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The Future Of Manufacturing Is Here, And TechSolve Is Here For Manufacturers.

On October 4th, 2022, manufacturers and community leaders from across the Southwest Ohio region converged at TechSolve’s annual MFG STRONG Summit to learn about robotics and automation from specialized experts.

 

 

Along with lunch and a networking happy hour, this year’s half-day event provided manufacturers crucial guidance to assist them along their digital transformation journeys when considering robotics.

After a few words from TechSolve’s President and CEO, David Linger, the event was underway.

Our first presenters, also from the TechSolve team, Susan Moehring, Senior Project Manager, and Radu Pavel, Ph.D., Vice President and CTO, made the case for automation and robotics with detailed insights that served as a conversation catalyst for the rest of the day. Touching on the potential ROI and benefits that can be taken advantage of by businesses, Susan and Radu brought key benchmarks to light regarding technology adoption readiness.

Jack Justice, Sales Manager from KC Robotics, took the stage to inform the audience what to do next if they are ready to automate, and Andy Jones, Sales Manager from Formic, highlighted the benefits of Robots-As-A-Service (RAAS) as well as how manufacturers can automate starting with zero capital and a guaranteed performance agreement.

After the first few presenters, the event proceeded into an automation panel with moderator Greg Knox, CEO of Knox Machinery, and panelists Ben Sprengard from Enerfab and Brian Kettering from Clippard Instrument Laboratory, Inc., as well as Jack Justice and Andy Jones. Attendees listened to a genuine roundtable discussion about the barriers of entry into the automation world, what factors to consider when contemplating adoption, and tips to ensure a smooth transition.

After the automation panel, Ron Pieper, Customer Support Manager from Juxtum, lead a presentation that helped attendees understand how they can improve factory floor efficiency by leveraging machine data. His colleague, Solutions Delivery Manager, Scott Campbell, also provided a live tech demo in TechSolve’s Eugene M. Merchant Technology Development Center, which showed the power of machine data retrival in real-time.

Closing out the afternoon was TechSolve HR Director, Cathy Koop, who made the audience aware of training and funding resources available to manufacturers, including TechCred and Tooling U-SME. The event concluded with a grand prize giveaway and a networking happy hour, where speakers and attendees spent quality time together discussing the benefits of the event and the joys of manufacturing in the Cincinnati area.

Key Takeaways From MFG STRONG 2022

1. Robotic Implementation Takes Buy-In From The Entire Team. 

There are several important factors in the adoption process of new technologies that manufacturers can expect, and employee buy-in is at the top of the list. When a new machine or robot is brought onto the shop floor, the people who will be handling it need to be instructed how to use it properly and why it is being used. If there is a lack of confidence in the reasoning behind the implementation, the new processes are less likely to yield the anticipated results.

2. Streamlining Processes With New Technologies Will Enhance The Workforce, Not Replace It.

When contemplating if the use of automation and robotics is the right move, many manufacturers worry about their workers fearing for their job safety. It needs to be apparent that the new technologies are not there to replace anyone, they only exist to speed up processes and reduce waste. Adopting these new technologies also provides an opportunity to reskill and upskill workers, benefiting their careers and abilities greatly.

3. Manufacturers Aren’t Alone On Their Journey Towards Automation.

There are many resources available to manufacturers who are looking transition to robotized and automated processes. There are also methods of implementation that can benefit companies at a low cost. TechSolve is here to help manufacturers in the Southwest Ohio region utilize every resource at their disposal to help them get up and running.

MFG Strong 2022 Sponsors  

Sponsors for the event included Ohio Manufacturing Extension Partnership, WesBanco, and Magnus IT.

MFG Strong 2022 Speakers 

  • Susan Moehring – Senior Project Manager at TechSolve

  • Radu Pavel, Ph.D. – Vice President and CTO at TechSolve

  • Jack Justice – Sales Manager at KC Robotics

  • Andy Jones – Sales Director at Formic

  • Ben Sprengard – Managing Director of Operations at Enerfab

  • Brian Kettering – Senior Automation Engineer at Clippard Instrument Laboratory, Inc.

  • Ron Pieper – Customer Support Manager at Juxtum

  • Scott Campbell – Solutions Delivery Manager at Juxtum

  • Cathy Koop – Director of Human Resources at TechSolve

Upcoming TechSolve Events

Join TechSolve at one of our upcoming events, including the next installment of our Back to the Basics breakfast series titled “LinkedIn Content Strategy For Business & Marketing” on November 29th from 8:00 – 10:00 AM!

 

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