Such tracking—a vitally important metric—allows fabricators to not only fill the gap in the short term, but find and ultimately correct defect issues.

Decisions via Data Analysis

“In the long term, a fabricator must know the nature of the defect, where in the work center the defect occurs, how frequently it occurs and more,” Chakraborty says. “Tracking provides live part information as well as information that stores in a database. From here, analytics software must analyze the data and present it in a format that allows action by the fabricator.”

Proper analysis allows fabricators to make strategic decisions.

“Suppose that more defects occur in laser machine A versus laser machine B—why is that?” he asks. “Perhaps higher-powered machine A produces nanojoints that allow simpler part removal from a sheet and less rejections, while lower-kW machine B produces microjoints that make part removal more difficult, hence more rejections. What’s the solution? High-investment solutions may include replacing the lower-powered laser or adding a secondary operation, or investing in manpower or training.”

The point: ERP gives the orders, MES executes the orders, nesting software optimizes the manufacturing process and data analytics ties everything together to find and solves issues. When working in concert, these systems make fabrication work cells quite formidable. But working in concert requires smooth communication across machines, automation, systems and software. The ability to do so concerns Chakraborty.

“The machinery and automation in such a work cell may be from one or from multiple vendors,” he says, “but it’s not just about the hardware anymore. Communication is key between all of these components.”

Otherwise, the cell is just a bunch of standalone machines unable to harness the power of integration and proper data analytics.

Technologies Must Talk to Each Other

The smart setups we see today predominately source from single vendors, Chakraborty offers.

“That’s due to integration gaps between various systems,” he says. “ERP doesn’t always talk to line control, line control doesn’t talk to nesting, nesting doesn’t talk to MES—very important for fabricator end users to understand. Integration and data can cause bottlenecks.”

As technology providers consistently update integrated hardware offerings, Chakraborty hopes to see them also begin focusing on integrated systems from the software side. By this he means open architecture. He cites the advent of third-party nesting and related software that had allowed fabricators to install laser cutting machines from various makers that run under a single software umbrella.

“Every technology has an Application Programming Interface (API) and the ability to output certain file types,” Chakraborty says, noting that Lantek, for example, works with these APIs and file types to create a common background that eases integration. “Today, we are working on projects involving automation and work centers of various machine and automation brands. Tomorrow, when we see a storage tower from one vendor teamed with a laser cutting machine from another, we’ll be ready.”

While fabricators can select work center components from various vendors, it’s an extremely difficult proposition. Chakraborty puts the onus on machine, automation and software vendors a well as integrators to unite for a solution that gives end users opportunities to fashion custom solutions more easily. As we’ve seen, highly automated multi-process work centers are here, and we’ll see just how their communication capabilities evolve. MF

For more on smart-fabrication technologies, you’ll want to attend MetalForming’s inaugural Metal Fabrication Technology Summit, November 18-19, 2025, in Chicago/Northbrook, IL. Visit for details and to register.

See also: TRUMPF Inc., Lantek Systems Inc.

Technologies: Bending, CNC Punching, Cutting

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