Industrial Automation – It Doesn’t Have To…

Are you ready for some GOOD news?!? Unless you've had your head in the sand, you've heard of elliTek's new Automation Partner, so this company shouldn't be unfamiliar to you. Over the past many months, we have been working closely with a fantastic company. It's a huge, behemoth company. It's the largest industrial manufacturing company globally and one in which elliTek is extremely privileged to partner. This is the official announcement that elliTek is now an authorized distributor for...

Everyone is searching for ways to reduce costs and in manufacturing, automation is typically the answer. But some of the parts needed to automate aren't available? What do you do? Join us as we talk about some practical automation alternatives that may not be obvious. If you're wondering WHY the automotive industry is struggling, Brandon provides some context to answer, why this is still happening, and why there's still a global semiconductor chip shortage. The issues surrounding...

Are we getting ready to undergo a new Industrial Revolution or are we already in it? There are many definitions of Industry 5.0. Is it combining human creative and critical thinking with the speed and skill of automation? Is it prioritizing "the wellbeing of the worker?" Is it a wasteless world? Or, is Industry 5.0 a combination of these? For someone whose been in industrial automation for 25+ years, what is Brandon's perspective of Industry 5.0? To lay the groundwork, Brandon explains...

The increasing costs of raw materials, labor shortages, supply chain disruptions, and cybersecurity are the top business challenges facing manufacturers. How can we overcome these obstacles and prepare for future crises? During this episode, you'll hear our perspective on what's going on in the world today and how manufacturers can build a business that's as future-proof as possible. But first, you'll hear Brandon's Supply Chain Brandology and how manufacturers' supply chain efforts have...

With prices rising across the board and historically high inflation rates, how can manufacturers battle inflation? In this episode, we're talking about ways manufacturers can shorten their ROI by getting more bang for their buck. Before we delve into the topic, Brandon quizzes Beth on Fieldbus Protocols discussed in the previous episode and why it's important to know the differences. Do you know the answers? A big way manufacturers can battle inflation is by automating processes. Let's...

It's Season 4 Episode 1 of Industrial Automation - It Doesn't Have To. 🎉🎉🎉 If you're new to Industrial Protocols, you need to check out this episode. During the offseason, elliTek signed with a new automation partner, CKD. CKD provides both Electric and Pneumatic Solutions. Not only does CKD produce high-quality, long lasting products, but elliTek's engineers have been impressed with CKD's attention to details. Tune in to hear why those details are so impressive and why we're talking...

With cases of cyber-crime occurring at an alarming rate, industrial manufacturing is caught in the crosshairs. What steps should you take to protect your systems? We talk to an industry insider, Keith Moore. Keith has spent the last fourteen years in industrial IoT device development and has immense knowledge of internet protocols and their weaknesses. Before Keith joins the show, Brandon rants about what IoT is and what it isn't. We discuss how manufacturers can secure their data. The...

Sometimes your biggest pain point isn't your biggest problem. There are some processes that you may or may not want to automate. Come with us as we explore those processes. Brandon shares his perspectives, Brandspectives, on the types of industrial automation. He explains his two categories of automation, process automation and discrete automation, and why they matter. You'll hear examples of processes that can't be automated and why. Remember Brandon's Brandology about the four reasons...

It's almost Thanksgiving here in the United States, and we have so much to be thankful for! Join us as we reflect on past guests and episodes for which we are grateful. If you haven't had the opportunity to listen to elliTek's podcasts, this is a rundown of a few of our favorites. We had the opportunity to do a crossover podcast with Lisa Richter of CSIA's Talking Industrial Automation podcast. During this episode, you'll hear how Brandon got into automation, how elliTek began, and how...

This is an issue of Global Proportions! We're talking about the supply chain crisis. From aluminum to semiconductor chip shortages, the lack of essential materials is affecting just about everyone and nearly all levels of production. Stayed tuned to here interviews with Jon Fields, Senior Motion Sales Engineer with Yaskawa Motion & Drives Division and Peter Zafiro, General Manager with LinMot Linear Motors. You'll hear how these two companies are succeeding AND delivering even in this...

