Posted by Luciano Cunha
At what point are we going to run out of discrete manufacturing acronyms?
Despite what may already feel like an overwhelming alphabet soup, Simon Holloway gives us two more in a recent article posted to IT Director: CMMS (Computerized Maintenance Management System) and OEE (Overall Equipment Effectiveness). For those who prefer to live in an acronym-less world, you are in luck as these acronyms easily combine into just one overall discipline: plant maintenance.
CMSS and OEE basically address two different sides of the plant maintenance coin: CMSS aims to create a database of information about an organization’s maintenance operations, while OEE is aimed at measuring actual machine performance.
Posted September 7th, 2010 in To-Increase No Comments »
Posted by Luciano Cunha
Here were some of the stories we found most interesting and relevant from all across the supply chain management and manufacturing industry over the last week:
How to Balance Technology, Processes and People with Labor Management Systems
This article has more on the delicate balance manufacturers must try to find between their technology, processes and the people they work with. Learn how are some companies are using labor management to balance the seemingly un-balanceable.
Posted September 3rd, 2010 in Discrete Manufacturing, To-Increase, supply chain management No Comments »
Posted by Luciano Cunha
Check out some of the most interesting, and our favorite stories from all across the supply chain management and manufacturing industry over the last week:
More on WalMarts Supply Chain Move to Inbound Freight Being a Game Changer
Even more information on the possible industry impacts that WalMart’s new supply chain move relating to inbound freight could have. Many think it could be a complete game changer, and this article has more to support that.
Posted August 27th, 2010 in To-Increase, supply chain management No Comments »
Posted by Luciano Cunha
It would be an understatement of epic proportions to say that manufacturers of today are responding to challenges that have never before been a reality. Examples are plentiful, from pressures to reduce costs in light of product releases, to directors having to restart the product lifecycle from scratch with every upgrade.
In the article “Steps to PLM Success,” Vice President of PLM Solutions for Siemens IT Solutions and Service Ed Shinouskis discusses how a sound Product Lifecycle Management integration plan helps transform these challenges into opportunities.
Posted August 27th, 2010 in Product Lifecycle Management No Comments »
Posted by Luciano Cunha
Interesting news from all across the supply chain management and manufacturing industry over the last week:
The Surprising Success of the Green Supply Chain
Suppliers, lead by Wal-Mart’s ambitious plan last year to track and reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions, many multi-national corporations are now on board. The ‘green supply chain’ has become a success story that will hopefully continue to spread.
Some Key Drivers of Successful Supplier Risk Management
This great article covers some of SCDigest’s editorial staff’s feelings on what some of the most important aspects are of successful supplier risk management procedures are. A key point is the big difference that exists between how the companies are saying their risk management is so important versus what they are actually doing about it.
Posted August 20th, 2010 in supply chain management No Comments »
Posted by Luciano Cunha
Here were some of our favorite stories from all across the supply chain management and manufacturing industry over the last week:
Guru Panel Weighs In on How to Define Supply Chain Flexibility
Excellent insight offered in this article about the best ways to actually measure and define supply chain flexibility. As a variety of viewpoints are always present in this debate, hearing from some of the experts in the field is a great way to learn more.
Posted August 13th, 2010 in To-Increase, supply chain management No Comments »
Posted by Luciano Cunha
From CAD to CRM, working in the discrete manufacturing world can sometimes feel like sailing in alphabet soup. By focusing today’s post on PLM and PDM, we may be pointing our manufacturing ship directly towards the waters of controversy.
For some time, a question asked by discrete manufacturers is whether PLM (Product Lifecycle Management) or PDM (Product Data Management) is a more relevant term to describe our needs and pain points.
Oleg Shilovitsky at PLM Think Tank sounded off about it recently, leveraging simple Google searches to find out what others in the industry were saying. His conclusion is one that we share, but won’t reveal just so quickly.
Continue Reading:
Do You PLM or PDM?
Posted August 13th, 2010 in Discrete Manufacturing, Product Lifecycle Management, To-Increase 2 Comments »
Posted by Luciano Cunha

PLM Streamlines Oil, Gas & Mining Machinery Manufacturing. Learn How With Free Video
Oil, gas and mining machinery manufacturing used to be a lot simpler – even before the environmental and public relations disaster still plaguing the gulf.
Simply delivering machinery and components was the ‘be all and end all’ for most companies in the industry. But now, if you’re not a full-service provider, from design to delivery, from installation to maintenance, new opportunities for business may prove elusive.
Posted August 6th, 2010 in Discrete Manufacturing, Product Lifecycle Management No Comments »
Posted by Luciano Cunha
Feel free to check out some of our favorite stories from all across the supply chain management and manufacturing industry over the last week:
The Beauty of a Sustainable Supply Chain
This is a great piece on just how attractive the idea of a completely sustainable supply chain really is. The article sums up what the author believes to be the “three-legged stool” that is the new age of sustainability. The first two legs of that stool are customers and energy or transportation, while the third leg involves products. Great read.
Posted August 6th, 2010 in supply chain management No Comments »
Posted by Luciano Cunha
Here were some of our favorite stories from all across the supply chain management and manufacturing industry over the last week, check them out if you didn’t the first time around:
Hybrid Boat Manufacturer to Employ 400 in Louisiana
Great news for the manufacturing industry as a new hybrid boat maker coming to the Louisiana area is going to end up employing 400 people with new jobs. There are reports that the company may also produce two electric car models in the future.
Posted July 30th, 2010 in supply chain management No Comments »