Most recent articles
The Future of the Automotive Industry: Automation and New Partnerships are the Solutions
Regulations, technological development and a change of view of car ownership all affect the automotive industry as we know it. In our latest episode on the future of the automotive industry, we focused on what automakers and their suppliers can do differently to keep pace and place amongst the list of the most successful companies.
The TAL 2020 Conference: The Best in European Automotive
“Each year’s TAL has one thing in common. Our wish for its participants to bring home the best of experiences, as well as ideas that will help them towards an even better formulation of their vision and strategy for manufacturing and logistics management,” says Roman Žák, chairman of the board at Aimtec, on the history of Trends in Automotive Logistics (TAL). Originally a side event for Autosalon, a trade fair in Brno, it has become an independent conference with international speakers and attendees, will be celebrating 20 years in 2020 and promises an attractive programme once again.
Deloitte and the Digital Factory
Manufacturers are facing a new age of physical production. Advanced processes, new materials and increasing automation are reshaping the industry. Business leaders are beginning to ask themselves how to keep up with market changes…
MES Is for More Than Manufacturing
MES has an established role as the main system support for manufacturing. Its primary function is data collection and evaluation. The manufacturing data it collects can then be used as a foundation for monitoring, assessing and managing the manufacturing process based on a plan. But managers aren’t the only consumers of this data. Operators and maintenance staff use it too. That’s why MES is a key component in enterprise systems and is also receiving growing interest in relation to the rise of new technologies and the overall trend of interconnecting manufacturing and logistics.
The End of Support for Windows CE and Windows Mobile Is Approaching. Switch to Android.
Microsoft makes no secret of the fact that on 13 April 2021, it will be ending its support for the Windows CE operating systems, and support for Windows Mobile will end even sooner – on 14 January 2020. This is perhaps a logical step. Not counting the first mobile phones, these operating systems have appeared in industrial operating systems for many years now. Time for a change! The makers of terminals and other industrial devices have been preparing for the end of support for a long time now, and they are moving on to Android. Zebra Technologies was the first to take this step.
How to Approach Logistics Automation
Automation. It’s so tightly tied to industrial manufacturing that just about everyone thinks of robots when they think of assembly lines. But what do you think of when you hear the phrase “internal logistics automation”? Self-driving forklifts? Conveyor belts? Warehousing and logistics was a back-burner field until recently, but now it’s time to change that. After all, inefficient intralogistics processes generate considerable financial losses. Thanks to the latest technologies, we can free workers’ hands and take productivity to a level that would be unachievable with manual warehouse operations. But how does one approach automation? What are its possibilities? What can it lead to? We have some answers for you.
Electromobility: Even Production at a Loss Can Pay Off
In August of 2019, the Deloitte consulting firm published a study focused on automotive suppliers (the 2019 Global Automotive Supplier Study). It states that automotive suppliers’ revenues in 2018 amounted to 1,700 billion USD. Their segment analysis revealed that the income for certain components (the fuel system) may drop by up to 20 percent by 2025, and meanwhile certain attractive products (the electric drive unit) can generate up to three times as much revenue as they do today.
Automation and Jobs: The Skills Revolution Is a Necessity
Automation replaces people. But does this mean we’re losing jobs? The media might make that seem at first to be the case, but what’s the real situation? Should we worry about massive redundancy and thousands of the unemployed? The jobs experts at Manpower and their study named “Humans Wanted: Robots Need You” tell us the opposite. Companies are seeking employees despite automation – new positions are being created with entirely new work tasks. After all, robots can’t get by without people. Thus we can expect a shift towards completely new activities and the need for a different approach to employees.
Warehouse Automation: The Technologies
Many automation projects start with the idea of replacing manually driven vehicles with automated ones. But this solution may not bring the desired results, and usually, even before the fleet’s replacement, it becomes clear that a deeper analysis of automation type and level is required. Not always it is possible and beneficial to opt for a fully automated warehouse or autonomous handling equipment. Often a gradual process, which lets you prepare for changes and absorb them, will be a better choice. But a radical change can work too. What are the options, and which technologies can you use? And what should you consider before deploying them?
Catch a Ride with Autonomous Guided Vehicles into the World of Industry 4.0
While self-driving is fairly problematic for automobiles, carts without human operators are appearing in factories and warehouses with growing frequency. They differ in how they navigate and in the degree of their autonomy. For intralogistics, autonomous guided vehicles are a way to make processes faster and more efficient, and naturally, they’re also a way to free up people’s hands. Because they’re moving around among people, safety is important as well.
Warehouse Automation Achievement: Sellier & Bellot
Sellier & Bellot is one of the most successful industrial firms in the Czech Republic – and one of the oldest munitions manufacturers in the world. And it is also a renowned name in sport, for example in shooting disciplines and biathlon. Interestingly enough, it is likely the only company to have its own game reserve on its premises. But let’s take a look at the Sellier & Bellot warehouses, which saw a key turning point in 2016, when a new hall was built and equipped with a fully automated warehouse.
B2B Communication in Automotive: The Basics
The automotive sector places greater demands on suppliers than almost any other sector. Individual components need to meet strict criteria for the quality and traceability of materials, and additionally electronic data interchange (EDI) plays a key role.
How Can You Master Automation? Your Internal Team and Innovative Project Tools Are the Key
Automation’s benefits are clear – saved costs, reduced human error, and faster, more efficient processes. But how much time will it take your team to grasp this Holy Grail? How can you prepare your key people for what awaits them and empower them to enable a smooth course for the entire project? Success is not just about suppliers and technologies, although they do play an important role. An often forgotten, but fundamental pillar lies elsewhere. In your people’s time.
The 8 Most Interesting Quotes from TAL 2020
What you might have missed at the conference, but is good to remind yourself.
The Digital Transformation: Are You a Driver or a Follower?
If you were there in the audience at TAL 2020, Filip Dřímalka may have piqued your curiosity right as it began. If you weren’t there, here’s a summary of all his key points, as well as some tips on what to do to stay a true driver of the digital transformation.
