency with Guided Work Instructions.](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/every-worker-every-step-transform-your-operational-efficiency-guided-work-instructions.html) : Maximized production capacity and high quality, made possible by knowledgeable and engaged workers. Sounds great, doesn’t it? - [How to Win a Food Fight With the Competition: OEE & Automation](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/how-win-food-fight-competition-oee-automation.html) : Maximize manufacturing efficiency with overall equipment effectiveness (OEE) insights. Discover factors impacting OEE and how Plex's MES platform can boost productivity. - [How to Win a Food Fight with the Competition: Digitizing Connections Between the Top Floor and the Plant Floor](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/how-win-food-fight-competition-digitizing-connections-between-top-floor-and-plant-floor.html) : Gain a competitive edge in food and beverage with Plex's digital connectivity. Align top floor and plant floor operations to boost efficiency and eliminate data silos. - [Looking Back on Automation Fair 2024 With 5 Exciting Highlights](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/looking-back-automation-fair-2024-5-exciting-highlights.html) : Automation Fair 2024 brought together the Plex and greater Rockwell Automation community in sunny Anaheim, California. This year’s theme — “Make it Matter” — set the tone for the inspirational week together as both current and prospective customers, partners, and team members arrived at the industrial automation event of the year to learn how to innovate in the year ahead.If you couldn’t join us or you’re wanting to relive the fun, be sure to check out our top 5 highlights from this year’s transformative event! - [The 2024 Innovator Impact Awards: Pacur Improves On-Time, In-Full (OTIF) and Increases Production Capacity with Plex ERP](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/2024-innovator-impact-awards-pacur-improves-time-full-otif-and-increases-production-capacity.html) : Your browser does not support the video tag. Should you find yourself visiting a hospital, you’ll most likely be in the company of plastic material supplied by Pacur. - [2024 Plex Partner of the Year: Cumulus Consulting, LLC](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/2024-plex-partner-year-cumulus-consulting-llc.html) : A Premier Plex Partner, Cumulus Consulting has helped companies successfully implement Plex ERP for over 10 years. - [The 2024 Industry Leader Impact Award: Plex & Flex Working Together for Success in the Automotive Industry](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/2024-industry-leader-impact-award-plex-flex-working-together-success-automotive-industry.html) : Flex’s automotive business started their Plex journey in 2010. - [The 2024 Transformer Impact Award: Chelsea Milling Company Finds the Perfect Mix for Success With Plex](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/2024-transformer-impact-award-chelsea-milling-company-finds-perfect-mix-success-plex.html) : Being in business for 137 years is no easy task. - [The Future of Manufacturing Quality: Lessons from the 10th Annual Smart Manufacturing Report](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/the-future-of-manufacturing-quality--lessons-from-the-10th-annua.html) : Get the latest smart manufacturing research and find out how manufacturers are tackling their quality challenges with quality management system (QMS) software. - [Are you making these costly mistakes with your workforce?](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/are-you-making-these-costly-mistakes-with-your-workforce.html) : Uncover three workforce mistakes manufacturers are making along with actionable connected worker strategies from the latest Gartner® report to address them. ## Case Studies Catalog - [Accuride Successfully Executes Growth Strategy with Help from Plex](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/case-studies/accuride-successfully-executes-growth-strategy-help-plex.html) : Discover how Plex ERP helped this manufacturer improve productivity, reduce requisition time, and win industry awards in this case study. - [A&K Finishing Manages Explosive Growth, Greater Efficiency with Plex](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/case-studies/ak-finishing-manages-explosive-growth-greater-efficiency-plex.html) : Discover how A&K Finishing managed $500,000 of inventory with nearly 100% accuracy and reduced scrap rates to 1.5% in this success story. - [Advanced Vehicle Assemblies Utilizes Plex for Increased Production Visibility & Control](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/case-studies/advanced-vehicle-assemblies-utilizes-plex-increased-production-v.html) : - [All-Hands-On-Deck Ensure Successful Plex Implementation for Harvest Food Group, Increasing Accuracy and Production Insights](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/case-studies/all-hands-deck-ensure-successful-plex-implementation-harvest-food-group-increasing.html) : - [American Axle Uses Real-Time Data for Real-Time Decision-Making Across the Business](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/case-studies/american-axle-uses-real-time-data-real-time-decision-making-across-business.html) : See how this multi-billion dollar tier 1 supplier to the automotive industry increased output, improved inventory turns, enhanced planning, and more. - [Argent International Takes On-Time Delivery to a New Level with Plex](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/case-studies/argent-international-takes-time-delivery-new-level-plex.html) : In