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EDM Today Magazine
EDM Today Magazine THE IDES OF EDM Today Magazine
CORNER
EXPERT’S
AUTOMATION
EDM Today Magazine EDM Today Magazine EDM Today Magazine
by Feature Editor Brian Pfluger
EDM Today Magazine
EDM Today Magazine Introduction EDM Today Magazine
Brian Pfl uger is the EDM
While the use of automation in the EDM industry is not a new concept, many
Product Line Manager
companies are taking a harder look at integrating some form of automation
for Makino.
into their operations. Companies are exploring automation for a variety of
reasons, but the primary focus is to attain greater operational productivity
Brian, who began his
and effi ciency. To put this another way, automation is regarded as a means
manufacturing career as a tool
to reduce manufacturing costs while improving throughput.
& diemaker, has a wealth of
EDM experience and is one of
hardware confi gurations that are available; there simply is not a one-size-fi ts-
EDM Today’s “go to” experts.
He is also a regular contributor
all system that works for everyone! This has not stopped some manufactur-
ers from naively placing too much false hope in the buzz of automation as
to the OEM Q&A feature. The challenge with implementing automation is the daunting amount of
a technology that will overcome and solve all of their problems. Automation
EDM Today Magazine
EDM Today Magazine
EDM Today Magazine Let’s address one of the key factors in automation’s resurgence…skillset
is increasingly viewed as a way to gain a competitive edge and to overcome
skilled talent defi ciencies.
shortfalls! Every company faces the same diffi culty and struggles to fi nd,
hire, and retain skilled talent. There are simply not enough experienced talent
or new people entering the manufacturing workforce. Automation can and
is a means to overcome staffi ng issues, but one cannot blindly deploy
automation to maximum effect!
The general concepts of automation are in the forefront of everyone’s minds,
as we all are experiencing and undergoing a digital revolution in our daily
lives. We use and rely on some form of automation at an ever-increasing
EDM Today Magazine powered by ingenious software to complete a given task. Simply put, auto-
EDM Today Magazine
EDM Today Magazine
pace, from the software apps and functions on our cell phones (such as
guided GPS navigation) to the robots that may be cleaning our house right
now. We are ultimately transferring some form of responsibility to a machine
Brian’s primary responsibilities
mation establishes a structured protocol that reduces or minimizes human
at Makino include providing
intervention in completing a specifi c job or process.
technical product information
and support to customers,
As part of our increasing use of automation in our everyday tasks, AI
salesmen, and Makino
(Artifi cial Intelligence) is being further developed and integrated into these
engineering groups. He also
collaborates with the Makino
adaptive system. In the manufacturing world, we often combine and roll this
factory on new product design
into IIoT (Industrial Internet of Things) or Industry 4.0. While the capabilities
and technology developments. systems. Automation and AI are interconnected to form a more capable and
of IIoT software technologies are rapidly developing and worthy of their own
article, this enhanced interconnectivity of all things manufacturing will
EDM Today Magazine
EDM Today Magazine EDM Today Magazine EDM Today, Fall 2024 Issue
extend and be included in Machine Automation systems.
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