Moving Innovation Forward

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Briana Newman
5 years ago
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1 Moving Innovation Forward Presented by Tom Price Price Engineering Company

2 Topics 6 Challenges Facing the Fluid Power Industry Trends in Industry We Must Face Evolving Role for Fluid Power Integrators Challenges for Success 2

3 6 Challenges Six Challenges for the Fluid Power Industry Increasing energy efficiency Improving reliability Building smart components and systems Reducing size and weight Reducing environmental impact Improving and applying energy storage and redeployment capabilities Source: NFPA Website Dec 2009 Visit (link updated May 2013) 3

4 6 Challenges Manufacturers Hardware Design & Testing Energy Efficiency Reliability Smart Components Reducing Size & Weight Improving Energy Storage Integrators System Design Energy Efficiency Reliability Smart Systems Reducing Environmental Impact Applying Energy Storage & Redeployment 4

5 Summary 6 Challenges We must think about being technology-neutral and look at machine design from both hydraulic and electric solutions. Hybrid systems abound and we must cross the aisle to embrace new ideas. The disciplines it takes to design systems and drive new product development are rapidly becoming more main stream including mechatronics, mathematical modeling, and simulation. It is from a system design perspective that we will likely find the most gain. 5

6 Trends Automation Renaissance in U.S. Underway Proven Reliability of Electronics Managing Complexity with Intelligence Demographics Change HMI Thinking Challenging Economics Erode Skill Base 6

7 Trends

8 Automation Renaissance Electric Servo Motor Driven Pump Active Heave Compensation 8

9 Proven Reliability of Electronics Trends Electro-hydraulic control is now a reality Mobile PLCs and rugged remote I/O Operator Devices (Joysticks, Switch Clusters) Sensors IEC Software Standards Apps 9

10 Trends

11 Demographics Change HMI Thinking Trends Next Gen become operators and owners Expectations are different More automation/complexity possible Human Centered Design more important 11

12 Demographics Change HMI 12

13 Trends Challenging Economics Erode Skill Base Recessions had their toll on headcount Automation workforce is retiring Few formal education programs for automation Perception of automation is not as glamorous as software development or medical 13

14 Summary Trends We are teetering on the brink of a real manufacturing renaissance, which will be driven in large part by industrial automation. Automation initiatives often have the largest return on investment and can most quickly impact the bottom line. The opportunities are abundant but only if we can find the manpower to build business cases, develop and design solutions, and implement projects on budget and on time. 14

15 Role of Integrators Many OEMs & Users have lost the technical competency & economics for R&D Component manufacturers struggle with being systems integrators Evolving Hi-Tech Integrators step up 15

16 Strong legacies in fluid power Often privately held or closely operated Long resumes of automation folks Build up of knowledge (the hard way) Resilient and Innovative Role of Integrators 16

17 Emergence of Better Products Manufacturer s learned their lessons New Products enter the market Automotive influence is key Software standardizes and improves Connectors and sensors more available Role of Integrators 17

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19 Willingness to Innovate Role of Integrators Typically small to medium size companies Partnered with experimental OEMs (also smaller) Dedicated and hardworking (a bit crazy too) Begin to build core teams of engineers and software designers Develop a strong set of competencies Find niches and differentiators 19

20 Market Forces Challenges for Success Recruiting & Training People Technology Challenges Focus on Process & Project Management Communicating Value 20

21 Market Forces Challenges for Success Bad habits of giving away engineering to sell products Competitive nature of OEM machine building Cyclical business climates Politics & Global Economics 21

22 Recruiting & Training People Challenges for Success Encourage young people into automation Recruit from new sources Keep our existing professionals challenged Mentoring & Training Educational Partnerships 22

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24 Technology Challenges Challenges for Success Requirements Gathering Specification Building Design Disciplines (CFD, Modeling, Simulation) Machine Design & Packaging Software Simulation HMI Cab Design 24

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26 Challenges for Success Focus on Process & Project Management Projects get larger Multiple engineering disciplines Complex requirements Software Development Customer Engagement Validation & Testing 26

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28 Communicating Value Learning the Hard Way Challenges for Success Understanding engineering services vs. traditional distributor value-add Up-front Contract for services Professional engineer processes and gates Project Management Client engagement and Change Management 28

29 Summary Summary Across the country, companies are emerging that have mastered the integration of fluid power with other technologies for power transmission and motion control. The manufacturers and OEMS are just beginning to realize the value these companies have. The next five years will be interesting to watch as this dynamic evolution unfolds. 29

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