It took 40 years, but we now know that hot dogs and apple pie aren't the only things baseball and automakers (and their suppliers) have in common. Another thing is enterprise resource planning (ERP) software, which gathers and disseminates critical management information across an entire organization.

Nothing embodied the freedom of the 1960s better than a sports car. Italian automaker Alfa Romeo (AR) understood this, and in 1962 introduced its first four-door compact executive car: the Guilia.

Keeping workers safe is a daily challenge for every manufacturer, particularly those that operate one or more automated assembly lines. To achieve this goal, many companies make sure their machines are equipped with sensor-based safety components that meet ANSI, ISO, ISA and OSHA standards.

Designing a medical device or consumer product can take a long time. Designing an automated assembly system for those products shouldn’t add any more. Starting with a standardized assembly platform can reduce engineering time and get the product to market faster.