Justifying Automation: The 6 Incidental Factors You Didn’t Realize Impact ROI
According to a 2016 survey by the MAPI Foundation and Rockwell Automation, the top reason companies said they chose not to automate is that perceived return on investment (ROI) did not justify the initial cost of purchase and implementation (47 percent). If this reasoning resonates with you, ask yourself if you’re looking at ROI comprehensively when […]
Applications Engineer Stephen Layman Joins Force Design Team
We are pleased to announce that Stephen Layman has joined the Force Design team as an Applications Engineer. Stephen brings experience with automation design and installation to his new role in concept and proposal development. His work will include assessing client needs, designing and developing automation solutions, creating 3D concepts and simulations, presenting proposals to clients, analyzing costs, and […]
Industry 4.0: Changing the Perception of Manufacturing
When a system, process, or institution experiences change so profound that it completely alters how it operates and how people think about it, we call it a revolution. Since the mid-1700’s, technological revolutions have changed industry, manufacturing, and the nature of work significantly three times: Mid-18th century to 1830’s and 1840’s – factories and mills […]
Engineering the Perfect Pitch: How to Get Buy-in for Your Automation Project
Engineers have technical knowledge and an eye for detail, especially when it comes to improving a system or process. If you’ve determined that automation equipment can benefit your facility, it’s probably very clear to you how and why it’s a worthwhile investment. But the benefits and outcomes may not be as obvious to decision makers and management […]
Navigating the Skills Gap
The skills gap is a hot topic in many industries, especially manufacturing. It’s created when the number of open jobs grows but there aren’t enough job seekers with the right skills to fill them. Research by Deloitte and the Manufacturing Institute says “the number of new jobs in manufacturing [will] accelerate and grow by 1.96 million workers by 2028.” […]
Custom or Off-The-Shelf? The Full Picture Matters
For small to medium manufacturers seeking to boost production, create lean facilities, and stay competitive in their markets, automation is an increasingly viable option. Falling equipment prices, small and flexible cobots, and advancing technology are bringing automated manufacturing equipment into smaller facilities. What’s more, “factories that automate boring, low-paying jobs with high turnover not only stay […]
Choosing an Automation Integrator: Factors that Matter
Automation integrators go by many names. You may have heard them referred to as system, process, or even robot integrators—but each of these terms refers to the same thing. Automation integrators act as your organization’s partner when it comes to all things automation. Partnership with an integrator means that adopting new technologies, learning to better […]
Experience is Critical in Engineering: An Intern’s Perspective
Brandon Mynatt, controls engineering intern, shares thoughts on his experience at Force Design. He joined us during the last semester of his high school career in 2017. He will soon be heading back to college in Florida for his sophomore year. So far, he has worked a full-time schedule here for two summers and a […]
A Tax Credit for Innovators – Do You Qualify?
The Research and Development Tax Credit was implemented in 1981 and in 2015 it became a permanent part of the US tax code when the Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes (PATH) Act was signed into law. Greg Knarr, writing in Industry Week, calls it “our government’s primary incentive to reward businesses for driving industry progress and for […]
