amper blog

Doing more with less, part 1: Get total machine visibility

Manufacturers are all trying to do more with less. Measuring machine utilization is the foundation for improving efficiency without adding machines or people.

Chaos to control: How to master production planning

What does good production planning actually look like? It’s not about having a perfect schedule. It’s about having a system that gives you real-time visibility, can adapt to change, and ensures everyone is working from the same plan.

Recap: The High-Mix Plant’s Guide to Data-Driven Improvements

In our recent webinar, we broke down exactly how to use data to drive efficiency, profitability, and clarity in a high-mix environment.

What is an MES? Why is Amper redefining it (and what does that mean)?

If you’re in manufacturing, you’ve probably heard the term MES thrown around. What actually is an MES? Do you really need one? And why is Amper "redefining" it?

Q1 2025 product updates: What’s new

As we head into Q2, we're excited to share an overview of the product improvements we rolled out in Q1. This post covers several impactful quality-of-life updates designed to make Amper more intuitive and powerful for your plant.

Amper announces leadership evolution to accelerate growth and innovation

Cofounder Akshat Thirani to step into new role as Founder & President, Brad Bullington appointed CEO.

How to identify and eliminate low-margin work

Manufacturers often focus on keeping machines running, assuming that more production equals more profit. But what if some of those jobs are actually costing your business money?

Manufacturing in the age of AI, part 4: The barriers to AI adoption

While AI adoption is growing in other industries, only 8.2% of manufacturers are actively scaling it today. What’s stopping the industry from taking the leap? And more importantly, how can manufacturers push past these barriers?

Manufacturing in the age of AI, part 3: Why AI adoption must happen now

The manufacturers who embrace AI now will see immediate and compounding benefits. Those who hesitate will struggle to keep up (or may never catch up). Keep reading to see why the time to act is now.

Manufacturing in the age of AI, part 2: The trends separating leaders from stragglers

AI is already a transformative force in manufacturing. Keep reading to see where the industry stands today, what trends emerged from our latest survey, and what we might expect in the years ahead.

Webinar Recap: Redefining the MES in the Era of AI

Manufacturing is evolving fast, and AI is reshaping how companies track, plan, execute, and improve operations. In this webinar recap, we explore why traditional MES systems fall short, how AI-powered solutions simplify manufacturing, and what steps you can take to stay ahead. Read more to learn how a modern MES can drive real-time efficiency and continuous improvement.

Manufacturing in the age of AI, part 1: Industry leaders share their skepticism

The AI hype is real, and it’s everywhere. But is it really all just hype? Or is there real potential here?

2024 Recap: The Year Amper Rewrote the Rules for the MES

In 2024, Amper redefined what it means to empower manufacturers by launching Amper FactoryOS: a reimagined MES. Discover all the new innovations designed to help manufacturers thrive.

Amper Welcomes Dustin Deno as Chief Revenue Officer

Amper is excited to bring on board Dustin Deno as its new Chief Revenue Officer (CRO).

How to Use AI-Powered Production Planning and Scheduling

A production planning and scheduling tool helps you keep everything on track, meet customer demands, and optimize your shop floor’s efficiency. 

Amper Named Hendrick Motorsports' Official MES Partner

Hendrick Motorsports names Amper its official MES partner to collaborate on better efficiency and performance.

IMTS 2024 Recap

This year, we were excited to roll out some new features that show how committed we are to making life easier for manufacturers.

Fabtech 2024: Insider's Guide

Planning for Fabtech 2024? Explore this guide for recommendations on what to do at the event and afterward.

IMTS 2024: Insider's Guide

Planning for IMTS 2024? Explore this guide for recommendations on what to do at the event and afterward.

3 Ways to Tap Into Hidden Capacity

Every manufacturer’s biggest goal is also the biggest challenge—how do you do more with less? There are three key moves to reclaim wasted production time: understand your real baselines, reset your expectations, and tackle your biggest downtime drivers.

How to Make Data-Driven Operational Decisions 

Whether you're managing a small shop or a large manufacturing plant, the ability to make the right calls swiftly can significantly impact your operations, making them smoother and more profitable. 

The Difference Between Amper and an ERP System

Amper can work alongside your existing ERP system to help you get the most out of your data. Learn the difference between Amper and your ERP, as well as the benefits of integrating them.

How to Increase Production Throughput Without Hiring More People

How can manufacturers address labor-related challenges and enhance their operations without the burden of additional hiring resources? Let's explore some common manufacturing labor issues and potential solutions.

