Many machine builder companies employ EEs and MEs, but just a handful of their employees are PEs. The PE label helps machine builder companies in the marketplace. However as companies expand and younger people are brought into the organizations, management faces differing opinions about cost, time and benefit of various certifications the company should or could have their degreed and non-degreed employees earn. The short list includes IEEE's Certified Software Development Professional program, ISA's CAP program and its CCST for technicians, and SME's CMfgE.

We experience the world in analog. When you see something with your eyes, for example, that is an analog experience. Analog has its merits, but when you’re garnering data from a machine operation, the application will dictate whether to go analog or digital. We live in a digital society. Decisions often are made to install a digital solution without giving the analog solution consideration because we assume that the digital meter is more advanced. When obsolescence of components becomes an issue, it might be a perfect time to decide what sort of display is best for your application.

 Read our Real Answers article How Much Information Is Enough?

An industrial machine builder is thinking about upgrading to digital networks for communications among the controller, the I/O, sensors and maybe drives, but they're concerned about diagnosing network faults and monitoring network performance on the machine. Are there software and hardware tools they'll need to install directly on their machines? Which handheld tools can their techs and their customers’ techs use to check out digital networks? How much training should they expect their support personnel will need?

If there's one thing we've discovered about industrial machine builders' enclosure choices, it's this: They feel like they have no choices.

And they're not happy.

If you want custom panels, you're going to pay for custom panels. And you're going to like it.

If you are able to use off-the-shelf enclosures, then you're lucky. One company's packaging machines are custom designed for each application, so off-the-shelf enclosures won't even work.

Does anything exist that is a better alternative?

One of our readers has posed an interesting question about enclosure choices. His company's packaging machines are custom designed for each application, and in many cases they find that off-the-shelf enclosures won’t work. Although the major enclosure manufacturers tout the ability to build custom panels, they haven't been happy with the prices, delivery or service. Are there better alternatives?