Design World

  • Home
  • Technologies
    • ELECTRONICS • ELECTRICAL
    • Fastening • joining
    • FLUID POWER
    • LINEAR MOTION
    • MOTION CONTROL
    • SENSORS
    • TEST & MEASUREMENT
    • Factory automation
    • Warehouse automation
    • DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION
  • Learn
    • Tech Toolboxes
    • Learning center
    • eBooks • Tech Tips
    • Podcasts
    • Videos
    • Webinars • general engineering
    • Webinars • Automated warehousing
    • Voices
  • LEAP Awards
  • 2025 Leadership
    • 2024 Winners
    • 2023 Winners
    • 2022 Winners
    • 2021 Winners
  • Design Guides
  • Resources
    • Subscribe
    • 3D Cad Models
      • PARTsolutions
      • TraceParts
    • Digital Issues
      • Design World
      • EE World
    • Engineering diversity
    • Trends
  • Supplier Listings
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe

April 2016 issue: CAD-in-the-cloud, stepper motor or servomotor + more

By Paul Heney | April 13, 2016

In this issue:

92 3D CAD
CAD-in-the-cloud moves closer to real-time sharing

60 MOTION CONTROL
Stepper motor or servomotor: Which should it be?

72 LINEAR MOTION
As the screw turns

80 PNEUMATICS
The heart of your compressed air system


 

The magic of change

By Paul Heney
 
Paul HeneyYou know that change has to be a big thing, if only by the measure of how many clichés there are about it. The reality is that change happens in all aspects of our lives, and there’s no doubt that it will affect engineering and manufacturing in the years to come.

At last month’s National Fluid Power Association annual conference, Scott Klososky gave a talk on how technology is changing the world. If you stop to think about some of the changes we’ve seen over the past few years in society and consumer businesses, it’s pretty incredible. One out of six marriages comes through online dating sites. Many people you know have probably bought from Amazon, but I’ll bet not one of them has actually ever spoken to someone at Amazon. Apple is the #1 music retailer and they have no music stores. Uber is the world’s largest taxi company, and it doesn’t own a single taxi. Facebook could be considered the world’s largest content company, and they generate none of it themselves. Airbnb is the largest hotelier today and it owns no real estate. Klososky thinks that banking and insurance will be the next two industries to see some major upheaval in how they do business.

Can industry be far behind? Automation is constantly changing things in our world, and some are guessing that within the next two decades, 35% of the jobs done by humans will be taken over by either software or robots.
Klososky said that companies need to decide how they should balance humans and technology. A customer-centered business needs to employ more people than one that is selling more of a commodity item. And leaders in each company need to start thinking strategically now, before their competitors use tech to pass them up.

First, ask how you think the world will be different in five years. How will customers be different? Technology? Regulations? Anything else that affects your business? Next, brainstorm with your colleagues what the top three trends will be at a 30,000-ft level, as well as the top three in your industry level, and the top three on a local level. Once you’re looking at this collected information, it becomes easier to decide how you’re going to have to invest in people, product and processes to address these impacts on your business.

If you act now, the coming change doesn’t need to be scary—it can be a positive for both your company and career.

You Might Also Like


Filed Under: DIGITAL ISSUES • DESIGN WORLD, Motors • stepper

 

About The Author

Paul Heney

Paul J. Heney, the VP, Editorial Director for Design World magazine, has a BS in Engineering Science & Mechanics and minors in Technical Communications and Biomedical Engineering from Georgia Tech. He has written about fluid power, aerospace, robotics, medical, green engineering, and general manufacturing topics for more than 25 years. He has won numerous regional and national awards for his writing from the American Society of Business Publication Editors.

LEARNING CENTER

Design World Learning Center
“dw
EXPAND YOUR KNOWLEDGE AND STAY CONNECTED
Get the latest info on technologies, tools and strategies for Design Engineering Professionals.
Motor University

Design World Digital Edition

cover

Browse the most current issue of Design World and back issues in an easy to use high quality format. Clip, share and download with the leading design engineering magazine today.

EDABoard the Forum for Electronics

Top global problem solving EE forum covering Microcontrollers, DSP, Networking, Analog and Digital Design, RF, Power Electronics, PCB Routing and much more

EDABoard: Forum for electronics

Sponsored Content

  • Sustainability, Innovation and Safety, Central to Our Approach
  • Why off-highway is the sweet spot for AC electrification technology
  • Looking to 2025: Past Success Guides Future Achievements
  • North American Companies Seek Stronger Ties with Italian OEMs
  • Adapt and Evolve
  • Sustainable Practices for a Sustainable World
View More >>
Engineering Exchange

The Engineering Exchange is a global educational networking community for engineers.

Connect, share, and learn today »

Design World
  • About us
  • Contact
  • Manage your Design World Subscription
  • Subscribe
  • Design World Digital Network
  • Control Engineering
  • Consulting-Specifying Engineer
  • Plant Engineering
  • Engineering White Papers
  • Leap Awards

Copyright © 2025 WTWH Media LLC. All Rights Reserved. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of WTWH Media
Privacy Policy | Advertising | About Us

Search Design World

  • Home
  • Technologies
    • ELECTRONICS • ELECTRICAL
    • Fastening • joining
    • FLUID POWER
    • LINEAR MOTION
    • MOTION CONTROL
    • SENSORS
    • TEST & MEASUREMENT
    • Factory automation
    • Warehouse automation
    • DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION
  • Learn
    • Tech Toolboxes
    • Learning center
    • eBooks • Tech Tips
    • Podcasts
    • Videos
    • Webinars • general engineering
    • Webinars • Automated warehousing
    • Voices
  • LEAP Awards
  • 2025 Leadership
    • 2024 Winners
    • 2023 Winners
    • 2022 Winners
    • 2021 Winners
  • Design Guides
  • Resources
    • Subscribe
    • 3D Cad Models
      • PARTsolutions
      • TraceParts
    • Digital Issues
      • Design World
      • EE World
    • Engineering diversity
    • Trends
  • Supplier Listings
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
We use cookies to personalize content and ads, to provide social media features, and to analyze our traffic. We share information about your use of our site with our social media, advertising, and analytics partners who may combine it with other information you’ve provided to them or that they’ve collected from your use of their services. You consent to our cookies if you continue to use this website.OkNoRead more