How to Meet On-Time Delivery Targets Every Time

On-time delivery can make or break a manufacturer's customer relationship. See how Amper FactoryOS helps you stay on track.

The Secret to Meeting Every Production Goal

In the world of manufacturing, hitting production goals is crucial for a successful business. Let’s talk about what standards are and how to solve discrepancies, so you can start hitting all your goals.

Amper CEO Introduces the New Amper FactoryOS® | Live in Chicago

We’re thrilled to share with you the launch of our latest evolution: Amper FactoryOS.

9 Takeaways from the Amper FactoryOS Virtual Launch

Last week, we unveiled the product evolution we’ve been working on for years: the world’s first FactoryOS. Here are the nine most important things you need to know about the Amper FactoryOS.

Amper Unveils the FactoryOS

Machine monitoring is no longer enough to put manufacturers ahead. The new Amper FactoryOS offers a single platform to seamlessly integrate and interpret data from across the shop floor.

Building the Next Generation of Factories

Legacy industrial technology is broken. It does not live up to the intensity, volatility, or competition that manufacturers face today. Manufacturers deserve better—so Amper is uprooting traditional and siloed approaches to industrial software.

How to Avoid Production Disasters: The Key to Stopping Issues Before It's Too Late

Every second counts! We probably don’t need to tell you that any unexpected production hiccup can be quite costly. Let’s talk about how to avoid that.

Introducing Target Tracker: Meet Your Production Goals with Confidence

With the release of Target Tracker, Amper customers can get insight into their hot jobs and never worry about missing a deadline again. Learn more and take a tour of the feature!

What Manufacturers Are Saying in 2023

We asked our customers what they thought about current trends in labor, finances, and more—as well as how they're adopting their business strategies.

Amper Introduces Manufacturing Is Sexy

Your Guide to EASTEC 2023

Explore some of the can't-miss sessions happening at EASTEC this year!

The Amper Way: What Guides Our New Approach

The Amper Way is built on 5 key pillars that guide our approach to manufacturers’ digital transformation. Read more about them in this blog.

The Amper Way, Part 5: How to Break Down Silos and Evolve Your Operations

Read more about Phase 5 of the Amper Way, which focuses on eliminating double data entry and building a more accurate maintenance program.

The Amper Way, Part 4: Use OEE to Uncover Production Losses and Opportunities

Read more about Phase 4 of the Amper Way, which focuses on monitoring production output and understanding OEE (Overall Equipment Effectiveness).

The Amper Way, Part 3: How to Determine Workplace Efficiency and Boost Performance

Read more about Phase 3 of the Amper Way, which focuses on tracking paid labor and recognizing performance.

The Amper Way, Part 2: How Context Gives Your Data More Power

Read more about Phase 2 of the Amper Way, which focuses on adding context to your data to increase capacity and efficiency.

The Amper Way, Part 1: Why Machine Utilization Data Is Crucial

Wish you could adopt new technology with a guarantee for success? The Amper Way makes that possible. Read more about Phase 1: Measuring true utilization.

Amper Launches the Amper Way: A New Approach to Shop Floor Digitization

Amper has launched a guided, flexible approach to technology implementation that breaks down the adoption process into five easy-to-implement phases. Learn more!

How Much Does Manufacturing Automation Cost?

Discover the cost of manufacturing automation and the factors affecting it. Get a clear understanding of the expenses involved with automation!

Your Guide to PMTS 2023 and Downtown Cleveland

Attending PMTS? This is the must-do, must-eat, and must-drink of Cleveland. Oh, and some tips about the show, of course.

Everything You Need to Know About Machine Utilization

Understanding machine utilization is key to improving capacity and operations so you can produce more and see higher profits.

How to Use a Slowdown to Take On Lean Projects

Learn the key steps for successfully implementing lean manufacturing projects during a slow quarter for optimized efficiency and improved results.

Manufacturing Is Sexy: A Misunderstood Field of Opportunity

The manufacturing industry is greatly misunderstood. Here's why we should celebrate it and encourage young people to consider careers in manufacturing.

Understanding the 5S Lean Manufacturing Principles

The 5 S of lean manufacturing are sort, straighten, shine, standardize and sustain. Find out more here.

4 Types of Kaizen and How To Implement Kaizen in Your Workflow

Kaizen is a Japanese word that together translates to “good change.” Learn about the kaizen lean methodology and how to implement it here.

Industry 4.0: Smart Manufacturing Explained

Industry 4.0 is changing the way factories improve and distribute their products. Find out more about smart manufacturing here.