this case study, you'll see how Argent International, a 3M Preferred Convertor, used Plex to boost inventory accuracy to 98% and save $60,000 per year. - [Arrow Fabricated Tubing Improves Quality and Visibility by Digitizing with Plex MES](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/case-studies/arrow-fabricated-tubing-improves-quality-and-visibility-digitizi.html) : Discover how this Plex MES customer digitized operations to increase inventory accuracy, boost quality, and make faster decisions with clearer data. - [ASK Power Improves On-Time Delivery to 99% with Plex Supply Chain Planning](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/case-studies/ask-power-improves-time-delivery-99-plex-supply-chain-planning.html) : - [Automotive Supplier Inteva Products Enhances Visibility and Lowers Costs with Plex ERP](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/case-studies/automotive-supplier-inteva-products-enhances-visibility-and-lowers-costs-plex-erp.html) : Discover how this automotive supplier leveraged Plex ERP to unlock real-time visibility that improved inventory tracking, lowered costs, and more. - [Avon Machining Achieves 20 Percent Annual Growth, Improves Inventory Accuracy with Plex](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/case-studies/avon-machining-achieves-20-percent-annual-growth-improves-inventory-accuracy-plex.html) : - [Batesville Tool & Die Improves Process Efficiencies with Plex](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/case-studies/batesville-tool-die-improves-process-efficiencies-plex.html) : Plex ERP made the difference for Batesville Tool & Die, a manufacturer who needed real-time communication and automation to reach their goals. - [Cast Aluminum Solutions Saves Time and Money by Reducing Reworks with Plex](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/case-studies/cast-aluminum-solutions-saves-time-and-money-reducing-reworks-plex.html) : Uncover how this industrial manufacturer achieved 99% inventory accuracy while saving money and time by leveraging the Plex Smart Manufacturing Platform. - [BirdRock Home Shortens Order Planning Time by 76% with Plex DemandCaster](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/case-studies/birdrock-home-shortens-order-planning-time-76-plex-demandcaster.html) : Discover how one consumer packaged goods manufacturer improved inventory management and forecast accuracy with Plex DemandCaster. - [Brass Aluminum Forging Enterprises Hammers Out Smooth Operations, Transforming Digitally and Gaining Production Insights](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/case-studies/brass-aluminum-forging-enterprises-hammers-out-smooth-operations-transforming-digitally.html) : Learn how Brass Aluminum leveraged smart manufacturing technology to gain visibility, improve operations, and unlock new capabilities. - [Clips & Clamps Industries Replaces Six Disparate Systems with Plex](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/case-studies/clips-clamps-industries-replaces-six-disparate-systems-plex.html) : Find out how one manufacturer was able to replace 6 disparate systems one a single manufacturing system of record in this insightful case study. - [Clips & Clamps Leverages Plex to Elevate Control and Strengthen Inventory Accuracy](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/case-studies/clips-clamps-leverages-plex-elevate-control-and-strengthen-inventory-accuracy.html) : In this brief video success story, you'll learn how a metal stamper digitized operations leading to better plant control and more efficient operations. - [Coast Products Increases Sales and Empowers Employees with Plex DemandCaster](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/case-studies/coast-products-increases-sales-and-empowers-employees-plex-demandcaster.html) : Learn how one manufacturer leveraged Plex DemandCaster to improve supply chain management, increase sales, and enable cross-functional alignment. - [Coastal Automotive Accelerates Growth, Controls Costs with Plex](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/case-studies/coastal-automotive-accelerates-growth-controls-costs-plex.html) : Learn how Coastal Automotive reduced scrap rates, streamlined inventory counting, and slashed the time compliance audits took in this case study. - [College Park Industries Improves Accuracy and Efficiency with Plex ERP](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/case-studies/college-park-industries-improves-accuracy-and-efficiency-plex-erp.html) : Learn how College Park Industries leveraged smart manufacturing to improve accuracy and efficiency and get ahead in the medical device industry. - [Creative Foam Corporation Achieves 95 Percent Inventory Accuracy with Plex](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/case-studies/creative-foam-corporation-achieves-95-percent-inventory-accuracy-plex.html) : How did this automotive supplier achieve 95% inventory accuracy while going paper-free in 6 of 7 plants? Find out in this Plex ERP case study. - [The DECC Company: Enhanced Visibility Improves Manufacturing Processes](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/case-studies/decc-company-enhanced-visibility-improves-manufacturing-processes.html) : Industrial Manufacturer DECC Company improved inventory accuracy, visibility, and employee engagement. See how they did it in this case study. - [Dominion Liquid Technologies Takes to ERP from Plex to Balance Growth and Quality](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/case-studies/dominion-liquid-technologies-takes-erp-plex-balance-growth-and-quality.html) : Discover