Gary On Manufacturing - Gary Mintchell

Recent revelations from WikiLeaks with details about how security agencies can hack into encrypted devices and files and then how all that can wind up on the Web should remind us to strengthen our security technology and procedures.

When I left magazine media, I thought about where the industry was heading. It's all about connections, I thought. So, I found a domain name The Manufacturing Connection. Last week I was at the Industry of Things conference in San Diego. Organized from Berlin, Germany, they still attracted an outstanding speaker lineup and attendance at 2-3 times that of typical media conferences in the space. They work hard at it, and they have cultivated lots of connections. This podcast discusses the idea of  connections from that conference. It also explores the idea of "sources go direct" where anyone can take a message to the public these days. You don't need a gatekeeper. Maybe you connect with people like me to reach a broader audience. Individuals and marketers with energy and ability can build their own audiences and avoid getting misquoted by reporters or having a 60-minute interview boiled down to a sentence in an article.

An Italian magazine asked for an American opinion on what the new president means for manufacturing. Here are some preliminary thoughts. Also some thoughts on Open Systems platforms for DCS from the ARC Forum in Orlando.

The Internet of Things is dead; long live the Internet of Things. Review of "Building the Internet of Things" by Maciej Kranz, plus discussion of trends from smart devices to Blockchain.

Yes, there is a business case for the Industrial Internet of Things and Gary shares tips for success. Drawing examples from PTC, Dell Technologies, and Emerson Automation.

What if beyond predictive maintenance we began considering predictive manufacturing? Or is that what Industrie 4.0 is all about? Gary ponders the latest industrial software.

After attending PI North America annual general meeting, Gary discusses future of Profinet, Fieldbuses and Interoperability, and a teaser about a Wonderware announcement.

Gary Mintchell discusses the 2016 Ignition Customer Conference from Inductive Automation--and the pseudo competition between OPC UA and MQTT/Sparkplug. Mostly it's all about getting the right information into your Industrial Software (HMI/SCADA) application.

Following up on his popular podcast on "Why Big Companies Hate OPC UA Embedded", Gary reviews his recent writing on OPC UA, REST, MQTT and Sparkplug relative to needed interoperability. He focuses on watching how companies implement REST and MQTT--whether they are using an open transport to move proprietary data types, or whether they are truly embracing what end users want-true interoperability.

My 151st podcast dives into "Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World" by Cal Newport. Newport differentiates the work that will lead you to success (deep work--thinking) from that work that just fills time (shallow work--answering email, reading Facebook, etc.). He provides tips on organizing your day to emphasize setting aside blocks of time for deep work.

Gary reviews Dr. Henry Cloud's new book, "The Power of the Other" how our connections and relationships can hurt or enhance us.

OK, it's a provocative title, but the recent ODVA announcement at the Hannover Messe of the OPC UA-like CIP for the Cloud triggered some thoughts. Is it the traditional dance of company trying to lock in customers versus customers trying to maintain some flexibility--or--is OPC UA really a threat to CIP? (No one I talked to at Hannover thought the latter was true.)

Gary introduces Digital Manufacturing, previews the 2016 Hannover Fair, and speculates on Rockwell Automation and Digital Manufacturing.

Gary discusses why people seem to keep dropping the ball along with a solution. He also looks behind the news that few people follow a heart-healthy lifestyle.

Gary looks at the discussions around Industrial Internet of Things and Industry 4.0 likening them to strategies.

Gary reports from Orlando at the ARC Advisory Group 20th Annual Industry Forum. No surprises that Internet of Things and cyber security were headliners. The real surprise was the amount of Keynote space president Andy Chatha gave to an ExxonMobil initiative of engaging Lockheed Martin to essentially drive an open-specification DCS. Reception by technology suppliers was lukewarm at best. Reception by peers was difficult to gauge because so few were in attendance. But the conversations were intense.

An overdose of Barclay's English Premier League and the American National Football League has Gary thinking about leadership skills. Podcasts are sponsored by Ignition by Inductive Automation.

Gary discusses personal productivity, trying to use iPad only, and then new developments in Internet of Things and its benefit.

Gary resumes his "on the road" series with commentary and analysis from the 2015 Emerson Global User Exchange and how it has bundled the past several years of technical advances into a higher level management offering on project management.

Gary does a quick review of the two dominant strategies for manufacturing excellence in the future now trending--Industrie 4.0 and Smart Manufacturing.