By Dan Coleman, freelance writer

Despite the devastation that the coronavirus pandemic has wrought, the need for innovative products has never faltered. Some firms have even been crucial pillars of support in these scenarios.

PredictHQ has announced its Demand Impact Pattern for severe weather events, with data sets to help businesses prepare for major weather events and mitigate overall impact by integrating into machine learning models for demand forecasting.

By Jefferson Frank, freelance writer.

Running a business requires you to take care of multiple tasks every single day. From managing customer orders to tracking financial transactions, there are endless jobs that demand your attention. It's no secret that many companies struggle with managing all of these functions efficiently, especially back-office operations, which are the backbone of any organisation, but they are often time-consuming, manual, and error-prone.

By Nidhi Gupta, CEO of Portcast.

The manufacturing industry is undergoing a profound transformation in the wake of the post-pandemic era. With volumes stabilising, profit margins narrowing, and rivals multiplying, setting themselves apart in all aspects of business has become paramount for manufacturing companies.

Optimised supply chain management benefits extend well beyond the bottom line. More and more companies across various sectors are turning to Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems to keep up with market demands and maintain a competitive edge.

Commenting on the speech by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Stephen Phipson, Chief Executive of Make UK, said: “Industry will welcome the Chancellor’s commitment to a vision for the economy which has a long-term industrial strategy at its heart.

By Alex Edwards, Head of Communications EU, Protolabs.

It’s fair to say that the past five years have stress-tested the UK manufacturing sector. Not only have manufacturers had to deal with a global pandemic, but they’ve also faced geopolitical uncertainty, a cost of living crisis and the after effects of Brexit.

Brand Evangelists for Beauty (Be for Beauty) was created 5 years ago by Colette Laxton & Mark Curry. Over the last couple of years, the company has faced strong growth.

The ecommerce funding and planning platform 8fig has announced the launch of “Freight with 8fig”, a new service that helps ecommerce sellers manage freight workflows within the platform. A critical pain point in the ecommerce arena, 8fig’s latest addition helps sellers source competitive freight quotes and credit terms.

The new partnership between supply chain software provider EPG and route planning solutions provider Greenplan has already reached a significant milestone, with the news that time-critical logistics specialist DANX is rolling out Greenplan in its Denmark operations.

By Stephen Dombroski, Director, Consumer Markets, QAD.

In today's dynamic business landscape, companies are continually striving to strike a balance between long-term strategic planning and short-term operational execution.

By Tiffany Adams, freelance writer.

You've surely heard that we're living in an era of rapid technological transformation. In every sector and industry, businesses are scrambling to keep up with innovations and technological developments. One area where technology has brought a significant impact is resource management. In this article, you'll learn how technology shapes resource management practices, why it matters, and why you should care. Keep reading to discover the fascinating intersection of technology and resource management.

Manufacturing & Logistics IT spoke with leading representatives from the analyst and vendor communities to discuss some of the most important key talking points and areas of innovation taking place within demand forecasting and planning technology.

With a more fragmented and volatile playing field becoming the norm, companies need to be able to make better more accurate decisions to manage anticipated and actual demand as well as execute and fulfil orders.

Blue Yonder, the supply chain solutions provider, has released its largest product update in the history of the company, launching what it describes as the first set of interoperable solutions across the entire supply chain – from planning to warehouse, transportation, and commerce – delivered on the company’s Luminate Cognitive Platform.

In fact, up until the last few years, this service has traditionally been enjoyed free of charge for the majority of online shoppers.  However, due to an increased desire to reduce the cost impact on a retailer’s revenue, many retailers are now charging  for returns. For example, since the pandemic began, several fast fashion retailers have taken up the practice.

Manhattan Associates has introduced Manhattan Active Supply Chain Planning (SCP), claimed to be the industry’s first unified business planning platform that enables bi-directional collaboration between supply chain planning and execution systems. 

ECI Software Solutions, provider of business management software and services, has introduced Ridder iQ, the business management software designed to cater to the specific needs of SMEs that are discreet manufacturing companies requiring tighter integration between engineering, R&D and production processes.

By Stephen Dombroski, Director of Consumer Markets, QAD

From erratic customer behaviour to seasonal demand spikes, and the ever-increasing expectations of consumers, businesses must navigate these complexities to ensure efficient procurement and delivery of goods.

Peter Waterman is the director of the cloud security program, known as FedRAMP, after stints with USDS and the Technology Modernization Fund.

The post FedRAMP has a permanent director for first time in 3 years first appeared on Federal News Network.

Business technology solutions provider, Brother, claims to have become the first print vendor to remanufacture its inkjet cartridges, as part of a new free service to help users contribute to circular economies.

22 October 2024 – Established trims, packaging, RFID*, and variable data solutions provider Trimco Group announces the launch of its exclusive new FSC™-certified (FSC C137962) and plastic-free RAIN RFID inlay** series – Trimco Group PaperMark. The inlays replace the PET substrate usually used in the RFID inlays with an FSC-certified paper substrate.

Clare Martorana, the federal chief information officer, said the Technology Modernization Fund invested more than $177 million in 18 projects in 2023.

The post Federal CIO Martorana’s top 3 priorities for 2024 first appeared on Federal News Network.

A survey by workplace expert Acas has found that 20% of workers in manufacturing believe women do not get paid as much as men at their organisation.

The Great South West Partnership has released its anticipated report on the region’s high value manufacturing sector, positioning the area as a key player in the UK's renewed Industrial Strategy.

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.

The Naval Autonomous Data Collection System (NADACS) will introduce new RFID technology, as well as improving passive RFID, for Naval Supply Systems Command.

The post NAVSUP piloting new RFID inventory system, integrating with Marine Corps solution first appeared on Federal News Network.

The concept of a single network from soldiers' home stations to the tactical edge isn't new, but Army leaders say cultural changes are finally making it happen.

The post Army makes more IT organization changes in pursuit of unified network first appeared on Federal News Network.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.