how Dominion Liquid Technologies was able to implement a new ERP in only 6 months while achieving near 100% inventory accuracy. - [Downeast Cider Achieves Milestone Results with Plex MES](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/case-studies/downeast-cider-achieves-milestone-results-plex-mes.html) : - [Dura-Shiloh Standardizes Data Across 15 Facilities and Limits Material Variance with Plex ERP](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/case-studies/dura-shiloh-standardizes-data-across-15-facilities-and-limits-material-variance-plex-erp.html) : Read this success story to learn how an automotive industry manufacturer improved their operations with smart manufacturing software. - [E&E Manufacturing Cuts Costs with Plex](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/case-studies/ee-manufacturing-cuts-costs-plex.html) : - [Eurotranciatura Mexico - Inventory Accuracy, Efficiency and Customer Service Levels Skyrocket With Plex](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/case-studies/eurotranciatura-mexico-inventory-accuracy-efficiency-and-customer-service-levels.html) : - [Everyday Technologies Forecasts Streamlined Operations and Tight Inventory Control, Power of Plex ERP Delivers](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/case-studies/everyday-technologies-forecasts-streamlined-operations-and-tight-inventory-control-power.html) : Discover how Everyday Technologies streamlined operations and reduced inventory by 20% in just 3 months with Plex ERP. Learn about their journey to cloud-based smart manufacturing and the benefits they've experienced, including improved order scheduling and real-time production data. Watch the video to hear more from the Everyday Technologies team. - [FCC North America Shifts Business Processes Into Gear with Plex](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/case-studies/fcc-north-america-maximizes-efficiency-Plex-Platinum-Support.html) : Learn how FCC North America saved money, increased technology adoption, gained valuable insights, and cut lead times with Plex Platinum Support. - [Firstronic Becomes the Benchmark for Growth and Reshoring with Plex](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/case-studies/firstronic-becomes-benchmark-growth-and-reshoring-plex.html) : See how Firstronic LLC shifted off a legacy solution and implemented Plex in 90 days, enabling faster growth, better customer collaboration, and shortened lead times. - [Floracraft Meets the Demands of Large Customers with the Plex](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/case-studies/floracraft-meets-demands-large-customers-plex.html) : - [Vulcan, Inc. Finds That Plex's Cloud-Based Platform Checks All the Boxes](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/case-studies/vulcan-inc-finds-plexs-cloud-based-platform-checks-all-boxes.html) : Vulcan's transition to Plex could be summed up in one word: visibility. With Plex, Vulcan has shined a spotlight on areas for improvement. - [Green Tokai Strengthens Visibility, Quality, and Inventory with Real-Time Data in Plex ERP](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/case-studies/green-tokai-strengthens-visibility-quality-and-inventory-real-time-data-plex-erp.html) : Discover how this automotive manufacturer turned their paper-based, low-tech operations into a modern smart manufacturing marvel. - [Ultra Tool & Manufacturing Saves Thousands of Dollars and Hundreds of Labor Hours Annually with Plex](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/case-studies/ultra-tool-manufacturing-saves-thousands-dollars-and-hundreds-labor-hours-annually-plex.html) : Read this case study to learn how one manufacturer saves over $100,000 and 243 manual labor hours annually with Plex ERP, Plex MES, and Plex MES A&O. - [Precision Coating Realizes Manufacturing Efficiencies With Data-Driven Insights From Plex](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/case-studies/precision-coating-realizes-manufacturing-efficiencies-data-driven-insights-plex.html) : Learn how this medical device manufacturer increased profit, streamlined systems, leveraged data, and unlocked smarter manufacturing with Plex MES and ERP. - [Thai Summit Boosts Revenue by 50% with Plex MES Automation & Orchestration](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/case-studies/thai-summit-boosts-revenue-50-plex-mes-automation-orchestration.html) : See how this sheet metal stamping leader leveraged Plex MES Automation & Orchestration to increase revenue and throughput while reducing downtime. - [Tech Met Inc. Saves Money and Time, Gaining Inventory and Revenue Insight with Plex ERP](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/case-studies/tech-met-inc-saves-money-and-time-gaining-inventory-and-revenue-insight-plex-erp.html) : Located just ten miles southwest of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania-based Tech Met Inc. is a chemical milling company that primarily services the medical and aerospace markets. - [Swoboda Increases Efficiency and Output with Plex](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/case-studies/swoboda-increases-efficiency-and-output-plex.html) : Read about how Plex helped this Automotive supplier triple sales volume, cut scrap rates in half, and more in this exciting success story. - [Summer Garden Food Manufacturing Reduces Downtime and Improves Machine Performance](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/case-studies/summer-garden-food-manufacturing-reduces-downtime-and-improves-machine-performance.html) : Learn