Digital Transformation Viewpoints

Featured here are original and timely articles from ARC analysts and guest writers on topics such as Digitization, New Business Models, Internet of Things, Industry 4.0, Smart Cities, and Smart Manufacturing. We dive into technologies such as additive manufacturing, machine learning, asset performance management, device connectivity, IIoT architecture, cybersecurity, augmented reality, and more related to digitization and transformation of industries, infrastructure, and cities. Our goal is to provide readers with clear and concise analyses, opinions, and discussion of these trends, technologies, and services.

May
16
2018
— Industry Trends

Augmented Reality Reduces Mean-Time-To-Repair

To improve fuel economy, all automotive OEMs have converted many of the car’s parts to lighter materials which often involves aluminum or magnesium.  To make these parts in the high volumes needed for car manufacturing, automated casting machines are deployed.  A key manufacturer of the

May
15
2018
Peter Reynolds — Industry Trends

Essential Elements of Digital Transformation Change Leadership

While many companies are focused on the new technologies that are fueling the trends few understand the importance of addressing change leadership before technology.  There is a lot written regarding digital transformation, Industry 4.0 or the digitization of manufacturing.

May
14
2018
— Industry Trends

Standard Software Runtime Environments

Last week ARC published a report I wrote about standard software runtime environments in industrial automation. Since the 1990s many higher-level industrial applications jumped onto Windows software platforms, and this level of standardization enabled a great deal of innovation in the industrial software space. But Windows operating systems were never able to penetrate to the lower levels of automation where process control or machine control takes place. Windows was not designed to do this.
May
09
2018
Craig Resnick — Industry Trends

OT-IT Convergence in a Legacy World

The increasing convergence of operational technology (OT) and information technology (IT), otherwise known as OT-IT Convergence, across industry and infrastructure was a recurring theme at the recent 

May
02
2018
— Industry Trends

Siemens Additive Manufacturing at Hannover Fair

Siemens, as both a provider of design and manufacturing engineering software and as an industrial manufacturer, is in a unique position to help lead the industrial additive manufacturing revolution.  To be effective, it’s role is not just to develop tools, but to distil the idea of additive

Apr
30
2018
Peter Reynolds — Industry Trends

Essential Elements of Digital Transformation

Industrial organizations are entering a period in which new digital technologies have the potential to augment people and processes to an unprecedented degree.

Apr
27
2018
— Industry Trends

Unknown Failure Mode Cause of Failure?

Was an unknown failure mode the root cause of the Southwest Airlines engine failure of April 17. 2018? Shortly following the accident, Col. Stephen T. Ganyard, USMC (Ret) and ABC News contributor for military and aviation issues, asked in this piece, was it a maintenance issue with Southwest, a design failure at the manufacturing level, or is it a new failure mode that comes with age?