Statistical process control (SPC) software is a large part of data collection and analysis in the modern manufacturing environment where quality control is a necessity. To understand what is needed from SPC software nowadays, we need to first understand the difference between traditional, on-premise SPC software and an e-commerce SPC solution.

Data collection on the factory floor can be a challenge. Even the smallest enterprise can generate massive amounts of data, and collecting this data is only a first step on the path to a successful IIoT project.

Meta. It’s a term that means “self-reference” and was born in postmodernism, a description of the ideology, culture, and literature of the late 2oth century. Postmodernism, particularly in regard to literature, is marked by the rise of dark humor, unreliable narrators, and parody as a way to comment on our world in a fresh and interesting way. Think M. Night Shyamalan and plot-twists.

Digitizing an organization’s existing systems, processes, tasks and assets can be a daunting undertaking. There are a myriad of different workflow processes to examine, siloed departments to incorporate and even existing connected device (i.e. IoT) data to consolidate. 

Two years ago, Process Engineer Bill Roberts and his team at Minnesota-based Roberts Automatic Products, Inc., were looking to improve the company’s statistical process control (SPC) and its overall data collection processes.

For medical device manufacturers, having a product that functions as designed is critical, as a person’s health—or even their life—could be at risk. It’s one thing if my Alexa won’t respond to a voice command to remind me of a task, but it may be life threatening if my asthma inhaler won’t give me the medication I need when I’m struggling to breathe.

Not long ago, IT integration projects were an intimidating task due to the historic number of failed projects. This is not the case today because the technology exists and when combined with proper implementation they are very successful.

Additively manufactured parts face unique testing challenges. Along with many aspects of additive manufacturing, testing and inspection of additively manufactured parts is now being studied. Last October the ASTM International Additive Manufacturing Center of Excellence announced its first set of R&D projects.