Gartner Group is projecting that by the end of 2014 there will be 185 billion Apps! Just like all those 20 something App Developers, they are researching for the next killer Apps. So just what is the next frontier for these amazing widgets? We at Fishman® Corporation and many other companies such as BMW and Cognizant believe it is to be found on the factory floor.
It seems like such a natural progression; Apps for entertainment, then on to Apps for home convenience, next up were the App tools to use at work… Apps started with fun things; who amongst us has not empathized with Alec Baldwin and his Angry Birds addiction? They then trended to practical consumer uses such as instant flashlights, moving quickly on to Apps that make our work life easier. Being in Sales and working with Engineers, I know firsthand that these are so useful; Sales and Engineering The latest “wow“App is the incredible technology of this App announced last week, built right into our cars; “Partnering with Autonet Mobile provides a massive market opportunity to bring Internet Apps into the vehicle,” said Juergen Peters, regional president, Car Multimedia North America, Robert Bosch LLC. “Together, we’re enabling a whole world of applications that communicate with systems throughout the car – including the head unit, sensor networks and instrument clusters – to enhance the driving experience. Many of 
SmartDispenser® customers already have told us about what they want from our App store. Additionally, Fishman® customers in medical device assembly are well aware that their governing body, the FDA, is now approving all types of Apps for doctors and patients.
For example, a new mobile radiology application allows physicians to view medical images on Apple’s iPhone and iPad mobile devices. The medical device manufacturers are now investigating how Apps used in their manufacturing processes can help QC, QA and Process Engineers facilitate FDA validation and FDA audits.
SmartDispenser® customers in fiber optics are asking about training Apps for their factory floor workers. There is a real need these days in US manufacturing for skilled, technology savvy, trained workers. Carl Bass, President and CEO of Autodesk, which develops 3D design software for manufacturing, engineering, and entertainment, sees three key developments that will define the new manufacturing jobs: new materials, new processes, and complex integration of automated systems. Not only is it possible to use Apps for training via the SmartDispenser, but the SmartDispenser® actually has a video libary where customized training and daily set procedures can be viewed at the touch of the screen.
We welcome your suggestions for App fluid assembly solutions. Fishman® is committed to providing a fluid dispenser with all the tools for manufacturing in the 21st century ….and we all know that means we have to have Apps, Apps and more Apps…