Julie Fraser

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The Challenge of Manufacturing Data Management

What happens when automation and plant IT teams get past their differences and work together effectively? A chance for the company to outperform the competition and make progress on Industry 4.0 projects.

Julie Fraser, MESA

Key Questions to Make Smart Manufacturing Work

Asking important questions—and in turn letting those answers lead you to the next questions—will put you on the path to smart manufacturing. Here are some examples to consider.

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Advancing Smart Manufacturing and IIoT—Together or Separately?

Is the Industrial Internet of Things an enabling technology of smart manufacturing? Or could smart manufacturing take a different path?

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How Good Are Your Networks?

Consider not only your automation network that carries information between devices and control systems, but also your personal network that shares best practices and lessons learned.

More from Julie Fraser

Julie Fraser, Outreach Director, MESA International

Competitive Advantage Getting Short Shrift?

MESA research shows that many companies still do not have modern information solutions implemented in their manufacturing and production areas.

Layers of Manufacturing Metrics

Managing by Fact, Layer by Layer

Layers of manufacturing operations metrics and measurement processes, aligned with top-level business goals, are the best way to ensure that what you measure actually does drive improvements. A study of best practices reveals actionable detailed metrics that others are successfully applying.

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The Role of Education in MES Investment Returns

New research on companies using manufacturing execution systems (MES) or manufacturing operations management (MOM) indicates education may be even more important before you commit to a system implementation project.

MES Decisions: Now Easier than Ever

Many manufacturers are realizing that their carefully crafted information flows have a big hole in them—between the automation and the enterprise. What’s missing is the plantwide view.

Manufacturers interviewed for this article use a wide range of systems in their quality programs. The percentages do not necessa

Quality Breakthroughs: Many Paths, Common Themes

Effective quality management can drive significant business benefits, but it requires focused technology, business process changes and integrated data from automation and enterprise systems.