how one manufacturer harnessed data to reduce downtime, uncover operator OEE, and improve machine performance in this case study. - [Polamer Precision Soars Above Larger Competition with Plex](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/case-studies/polamer-precision-soars-above-larger-competition.html) : Learn how Polamer Precision achieved sales growth, expanded facilities, and made end-to-end traceability a priority with the Plex Manufacturing Cloud - [Winamac Coil Spring Consolidates Applications and Improves Pricing Accuracy with Plex](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/case-studies/winamac-coil-spring-consolidates-applications-and-improves-pricing-accuracy-plex.html) : Discover how this manufacturer unlocked real-time data and improved customer satisfaction by increasing control over their operations with Plex. - [G&W Products—a Small Business Manufacturer— Thinks Big with Plex](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/case-studies/gw-products-small-business-manufacturer-thinks-big-plex.html) : - [G&W Products Discovers a Path to Peak Performance with Plex Manufacturing Analytics](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/case-studies/gw-products-discovers-path-peak-performance-plex-manufacturing-analytics.html) : G&W needed a way to zero in on any production issues so that it could take decisive steps to enhance product quality in ways that would help the company attract and retain new customers. - [Strand Products Digitizes with Plex ERP, Automating Traceability & Achieving Quality Compliance](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/case-studies/strand-products-digitizes-plex-erp-automating-traceability-achieving-quality-compliance.html) : Strand Products, Inc., a 100% employee-owned company, specializes in custom mechanical wire, wire rope, and cable assemblies. Plex ERP has helped them achieve 40% revenue growth, 7% improved gross margin, and sustained on-time delivery. Learn how they transformed their operations with a 6-month implementation. - [G&W Products Boosts Profitability and Reduces Inventory by 25% with Plex](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/case-studies/gw-products-boosts-profitability-and-reduces-inventory-25-plex.html) : G&W Products’ existing ERP system wasn’t user-friendly and made it difficult to access critical information needed to make business decisions. - [Plex Revolutionalizes Ralco Industries](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/case-studies/plex-revolutionalizes-ralco-industries.html) : Read how Plex helped Ralco Industries overcome inventory accuracy issues with a single system that combined MRP, PLC integration, and shipping and receiving. - [FT Precision: Improved Efficiencies and 'One-Truth' in Numbers](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/case-studies/ft-precision-improved-efficiencies-and-one-truth-numbers.html) : - [STM Brands Increases Operating Margin by 20% with Plex Supply Chain Planning](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/case-studies/stm-brands-increases-operating-margin-20-plex-supply-chain-planning.html) : Discover how STM Brands increased its operating margin by 20% using Plex Supply Chain Planning. Learn how real-time visibility and improved collaboration optimized their inventory and reduced freight costs. - [NHK Spring Reduces Costly Errors, Saves Time with Automated Reporting with Plex](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/case-studies/nhk-spring-reduces-costly-errors-saves-time-automated-reporting-plex.html) : Imagine leveraging the power of automated reporting to reduce errors and save time. That's exactly what one manufacturer did in this case study. - [Newman Technology Cuts Inventory Costs by 25 Percent, Achieves 98 Percent Inventory Accuracy with Plex](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/case-studies/newman-technology-cuts-inventory-costs-25-percent-achieves-98-percent-inventory-accuracy.html) : Find out how this automotive manufacturer achieved 98% inventory accuracy and saved time all while cutting costs by 25%. - [Motus Integrated Technologies Unites Global Manufacturing Plants with Plex](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/case-studies/motus-integrated-technologies-unites-global-manufacturing-plants-plex.html) : How can a manufacturer reduce human errors and lower scrap rates while boosting quality? With the right smart manufacturing solution from Plex. - [Motus Integrated Technologies Drives Continued Improvement with Plex Premium Support](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/case-studies/motus-integrated-technologies-drives-continued-improvement-plex-premium-support.html) : What does continuous improvement look like in automotive manufacturing? Just look at Motus Integrated Technologies for a real-world example. - [Hatch Stamping: Metalstamping Company Attributes Data Management Success to Plex](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/case-studies/hatch-stamping-metalstamping-company-attributes-data-management-success-plex.html) : By isolating performance metrics like OEE by plant and making the most of barcode capabilities, Hatch Stamping unlocked many benefits by relying on Plex. - [JF Fredericks Aero Watches Supplier Ratings Soar after Implementing Plex Smart Manufacturing Platform](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/case-studies/jf-fredericks-aero-watches-supplier-ratings-soar-after-implementing-plex.html) : See how JF Fredericks Aero went from paper-based production planning to a smart manufacturing solution