Author Archives: Akshay Rao

Advanced technologies for industry support and tools

The European Commission has developed a number of projects that monitor the development of advanced technologies in industry or provide other support to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) or projects in the field of key enabling technologies (KETs). 

Digital Transformation Monitor

The Digital Transformation Monitor identifies key trends in digital transformation and measures progress made at national and sector-specific level. It provides statistical and factual evidence on the pace of digital transformation in particular sectors and in all EU countries. It also analyses major national policy initiatives and supports policy development.

Advanced Manufacturing Support Centre

The Advanced Manufacturing Support Centre aims to create an EU-wide network supporting SMEs to assess their potential to adopt advanced manufacturing solutions, create social innovation strategies and formulate concrete transformation plans that bring the SMEs towards more competitive, modern and sustainable production.

KETs for Clean Production

The KETs for Clean Production (KET4CP) project demonstrates a network of technology infrastructures capable of helping SMEs innovate with advanced manufacturing technology across borders and deliver technology and non-technology services to SMEs.

European open innovation network in advanced technologies

The European open innovation network in advanced technologies project starting in 2020, will setup a network with a central brokerage service point, aimed at matching innovation needs/requests from large industries with innovative solutions from SME technology providers. (More details of the project can be found in the call for proposals).

Leadership in Enabling and Industrial Technologies

The EU has made it a priority to ensure that key funding programmes offer specific support for projects in the area of KETs. As an example, the Leadership in Enabling and Industrial Technologies pillar of Horizon 2020 includes support for closer-to-the market projects such as pilot manufacturing lines and demonstrators.

European Network for Pilot Production Facilities and Innovation Hubs

The European Network for Pilot Production Facilities and Innovation Hubs is a webtool that provides information about pilot production facilities in the area of nanotechnology and advanced material technologies.

Digital Innovation Hubs

The Digital Innovation Hubs online catalogue helps SMEs hubs, which are one-stop-shops that help companies to become more competitive with regard to their business/production processes, products or services using digital technologies.

The following blogs vary in many ways, but they all have one thing in common: They generally offer the most interesting, innovative, and thought-provoking content from a wide variety of industry thought leaders. Get your bookmark tool ready and let’s dive in.

1. MANUFACTURING BUSINESS TECHNOLOGY

MBT is an offshoot of the bigger Manufacturing.net blog. While the parent blog is a great resource with excellent content, we’ve chosen MBT specifically for this list due to its longstanding readership (the magazine has been in circulation for nearly three decades) and consistent dedication to covering the entire scope of the industry.

2. MANUFACTURING INNOVATION

This blog, brought to us from The National Institute of Standards and Technology’s Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership

3. IMT

Industrial Marketing Today is a popular space hosted by Achinta Mitra, the owner of Tiecas, Inc., an industrial marketing and consulting company. Many companies make the mistake of using their blogs to self-promote above all else. Mitra, however, is so passionate about his line of work that his blog is a goldmine of topical and evergreen content, including webinars dedicated to helping its readers understand and optimize marketing industrial efforts in the industry.

4. MANUFACTURING TRANSFORMATION

Hosted by Apriso Corporation, the stated mission of the Manufacturing Transformation blog is “to provide a community forum to discuss various facets of today’s global manufacturing transformation.” Publishing frequently and with an extensive list of thought leaders guest blogging for them, this site is a great example of content that touches on real pain points of the industry while completely eschewing promotional posts (always a smart move – content marketing should never be just about your products/services).

5. MAPI

The Manufacturers Alliance for Productivity and Innovation boasts a verbose and wide-ranging blog dedicated to running the gamut of anything and everything manufacturing. MAPI runs continuing education courses, webinars, live meetings, councils, summits and forums, and their blog reflects the deep well of knowledge needed to consistently create content to be used in each.

In addition to the huge bank of constantly growing content, MAPI dedicates an entire section of its site to forecasts and data analyses covering the entire industry. Data nerds will especially love this one.

6. THOMASNET 

Thomasnet is one of North America’s largest and most active network of B2B buyers and industrial/commercial suppliers.

Their blog offers everything from business tips to the latest industry news. Thomasnet covers a wide range of topics that can be of value to all types of manufacturers.

7. CERASIS BLOG

Cerasis, a “third party logistics company with a focus on technology and managed transportation services” hosts a blog popular in the industry. Naturally, the Cerasis blog has a focus on freight management, but also touches on logistical solutions in manufacturing with technology

Even if you’re not in the freight management sector of the industrial manufacturing industry, this blog is a great resource for trends to watch out for, changes in manufacturing strategy, and how technology is shaping the future of the industry – and quickly.

8. MANUFACTURE THIS

If you’re in the industrial manufacturing industry, you know all about the Alliance for American Manufacturing. AAM is the non-profit, non-partisan group of leading manufacturers and steelworkers in the US. While largely focused on public policies that will strengthen American manufacturing, the blog is a great source for current events and happenings in the industry, including infrastructure and innovation.