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Global report finds 1 in 3 manufacturers on track to meet sustainability targets

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Schneider Electric, a company which specialises in digital transformation of energy management and automation, and Omdia, a technology research and advisory group, have found that while industrial companies are setting ambitious sustainability targets, roughly half (48 percent) have yet to take the necessary steps to meet them.

The finding was part of a study to better understand manufacturers’ sustainability goals and the maturity of their sustainability initiatives.

Over half (57 percent) of respondents to the survey are aiming for net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. They are most likely to name reduced energy consumption as the key factor in their decision to invest in operational sustainability initiatives, and 49 percent also expect improved performance and cost savings. [Read more…] about Global report finds 1 in 3 manufacturers on track to meet sustainability targets

Key industry organisations partner to develop global standards for autonomous vehicles

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The Autonomous Vehicle Computing Consortium, a global group of automotive and technology industry organisations, has agreed what is described as a “key liaison” with SAE International, the association of more than 200,000 engineers and related technical experts in the aerospace, automotive and commercial-vehicle industries.

The two organisations’ shared goal is to help expedite the development of autonomous and assisted driving solutions through shared technical references, recommendations, design benchmarks and marketing initiatives.

Jack Pokrzywa, ground vehicle standards director, SAE International, says: “For more than a century, SAE Standards have created the safe, reliable and consistent use and adoption of technologies to advance the mobility industry for the benefit of humanity. [Read more…] about Key industry organisations partner to develop global standards for autonomous vehicles

Opinion: ‘Scale’ is the magic word for digital transformation in 2020

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By Keith Higgins, vice president of digital transformation for Rockwell Automation

In 2019, we saw a 400 percent growth in digital transformation projects moving through the post-implementation stage, according to a recent study by Rockwell Automation.

The maturation of digitization projects will continue throughout 2020, and with this trend, the industry will evolve from exploring the primary benefits of data-driven solutions to understanding how these projects can be used as a resource to help scale smart factory initiatives.

Digital transformation has reached its inflection point. As organizations move their initiatives from project roll-out to continuous process improvement in 2020, scaling becomes a key topic of conversation. [Read more…] about Opinion: ‘Scale’ is the magic word for digital transformation in 2020

Going ‘smart’ helps factories make 12 per cent gains, says new report

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Implementing smart technologies has enabled factories make gains of up to 12 percent, according to an authoritative new report by Deloitte and the Manufacturers Alliance for Productivity and Innovation.

The areas in which the gains were achieved include: manufacturing output – an important US economic indicator; and factory utilization; and labor productivity.

Looking ahead, smart factory initiatives could lead manufacturers to experience labor productivity increases of 4 percent, which represents a three-fold improvement over the past decade’s average annual growth rate of 0.7 percent (2007-2018). [Read more…] about Going ‘smart’ helps factories make 12 per cent gains, says new report

Panasonic and Toyota to establish joint venture for town development

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Panasonic and Toyota have concluded contracts aimed toward the establishment of a new joint venture related to the town development business.

Both companies aim to fuse the mobility services initiatives promoted by Toyota and the “lifestyle updates” initiatives spearheaded by Panasonic.

A rapid change is expected in this business due to the accelerated deployment of IoT technologies in home appliances, household equipment, etc., as well as the evolution in mobility, such as CASE (Connected, Autonomous, Shared and Electric) and MaaS (Mobility as a Service), a new concept of providing services by connecting cars, public transportation and other means of transportation through IT.

[Read more…] about Panasonic and Toyota to establish joint venture for town development