Engineering notes
Practical notes on automation, AI, machine vision, IoT, and the systems engineering that ties them together. No hype, numbers where we have them.
Machine Vision8 min
Computer vision in food and beverage manufacturing: fill level inspection, label and date-code checks, washdown-rated hardware, and realistic costs.
Industrial Automation8 min
The seven factory dashboard metrics that actually change behavior on the floor, where the data comes from, and which vanity numbers to leave off.
Engineering7 min
How to choose a systems integrator: questions that reveal competence, from acceptance testing and documentation to who actually does the engineering.
Engineering7 min
A build vs. buy decision framework for industrial software: total cost of ownership, customization limits, and when custom development actually wins.
Industrial Automation8 min
How to cut manufacturing energy costs with real monitoring: submetering, CT sensors, demand charges, and the fixes that pay back in under a year.
AI & Automation9 min
AI agents vs. RPA explained: why RPA bots break, where LLM agents with review gates win, and a practical rule for choosing between them in 2026.
Industrial Automation7 min
Digital transformation for small manufacturers, minus the consulting deck: where to start, what to skip, and a practical sequence that pays as it goes.
Machine Vision8 min
A practical checklist for building an automated quality inspection program: defect libraries, lighting studies, hardware selection, costs, and rollout.
IoT & Edge8 min
PLC vs. edge computer for automation projects: scan-cycle determinism, Linux flexibility, environmental ratings, and how to decide which runs what.
Industrial Automation8 min
MES vs. custom software for small manufacturers: what an MES actually does, honest cost ranges, and when custom software is the better fit for your plant.
Industrial Automation8 min
Machine monitoring ROI, worked step by step: downtime cost per hour, hardware and install costs, and a hypothetical payback example with stated assumptions.
Industrial Automation8 min
Industrial AI explained in plain English: what it is, where it actually works in manufacturing, realistic costs, and how small plants should start.
