DOWNTIME: MEET YOUR NEW WORST ENEMY

Executive Snapshot Tariff policy has shifted sharply in the past 18 months, squeezing margins for U.S. discrete-manufacturing plants. Metal duties remain in force, a new 25% levy on imported vehicles and parts took effect this spring, and Chinese imports have risen at an astounding rate. Manufacturing executives have already begun taking action, flexing their supply chain muscles to identify new sources of material, bring manufacturing back to the US, and, in many cases,...

Did you know that MachineMetrics provides real-time visibility into tool life across your entire shop floor? MachineMetrics Tool Life Monitoring delivers real-time visibility into tool life and enables proactive, data-driven decisions to optimize when tool changes occur. With this release, manufacturers can stop relying on guesswork, spreadsheets, and operator memory, and start managing tools using real-time data. Tool failures are a constant threat to production, resulting...

Despite significant investments in ERP systems, many manufacturers still struggle to manage their operations effectively. The root of the problem? A lack of accurate, real-time data from the production floor. ERP systems are powerful tools - they help manufacturers plan resources, manage inventory, and fulfill orders. But their effectiveness hinges on the quality and timeliness of the data they receive. When that data is delayed, incomplete, or inaccurate, the value of the...

On-time delivery (OTD) in manufacturing isn’t just about getting orders out on schedule. It’s a complex interplay of overcoming production bottlenecks, supply chain disruptions, and unpredictable demand. Despite their best efforts, many manufacturers struggle to meet OTD targets due to scheduling, maintenance, and production planning inefficiencies. Low OTD means increased costs and lost customers, so tackling those challenges is essential. This article will highlight these...

Customer Profile Industry: Automotive Operations: High-volume precision machining for major automotive OEMs Products: Complex machined components used in steering, driveline, and suspension systems Production Scale: Thousands of parts produced daily across multiple machining centers Intro A global leader in precision manufacturing for the automotive industry, this MachineMetrics customer operates high-volume production lines with some of the most advanced machining...

MachineMetrics, the global leader in production intelligence for discrete manufacturers, is excited to announce the launch of its groundbreaking predictive tool monitoring solution. With MachineMetrics’ latest release, manufacturers can leverage AI to quickly diagnose, predict, and avoid failures on machine tools. Manually identifying when tooling will fail is nearly impossible, which prompts manufacturers to either replace tooling and components too early or simply run...

We're excited to announce that MachineMetrics is now available in AWS GovCloud (US), providing manufacturers working with government contracts and defense suppliers a secure, compliant solution for real-time machine data collection and analytics. This enables organizations to meet stringent regulatory requirements while continuing to leverage the power of MachineMetrics to optimize production. For manufacturers handling Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) or subject to...

Work in progress (WIP) in manufacturing refers to partially finished products at various stages of production, and it’s a key concept in efficiency. Taking the right approach to managing WIP in manufacturing ensures your resources are put to the best possible use to avoid delays and missed deadlines. Striking the right balance between too much and too little WIP is key to optimizing production — it’s easy for manufacturing operations to lean too far in either direction....

For months, we’ve been looking forward to ProveIt!, one of the most exciting events in the manufacturing technology space. Unlike traditional conferences, where vendors talk about their solutions through slides and static displays, ProveIt! brings innovation to life by challenging companies to integrate their technologies into a simulated, real-world factory. This unique setup allows vendors to showcase the actual value of their solutions in action - proving their...

Manufacturing intelligence is transforming how manufacturers make decisions by capturing accurate, real-time production data with full operational context. This gives manufacturers the foundation to unlock key insights, actions, and automations that improve efficiency, reduce downtime, and drive on-time delivery. Putting manufacturing intelligence into action does pose some challenges, but we share how manufacturers can overcome them below. Let’s take a closer look at...