Citation
Mytum-Smithson, J. (2007), "Web sites", Assembly Automation, Vol. 27 No. 1. https://doi.org/10.1108/aa.2007.03327aag.001
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2007, Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Web sites
Flexible manufacturing and small batch production
www.automationworld.com/Flexible_Manufacturing-96
There is plenty to read and links to follow on this web site. Along with the usual news and new products, there are articles and special reports to download if you are a member. The web site is nicely divided into sections including listings of content by application area, e.g. Process, Batch and Machine Automations. The amount of advertising is manageable on this web site although quite a few articles seem quite sales orientated. Other useful sections include Tools and Resources, Events and User Groups, Special Reports, and White Papers. There are also interesting webcasts, podcasts and blogs to view.
http://www.automationfederation.org/
The Automation Federation is an umbrella organization under which “associations and societies engaged in manufacturing and process automation activities can work more effectively to fulfill their missions.” It coordinates the work of member organizations engaged in advancement of the science and engineering of automation technologies and applications. Including www.omac.org; www.isa.org; and www.wbf.org
http://www.omac.org, www.isa.org and www.wbf.orgwww.omac.org
It is the web site of the open, modular architecture control (OMAC) technologies user group. It contains all the basic things you would expect from this type of web site, general information about OMAC, membership meetings and events, press room and details of their working groups which are divided into packaging, manufacturing infrastructure, and machine tool. There is also some useful technical information which is available to download as a pdf.
“ISA develops standards; certifies industry professionals; provides education and training; publishes books and technical articles; and hosts the largest conference and exhibition for automation professionals in the Western Hemisphere.” This is their site which contains details about their activities this includes standards, certification, education and training, publishing, conferences and exhibits along with the usual news and membership information.
“The primary benefit of membership in WBF is the efficient interchange of highly focused ideas and information; know-how that can be applied directly to make batch processing operations more profitable and more reliable.” Their site contains details of their activities including conferences, directory, classified and forums for members.
Overall The Automation Federation web site combined with their trio of “daughter” web sites contains plenty of information that will be useful to the manufacturing and process automation industry.
The Flexible Manufacturing Center is now part of the NYS Center for Automation Technologies and Systems (CATS), www.cats.rpi.edu/
Its mission is “To conduct research and education associated with modular, flexible manufacturing systems and processes.” Their site contains details about their projects which range from automated contact lens defect inspection to automated welding of investment casting wax patterns to runners. The usual details of facilities, staff and news are also listed.
Jessica Mytum-Smithson