(Rockwell Automation: Milwaukee) -- Rockwell Automation Inc., a company dedicated to industrial automation and digital transformation, has announced expanded integration capabilities for its Connected Worker solution from Plex, by Rockwell Automation. These advancements allow the Connected Worker solution to connect seamlessly across Rockwell applications and third-party systems, giving manufacturers a more unified way to address today’s workforce challenges.

Manufacturers continue to face critical workforce shortages. A recent survey shows that attracting employees with the desired skill sets is among the top five internal and external obstacles to growth. Respondents also cited a lack of skilled labor as the leading reason they expect to struggle to outpace competitors. In the last year since its launch, the Connected Worker solution has already helped manufacturers tackle these challenges by equipping frontline employees with guided instructions, real-time context, and digital collaboration tools.

“We now have embedded images as well as full tasks for work instructions. Previously it was just the wall of text, those barely getting reviewed,” says Christopher Giles Sr., IT ERP analyst at Recaro Automotive. “With Guided Work Instructions, I can rely on someone who’s been here five years or someone who’s been here a month. I should not be seeing a discrepancy in terms of what they’re doing, how they’re doing it, and the quality of things that they’re producing.”

“The Plex Connected Worker functionality has made an impressive impact across A.J. Rose operations, facilitating improvements like task ownership transparency, assignment efficiency, and issue resolution speed,” says Michael Hamulak, ERP analyst, A.J. Rose. “Teams are better aligned and workflows are smooth. The functionality’s Activity Manager played a direct role in supporting 7–8% OEE in the pressroom, as it keeps action items visible and responsibilities clear. This efficiency improvement translates to a higher profitability and plays an integral role in the company’s larger success.”

With edge-to-cloud interoperability within Rockwell applications such as FactoryTalk Optix and Fiix, as well as third-party manufacturing execution systems (MES) and enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems, the Connected Worker solution helps manufacturers:
• Recruit and retain talent by giving frontline employees modern digital tools that make work more intuitive and engaging
• Bridge skills gaps with real-time guidance and step-by-step work instructions so new employees can perform with the same confidence and quality as seasoned workers
• Preserve and transfer manufacturing knowledge by capturing best practices and processes before experienced employees retire
• Reduce complexity and total cost of ownership by consolidating systems, streamlining workflows, and lowering the number of tools workers must navigate

“Manufacturers need solutions that not only help their teams work smarter today but also position them for long-term success,” says Michael Masser, group product manager, Rockwell Automation. “By extending edge-to-cloud interoperability across Rockwell and third-party applications, we are giving manufacturers a unified way to support their people while streamlining operations. This is the heart of our elastic MES strategy—modular, scalable, and comprehensive—giving customers the flexibility to connect systems, adapt quickly, and thrive in an environment where workforce challenges remain the top priority.”

Learn more about Rockwell Automation’s Plex and its manufacturing solutions here.