Lehning Laboratories, the homeopathy and herbal medicines provider, has selected the ZetesAtlas identification solution, equipped MD-9000 automatic marking and tamper-proof labelling stations, to ensure compliance with new Falsified Medicines Directive and to assure its customers of product authenticity.

Murata ID Solutions reports that it has helped life science giant Bayer’s Italian division, Bayer S.p.A., leverage radio frequency identification (RFID) tracking in the first large-scale application of the technology in the pharmaceutical supply chain.

Recently established 3PL provider, Yantra Fulfilment, is celebrating two new business wins.

Fen Health Ltd and Zulize Ltd have announced a transaction that will see both companies merge to form and launch, Fen Group Ltd.

Priority Software Ltd.,a global provider of business management solutions, has announced that GL Brands, Inc., a multi-national consumer packaged goods company serving the global hemp and CBD markets, has implemented Priority Cannabis ERP, a comprehensive seed-to-sale ERP software solution, to effectively manage the entire plant lifecycle.

Based on its recent analysis of the global manufacturing execution system (MES) market for pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, and cell & gene therapies, Frost & Sullivan recognises Werum IT Solutions with the 2019 Global MES for Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology, and Cell & Gene Therapies Customer Value Leadership Award.

In June 2024, manufacturing accounted for 8.8% of the UK’s total economic output and employed 2.6 million people – representing 7.0% of the workforce.

Confidence in the sector is rising, with a 1.2% output increase in the first quarter of 2024 compared to the previous quarter, its highest level since 2022.

Three quarters of manufacturing workers in the UK (73%) are unconcerned about their jobs being automated in the future, according to a study undertaken by YouGov and commissioned by global technology company SafetyCulture.

ACI Group has shone a spotlight on the importance of supply chain digitalisation in response to a Business Continuity Institute (BCI) report which found that almost 80% of organisations have experienced supply chain disruptions over the past year.

Zetes, the specialist in supply chain execution solutions and part of the Panasonic Group, has invested in Robotize, a Danish robotics company known for its cutting-edge Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) to reach a stake of 50%, alongside its founding shareholders.

IFS, the provider of enterprise cloud and Industrial AI software, has boosted its offering in the six hardcore industries it serves to 60+ in-depth Industrial AI scenarios that are available in the IFS Cloud 24R2 release, with more than 300 additional scenarios in the process of MVP (minimum viable product) validation.

Smart machines can provide manufacturers with invaluable real-time insights into shop floor productivity, inventory, and potential quality and maintenance issues.

But buying new machinery to harness the Internet of Things (IoT) can be hard to justify, especially when interest rates remain high.

Compatio AI has introduced the VFD System Configurator Model, specifically built for distributors and manufacturers in the Industrial Automation sector.

Itron, Inc. has released its 2024 Resourcefulness Insight Report (“the report”) that explores the current trends and future expectations of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) on utility operations and strategies.

New global research from SOTI has revealed that transportation and logistics (T&L) workers are each losing 13 hours of productive time per month, as a result of device-related issues. 

Teledyne DALSA, a Teledyne Technologies company and global provider of machine vision technology, has launched its next generation AI-powered BOA3 smart camera for industrial automation and inspection.

By Chris Jacob, Vice President, Threat Intelligence Engineering, ThreatQuotient.

In today’s modern digitised environment, the manufacturing industry faces multiple interwoven challenges that can have a serious impact on their overall performance and sustainability.

Zebra Technologies Corporation – the digital solution provider enabling businesses to intelligently connect data, assets and people – has introduced a series of advanced AI features enhancing its Aurora machine vision software to provide deep learning capabilities for complex visual inspection use cases.

Confusion around digital transformation is risking paralysis among SME manufacturers, says Made Smarter. Donna Edwards, director of the North West adoption programme, says businesses are hesitant to commit to change because they lack the confidence with technology and digital skills among leaders and employees.

By Jed Spence, freelance writer.

For IT businesses large and small, the power of AI cannot be underestimated. By now, you’ve likely used the technology in one way or another and realised its vast capabilities. But are you using these powerful tools to their full potential?

By Heico Sandee, Founder and CEO of Smart Robotics.

Pick-and-place automation has become a cornerstone of modern warehouse operations, ensuring that tasks are executed with the utmost precision and consistency. As warehouses evolve to meet the demands of dynamic industries like e-commerce and pharmaceuticals, the role of these robotic systems becomes increasingly vital.

Digital Catapult, has announced that leading technology businesses will join the Made Smarter Innovation Digital Supply Chain Hub programme to apply deep tech solutions to bolster the resilience of national supply chains.

Compact AutoStore system in a congested urban setting ensures the customer-centric focus required. Dematic has recently completed the final steps in installing and commissioning a compact automation solution featuring an AutoStore system for Spanish 3PL Grupo Servicio Móvil.

By Dan Abramson, Senior Vice President and Head of Sales at FourKites.

In terms of high-value goods, it doesn’t get much more precious than the drugs and devices that support human health.

TraceLink Inc has entered into a strategic partnership with Tecsys, the supply chain management solutions provider.This partnership between TraceLink and Tecsys aims to combine market-leading capability for external supplier integration and information exchange with industry-acclaimed inventory and warehouse management functionality.

