Articles
The Lead
Ten Commandments of Industrial Ethernet
May 16, 2013 | by Mike Fahrion, Director of Product Management, B&B Electronics | Comments
From network security to documentation to IP address protocol and siloing of information, this list of 10 "commandments" will keep your network strong, secure and functional and should be front-of-mind for information technology professionals and plant managers alike.
100% Lean Beans
May 9, 2013 9:16 am | by Anna Wells, Executive Editor, IMPO | Comments
Starbucks' Carson Valley roasting facility won the 2012 Association for Manufacturing Excellence...
Q&A: Maintaining a U.S. Manufacturing Presence
May 8, 2013 12:23 pm | by Lindsey Jahn, Associate Editor | Comments
Food Manufacturing spoke with Roger Kilmer of the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (...
Food Safety Update: Laboratory Testing
May 8, 2013 9:23 am | by Krystal Gabert, Editor | Comments
The Food Safety Update section of Food Manufacturing is designed to offer our readers...
Attracting Talent: A Lesson in Battling Perception
May 17, 2013 11:08 am | by Maria Ferrante, Vice President, Education & Workforce Development, PMMI | CommentsFood manufacturers and other processors face many challenges when seeking to place young professionals in engaging, stable positions that require strong mechatronics skills and problem-solving capabilities as well as backgrounds in math and science.
Cheaper Equipment Isn’t Always Less Expensive
May 17, 2013 9:11 am | by Carol Thorsen, Wynright Corporation | CommentsThe difference between shopping at a general site and one that specializes in warehouse and industrial equipment and supplies is that with the latter you can explain what you need, ask questions and ensure that when the products are delivered they’ll actually work in your application.
Labor Productivity & Global Competiveness
May 16, 2013 9:22 am | by Simon Macpherson, Senior Director Operations, Kronos EMEA | CommentsWith tremendous price competition from developing countries and a world where products can be replicated across the globe and transported with ease, manufactures need to look at every aspect of their operations for competitive advantage and productivity improvements.
The Hidden Cost of Summer Heat
May 15, 2013 11:37 am | by Megan Browning, Big Ass Fans | CommentsUncomfortable working conditions lead to heat-related illnesses and decreased productivity, which negatively affect the bottom line of the business. When working conditions become distracting and debilitating to workers, personal comfort must be addressed to regain lost productivity.
Five Reasons to Adopt a PLM System
May 15, 2013 9:17 am | by Chuck Cimalore, CTO and Co-founder, Omnify Software | CommentsThe availability of PLM systems specifically designed for the small to mid-size market has helped to alleviate concerns and opened a door for Small to Mid-size Manufacturing Businesses (SMBs) to be able to take advantage of PLM, and realize the same benefits as their larger counterparts.
What Food Manufacturers Need From MRO for a Reliable Plant
May 14, 2013 11:47 am | by George Krauter, Vice President, Storeroom Solutions | CommentsThere are maintenance, repair and operations surveys that show that “quick response and product knowledge” combine for over 75 percent of what was important to plant management; price is less than 8 percent of the consideration and fulfillment programs just 3 percent.
Don’t Give in to Bird Activity at Your Facility
May 14, 2013 9:18 am | by Patrick T. Copps, MS, B.C.E., Technical Services Manager, Orkin, LLC | CommentsBirdwatching is an activity that fascinates people; it gives avid fans a chance to relax outdoors while watching birds react with each other in their natural habitats. But around your facility, there should be little to no bird activity, as birds can wreak havoc on your property and products.
Is the U.S. Ready to Take Manufacturing Back?
May 13, 2013 12:18 pm | by Patrick Van den Bossche, Pramod Gupta, Hector Gutierrez, Chui Lee — A.T. Kearney | CommentsWord on the street is that substantial portions of previously offshored manufacturing operations are due to return to the United States. A number of macroeconomic factors seem to have tipped the balance in favor of domestic manufacturing.
The Devil is in the Metrics
May 13, 2013 9:12 am | by Alan Nicol, Executive Member, AlanNicolSolutions | CommentsMetrics will drive behavior. Our goal is to identify or create metrics that deliberately drive desired behavior. Consider the practice of using Corrective Action Reports (CARs) to identify and track process “escapes” or problems that result in undesired outcomes.