Lean Management: Understanding the Toyota Production Principles

Toyota Production Systems is an integrated socio-technical management system designed to eliminate production waste. Find out more here.

What Is ERP Integration? Discover the Top Tools, Benefits and Methods

The objective of any ERP integration is to share data across systems to raise productivity and reduce time-consuming manual work. Learn more here.

Your Guide to FABTECH 2022—and Downtown Atlanta!

Planning for FABTECH 2022? Explore this guide for recommendations on what to do at the event and after hours.

The Powerful Benefits of Machine Monitoring

Machine monitoring is the process of extracting, storing, and displaying machine data in an industrial context. Read the 6 key steps to implement it.

Leadership Meets Machine Monitoring: 3 Takeaways From PBC Linear’s Executive VP on MakingChips

How can machine monitoring make you a better leader and drive business growth? Find out in this MakingChips episode with PBC Linear's Exec VP and Amper CEO

The Insider's Guide to IMTS 2022

Planning for IMTS 2022? Explore this guide for recommendations on what to do at the event and after hours.

What Is Preventive Maintenance?

Preventive maintenance (PM) prolongs the lifespan of a company’s assets, equipment, and infrastructure by adjusting or repairing parts. Find out more here.

What is Discrete Manufacturing?

Discrete manufacturing is the process of producing distinct products. Get the details, examples, and advantages in this post.

6 Root Cause Analysis Tools & How To Use Them

Root cause analysis is all about finding the origin of a problem so you can come up with the best solutions. Learn about the different root cause analysis tools here.

Time study 101: Overview, steps, and best practices

Are you having trouble managing your production line? If so, a time study analysis could be the answer. Explore how to use this scientific management tool for key insights.

5 Types of Manufacturing Processes You Should Know About

There are five types of manufacturing processes: repetitive, discrete, job shop, continuous, and batch manufacturing.

The Ultimate Gemba Walk Checklist

Discover the key elements of a successful Gemba Walk with our comprehensive Gemba Walk Checklist. Improve your process improvement method with our expert tips.

5 Lean Principles & How To Implement Them Within Your Factory

Lean manufacturing can optimize your warehouse operations. Find out how to implement lean manufacturing here.

SMART Factory 101: What Is a Smart Factory & What Are the Benefits?

A SMART factory is a digitized manufacturing facility that uses connected devices. In this overview, we’ll break down the benefits and SMART tools.

8 Manufacturing Skills To Master and How To Own the Skills Gap

Has your team mastered these eight important manufacturing skills? Keep reading to help your team become more effective and overcome the manufacturing skills gap.

Cycle Time vs. Lead Time: What Do These Metrics Tell You?

Cycle time vs. lead time: Understand the difference, optimize production, reduce costs, and boost customer satisfaction. Learn more now.

Manufacturing Efficiency: How To Measure and Improve Production

Your business reaches optimal efficiency when it operates at the lowest possible production costs. Find out how to improve manufacturing efficiency here.

The Ultimate Lead Time Guide for Manufacturers

Lead time is the time between the initiation and completion of a production process. Here’s everything you need to know about lead time and how to reduce it.

Asset Utilization: How To Calculate It, Key Metrics, and More

Asset utilization is the accurate measure of how effectively you are using your equipment to generate value. Find out more here.

What Is Low-Volume Manufacturing?

Low-volume manufacturing is a specialized service that offers complete, production-quality parts but at much higher volumes. Find out more here.

8 Ways To Improve OEE in Your Factory

Improving OEE in your factory can help you identify, monitor, and reduce production losses in your organization and ensure that you are able to operate at maximum efficiency.

OEE Calculation: Why It’s an Important KPI & How To Calculate It

There are two main ways to calculate OEE. Find out how to do it and learn how it helps you optimize your manufacturing processes here.

17 Essential Manufacturing KPIs Your Factory Should Be Tracking

Manufacturing KPIs are metrics that help you understand how your business is performing and make faster, more impactful changes. Here are the ones to watch.

Amper CEO Reflects on Path to Series A

Amper CEO, Akshat Thirani, reflects on the company's $11M Series A journey and thanks those who played a part.

Amper raises $11M Series A

Amper raises $11M Series A to empower manufacturers to digitize their operations with consumerized IoT solutions. Learn more about the raise and how Amper expects to grow.

Amper Customer Success Story: How ASH Industries Saves $1.5M per Year

Find out how plastics manufacturer, ASH Industries, saved over $1M by leveraging Amper data.

