The internet is a vast space that is filled with rabbit holes, endless search results, and adorable cat videos that will consume your entire day in a flash. Finding the information and insights you need to improve productivity and efficiency at your facility can be daunting. Luckily, Plant Services is here to help. We search the web and curate the industry perspectives, trends, and topics that will affect you and your industry. Here are a few of our favorite stories from this week.

The Foundational Blocks That Help Determine A Smart Factory’s Success [Forbes]
This is an exciting time to be in manufacturing. The use of new and innovative technologies is helping factories become smarter, get connected, and improve data collection and interpretation. But if you don’t have a strong foundation, your plant’s digitalization dreams will never become a reality. This article highlights five building blocks that are necessary when transitioning to a smart factory. 

Does Automation Affect Manufacturing Skills? [Assembly]
Many researchers have studied the relationship between robots and humans in the workplace. Will robots take jobs aways from workers? Will automation prevent workers from engaging in hazardous situations? Will the synthesis of human and machine increase plant productivity? While many of these questions have been answered, one remains. Does the use of robotics degrade the skills of plant-floor workers?

7 Steps and 5 Adjustments to Handle Today's Supply Chain Manufacturing Issues [Supply & Demand Chain Executive]
Many observers think of the supply chain as the process of delivering finished goods to customers, but the reality is far more complex. Supply chains encompass the entire manufacturing process from sourcing and procuring raw materials to shipping completed products. For those manufacturers who are looking to improve the resiliency and flexibility of their supply chains, this article highlights seven best practices to help alleviate supply chain concerns. 

Now You Can Rent a Robot Worker—for Less Than Paying a Human [WIRED]
Many manufacturers find the up-front cost of purchasing a robot to be a dealbreaker when considering implementing automation at their facilities. However, rising worker wages are forcing businesses to investigate new options, including leased robots that are available on a pay-as-you-go basis. This article offers real-world examples of how smaller companies are utilizing this new service to improve productivity at their plants.

Employees Want Flexibility. Here Are Five Ways Manufacturers Can Provide It. [Forbes]
Looking for a new way to attract top talent? Consider offering increased flexibility for your workers. Businesses of all sizes and types are promoting remote work, flexible schedules, and shorter work works, and if manufactures want to complete, they will have to step up. This article outlines five approaches to flexibility that manufacturers can deploy when recruiting workers.