EWI’s Buffalo Manufacturing Works was recently featured in a 3-part series published by Forbes.com. The articles focus on how small and mid-sized manufacturers (SMMs) are starting to use automation to address workforce shortages and optimize operations. Buffalo Manufacturing Works has played a key role in helping regional SMMs identify, develop, and implement robotics for greater productivity.
The Forbes series, written by Rich Blake, homes in on the pivotal work being done by EWI’s team in Western New York to bring advanced manufacturing solutions to smaller companies. The first article, Small Factories Embrace Automation – Because They Can’t Find Enough People, discusses the challenge of finding qualified workers for manufacturing today and how incorporating automation is one way to address that issue. Getting started, however, can be daunting for SMMs. That’s where the engineering team at Buffalo Manufacturing Works can provide expertise and assistance.
The second article, Smaller Manufacturers That Need a Helping Hand Add Robotic Arms, follows EWI Senior Engineer Mike Garman at Buffalo Manufacturing Works as he guides a group of SMMs through the options for introducing smart automation into their operations. EWI’s Shift program offers resources to help them take that crucial first step.
A local company that took that step is highlighted in the third piece, An Aerospace Company’s First Foray into Robotics Takes Flight. Astronics LSI worked with EWI to identify a repetitive-yet-critical task that could be automated. The advisory team developed a set of robotic solutions for the job, then helped the manufacturer find the right service provider to build the robotic arm. As a result, Astronics is now able to redirect its staff toward higher-level machine work, making the best use of its resources and raising its productivity.
To read the articles, click on the links below: