Trapped! Stranded! Held hostage! All are terms that have been used to describe data that likely exists in many places in your plant or factory today—data that, if made accessible on a continuous, real-time or near-real-time basis, could potentially help you save money in a variety of ways. Now, the emergence of new industrial wireless networking technologies promises some cost-effective ways to free that locked-up data.

  Today’s information systems have an intense craving to know what’s happening up and down the supply chain.

  Production of practically everything seems to be moving overseas these days, but the perception doesn’t always match reality.

 The Kendall-Jackson winery packages more than 3 million cases of wine each year, so it’s a big challenge to position labels on bottles that race through its production lines. 

  Here's a look at some of the trials, tribulations and challenges faced by two early end-users of industrial wireless networking technology, along with some lessons learned and benefits gained.

  Both technologies pay in production.

  PackML Version 3.0 is out. Here’s an early look at the new guideline from the experts who helped shape it, the inside scoop on OMAC’s new marketing message, and what to look for at next month’s Pack Expo Las Vegas.

 Networks link factory to front office.

 (Sidebar to "OPC Holes Create Swirl of Controversy" from the June 2007 issue of Automation World)

  Vision providers see a growing market in packaging line inspection, and they are going after it with 21st century products that are smart, tough and easier to deploy.

  Labeler’s subsystems, including 100 percent label inspection, are tailor-made for contract packagers.

  Automating your building services saves energy and money.

 Lean Manufacturing can deliver huge efficiency gains for mass production operations, but Pearson Packaging Systems has proved that Lean can produce big payoffs for one-off, custom manufacturers as well.

  The push is toward wireless, as mobile, handheld computing devices prove their worth in industrial maintenence applications.

 Smart field devices might not be glamorous enough to take the spotlight, but they sure do play an important role in managing assets these days.

  Integrated smart sensing systems ranging from radio frequency identification and bar codes to machine vision enable packagers to keep tighter tabs on products and processes.

 While vision-guided robot “bin-picking” of randomly located parts has long proved an elusive goal, there are signs that the technology may now finally be set to emerge.

 Three-dimensional (3D) vision systems often rely on stereo techniques, using views from two separate cameras, or two images taken from different positions by the same camera.

 Technology redraws the battle lines in fight between RFID and bar codes.

 As information technology and physical security technology converge, the payoff for manufacturers is smarter, multi-functional systems that can not only keep plants secure, but also help boost the bottom line.