Editorial Directions SERVING AMERICAN MANUFACTURERS FOR OVER
Whatever field a writer may roam, certain words and phrases bloom for a season over time and then fade to be replaced by others. Writing about industrial manufacturing, the adjective “proprietary” created real headaches for me at one time. While it’s still a valid concern, of course, it seems like there was a time when everyone was so paranoid about disclosing their secrets – whether they involved processes, materials, or machine tools – that it was all I could do to get in the door to conduct an interview and perform photography for a magazine feature. These days I sense something very different: “collaboration.” And not just the act of different companies, institutions, or associations working together in some traditional way – think machine tool OEMs and cutting tool manufacturers – but the desire to promote these relationships. I believe that technology in its many forms has served to break down what might once have been perceived as a barrier and can now be seen not just as an opportunity, but as a necessity. For instance, if you manufacture peripheral systems such as robotics and off-line inspection systems, your equipment had better be “plug and play” with quick and easy installation and a very flat learning curve. And how is this achieved? Primarily through collaborations between OEMs who work to align their hardware and software before the equipment goes to market. This is especially critical for designers of ERP and other integrated production-related systems no matter when it is introduced. If it’s a greenfield project, you want to make sure the system will allow for growth, regardless of the software designer that is eventually chosen. And if the manufacturer already has a system/systems in place, the new modules must be able to conjoin with existing software seamlessly and with a minimum of specialized training required. I’m not saying that “collaboration” is a new concept, just that I’m noticing an increased frequency with which designers, developers, and OEMs are willing to discuss – no, to actually promote – the industry partners that help them up their game, and vice versa. And I think we can all agree that’s a concept from which we all can benefit.
34 YEARS
William C. Strickland III, Publisher william.strickland@indmacdig.com 800-366-0676 ext. 103 | Fax: 866-826-5918
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Russ Willcutt Editorial Director, Industrial Machinery Digest
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Alabama Automotive Manufacturers Association
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6 IMD OCTOBER 2020
