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What Is A Smart Factory?

A traditional factory must order a fixed number of resources at a set schedule, making it less responsive to changes in the market. These resources then follow a static manufacturing route through individually controlled systems that do not share information. This makes it more difficult to determine how a change in one system affects the rest of the process.

A smart factory digitizes its systems, making it easier to connect manufacturing equipment, inventory bins, and management tools. Analyzing big data allows patterns and trends to be spotted. The analysis can actively change production by instantly altering the number of resources that have to be ordered and when they must arrive. The Internet of Things (IoT) enables anyone to monitor the entire manufacturing process and to propagate changes from anywhere in the production chain from management to individual operators on the floor.

Bossard can streamline your production by transforming your facility into a smart factory. Our Smart Factory Logistics systems improve your supply chain performance by bringing you IoT technologies and easing IoT machine-to-machine communication. This results in leaner and more transparent processes that increase your competitive advantage.

Our systems optimize your B- and C-parts management with the SmartBin, a bin that constantly communicates its stock levels, and SmartLabel Cloud, which stores information such as order status and delivery date and can be placed on non-smart containers. Also available is SmartLocker, an intelligent storage unit that automates inventory control and access, making it a perfect IIoT solution for consumables and high-value items.

You can manage these systems using ARIMS, our interactive supply chain platform. Through it, you can manage your inventory interactively, track orders, and make use of intelligent data. It includes the following components:

ARIMS Analytics lets you oversee all the pieces of your smart factory, including articles, locations, orders, and deliveries. You can visualize this data through graphs, tables, and reports.
ARIMS Interactive encourages you to directly submit change requests.
ARIMS Mobile puts all these functions on an Android or iOS device, so you have full control even when you’re on the factory floor.

Wondering how you can implement the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) in the manufacturing industry? Contact us today at ProvenProductivity@bossard.com to see how our Smart Factory Logistics systems can get you there.

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4 Inventory Management Strategies to Help Your Business Succeed

Steps to Take for Digitalization

Bossard

April 02, 2021

Internet

Where Can I Find Fastener CAD Drawings Online?

Manufacturers and businesses who are looking for fastener computer-aided design (CAD) drawings online have consistently turned to the experts at Bossard. We utilize the latest, most up-to-date CAD tools to best support your unique mechanical engineering needs. Whether you need animated renderings, 2D CAD drawings online, or 3D CAD drawings online, Bossard will provide the detailed views you need as well as additional, value-added smart features. Continue reading learn more about Bossard’s fastener CAD drawings online.

Cutting-Edge CAD Program Online for Fasteners

At Bossard, we offer fastener CAD drawings online in a variety of file formats. By using the latest technology, we can move from concept to prototype with minimal effort in a fraction of the time.

One of the major benefits of our online CAD drawings is added design flexibility. This reduces the occurrence of costly mistakes when changes to the fastener were not passed along to other impacted assembly components. We also can provide preemptive 2D, 3D, and even animated visuals to streamline processes with the highest level of efficiency.

Cut Costs & Reduce Production Time with Bossard’s Free Online CAD Drawings

When you partner with Bossard for fastener CAD drawings and product design assistance, we will help you create efficiencies every step of the way. Our team of Assembly Technology Experts strive to deliver the smartest, most efficient solution for all your possible fastening challenges. To achieve this goal, we use our three-stage methodology, which leads to reduced production time and significantly cut costs.

Design. We are focused on using the latest CAD technology to deliver fastener drawings online that are flawless.
Optimize. Next, we’ll work closely with you to hone in on your fastening process to optimize it to perfection.
Educate. We’ll continue to look for efficiencies while helping you become more knowledgeable in the science of fastening.

Contact Bossard for Precise Fastener CAD Drawings Online

From start to finish, we will use CAD drawings to help you find the right fastening solutions in the most expeditious manner possible. In doing so, we regularly help increase the competitiveness of manufacturing firms by slashing time to market.

For more information or to learn more, email us today at ProvenProductivity@bossard.com.

Click here to visit our CAD Online Portal.

Bossard

March 26, 2021

Fastener Technology, Uncategorized

Change is always a constant, whether it be in your ordinary life or when it comes to your business processes. Previous industrial revolutions dating as far back as the 1700s laid the foundations for change. Each revolution throughout the ages brought about remarkable changes in manufacturing and production. The latest revolution, also known as the Fourth Industrial Revolution or Industry 4.0, brings with it a vast array of technological innovations aimed at making the Smart Factory possible.

With innovative technologies like advanced robots, artificial intelligence, cloud computing, the Internet of Things (IoT), and 3D printing emerging to transform the industrial space, it’s no wonder that many companies are preparing for a digitalized future. Digitalization and digital transformation allow manufacturing to harness and integrate the latest innovations and realize impressive gains in productivity and overall growth. However, many companies lack a clear path towards digitalization.