50 Essential Manufacturing Terms

Manufacturing terms can be difficult to keep up with. From ISO 9000 to Industry 4.0 to CAPA, this glossary will help you stay up to date with the latest manufacturing jargon.

The Ultimate Guide To Manufacturing Automation

Manufacturing automation helps manufacturers increase production by automating repetitive tasks with the use of advanced technologies. Read our guide to learn about the types, tools, and benefits.

Machine Maintenance: The #1 Way for Manufacturers to Improve Equipment Longevity and Reliability

Learn why machine maintenance ensures that machines and equipment are operational and safe to mitigate downtime and prevent unnecessary wear and tear.

Manufacturing Analytics: How Manufacturers Can Benefit From Data Analytics

Learn how manufacturing analytics can help improve performance, increase output, reduce costs, and optimize supply chains.

A Quick Overview of Manufacturing Capacity Utilization

Learn about capacity utilization in manufacturing, how it's measured and how to boost your own capacity utilization.

Demand Forecasting: How to Predict Future Demand for Products and Services

Demand forecasting uses historical data to help businesses predict customer demand for products and services in the future. Learn how it’s done.

Manufacturing Capacity Planning: The Key to Production Control

Manufacturing capacity planning is a process that helps companies forecast production capacity to avoid bottlenecks and satisfy demand. Learn more here.

9 Real-Life Lean Manufacturing Examples

Lean Manufacturing allows companies to better optimize processes, reduce waste, and speed up production times. We've compiled a list of nine examples for you to get started.

8 Common Lean Manufacturing Waste Types

Learn to identify 8 common lean waste types and tools to reduce waste wherever you see it — helping you improve efficiency and productivity.

Production Capacity: What Is it and How Can You Improve It?

Increasing production capacity is a major goal for manufacturers, but to raise production capacity, you first need to understand and calculate it.

Enhance Your Factory With These 12 Lean Manufacturing Techniques

Lean manufacturing can help your factory reduce waste. Discover a variety of helpful lean manufacturing techniques here.

A Helpful Guide on the Lean Manufacturing Process

Learn what the lean manufacturing process is and the benefits of a successful lean manufacturing process.

13 Best Lean Manufacturing Books

Interested in learning more about lean manufacturing? Here are 13 books that can provide a great introduction or deepen your understanding.

5 Lean Manufacturing Tools To Implement in Your Workflow

Learn everything you need to know about lean manufacturing tools and how to implement them here.

A Competitive Edge: The Principles of Lean Manufacturing

Many factories have adopted the lean manufacturing process — learn about the five guiding principles and see examples here.

Lean Manufacturing: A Definitive Guide

Learn what lean manufacturing is, the benefits of using it, and how it can help you with scaling your business.

Why the Manufacturing Industry Should Embrace SaaS-based Pricing Models

Learn about the benefits of SaaS-based pricing models for manufacturers and why your factory should consider it.

Why Now's the Time for Manufacturers to Embrace Industry 4.0

When your shop adopts industry 4.0, you can improve your real-time productivity and overall agility. Learn why now is the time to adopt industry 4.0 here.

Michael Abbott, Plant Manager of GPP, Shares How He Maximizes Uptime and Utilization

If you're using shop floor data like OEE or downtime to improve your operations—make sure to read these key insights from one leading factory’s journey.

How to Label Machine Downtime and Create Accountability with Teams Using Amper

Here's a few easy steps to help you start holding your managers accountable for machine downtime using Amper’s system.

5 Can't-Miss Things to See & Do at the PMPA National Technical Conference & PMTS 2021

Are you attending PMTS 2021 in August? Stop by Amper's booth to grab some free Amper swag and see a free demo of our machine monitoring software.

5 Best Practices for Setting Your Machine Monitoring System up for Success

In Amper's newest whitepaper, we'll walk you through five proven best practices to get the most from your OEE tracking system.

Evaluating Machine Monitoring: Why Ease of Implementation Should Matter to Your Whole Team

Learn how a good machine monitoring system can help measure machine uptime and downtime and even reveal why that dreaded downtime is occurring.

Elevate Your Factory: How to Hire and Develop Manufacturing Talent in 2022

Read this article to learn what makes manufacturing recruiting so tough, proven solutions for hiring success, and how to get the most from new talent.

Top 5 KPI Dashboards Every Manufacturer Needs

We’ve compiled a list of the top five KPI dashboards every manufacturer needs to monitor in order to plan and manage wisely.