“That’s so 27 seconds ago.” My daughter and I recently heard this catch phrase on a television commercial. We had a good laugh because there was some truth to it. We are living in a world of real-time updates, and it does not stop at news and social media. It extends to all facets of our lives.

In many ways, the fast-paced information age of the 21st century has added new demands on our attention, and shortened our attention spans. Did you know the parade scene in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off runs for more than 6 minutes? That final cut would be unheard of in a movie today.

Looking beyond its negative influence on society, real-time feedback can be incredibly beneficial when you consider its effect on manufacturing. Real-time information enables timely decision-making, streamlines processes, and dramatically reduces costs.

 …