manufacturing
Insights on data integration, engineering best practices, and product updates from the FactoryThread team.
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AI-Powered Data Workflows in Manufacturing: Practical Applications Beyond the Hype
How to apply AI and machine learning to manufacturing data workflows for classification, extraction, anomaly detection, and intelligent automation. Real use cases, not buzzwords.
April 15, 2025
OPC UA Integration: Bridging the Gap Between PLCs and Enterprise Systems
How OPC UA enables secure, standardized communication between shop floor equipment and enterprise applications. A practical guide to industrial IoT integration for manufacturing.
April 8, 2025
Building Custom REST APIs for Your Manufacturing Data (No Code Required)
How to create custom REST API endpoints for manufacturing data without writing code. Enable third-party integrations, mobile apps, and custom applications with visual API design.
April 1, 2025
Production Downtime Tracking: How to Measure, Analyze, and Reduce Equipment Downtime
A complete guide to production downtime tracking. Learn how to categorize downtime, calculate losses, and use data to drive equipment reliability improvements.
March 4, 2025
Shop Floor Data Collection: Systems, Methods, and Best Practices for Manufacturing
Complete guide to shop floor data collection. Learn about automated data capture, manual entry systems, and how to build a reliable production data infrastructure.
February 25, 2025
Siemens Opcenter Integration: Connecting Your MES to ERP and Enterprise Systems
How to integrate Siemens Opcenter MES with SAP, Oracle, historians, and other enterprise systems. Practical approaches for manufacturing data integration.
February 18, 2025
SAP Manufacturing Integration: How to Connect SAP to Your Shop Floor Systems
A practical guide to SAP manufacturing integration. Learn how to connect SAP ERP to MES, historians, and production systems without lengthy implementation projects.
February 11, 2025
Industry 4.0: A Reality Check for Manufacturing Leaders
The hype promised smart factories and autonomous production. The reality is more nuanced. Here's what Industry 4.0 actually looks like on the ground.
February 4, 2025
Data Silos in Manufacturing: The Hidden Tax on Every Decision
Your production data is scattered across a dozen systems. Each silo costs you time, accuracy, and agility. Here's how to break them down.
January 28, 2025
Real-Time OEE: Separating the Myth from the Reality
Everyone talks about real-time OEE. Few manufacturers actually have it. Here's what real-time really means—and what it takes to get there.
January 21, 2025
The MES-ERP Gap: Why Your Shop Floor and Back Office Still Don't Talk
Most manufacturers run both MES and ERP systems. Few have them truly connected. Here's why the gap persists—and what to do about it.
January 14, 2025
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