Authentise Acquires Elements to Deliver Data-Driven Flexibility Across Manufacturing

Authentise announced the acquisition of all assets of Elements Technology Platform, the provider of self-serve workflow tools for manufacturing. As part of the transaction, Elements’ team will join Authentise.

The partnership enables discrete manufacturers everywhere to access connected workflow management solutions used by the world’s leading additive manufacturing companies to manage their lot-size 1 operations efficiently, flexibly, and transparently.

“Elements is the perfect addition to the Authentise portfolio,” says Andre Wegner, CEO of Authentise. "Like Authentise, Elements have been laser focused providing manufacturing operations with the flexibility they need in the post-pandemic world with the efficiency that data enables in the 21st century.”

The combination of the two companies brings together a potent mix of tools and technologies for workflow management, real time machine data insight, AI, RFID technologies and more, on a proven, open, data driven platform for the manufacturing supply chain.

Wegner goes on to add “Elements provides customers with a unique self-serve tool for all types of manufacturing operations, to quickly create, capture and access repeatable shop floor processes. Delivering intelligent production planning & scheduling, and real time views of production customers can track orders, like they’re paying for coffee. These exciting services will become a key part of the combined Authentise portfolio.”

Even before the acquisition, Authentise was able to deliver significant efficiency savings, reducing order management times by 80 percent and manufacturing preparation times reduced by more than 95 percent at Boeing Additive Manufacturing.

Wegner continues, “Our goal, together, is to bring flexibility and responsiveness benefits like these, typically associated with additive manufacturing, to a broader manufacturing audience. With our diverse experiences we believe we will be able to rapidly accelerate towards our joint mission of delivering end-to-end transparency, reliability, and efficiency to manufacturing operations using data. We’re delighted to welcome the Elements team and customers on board.”

Joe Handsaker, CEO of Elements Technology, highlighted the untouched opportunities that both companies can tap together: “The real story of Industry 4.0 has yet to be written. The last 20 years have been wasted focusing on predictive maintenance and analytics, which have yielded very little return on investment. It’s time to refocus on what’s core to manufacturing: the worker. Supporting them with data and modern tools gives us more context in manufacturing and allows us to drive better quality, insight, and completely new business models. If nothing else, the pandemic has shown that a radical rethink of the way things are made and delivered is necessary. We’re delighted to have found a partner that understands that and are excited to build a better future, together.”

Verisurf Software Names Merrell Executive Vice President

Verisurf Software Inc. announced Nick Merrell to serve as executive vice president, effective immediately. Nick will continue to lead the technical support team, as he has since joining Verisurf in 2015, with added responsibilities that include driving corporate vision and managing continuous improvement of Verisurf processes, products, and people.

“As our technical operations manager for the past six years, Nick has demonstrated extraordinary leadership, management, organization, and communication skills. He is technically savvy and knows our software, the manufacturing markets we serve, and industrial processes and requirements extremely well,” said Ernie Husted, president and CEO of Verisurf Software Inc.

Verisurf Software continues the advancement of its measurement solutions and services based heavily on direct interaction and feedback from its users. This approach has served Verisurf well for more than 25 years and continues to influence strategy and key management decisions today. “Nick has championed this ‘customer first’ commitment repeatedly, effectively working with all columns of Verisurf’s operations and departments. We look forward to his continuing contributions to the organization and our customers,” added Husted.

For more information, visit www.verisurf.com.

NAM’s Manufacturing Leadership Council Announces New Chair, Vice Chair for the MLC’s Board of Governors

The Manufacturing Leadership Council, a division of the National Association of Manufacturers, announces the election of Michael D. Packer, former director of production strategy at Lockheed Martin Aeronautics, as the new chair of the MLC’s Board of Governors. Previously serving as the MLC Board’s vice chair, Packer succeeds John Fleming, former executive vice president of global manufacturing and labor affairs at Ford Motor Company, who is stepping down from the MLC Board.

