Jan 31
Galileo Facing the Roman Inquisition (Chistiano Banti, 1857)

Why Service Organizations Resist Predictive Maintenance

By Field Service, Internet of Things (IoT), Service Lifecycle Management (SLM) No Comments

Much of the buzz about the industrial Internet of Things (IoT) and predictive algorithms is calling service organizations to adopt predictive maintenance (PdM) methods and tools. In fact, PdM is one of the frustratingly few-well flashed-out use cases for IoT.

The rationale for adopting predictive maintenance is quite convincing.

Many service organizations schedule equipment maintenance activities based on statistical models.  Routine preventive maintenance (PM) schedule is based on average failure rates of components and systems and prescribes mandatory part replacement and other maintenance activities before a critical failure is likely to occur.

Read More
Jan 03
Elegant Gathering in the Apricot Garden (Xie Huan Ca. 1437)

Made in China 2025 and Intellectual Property Protection

By Automotive, Mergers & Acquisitions No Comments

China IP Protection Practices Snapshot and Predictions

Product companies and research organizations have long complained about theft of intellectual property (IP) and lax enforcement of intellectual property rights in China. Forced technology transfers have been another major grievance of foreign companies setting up local operations in China.

Despite the potential risks of IP leaks and bureaucratic limitations, the lure of the enormous Chinese consumers market is impossible to resist and for some companies it may very well represent an essential component of their long-term growth strategy.

Read More
Dec 28
The Tortoise and the Hare (J.J. Grandville, 1855)

The Race to Automate Driving: Is Japan’s Silent Strategy the Tortoise to America’s Hare?

By Automotive, Autonomous, Connected, Electric, Shared Vehicles No Comments

In a recent tweet, Lex Fridman, a research scientist working on human-centered artificial intelligence at MIT, said: “all of us working in autonomous vehicle research want nothing more than to save lives.”

While AI scientists and engineers share this noble goal, they often differ dramatically in the path they take to reaching it. 

Companies such as Uber’s Advanced Technology Group, Tesla and General Motors’s Cruise take an approach many will consider maverick, perhaps even cavalier: they deploy vehicles equipped with newly-developed autonomous operation capabilities on public roads and test them under real-world conditions, driving millions of actual miles and many more virtual miles using advanced simulation software. Design engineers monitor the performance of the robotic software and update the algorithms inside the vehicle, sometimes remotely and in near real time.

Read More
Dec 24
Airplane Over Train (Natalia Goncharova, 1913)

The Automotive Industry: On the Road to Autonomy — Automotive Industry Snapshot and Predictions

By Automotive, Autonomous, Connected, Electric, Shared Vehicles No Comments

Value Chain Disintermediation: Electronics and Software are the New Automotive Supply Chain Kings

The auto industry’s century-old drive to gain efficiencies, accelerate production output, reduce waste and recoup working capital through lean techniques has also led to a strong cultural bias towards inside innovation and complex love-hate relationships with a network of select suppliers of mostly mechanical and electrical subsystems.

But today, electronics and software are the key to brand differentiation, customer affinity and market competitiveness. Electronics manufacturers are quickly becoming the new kings of the automotive value chain as the center of gravity is shifting from complex mechanical systems and passive safety features to sophisticated electronics and software. New entrants and outside innovators are redefining the traditional roles in a value chain structure that has changed very little in decades and are changing the familiar landscape.

Read More
Nov 30
Teamwork (Leon Zernitsky, 2014)

Democratizing CAD Data Using Advanced CAD Viewers

By PLM No Comments

Who Needs Yet Another CAD Viewer?

Every product engineering team needs the ability to quickly and easily communicate 3D design data and 2D drawings not only among core team members, but also with manufacturing, engineering, suppliers, service operations and other participants in the extended value chain. Effective information sharing streamlines and improves collaboration and facilitates better and faster decision making within the enterprise and through the extended supply chain.

We often discuss CAD viewers and similar data access tools in the context of “data democratization”: the need to “free” precious data locked in a product data management (PDM) system, a product lifecycle management (PLM) system, or another type of file system for which one needs a specialized, often complex and usually expensive software.

Although practically all CAD and PLM software packages include a free 3D viewer, these viewers are typically attached to and enterprise software license: only authorized users can use them. Consequently, 3D viewers are not available outside the engineering team because the full license is too expensive, and, besides, why would a non-engineer need CAD license anyway? Read More