You don’t need expensive robots or high-tech machines to take advantage of Industry 4.0. The following steps can help prepare your factory for the upcoming future and put your company in a better position to improve and achieve more.

Become familiar with Industry 4.0 and non-robotic digitalization.
View digitalization as an opportunity, not a threat.
Define your strategic goals.
Be willing to test new ideas and stay flexible.
Make a plan for retraining your current employees and recruiting new ones.
Focus on value creation and keep customers in mind every step of the way.
Recruit experts to help you come up with a plan that is tailored to your specific needs.

Change is difficult, but it’s necessary if you want to remain agile in an ever-changing and highly competitive environment. The experts at Bossard can guide you towards achieving your Industry 4.0 goals. Email us at ProvenProductivity@bossard.com to learn more.

Bossard

March 12, 2021

Digitalization

When you’re in a business that keeps inventory, having an efficient inventory management strategy is critical to growing your company. Effective inventory management strategies allow your business to track your stock levels efficiently, saving you time and money. Your goal is to minimize the cost of holding inventory without losing the ability to provide customers with what they need when they need it.

Inventory Management Strategies Matter

Not paying attention to your inventory levels can cripple your business. Even big companies like Walmart have had inventory management problems. They have since recognized these issues and used various inventory management techniques to overcome their obstacles. Here’s how you can do the same:

1. Automate your inventory management

It may work for a while to manually track your inventory, but it will become cumbersome at some point. You’ll eventually need to move to something more efficient. Inventory management systems take the guesswork and human error out of the equation and allow everyone to be on the same page.

2. Be aware of transit time

Knowing how long it takes you to get a new product in hand will help you plan better and avoid out of stock or backorder issues. If you’re ordering from overseas, that means that by the time you realize you’re out of a product, you’ve now got to wait upwards of four or more weeks to get it in hand again.

3. Pay attention to the data

Data drives your business in many ways, and inventory management is no different. Knowing the numbers and the history behind your ordering can help you plan.

4. Be consistent

However you decide to manage your inventory, it’s important to be consistent in how you receive, track, and purchase it. This includes your auditing processes.

Getting Your Inventory Under Control

Utilizing these strategies are just some of the ways you can make managing your inventory and supply chain easier. Bossard Inventory Management is ready to help you incorporate these and many other strategies so your business can succeed.

Bossard

March 05, 2021

Inventory, Uncategorized

What does visible supply chain management really mean? Imagine a scenario where you couldn’t finish a product due to a missing fastener. Or you have to suffer additional costs due to unexplained inventory losses. Such errors often spell disaster on an efficiency and cost basis and can even jeopardize customer and supplier relations.

Full transparency in a supply chain is the key to minimizing mistakes while ensuring maximum functional efficiency and productivity.

How Bossard Helps You Achieve Full Transparency

Achieving full inventory and supply chain transparency requires innovative solutions. This is where ARIMS becomes imperative. Our cloud-based interactive supply chain platform not only puts you in complete control of your material flow but also provides total inventory transparency via effective B- and C-part management.

ARIMS Analytics, ARIMS Interactive, and ARIMS Mobile make up the three key aspects of the interactive platform. ARIMS Analytics unleashes the power of big data to provide concise analytics, reports, and graphs summarizing current production using real-time data in an easily visualized and exportable form. ARIMS Interactive lets you customize your dashboard and system options to suit your production needs while making it easier to submit changes and review past and current change requests.

ARIMS Mobile takes platform access to the next level by delivering mobile access through Android and iOS devices. Whether you’re on the production floor or in the field, you’ll have a complete, real-time accounting of your current operations.

ARIMS is what makes Bossard’s Smart Factory Logistics methodology possible. When combined with innovative components like Bossard SmartBin Cloud and SmartLabel Cloud, ARIMS gives you complete information about your supply chain while providing an efficient end-to-end smart manufacturing experience.

Reach out to a Bossard expert at ProvenProductivity@bossard.com and discover how ARIMS supply chain transparency software can help deliver greater inventory and supply chain visibility.

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4 Inventory Management Strategies to Help Your Business Succeed

9 Benefits of Bossard SmartLocker

Bossard

February 26, 2021

Supply Chain / Logistics

5 Methods for Installing Threaded Inserts in Thermoplastics

When our clients approach Bossard we consider it our duty to present all the relevant information and our experience so they can ultimately make the best design decision for their application. That is why we talk REAL when we are asked the question: “There are so many types of inserts that we could install, which one will perform the best?”