Daniel Dwight, president and CEO of Cooley Group, was also elected as the MLC Board’s new vice chair. Both roles are effective from Jan. 1, 2022.

The MLC’s Board of Governors acts as an advisory body providing guidance to the MLC on its “critical issues” agenda, research studies and programs and services for the MLC’s more than 3,000 members. The MLC Board now consists of 16 industry thought leaders who represent the full ecosystem of the manufacturing industry, including large global enterprises, small and medium-sized manufacturers, leading academic institutions and influential industry analysts.

“I am honored to serve as MLC chair and help drive the MLC’s critical mission to accelerate digital transformation across the manufacturing industry,” said Packer. “I look forward to working together with the MLC team and my fellow board members to expand the MLC’s growth in numbers, diversity and impact and help support both MLC and NAM members as they embrace new digital opportunities for the future.”

“As a longtime MLC member and supporter of the Board of Governors’ mission, I am thrilled to extend my MLC role to vice chair,” added Dwight. “Along with supporting the new chair, I am particularly motivated to build greater diversity in the MLC/NAM membership and to give new voices the opportunity to share their experiences in the industry.”

The MLC would like to congratulate them both on their new board positions and to thank former Chair John Fleming for all his insights, guidance and wisdom over the past three years.

For more information, visit www.manufacturingleadershipcouncil.com.

Manufacturing Leaders Welcome White House STEM Policy Push

National Association of Manufacturers President and CEO Jay Timmons and Manufacturing Institute President Carolyn Lee released the following statement on the administration’s announcements on semiconductor production and new policy efforts to attract STEM talent to the United States:

“The supply chain and economic disruptions facing American families and the manufacturing industry are driven in part by the severe worker shortage and by the serious chip shortage. Today, the White House has announced promising developments on both fronts, and we will work with the administration and Congress to build on this progress even further,” said Timmons. “To ramp up domestic semiconductor production, we can’t stop at today’s action, though. Too many manufacturing sectors have been unable to deliver the products American families need because they lack key components. Manufacturers are working overtime to overcome this challenge, but Congress has to do its part, which means passing USICA. Doing so will not only shore up our recovery and ease supply chain strains but also strengthen our economy and national security.

“These immigration policies will also undoubtedly sharpen America’s competitive edge and help us outpace and out-innovate the rest of the world. In far too many cases, we’ve seen brilliant minds educated at American universities leave because our outdated immigration system doesn’t let them put their talents to work for America’s future. Now we can start to reverse that trend, among other key policy changes. As part of ‘A Way Forward,’ our plan for comprehensive immigration reform, we have long called for immigration policies that are responsive to clear economic needs. These policies meet that test, meaning that they will benefit our workers, our communities and our industry, empowering us to create even more opportunities for the American people.”

“Manufacturers are leading America’s recovery, but we still need to hire more than 800,000 workers right now,” said Lee. “And according to the MI’s research with Deloitte, we will have four million jobs to fill by the end of the decade, 2.1 million of which could go unfilled if current trends continue. That sustained need is why the NAM and the MI launched our nationwide Creators Wanted workforce campaign. It’s why we have long focused on programs and policies of all types that will grow the pool of STEM talent in America. We have to come at this crisis from every angle, and the MI and the entire industry will continue using every tool at our disposal to inspire, educate and empower the next generation of creators.”

“All in all, it’s a day of positive developments for manufacturing in America,” added Timmons.

For more information, visit www.nam.org or www.themanufacturinginstitute.org.

NAM Announces New Board Leadership

The National Association of Manufacturers announced the Executive Committee of its Board of Directors has elected Dow Inc. Chairman and CEO Jim Fitterling as board chair and appointed Johnson & Johnson Executive Vice President and Chief Global Supply Chain Officer Kathy Wengel as vice chair.

With the industry on the front lines of an ongoing pandemic, supply chain disruptions, a persistent worker shortage and critical policy debates, these manufacturing leaders will take charge at a particularly consequential time.  

