# Smart Manufacturing Blog Welcome to your source for all things smart manufacturing. Whether you’re looking for expert insights, hard data, or actionable tips for your plant floor, we’ve got you covered every week of the year. ## On-Demand Series ### May 15, 2026 [8 Steps to Prepare Your Manufacturing Operations for AI](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/8-steps-to-prepare-your-manufacturing-operations-for-ai.html) Prepare your manufacturing operations for AI with 8 practical steps to improve digital maturity, reduce risk, and enable predictive, data-driven, and autonomous performance. ### March 25, 2026 [Elastic MES: Series Recap](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/elastic-mes-path-forward.html) Elastic MES recap: Discover how modular architecture, OT/IT integration and edge resilience power manufacturing digital transformation. ### March 6, 2026 [Elastic MES: Extensible by Design](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/elastic-mes-extensible-by-design.html) Learn how an elastic MES is extensible by design, enabling manufacturers to scale AI, integrate legacy systems and modernize without disruption. ### March 6, 2026 [Elastic MES: Unified IT/OT Integration](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/elastic-mes-unified-it-ot-integration.html) Learn how an elastic MES enables IT/OT convergence in manufacturing through unified data flow, operational resiliency and interoperability. ### February 23, 2026 [Elastic MES: Purpose-Built for Manufacturing](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/mes-purpose-built.html) Learn how an elastic MES is purpose-built for manufacturing, delivering cloud-native production control, traceability, quality and real-time visibility. ### February 13, 2026 [Elastic MES: Beyond Execution](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/elastic-mes-capabilities.html) Learn how an elastic MES enables modular growth, unified operations, resilient architecture and AI-driven manufacturing execution. ### February 6, 2026 [2025 Plex Partner of the Year: Conperio Technology Solutions](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/conperio-2025-award.html) Learn more about the 2025 Plex Partner of the Year, Conperio Technology Solutions. ### December 19, 2025 [5 Highlights from Chicago’s Automation Fair](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/top-5-moments-of-af25.html) Relive the excitement of Automation Fair 2025 with the Plex team and look back on five highlights from a busy week in Chicago, IL. ### July 29, 2025 [Are you making these costly mistakes with your workforce?](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/are-you-making-these-costly-mistakes-with-your-workforce.html) Uncover three workforce mistakes manufacturers are making along with actionable connected worker strategies from the latest Gartner® report to address them. ### June 12, 2025 [The Future of Manufacturing Quality: Lessons from the 10th Annual Smart Manufacturing Report](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/the-future-of-manufacturing-quality--lessons-from-the-10th-annua.html) Get the latest smart manufacturing research and find out how manufacturers are tackling their quality challenges with quality management system (QMS) software. ### March 5, 2025 [The 2024 Transformer Impact Award: Chelsea Milling Company Finds the Perfect Mix for Success With Plex](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/2024-transformer-impact-award-chelsea-milling-company-finds-perfect-mix-success-plex.html) Being in business for 137 years is no easy task. ### February 24, 2025 [The 2024 Industry Leader Impact Award: Plex & Flex Working Together for Success in the Automotive Industry](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/2024-industry-leader-impact-award-plex-flex-working-together-success-automotive-industry.html) Flex’s automotive business started their Plex journey in 2010. ### January 13, 2025 [The 2024 Innovator Impact Awards: Pacur Improves On-Time, In-Full (OTIF) and Increases Production Capacity with Plex ERP](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/2024-innovator-impact-awards-pacur-improves-time-full-otif-and-increases-production-capacity.html) Your browser does not support the video tag. Should you find yourself visiting a hospital, you’ll most likely be in the company of plastic material supplied by Pacur. ### December 22, 2024 [2024 Plex Partner of the Year: Cumulus Consulting, LLC](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/2024-plex-partner-year-cumulus-consulting-llc.html) A Premier Plex Partner, Cumulus Consulting has helped companies successfully implement Plex ERP for over 10 years. ### December 19, 2024 [Looking Back on Automation Fair 2024 With 5 Exciting Highlights](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/looking-back-automation-fair-2024-5-exciting-highlights.html) Automation Fair 2024 brought together the Plex and greater Rockwell Automation community in sunny Anaheim, California. This year’s theme — “Make it Matter” — set the tone for the inspirational week together as both current and prospective customers, partners, and team members arrived at the industrial automation event of the year to learn how to innovate in the year ahead. If you couldn’t join us or you’re wanting to relive the fun, be sure to check out our top 5 highlights from this year’s transformative event! ### November 20, 2024 [How to Win a Food Fight with the Competition: Digitizing Connections Between the Top Floor and the Plant Floor](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/how-win-food-fight-competition-digitizing-connections-between-top-floor-and-plant-floor.html) Gain a competitive edge in food and beverage with Plex's digital connectivity. Align top floor and plant floor operations to boost efficiency and eliminate data silos. ### August 19, 2024 [Every worker. Every step. Transform your operational efficiency with Guided Work Instructions.](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/every-worker-every-step-transform-your-operational-efficiency-guided-work-instructions.html) Maximized production capacity and high quality, made possible by knowledgeable and engaged workers. Sounds great, doesn’t it? ### August 13, 2024 [How an Advanced ERP Improves Standard Production Costing and Profitability](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/how-advanced-erp-improves-standard-production-costing-and-profitability.html) Improve standard production costing and profitability with an advanced ERP system. Gain cost visibility and optimize resources for better decision-making. ### July 30, 2024 [You Can't Climb the Whole Mountain at Once](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/you-cant-climb-whole-mountain-once.html) Which smart manufacturing tools do you need and when? Discover how to improve transparency, automate tasks and unify operations for optimal performance. ### July 29, 2024 [The Edge of Tomorrow: Edge Computing Reshaping Manufacturing](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/edge-tomorrow-edge-computing-reshaping-manufacturing.html) In the vast expanse of a modern factory floor, the rhythms of production echo beneath the vigilant gaze of towering machinery. Workers and robots perform in a well-choreographed ballet of precision and speed. This industrial symphony is orchestrated by a frequently overlooked catalyst of contemporary innovation – edge computing. ### July 26, 2024 [The Edge of Tomorrow: Unveiling the Potential of Edge Computing](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/edge-tomorrow-unveiling-potential-edge-computing.html) Discover how edge computing optimizes data processing, reduces latency, and enhances security in smart manufacturing. Learn about real-time analysis, data filtering, and more. ### July 15, 2024 [How to Win a Food Fight with the Competition: Yield Management & Materials](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/how-win-food-fight-competition-yield-management-materials.html) Food manufacturing faces unique challenges due to yield loss. Learn how smart technology can optimize materials management to increase profit and revenue. ### June 17, 2024 [How to Win a Food Fight with the Competition: Quality & Compliance](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/how-win-food-fight-competition-quality-compliance.html) Ensure quality and compliance in food & beverage manufacturing with proactive solutions and smart technology. Tackle changes without compromising quality. ### June 12, 2024 [Interactive Work Instructions Redefine What Workers Can Achieve](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/blog/interactive-work-instructions-redefine-what-workers-can-achieve.html) Empower your team with Interactive Work Instructions to streamline workflows, reduce downtime, and enhance productivity.