Manufacturing And Warehousing IT News For VARs — June 2, 2014
By Trisha Leon, contributing writer
In the news, research from Wohlers Report reveals the demand for products and services related to additive manufacturing increased by 34.9 percent — the largest increase in the report’s 17 years. Also, industry experts weigh in on securing Internet of Things devices and managing third-party risk.
Demand Grows For Additive Manufacturing Products And Services
The additive manufacturing industry has witnessed considerable growth in 2013. According to research from the closely watched Wohlers Report, the global demand for products and services related to additive manufacturing increased 34.9 percent in 2013, the highest growth in the report’s seventeen years. Ido Eylon, the general manager for Asia South for Stratasys, told Manufacturer’s Monthly that education is the future of the industry. “An engineer or somebody who got some engineering training as a student and was exposed to the benefits of 3D printing or additive manufacturing, later on as an engineer-in-practice, is going to look for the same benefits as a young professional,” said Eylon. VARs can take advantage of this growing marketplace by providing solutions that integrate additive manufacturing components into their client’s current framework.
Securing The Internet Of Things
The Internet of Things (IoT) is trending as more devices capable of transmitting important and often confidential information connect to the internet and open new gateways for cyber criminals to breech. Armando Dacal, Regional Director — Australia & New Zealand, Palo Alto Networks, explains that the IoT is made up of everyday devices that are IP-enabled, and the massive number of these devices means that there are more ways to target an organization. “Securing the Internet of Things — Risks and Challenges,” an article in Ferret, offers four best practices for organizations to secure IoT devices.
Time-In-State Management Webinar Announced By MESA
Mesa International has opened registration for its webinar “Time-in-State Management as an alternative to OEE in the Process Industries,” to be held at Wednesday, June 18, 2014, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. (EDT). The webcast introduces the concept of time-in-state (TIS) management and the related time-in-state metric (TISM), which can be used as a performance measure for the continuous processes and as enhancement or alternative to the commonly used overall equipment effectiveness (OEE). During the webcast, the time-in-state metric implementation and deployment methodologies will be discussed and explained. It describes the tools the operators can use to guide them in making the most effective decisions and how these tools need to be maintained and calibrated over time.
Addressing Third-Party Risk
Many companies rely heavily on third parties like material suppliers and vendors to help them meet both their contractual obligations and consumer demand. This significant increase in the use of third parties has compounded the associated risks such as: regulatory and legal violations, breaches of systems and data, and reputation damage, among others. An Industry Week article, “Third-Party Risk and What to Do About It,” offers advice on actions that can be taken to manage third-party risk. VARs offering solutions in this regard provide their clients with peace of mind and can help ensure future success.
Manufacturing And Warehousing IT Talking Points
According to Industrial Distribution, wholesale businesses increased their stockpiles for an eighth consecutive month in February as their sales rose at the fastest clip since November, which is a good sign for future economic growth. Sales rose as well in February, 0.7 percent, rebounding from a drop in January of 1.8 percent. Increased sales should encourage businesses to keep restocking their shelves to meet rising demand. That will mean increased orders to factories and rising production which would boost economic growth.
For more news and insights, visit BSMinfo’s Manufacturing And Warehousing Tech Center.