Note: this question also applies to compression limiters in the same applications. The response to this depends on a wide range of factors, but if the client is strictly looking for direction on axial (pull-out) and radial performance, we can summarize as follows:

1. Ultrasonically installed, post-mold

These inserts tend to have about a medium axial (pull-out) with high radial performance but typically have the fastest cycle times for post-mold installation. They also may have a higher investment cost for the installation equipment. There is a high degree of expertise required to correctly set up the installation equipment for maximum performance of the insert.

2. Thermal installed, post-mold

These inserts have a similar performance as ultrasonically installed inserts but have slower cycle times. The set-up of these machines is also relatively simple and requires a lower up-front cost than ultrasonically installed inserts.

3. Press-fit installed, post-mold

These inserts tend to have the lowest pull-out (axial) and radial performance but subsequently may have a lower overall cost. They also do not require specialized equipment for installation.

4. Self-cutting

These tend to have a very high axial (pull-out) strength and have the added benefit of being suitable for tougher materials like thermoset plastic or composite thermoplastics with a high percentage of fill content.

5. Mold-in inserts

These inserts usually have the highest axial (pull-out) / radial performances possible but have the added benefit of being a co-mold process, removing the secondary operation, and are suitable for thermoset and thermoplastic materials.

There are many other factors that will impact the performance of an insert or compression limiter such as the hole size, hole geometry, fill content of the plastics, cycle time demands, and lastly the geometry of the insert itself.

To confuse the matter, many producers of inserts have specialized features intended for one purpose or another and it can be difficult to decipher the true functional comparison. Many inserts are not bound to industry standards, such as a DIN 912 Hexagon Socket Head Cap Screw! For example, some inserts marketed for co-molding may also be used for a post-mold thermal or ultrasonic installation (and vice versa) – and the performance of those will compare greatly based on the other variables at play.

Finally, it is always important with threaded inserts for plastic or composite applications, for Bossard to arrange validation testing using the customer’s own materials or coupons.

For more information about your threaded-insert or compression limiter application, please contact us today at ProvenProductivity@bossard.com.

Bossard

February 19, 2021

Uncategorized

Staying competitive in a constantly changing environment means finding new and more innovative ways to remain ahead of the curve. Advancements in both current and up-and-coming technologies, spurred on by the Digital Revolution, have led to innovations that make Industry 4.0 and the Internet of Things possible.

Bringing Emerging Technologies Together

The recent push towards the Internet of Things isn’t just happening on the consumer front. IoT is also taking a more prominent role in the manufacturing industry, leading to a transformation in the industrial space. However, many of the technologies central to Industrial IoT integration have emerged separately, leading to disjointed progress on the industrial front.

However, there are efforts underway to promote compatible technologies capable of generating and utilizing universal data. One example of IoT integration includes enhanced communications with technicians in the field and line-side workers to help with guidance and troubleshooting. This makes it possible to communicate and assist across vast geographic areas under multi-location manufacturing scenarios.

Other Internet of Things manufacturing examples include:

Machine-level energy consumption metrics to promote enhanced efficiency
Machine data analytics with instant availability from any location at any given moment
RFID signals and radar detection for monitoring inventory consumption and availability
Real-time condition monitoring and predictive maintenance with alerts and notifications

Exploring Opportunities with Bossard

The Internet of Things and smart manufacturing can open a variety of doors depending on the goals you wish to achieve and the processes you’re working to improve. Some opportunities offer wide-ranging applications one can take advantage of while others are more limited in scope and usability. The experts at Bossard can highlight which paths offer the most productivity and efficiency improvements, allowing your company to move forward with its production and supply chain needs.

Contact us today at ProvenProductivity@bossard.com to see how you can transform your manufacturing facilities into smart factories.

Bossard

February 12, 2021

Internet

“Internet of Things” is a phrase you’ve probably heard before – and you’ll hear it more often as the world becomes more interconnected than ever before. With that interconnected world comes new ways to utilize technology, from the ordinary devices in your everyday life to the processes your organization relies on.

Whether it’s the thermostat in your home, the smartwatch you wear every day, or the sensors your car relies on for diagnostic information – all of these things are Internet of Things examples. The Internet of Things definition is a network of internet-connected devices that communicate with one another seamlessly. Different devices can collect and share data while giving users smarter control over the devices they regularly use.

How the Internet of Things Relate to Industry 4.0

IoT takes a prominent role within the Fourth Industrial Revolution or “Industry 4.0.” Industry 3.0 introduced the electronic tools and technologies that paved the way for smart production. Industry 4.0 makes the most of those advancements while offering many of its own, from cloud computing and artificial intelligence to advanced robotics and 3D printing.

So, where exactly does IoT fit into this picture? With the help of big data, machine learning, and AI, IoT technology can help your organization gain greater insights. This can lead to vast improvements in productivity and a reduction in operating costs. Streamlined workflows, process automation, and pattern visualization are just some of the benefits that IoT lets you unleash throughout your supply chain, for instance.