Today's topic is definitely not boring! The sparks are flying as we delve into the world of robotic welding.🤖🔥 Why would you use a robot to weld instead of a person? That's were Brandon's Brandoloy for the four reasons to automate come into play. Listen to hear why collaborative robots might be better for welding applications than industrial robots. You'll also hear how the types of materials affect the robot welding application. Why isn't it reasonable to get a robot and an off the...

If you're considering the purchase of a collaborative robot, vision system, or industrial IoT system, this episode is for YOU! Before making an investment in the automation of a process, there are some commonly overlooked aspects that can be forgotten, overlooked, or even disregarded. With more than 25 years experience in the industrial automation market segment, Brandon shares his knowledge and experiences so others can hopefully avoid those pitfalls. For instance, why choose a...

This is a special crossover episode with CSIA, Control System Integrators Association. Lisa Richter, host of CSIA's podcast "Talking Industrial Automation", sat down for a chat with elliTek's Brandon Ellis. CSIA is a global trade association that strives to advance the control system integration industry. CSIA has more than 500 member companies that they provide many benefits for, one of which is a guest interview for CSIA's podcast. During this episode you'll learn how Brandon got into...

Are you confident your employees have the knowledge and skills to help your business grow and thrive? Knowledge is power! We're starting Season 3 talking about training and leveling up. By providing technical training for your employees, you're fostering a work environment that promotes self-confidence knowing that they have the knowledge and skills to perform their daily tasks to the best of their abilities. That's just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the benefits of training and...

Join us as we talk about some new ways to generate money, real money while saving the earth. We're talking about green initiatives, aka Green Manufacturing, and how your manufacturing facility can benefit from sustainability efforts. During the show, we dig into the benefits of green initiatives in manufacturing. We discuss how manufacturers can reduce waste - with real-world, actionable ideas. Stay with us as we discuss what elliTek's technology partners are doing to help reduce waste. We...

ROI - Return on Investment - pre-pandemic vs post-pandemic. How ROI looked before the pandemic is completely different in a post-pandemic world. Does your perspective on ROI need to change as well? Traditionally, the focus for production engineering was to increase production. Automation was trying to increase production which meant getting more out of the line without adding people. And, in some unfortunate instances, there were times where it reduced the number of associates. Increasing...

Doom and gloom. Enough of that - this episode is all about successes! Listen to hear how manufacturers can use automation (and sometimes not) to overcome and succeed in a competitive market when labor can be difficult to find. elliTek's Engineers have been asked about some interesting things lately that could benefit you. Anti-air? Listen to learn what it is, why it's important, and what manufacturers can do about it. Do you remember Brandon's Brandology about the 4 reasons to automate?...

Labor shortages can be seen in nearly every industry. In manufacturing, frustration is rising because factories are seeing huge demands but are unable to take full advantage. WHY? Join us as we explore some of the reasons. Including why the labor shortages happening today are different than in the past. Why is the demand for blue-collar and manual services workers increasing? What factors are contributing to the massive drop in corporate profits, especially in manufacturing? It isn't all...

What happened with Colonial Pipeline and could it have been prevented? This episode isn't a dig at Colonial Pipeline. It's a cautionary tale for businesses, and their cybersecurity preparedness efforts. The reason Colonial shut down their pipeline was they were uncertain. They were unsure what systems were going to be affected over and above the accounting systems. They lacked confidence in the separation of their Business/IT Networks and their Operational Technology (OT)...

This is a HOT topic -- Condition Monitoring (CM). Brandon pierces through the sales and marketing fodder to expose some really cool stuff. Sales and marketing would have you monitor just temperature and vibration. But wait, there's more! Remember the refrigerator analogy? What indicators are really enough? Manufacturers are developing some fantastic capabilities for sensors that allow users to grab data without being invasive. We call it the EKG method. Condition monitoring sensors are a...