Unisurge is using Podfather logistics software to ensure that hospital equipment and supplies are delivered on time and in optimum condition.

By Brian Phillips, freelance writer.

As data in healthcare continues to grow in complexity, the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming more prevalent. Across payers, care providers, and life sciences firms, various forms of AI are already in use.

Images of health and safety professionals generated by AI are exclusively white, male and around middle age, despite the wealth of job opportunities health & safety offers to women. 

By Paul Stevens, freelance writer.

Dive into the world of rugged Mil-Spec environmental control units (ECUs) and discover how they are designed to maintain optimal performance in even the harshest conditions. This article will highlight the advanced technologies and engineering behind these units, showcasing their ability to provide reliable temperature and humidity control in challenging environments.

By Harriot Elmes, freelance writer.

The healthcare landscape is constantly evolving, blending technology and care in ways that were once unimaginable. In situations where traditional hospitals cannot reach, mobile hospitals help the healthcare industry to be nimble in their response. These modern marvels showcase how medical services can extend beyond the constraints of brick and mortar, reaching patients no matter where they are.

Following a record year in 2022, real-time data capture, printing, mobility and voice-directed solutions specialist, Dakota Integrated Solutions, has again exceeded projected revenue and growth targets during 2023.

Weleda AG has achieved a significant milestone with successful integration of the LFS warehouse management system supplied by EPG (Ehrhardt Partner Group) at its production location in Switzerland. Introducing the system signifies a crucial step in transitioning all manufacturing sites in the German-speaking region to LFS.

Drug manufacturer Heel has successfully implemented Werum PAS-X MES 3.3.0, Körber's NextGen MES for pharma, biotech, and cell & gene therapy, at its main plant in Baden-Baden, Germany.

Almost one in five project management professionals working in the manufacturing sector who consider themselves to be neurodivergent have not told their employer about their condition, according to a new survey by the Association for Project Management (APM), the chartered membership organisation for the project profession.

A Bridlington-based manufacturer of nutritional supplements has solved a complex production problem with the help of an on-demand digital spares service.

The UK Material Handling Association’s annual Safety Convention has been labelled a success for the intuitive way in which it approached the key safety issue of Implementing a Safety Culture in the workforce.

FourKites has announced that Teva, a global provider of generic medicines, has achieved a 0.005% incident rate by leveraging FourKites’ global carrier visibility solution, NIC-Place.

Arcserve has released findings from its annual independent global research focusing on the healthcare sector's approach and experience of data protection, recovery, and ransomware readiness.

Make UK, the UK organisation for the manufacturing and engineering sector, and the British Healthcare Trades Association (BHTA), the trade association for the healthcare and assistive technology sector, have announced their new partnership, aimed at fostering collaboration and growth for UK healthcare manufacturing companies.

NTT DATA, the IT services provider and industry consultancy, has announced the end of a project that used quantum computing to optimise genome assembly processes. This is claimed to be a milestone in the use of this technology in the Healthcare and Life Sciences industries.

UK SMEs are urged to complete a risk assessment, after new research reveals that one third of businesses do not have a policy in place.

Nowadays mental health in the workplace is one of the most talked about topics, with stress, anxiety and tiredness being the centre of the debate. In fact, whether you work for a company or as a freelancer, it’s very likely that there will be moments in your work life that will be overwhelming and tiring to the point of reaching a point of so called ‘burnout’.

A Sheffield design and additive manufacturing business is using its system to help the pharmaceutical industry to save valuable time in its production process.

Dakota Integrated Solutions Ltd, the real-time data capture, printing, mobility, support and voice-directed solution specialist, has formed a partnership with Waizu, the provider of solutions designed to reduce lost and missing mobile devices.

PTV Logistics has just launched the ‘next generation’ of one of their flagship logistics planning software, PTV Map&Guide.

By Charlie Macdonald, CTO at BPS Global Australia.

Three months ago, cybersecurity platform provider CrowdStrike released an update that caused 8.5 million Microsoft Windows PCs and servers to crash. The glitch had a ripple effect across industries and global supply chains – almost three-quarters of the world’s computers use a Microsoft’s Windows operating system.

Lancashire-based Rainbow Dynamics has launched RackBot for intralogistics goods-to-person order picking. Due to its streamlined design and straightforward build process, RackBot can be installed and up and running in one-third of the time that it would take to construct a traditional tote-shuttle system.

Epicor, a global provider of industry-specific enterprise software to promote business growth, has acquired Acadia Software, a provider of Connected Worker solutions that provide real-time, actionable insights and step-by-step guidance directly to frontline workers in manufacturing and other supply chain industries. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Webfleet, Bridgestone’s globally trusted fleet management solution, has introduced its new EV Charger Monitoring solution, allowing fleet managers to monitor electric vehicles and private chargers on a single platform.

Manhattan Associates Inc. has announced that Yusen Logistics Co. Ltd, one of the largest global supply chain logistics companies, has selected Manhattan Active Warehouse Management to be implemented at its new, state-of-the-art distribution centre in the UK.