providing the control and visibility it needed. - [Jagemann Stamping Improves Productivity and Traceability, Reduces Costs by 15 Percent with Plex](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/case-studies/jagemann-stamping-improves-productivity-and-traceability-reduces-costs-15-percent-plex.html) : Discover how the right smart manufacturing ERP helped one metal stamping manufacturer reduce costs, save time, and consolidate systems. - [Jay Industries Achieves Major Yearly Savings and Increases Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) with Plex ERP and Plex MES A&O](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/case-studies/jay-industries-achieves-major-yearly-savings-and-increases-overall-equipment.html) : After struggling to trust the data of their previous ERP system, Jay Industries started looking for a new ERP system. - [Horizon Technology Breaks Through Boundaries with Plex](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/case-studies/horizon-technology-breaks-through-boundaries-plex.html) : 10-15 minutes. That’s all it takes for one manufacturer to trace products and identify issues, all with the help of Plex. Learn how in this success story. - [HK Metalcraft Relies on Plex for Precision Engineering and Performance Manufacturing](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/case-studies/hk-metalcraft-relies-plex-precision-engineering-and-performance-manufacturing.html) : Joshua Hopp, President of HK Metalcraft, is the fourth generation owner of a manufacturing business that specializes in precision metal stampings. - [Wisco Industries Zeroes in on Customers with Plex](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/case-studies/wisco-industries-zeroes-customers-plex.html) : Imagine an ERP that can reduce a manufacturer's inventory by 20%. Now read about it in this case study of a real-world Plex customer. - [Wisconsin Metal Tech Replaces Legacy ERP and Paper Processes with Plex](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/case-studies/wisconsin-metal-tech-replaces-legacy-erp-and-paper-processes-plex.html) : Read how Wisconsin Metal Tech found a cloud ERP system that offered robust manufacturing capabilities in Plex and overcame obstacles from aging systems. - [Wolverine Tracks Consignment Inventory with 100 Percent Accuracy, Reduces Audit Time with Plex](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/case-studies/wolverine-tracks-consignment-inventory-100-percent-accuracy-reduces-audit-time-plex.html) : 100% accurate inventory tracking. It's not a misprint, it's what one automotive supplier was able to achieve with help from Plex ERP. - [Standardizing Success: How BIC Overcame Operational Silos to Integrate Technology and People](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/case-studies/standardizing-success-how-bic-overcame-operational-silos-integrate-technology-and-people.html) : BIC selected Plex MES to support a company-wide smart manufacturing initiative targeted to simplify and synchronize manufacturing tools, standards, and processes globally. - [Plex Enables MFC Netform to Maintain Revenue with Half the Resources Expected](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/case-studies/plex-enables-mfc-netform-maintain-revenue-half-resources-expected.html) : Learn how metalformer MFC Netform launched an ERP system that allowed them avoid unnecessary costs, establish credibility, and standardize processes. - [Pax Machine Works, Inc. Expands Digital Footprint and Streamlines Processes with Plex ERP](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/case-studies/pax-machine-works-inc-expands-digital-footprint-and-streamlines-processes-plex-erp.html) : Discover how Pax Machine Works transformed their operations with Plex. Learn how they overcame initial hesitation and successfully implemented Plex ERP, streamlining processes, increasing visibility, and improving efficiency. See how Plex has helped them achieve their goals and continue to innovate in the metal stamping industry. - [Stanco Metal Products Stamps Out the Unknown, Increasing Production Visibility and Traceability with Plex ERP](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/case-studies/stanco-metal-products-stamps-out-unknown-increasing-production-visibility-and.html) : Stanco Metal Products boosts production visibility with Plex. Learn how they overcame challenges and improved efficiency. - [Pacur Serves Customers, Meets Quality Requirements, and Supports Forecasted Growth with Plex](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/case-studies/pacur-serves-customers-meets-quality-requirements-and-supports-forecasted-growth-plex.html) : Discover how Pacur saved time, gained efficiency, and enabled continuous improvement with the Plex Smart Manufacturing Platform. - [Spring Dynamics Eliminates Inventory Discrepancies with Plex](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/case-studies/spring-dynamics-eliminates-inventory-discrepancies-plex.html) : Read this case study to understand how the right ERP can help manufacturers eliminate inventory discrepancies and increase employee productivity. - [McGregor Metal Prepares for Plex UX Transition, Sustains Success With Plex ERP & Plex MES A&O](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/case-studies/mcgregor-metal-prepares-plex-ux-transition-sustains-success-plex-erp-plex-mes-ao.html) : A long-time Plex user, McGregor Metal first implemented Plex smart manufacturing technology in 2005. - [Lightly Salted but Full of Flavor: Teddie Peanut Butter Utilizes Plex for Real-Time Visibility and