How We Can Help

You already benefit from smart devices in your everyday life, so why not experience the benefits in your facility? Bossard’s Smart Factory Logistics harnesses the power of IoT to enhance productivity, reduce costs, and maximize flexibility. With proven solutions like ARIMS interactive supply chain platform, you’ll see immediate improvements in efficiency and transparency.

Contact us today at ProvenProductivity@bossard.com to discover how Smart Factory Logistics can improve your supply chain.

Bossard

February 05, 2021

Internet

Our staff of Application Engineers look at the ins and outs of fasteners every day. They’ve been able to help our customers solve some of their most intricate challenges when it comes to product design and product development and how fasteners play a role in that. Here are four tips from Bossard Application Engineer Jon Dabney.

1) Matching Property Classes

When looking at bolted joints you must be using the correct matching property classes for the bolt or screw, nut, and washer. If you do not consider this, you can have a pre-mature failure while the joint is in service.

You want to make sure that the nut is always stronger than the bolt. The reason being is a nut failure is a delayed failure and not something you will typically see right away as you would with a bolt. A way of doing this is pairing them appropriately 8.8 and class 8/10.9 and 10.

Incorrect washer strength for the property class of the bolt. When you have too soft of a washer paired with a higher property class bolt it can cause embedment which will result in a decrease in preload in the joint which can cause failures.

2) Standard Fasteners

When designing the fastening joint, it is important to design around standards that will govern the material, tolerances, and performance of the fastener. It can greatly increase the cost and lead time of the fastener when going away from the industry standard. What might be a slight change on the drawing can quickly go from a standard cold-headed part to a costly machined part.

3) Assembly Considerations

When designing the fastening joint, it is important for industrial designers to take into consideration the manufacturability of the joint. Balancing the time it takes to assemble and reducing the complexity of the area of the assembly will greatly reduce the total cost of the joint itself. A good practice is to ask this simple question: How do I put this together?

4) Consider Using Multifunctional Fasteners to Reduce Total Cost of Ownership

By using features that help with assembly speed and other multifunctional fasteners such as a dog point, MAThread®, pre-applied patches, thread forming screws, SEMS screws and the many other options can help reduce the total cost of the joint by reducing assembly time and removing processes.

If you have any questions about how to design successful products, please reach out to us at ProvenProductivity@bossard.com.

Bossard

January 29, 2021

Fastener Technology

How Does Lean Manufacturing Eliminate Waste?

By cataloging all the steps in your production process and supply chain, lean manufacturing attempts to identify and eventually eliminate the inefficient steps that impede productivity, increase costs, and disrupt schedules.

One such inefficiency is overproduction, which produces more goods than you can sell. You’re stuck with holding the finished goods until they can be sold, even assuming that can happen. This increases storage costs, blocks cash flow, and ties up capital, raw materials, finished products, and resources that may be more productively used elsewhere.

How Overproduction Happens

Overproduction often happens due to five main reasons:

· Unreliable processes that fail unpredictably or produce results that are hard to predict.

· Batch sizes are too large to manage efficiently.

· Unstable schedules that affect the efficiency of processes.

· Unbalanced cells or departments that are too small in some areas or too large in others.

· Inaccurate information that leads to incorrect product forecasts and schedules.

All these reasons tie into issues with preparation through activities that do not enhance value and increase waste. Lean manufacturing aims to solve these issues.

How Lean Manufacturing Eliminates Waste

One of the guiding principles of lean manufacturing is to identify all the steps needed to produce the final product.

· By value stream mapping this flow on one sheet, you can better identify procedures that are inefficient and wasteful and eliminate them to smooth out the flow.

· With the continuous improvement of your processes, you can improve productivity, change production time from months to weeks, save money for you and the customer, boost profits, and increase customer satisfaction.

Managing C-Parts with Bossard

Managing your C-parts like screws, nuts, and bolts is critical to creating a lean production system that increases efficiency. As one of the leading specialists in the production of fasteners, we are experts in this area of production. To eliminate overproduction and other costly mistakes in the manufacturing process, we deliver to you years of knowledge and experience with our Bossard Smart Factory Logistics services and systems.

To find out how our logistics improvement technology can work for your application, please contact us at ProvenProductivity@bossard.com.

Bossard

January 22, 2021

Lean Manufacturing

Author Archives Bossard

What Is A Smart Factory?

Where Can I Find Fastener CAD Drawings Online?

Cutting-Edge CAD Program Online for Fasteners

Cut Costs & Reduce Production Time with Bossard’s Free Online CAD Drawings

Contact Bossard for Precise Fastener CAD Drawings Online

Steps to Take for Digitalization

4 Inventory Management Strategies to Help Your Business Succeed