“Jim and Kathy have well-earned reputations as respected and visionary leaders of renowned global brands. We have many challenges to confront, and they will ensure our industry continues to lead our recovery and leverage new innovations to raise standards of living in America and around the world,” said NAM President and CEO Jay Timmons. “And no matter what comes our way, our association and industry remain steadfastly committed to policies that uphold the values that make America exceptional: free enterprise, competitiveness, individual liberty and equal opportunity.”

“Manufacturing is vital to the long-term sustainability and prosperity of our citizens and our economy and continues to play an increasing role in solving some of the greatest challenges facing society,” said Fitterling. “It is a privilege to represent such a critical sector as board chair of the NAM, which is committed to continually advancing our collaboration across business, government, academia and all stakeholders for the betterment of all people and our planet.”

“The NAM is widely respected for its unique ability to convene key stakeholders and address important challenges across the manufacturing industry,” said Wengel. “Now more than ever, market dynamics and the acceleration of the Fourth Industrial Revolution are providing important opportunities to advance policies that foster growth, promote sustainable manufacturing and ensure readiness and diversity of the workforce of the future. I look forward to continuing to work with fellow members and the incredible staff that make up this organization to confront the challenges of today, while addressing our industry’s needs for tomorrow.”

The NAM Board of Directors guides the association’s leadership in policy advocacy, workforce solutions, legal action, operational excellence and news and insights. More than 200 manufacturing leaders serve on the NAM Board, helping the industry advance an agenda that promotes growth and prosperity for all Americans.

The new board chair was elected at the December meeting of the Executive Committee of the NAM Board. Additionally, the NAM announced significant promotions for key staff members effective Jan. 1, 2022.

For more information, visit www.nam.org.

Radiant Celebrates 30 Years in Imaging Metrology

Radiant Vision Systems announces its 30th anniversary as a provider of optical test and measurement solutions for displays and light sources. In celebration of this milestone, Radiant looks back on three decades of innovation by showcasing its founders, timeline, and employee stories on a dedicated page of its website. Throughout the year, Radiant will continue to add photos and stories to this page in an ongoing commemoration of its corporate history from 1992 to 2022.

Founded in 1992 in California as Radiant Imaging, Inc., Radiant was the realization of Ron Rykowski and Steve Wilson’s endeavor to invent faster and more capable light measurement solutions to improve the visual performance of light-emitting devices (light sources, projectors, and displays). Having a background in optical instruments, these two engineers began by developing their own ray-tracing software and offering light source characterization services to manufacturers who needed more comprehensive and efficient data for light source modeling. Early on, the team realized that existing methods for photometric measurement—spot meters, which measure light at specific points across a light source distribution—were falling short of quality goals and missing defects between measurement points. The team reasoned that by applying cameras for imaging, they could capture and measure photometric values for the complete area of a distribution as well as detect any visible defects.

“Taming a CCD camera to give us useful, calibrated data was quite a task,” recalls Radiant co-founder Steve Wilson, “but we accomplished the job. Now we had a tool to give us feedback for optical system design. So, ProMetric® was born. ”

Radiant’s ProMetric line of cameras began as a component of the solution that Rykowski and Wilson developed to provide light source measurement services. As customers recognized these cameras’ efficiency for lab measurement and on-site display calibration, Radiant began manufacturing and selling ProMetric cameras directly. The company has continued to optimize photometric imaging systems to supply faster, higher-resolution, and higher-performance vision inspection solutions to capture photometric data for light source and display measurement—and extend this capability to surface and appearance inspection. Today, Radiant’s ProMetric Imaging Colorimeters and Photometers are applied in labs and production lines worldwide, testing millions of devices each year in consumer electronics, automotive, aerospace, medical, and other industries.