Reliability](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/case-studies/lightly-salted-full-flavor-teddie-peanut-butter-utilizes-plex-real-time-visibility-and.html) : Watch this video to discover how Teddie Peanut Butter leveraged smarter manufacturing to go paperless while improving visibility, quality, and efficiency. - [Kendrick Plastics Consolidates 27 Software Systems, Gains Control with Plex](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/case-studies/kendrick-plastics-consolidates-27-software-systems.html) : Automotive supplier Kendrick Plastics decided to implement Plex to eliminate disparate software and redeploy people to more valued-added roles. - [Kamco Industries Achieves World-Class Efficiency with Plex](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/case-studies/kamco-industries-achieves-world-class-efficiency-plex.html) : When Kamco Industries’ spreadsheet-based business processes didn’t meet the requirements of major clients Kamco began looking for a new ERP system. - [Hausbeck Pickles and Peppers Gains Real-Time Production Visibility and Traceability with Plex](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/case-studies/hausbeck-pickles-and-peppers-gains-real-time-production-visibility-and-traceability-plex.html) : See how this leading pickle manufacturer achieved 99.6% inventory accuracy, improved quality, and saved money with help from Plex ERP. - [Aaron Thomas Thinks Outside the Box, Turns to Cloud ERP from Plex](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/case-studies/aaron-thomas-thinks-outside-box-turns-cloud-erp-plex.html) : Do you know what 80% revenue growth looks like? Take a look in this case study of food & packaging company Aaron Thomas Co. and their use of Plex ERP. - [Fluid Routing Solutions Cuts ERP Costs with Plex](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/case-studies/fluid-routing-solutions-cuts-erp-costs-plex.html) : What does a 30% reduction in operating costs look like? How can it be accomplished? Get answers in this case study of Fluid Routing Solutions. - [Okay Industries Realizes Higher Plant Efficiencies with Plex](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/case-studies/okay-industries-realizes-higher-plant-efficiencies-plex.html) : OKAY Industries streamlines operations, data management, and reporting by replacing 18 databases with Plex Cloud ERP. - [SPF Achieves Operational Excellence While Maximizing Profitability with Plex](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/case-studies/spf-achieves-operational-excellence-while-maximizing-profitability-plex.html) : Before modernizing operations with Plex, SPF America, LLC relied on an existing Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system which required an external data retention portal. Since implementing Plex, SPF America has experienced a significant transformation in their daily operations, marked by enhanced visibility and efficiency across all processes. - [Olde Thompson Spices Up Forecasting and Heats Up Growth with Plex](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/case-studies/olde-thompson-spices-forecasting-and-heats-growth-plex.html) : Learn how spice and seasonings manufacturer Olde Thompson reduced inventory by 35% and freed up $10 million in operating capital with help from Plex. - [Solero Technologies Benefits from Seamless, Rapid Launch of Plex](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/case-studies/solero-technologies-benefits-seamless-rapid-launch-plex.html) : Discover how one automotive technology manufacturer successfully implemented Plex over an aggressively fast timeline. - [OWS Foods Unlocks Holistic, Real-Time View of Production with Plex](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/case-studies/ows-foods-unlocks-holistic-real-time-view-production-plex.html) : Read how this Plex MES and Supply Chain Planning customer improved traceability, reduced waste, and broke down silos through a clearer view of production. - [Shank's Extracts Sets Up for a Sweet Future with Plex](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/case-studies/shanks-extracts-sets-sweet-future-plex.html) : Private-label manufacturer Shank’s Extracts was growing increasingly frustrated with its ineffective legacy ERP system. After seeing Plex in action, the team knew it found a solution that would meet its needs. - [Real-Time ERP Agility from Plex Enables Rapid Global Expansion for Shape Corp.](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/case-studies/real-time-erp-agility-plex-enables-rapid-global-expansion-shape-corp.html) : How did one automotive manufacturer replace 12 systems with one single version of the truth? Find out in this case study on Shape Corp. - [Prometeon Tyre Group Utilizes Plex QMS to Drive Efficiency Compliance and Sustainability Through Digital Innovation](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/case-studies/prometeon-tyre-group-utilizes-plex-qms-drive-efficiency-compliance-and-sustainability.html) : The relationship between Prometeon Tyre Group (PTG), Rockwell Automation, and Plex, by Rockwell Automation, exemplifies the power of collaboration in spearheading industrial innovation. - [Plex Mach 2 Thai Summit Case Study](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/case-studies/plex-mach-2-thai-summit-case-study.html) : See how Thai Summit America uses Plex Mach2 in their facilities to identify and reduce issues in their process, improve performance and increase overall efficiency - improving cycle times over 6 months and saving over 5 million dollars. - [shyft Group Charges Ahead Plex Commercial