Manufacturing Business Technology - January 1, 2008

Manufacturers of all sizes constantly revitalize their operations to remain competitive. In product development, technologies such as digital prototyping and digital manufacturing help companies see how products will be manufactured well before they're built. For one midsize engineering-focused company, the idea of “digital prototyping” supported a transformational change in its bus...

• Columnists
• Back Talk
• Sidney Hill, Jr.: SaaS economics seem to favor users more than vendors
• In Perspective
• Julie Fraser: The devil's in the industry detail for scheduling
• Ed Miller: The PLM footprint steps onto the factory floor
• Up Front
• Kevin Parker: Digital manufacturing puts PLCs in contact with PLM

• Computing Infrastructure
• Zebra changes stripes, extending technology reach, market scope
• IBM sees three key areas appropriate for RFID
• AIM issues its Top 5 RFID predictions for 2008
• Global supply chains need SaaS to drive competitive advantage
• Zebra printers see XML and SAP extensions; more wireless security

• Enterprise/Supply Chain
• IT in airplane manufacture: Where does responsibility lie?
• Warehouse management system sets stage for prime product location, customer satisfaction
• Kroll: Corporate fraud is almost 100-percent preventable
• Manufacturers less worried than other sectors about fraud
• Several paths to best practices for SAP ERP users in process industries
• Feedback management solution creates and engages “the nurtured customer”

• Plant Operations
• S&OP encompassing broader financial and performance parameters
• GE Fanuc gets new name; backs new ARC manufacturing model
• Next-gen MES embraces enterprise standard no matter what manufacturing mode

• Product Engineering
• Third dimension in design solutions cuts truck maker's race to market
• Change or be changed: Examples from the manufacturing and software industries
• Statistics-based language translation supports growing international communications needs

• Views From the Front
• Innovation engine: ILOG upgrade could spawn new generation of supply chain applications
• Viewpoint: Harvest live information from the plant floor without sacrificing productivity
• SAP senior execs talk about ERP, SOA, and the demise of three-letter acronyms
• Resources and Constraints
• Rising metal prices abate somewhat, but long-term trend is continuing price increases