Brainstorm: Instrumentation (Part II)
May 10, 2013 12:02 pm | by Shannon Foos, Segment Manager, Process Network Connectivity and Asset Management, Rockwell Automation | CommentsThe Food Manufacturing Brainstorm features industry experts sharing their perspectives on issues critical to the overall food industry marketplace. In this issue, we ask: How can accurate instrumentation increase efficiency in food processing plants?
Reducing Total Packaging Cost, Automatically
May 10, 2013 9:16 am | by John King, Food Equipment Director, North America, Sealed Air Corporation, Cryovac Food Packaging Division | CommentsEfficient operations at processing facilities are more critical than ever if meat product manufacturers are to remain profitable. Fortunately, advancements in packaging machinery and the potential for automation resulting from these innovations can play a pivotal role in enhancing efficiency for meat processing operations.
Brainstorm: Instrumentation (Part I)
May 9, 2013 11:15 am | by Tim Freeman, Managing Director, Freeman Technology | CommentsThe Food Manufacturing Brainstorm features industry experts sharing their perspectives on issues critical to the overall food industry marketplace. In this issue, we ask: How can accurate instrumentation increase efficiency in food processing plants?
A Cut Above the Rest
May 7, 2013 12:11 pm | by Krystal Gabert, Editor | CommentsTucked away in Pascoag, R.I., Daniele, Inc. is using innovative technology to extend shelf-life, ensure food safety and expand the reach of its sausage and cured meat products to a growing base of consumers. The company has been making sausages in the region for nearly 40 years. But its roots stretch much farther.
Throw the Pilot Out
May 6, 2013 12:19 pm | by Alan Nicol, Executive Member, AlanNicolSolutions | CommentsI know that I have written about this before, but maybe not so explicitly.Program pilots are booby traps, doomed to fail, generally speaking.There is a simple reason for it.Change, real, observable, meaningful change requires conviction and commitment.
Practical Advice for Virtualizing Your Manufacturing Applications
May 6, 2013 9:19 am | by Frank Hill, Director of Manufacturing Business Development, Stratus Technologies | CommentsVirtualization, the practice of using a software layer to let one physical computing server run multiple applications on virtual machines, enables manufacturers to maximize their return on hardware investments while conserving precious real estate on the plant floor.
Creating Better Jobs for Manufacturing’s Comeback
May 3, 2013 12:14 pm | by Ray Attiyah, Founder and Chief Innovation Officer, Definity Partners | CommentsScan through the business section of the news, and you’re likely to see stories about the resurgence of U.S. manufacturing, about how companies are moving jobs back to the United States because of the rising cost of manufacturing in (and shipping to and from) China.
Refurbish Food Manufacturing Machines for Increased Food Safety
May 2, 2013 12:19 pm | by Bob Shapiro, CEO, GSC Packaging | CommentsFood processing and packaging equipment is complex and multi-faceted, often with difficult-to-reach areas that can house biofilms and food soils that may result in microbiological hazards. Hidden surfaces lead to inadequate sanitation if not properly addressed, but those are not the only danger zones.
Storage Space Can Be Found by Simply Looking Up
May 2, 2013 12:04 pm | by Paul Mihelich, Director of Sales, Wildeck | CommentsFor many food manufacturing facilities, the loading dock and warehouse can be busy areas. With employees passing through, forklifts and hand pallet trucks moving about, and conveyor systems and storage racks fixed to the ground, space is often a premium in these areas.
Protecting Your Key Innovations
May 2, 2013 9:02 am | by Katie Crosby Lehmann, Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi L.L.P. | CommentsFood manufacturers often make significant investments in product, packaging and processing innovations to gain a competitive advantage. That advantage could lead to competitors adopting the same innovations without respecting the original manufacturer’s intellectual-property rights.
Taking Advantage of the Industrial Internet
May 1, 2013 11:00 am | by Cindy Waxer | CommentsBig data is not just for predicting election outcomes and mapping genomes. General Electric (GE) is betting on the so-called Industrial Internet — a term they coined — to help manufacturers boost performance, streamline processes and better compete in the global marketplace.