Evs](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/case-studies/shyft-group-charges-ahead-plex-commercial-evs.html) : - [The Electric Materials Company Increases On-Time Deliveries and Digitizes with Plex ERP](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/case-studies/electric-materials-company-increases-time-deliveries-and-digitizes-plex-erp.html) : See how Electric Materials boosted on-time deliveries to 60-70%, went paperless, and modernized cycle-counting with Plex ERP. - [Maple Leaf Digitally Transforms for a Competitive Edge](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/case-studies/maple-leaf-digitally-transforms-competitive-edge.html) : Price pressure and competition for skilled workers is fierce in the protein industry. To be successful, food producers like Maple Leaf Foods must find better ways to capture more value from the equipment on their plant floors—and attract, train, and retain workers. - [Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream Sweetens Production with Plex Smart Manufacturing Platform](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/case-studies/chocolate-shoppe-ice-cream-sweetens-production-with-plex.html) : Plex MES and QMS position the company for continued manufacturing growth and improvement - [Bayrak Technik Unlocks Group-Wide Operational Improvements Using Plex Software Solutions](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/case-studies/bayrak-technik-unlocks-group-wide-operational-improvements-using-plex.html) : Wider and deeper deployment of ERP, MES and QMS modules creates a single source of truth that helps optimize manufacturing operations, while forming an important link in global automotive digital chain. - [Accutech Automates and Digitizes with Plex MES A&O](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/case-studies/accutech-automates-and-digitizes-with-plex-mes-a-o.html) : After struggling to trust the data of their previous ERP system, Jay Industries started looking for a new ERP system. - [ParkOhio Drives Profitability with Real-time Data](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/case-studies/parkohio-drives-profitability-with-real-time-data.html) : Innovative use of MES and ability to access real-time information improves profitability and quality for ParkOhio’s Assembly Components Group. ## Customer Success Catalog - [Customer Success and Advocacy](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/customer-success/customer-success-and-advocacy.html) : Unlock all of the benefits from your Plex implementation, and realize the value of your investment. - [Education Services](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/customer-success/education-services.html) : Ensure your Plex Smart Manufacturing Platform is widely adopted and expertly used. ## Education Services Catalog - [Plex Education Services Acceptable Use Policy](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/customer-success/education-services/education-services-policy.html) : Plex Systems, Inc. makes education services software and programs such as its All Access Pass subscription service and Boot Camp training for the benefit of Authorized Users from customers and qualified partners that subscribe to Plex’s proprietary web-based ERP software platform and/or are enrolled in the Plex Partner Program. ## Knowledge Articles Catalog - [QMS](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/knowledge-articles/qms.html) : - [Guide to Production Part Approval Process (PPAP)](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/knowledge-articles/mes/guide-production-part-approval-process-ppap.html) : Establish confidence in suppliers and their production process with PPAP. This article covers everything you need to know about how and when to perform PPAP. - [What is Industry 4.0? Industry 4.0 Technology Guide](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/knowledge-articles/mes/what-is-industry-4-0.html) : Industry 4.0 is the next big thing for manufacturing, learn the basics today and be ready for tomorrow's challenges. - [The Future of Robotics and Automation in Manufacturing](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/knowledge-articles/mes/future-robotics-and-automation.html) : Learn about manufacturing robots and the role they will play in the factory of the future. ## QMS | Plex | US Catalog - [Guide to Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP)](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/knowledge-articles/qms/guide-advanced-product-quality-planning-apqp.html) : Looking to learn more about Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP)? We cover everything from definition to implementation. ## Webinars Catalog - [June 2025 Product Release Webinar](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/webinars/june-2025-product-release-webinar.html) : - [An Introduction to Finite Scheduler](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/webinars/introduction-finite-schedular.html) : Join us on June 17th with Sr. Product Manager, Olusola Oduntan, to learn about the new Finite Scheduler software. Now with better capabilities of integration to Plex, the Finite Scheduler is a new finite capacity scheduling application that allows production organizations to include all the critical constraints in the generation of the production schedule. - [Finite Scheduler: Everything You Need to Know as a Plex Customer](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/webinars/finite-scheduler-everything-you-need-know-plex-customer.html) : - [Where Did My Quality