Mazak Corporation recently named MEMEX Inc., the data-driven manufacturing technology vendor of the industrial-strength shop-floor-to-top-floor communications platform MERLIN, to its exclusive Value Inspired Partner (VIP) program. The announcement comes at a time when Mazak is paving the way in digital resource productivity via its Mazak iSMART Factory™ concept, an all-encompassing vision that harnesses the power of connectivity to optimize manufacturing operations at every level.
Mazak selects VIP partners that share its same forward-thinking approach to manufacturing. According to Brian Papke, president of Mazak Corporation, MEMEX makes the perfect VIP because Mazak knows first-hand how the company can help create factories of the future today. And, like Mazak, MEMEX believes in continuous innovation, boosting manufacturing productivity via digital interconnectedness and helping customers achieve the best possible competitive advantage.
MERLIN plays a critical role in the Mazak iSMART Factory™ concept by allowing Mazak to monitor its productivity and overall equipment effectiveness metrics from anywhere in real-time. The MTConnect® open communications protocol works in conjunction with MERLIN to harvest the data from all the different production floor machines, cells, devices and processes.
As a VIP partner, MEMEX will continue to collaborate with Mazak on ways to continue to transform its Mazak iSMART Factory™. The two companies will also work together to make data-driven manufacturing highly accessible to Mazak customers. This is especially beneficial in a time when talk of smart machines, in-depth software analytics and IIoT is giving rise to a new generation of innovative technologies that will transform the manufacturing paradigm within the next decade.
David McPhail, president and CEO of MEMEX said, “We are very excited to have been selected by Mazak to join its VIP program and see it as a great opportunity to collectively enhance the productivity and profitability of Mazak customers through the adoption of the Mazak iSMART Factory™ initiative. We believe that the Mazak iSMART Factory™ concept is the next logical step in the evolution of data-driven manufacturing, enabling the factory of the future – today.”
Launched in 2010 to provide customers with total manufacturing solutions, the Mazak VIP program brings together leading producers of complementary technologies for Mazak machines to create more innovative products and turnkey processes.
By collaborating on R&D and integration efforts, the VIP program fosters a high level of cooperation and technological integration that moves well beyond individual pieces of equipment. The program also fuels development of comprehensive training solutions for manufacturers across all market segments.