“Radiant continues to build on the foundation that Ron and Steve established,” states Doug Kreysar, current CEO of Radiant Vision Systems, “—develop faster and more capable solutions for light and color measurement. Imaging remains at the center of this development, where our ProMetric imaging systems enable customers to capture highly accurate photometric data at speeds much faster alternative systems. By applying photometric imaging in automated visual inspection systems, Radiant has enabled manufacturers to reach quality and throughput goals that were impossible 30 years ago. This has directly contributed to market growth in several industries and has made new technologies like OLED, microLED, and others viable for commercial products.”

“However, Radiant’s legacy is more than just our technology development,” Kreysar continues. “Since the very first projects that Ron and Steve took on in the early 1980s, I believe the most important thing we’ve carried forward is a spirit of innovation. We are always looking ahead for the next challenge to solve. We look at our customers’ design and manufacturing challenges as an opportunity to make something better, and we drive development around each challenge. This yields unique software and optical solutions that have diversified our portfolio and allow us to meet more specific needs. I’m proud to say that a hallmark of Radiant’s legacy has been how passionate we are about what we do.”

Over 30 years, Radiant Vision Systems has grown from a team of two engineers in 1992 to over 200 employees worldwide today. Radiant has direct offices in the U.S. (headquarters: Redmond, WA; Cupertino, CA; Novi, MI), China (Shanghai, Shenzhen, Suzhou), South Korea (Seongnam), and Vietnam (Haiphong). Acquired by Konica Minolta in 2015, Radiant operates within the Konica Minolta Sensing Business Unit of companies, many of which sell and support Radiant products in other areas of the globe. Radiant’s history includes the first application of imaging for photometric measurement, the invention of the Radiant Source Model™ (RSM) file format, and the Source Imaging Goniometer® (SIG) for angular characterization of light output for light source modeling and design.

For more on Radiant’s 30-year history, visit www.radiantvisionsystems.com/radiant-celebrates-30-years-innovation.

Bell to Chair NAM’s Council of Manufacturing Associations

The National Association of Manufacturers announced new 2022 leadership for its Council of Manufacturing Associations at the CMA 2022 Winter Leadership Conference. Philip Bell, president of the Steel Manufacturers Association, will serve as chair, and Melissa Hockstad, president and CEO of the American Cleaning Institute, will serve as vice chair. Made up of 260 industry-specific manufacturing associations representing 130,000 companies worldwide, the CMA creates powerful partnerships across the industry and ensures manufacturers have the strongest possible voice.

“Steelmakers and manufacturers are a force for good in the world. We support innovation, efficiency and sustainability. We help our employees build their lives, our customers build their businesses and the communities where we operate build their futures,” said Bell. “During this very dynamic time in our country, I am honored to articulate the important role manufacturing plays in America’s economic success and national security.

“Americans are counting on manufacturers to lead our economic recovery, deliver promising career opportunities and solve our global health crises, and the collaboration made possible through the CMA empowers our entire industry to rise to the challenge,” said NAM President and CEO Jay Timmons. “Philip and Melissa are trusted and tested leaders who will continue to cultivate the collaborative, cooperative spirit that has made the CMA such a consequential organization for our industry and country. I look forward to working with them to advance policies and plans that uphold the values that have made America exceptional and keep manufacturing strong: free enterprise, competitiveness, individual liberty and equal opportunity.”

The CMA’s mission is focused on bolstering the industry’s nationwide grassroots mobilization efforts and improving the competitiveness of manufacturers in the United States. CMA members work with the NAM to unite the manufacturing association community, and ultimately the broader business community, around strategies for increased manufacturing job creation, investment and innovation in America.

Bell is a 25-year industry veteran. Prior to leading the SMA, Bell served as director of external communications and public affairs for Gerdau Long Steel North America based in Tampa, FL. Bell previously served as CMA vice chair.

Newly appointed 2022 CMA board members include the following:

• Alison Bodor, president and CEO, American Frozen Food Institute
• Nicole Harris, president and CEO, National Glass Association
• David Loftus, president and CEO, Electronic Components Industry Association

For more information, visit www.nam.org.