Go](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/webinars/where-did-my-quality-go.html) : Join Brian Martensen to learn how to make a culture of quality possible! - [Using asset data to automate production processes, improve operational KPIs, and ensure asset health and reliability](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/webinars/using-asset-data-automate-production-processes-improve-operational-kpis-and-ensure-asset.html) : Poor asset health and reliability is the biggest contributor to deterioration of operational KPIs. Join Michael Hart, Senior Director of Product Management, as he helps explain the importance of monitoring asset data and how it can help manufacturers automate production processes, improve operational KPIs, ensure asset health and reliability, and advance maintenance maturity. - [How the Culture of Quality Makes Cent$ For Your Manufacturing Operations](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/webinars/how-culture-quality-makes-cent-your-manufacturing-operations.html) : As financial and regulatory pressures mount, manufacturers are better understanding how quality is tied to their people, products, and processes. - [Council of the Great Lakes Region: A Look at Smart Manufacturing Through an ESG Lens](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/webinars/council-great-lakes-region-look-smart-manufacturing-through-esg-lens.html) : This webinar features research from Plex and Rockwell Automation that highlights how smart manufacturing is supporting companies in achieving their ESG goals. - [IndustryWeek: 5 Tactics to Drive Digital Transformation from your Plant Floor MES](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/webinars/industryweek-5-tactics-drive-digital-transformation-your-plant-floor-mes.html) : Manufacturing leaders face many challenges in today’s global market, including security risks, supply chain distribution, and a shortage of skilled workers, all the while facing pressure to grow the bottom line. - [Guide to Building a Case for Digital Transformation](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/webinars/guide-building-case-digital-transformation.html) : Manufacturers have tremendous opportunities in advancing their operations through adoption of Smart Manufacturing technologies. - [Gain Real-Time Visibility Into Machine and Operational Health](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/webinars/gain-real-time-visibility-machine-and-operational-health.html) : The world’s top manufacturers are always equipped with the knowledge required to uncover the root cause of unplanned downtime, poor machine health, or process quality issues. That means they can increase throughput, maximize profits, and make the right capital investment decisions. - [Quality as a Mindset, Quality as a Culture](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/webinars/quality-mindset-quality-culture.html) : Watch this webinar to learn about the latest developments on what manufacturers are doing to advance their operations through the installation of a quality mindset from the plant floor to the top floor. - [Put Quality in Your Product Design Process with the New Plex DFMEA Module](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/webinars/put-quality-your-product-design-process-new-plex-dfmea-module.html) : Put quality in your product design process with the new Plex DFMEA module now available within the Plex Quality Management System (QMS) application. - [Plex with IDC: Progressing Down the Manufacturing Quality Journey](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/webinars/plex-idc-progressing-down-manufacturing-quality-journey.html) : Join several quality experts in this webinar that gives you real-world examples, research, and best practices designed to help your quality journey. - [Do You Know Plex Automotive? – Episode One: Process Flows](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/webinars/do-you-know-plex-automotive-episode-one-process-flows.html) : - [Do You Know Plex Automotive? – Episode Two: Leveraging SmartEDI](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/webinars/do-you-know-plex-automotive-episode-two-leveraging-smartedi.html) : - [Performance Over Compliance: A Roadmap to Preferred Supplier Status](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/webinars/performance-over-compliance.html) : See how you can drive performance like 14% lower warranty rates, 40% lower supplier defect rates, 1% higher first pass yield, and 8% higher on-time delivery. - [Where Did My Plant Performance Go?](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/webinars/where-did-my-plant-performance-go.html) : The manufacturing plant floor must be fed with insights from several data sources or software systems, and that data must be accurate. - [Learn the Benefits of Moving to Plex UX](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/webinars/moving-to-plex-ux.html) : The UX Transition Team will present a walkthrough of steps involved in the transition process from Plex Classic to Plex UX. - [Achieve Outcomes That Hit the Bottom Line with Plex Professional Services](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/webinars/prosvcs.html) : In this webinar, we’ll introduce our new prepackaged services designed around common opportunity areas to drive efficiency, best practices, and optimization that often get overlooked. - [Where Did My Inventory Go](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/webinars/where-did-my-inventory-go.html) : Join Ara Surenian, Plex VP, Product Management, as he discusses how to eliminate demand and supply planning surprises.