Gary On Manufacturing - Gary Mintchell

Happy New Year thoughts about top trends in automation for 2008. Technologies--networking, wireless, information and controllers. Also, how will the strategies of the automation technology suppliers play out during the year. Will there be more sales made over the Web this year?

Gary discusses the Make2Pack committee meeting, Rockwell/Dassault collaboration for digital factory, programming and time to market for OEMs.

Gary discusses the OMAC Symposium, standards, Honeywell's equipment health monitor, NI's move to OEM volume products, The Long Tail and why you should blog.

Gary interviews Jeff Becker of Honeywell Process Solutions about wireless technologies for industrial use including wireless sensor networks, WiFi, wireless for control and an update on the ISA SP100 committee.

Gary interviews Dave Bauman, Technical Director of OMAC. Dave reviews the OMAC presence at Pack Expo and explains what is happening with the organization's first annual Symposium to be held in the Seattle area Nov. 28-29. A tour of the Boeing 787 assembly facility is included in the conference. Discussion will center on integrating standards across process and discrete industries. Sign up at www.omac.org.

It's all about Ethernet. Gary talks with Paul Wacker, product manager for industrial communications at Advantech Corp. Topics include managed versus unmanaged switches, when to use IGMP snooping with EtherNet/IP and other protocols, the value of virtual LANs and some tips on network security.

Gary discusses Wonderware's latest product announcements plus product announcements and strategies gleaned from the Emerson Global Users Exchange in Dallas. He also reports on a new online store for automation components.

Gary excerpts his marketing communications keynote at PTO, updates the State Model challenge from end users discussing an interview with Rockwell and NI's new state chart module, reviews technology advances revealed at NI Week, and touches on travel to SEW Eurodrive and Ohio Northern University's robot lab.

Gary interviews Dave Bauman, Technical Director of OMAC. They discuss OMAC technologies such as PackML and PackTags plus OMAC's plans for demonstrations of technology during Pack Expo in Las Vegas October 16-18.

Gary updates Emerson's wireless information, addresses response to his challenge to automation suppliers about machine programming and takes a look at brain drain.

Gary talks strategies in the wireless market and in the ever more competitive process automation market. He issues another challenge to machine control tech suppliers to make their programming environments more user friendly after Rockwell Automation accepted his last challenge to discuss their approach.

Gary visits the Center for Intelligent Maintenance Systems Forum and Packaging Automation Forum, editorializes on programming standards and discusses the Rockwell purchase of IMS Triplex.

Gary visits Interphex, WBF and Matrikon conferences. How can we get people involved in technical leadership in automation?

Automating agriculture, OPC security, Schneider Electric support for CIP networks, FDT/EDDL cooperation, Hart Wireless Spec.

Gary Mintchell chats with Jim Pinto about his recent trip to India and a tour of Infosys. Information includes thoughts on global competitiveness, training, recruitment, ideas for American competitiveness.

Guest Paul Wacker, eAutomation Product Manager, discusses Ethernet in manufacturing with host Gary Mintchell. Topics include manufacturing environment and network administration tips.

News from ARC Forum and Fieldbus Foundation annual meeting including reports of interviews with industry CEOs, new products and more.

Siemens purchase, Bosch Rexroth technology, shout out to Radwell, Honeywell joint effort, who goes to conferences.

Emerson wireless announcement, process control system migration, is M2M growing, programming methods and systems

Built-to-change organizations, teams beat strategy every time, new year's resolutions (not)