Guest Author, Author at The Matthews Blog

19 Nov

AFGC Common Delivery Guidelines help manufacturers delivering into DCs

By Samantha Blake, Director, Industry Affairs, Australian Food and Grocery Council (AFGC) * Australia’s FMCG market presents myriad challenges for both suppliers and retailers – geographic scale and distance, relatively high costs of transportation, population density, supply chain complexity, and the diverse and fast-evolving expectations of our customers. In this environment, standardised, retailer-agnostic supply chain […]

Posted on November 19, 2018December 27, 2018 by Guest Author Leave a comment

10 Jul

Innovation and Best Practices

Empowering people is key to Industry 4.0 strategy

By guest author Roland Thomas, CEO of OFS* There is significant chatter about Industry 4.0 or the fourth industrial revolution. All the analysis bodies – such as Capgemini, Fujitsu, Gartner and PWC – appear to have been researching and reporting on what Industry 4.0 is and what prize awaits us if we join the revolution. […]

Posted on July 10, 2018July 12, 2018 by Guest Author Leave a comment

31 Jan

Global Manufacturing

Some points to consider when buying a manufacturing business

Whether you are established in the manufacturing industry or looking to enter it for the first time, buying an existing manufacturing business can be an excellent investment and growth strategy. As with any industry, there is a range of legal factors that you need to consider when it comes to buying a business, so it’s […]

Posted on January 31, 2017January 20, 2017 by Guest Author Leave a comment

11 Oct

Global Manufacturing

Equipment finance tips for SMEs

No matter what industry you’re in, small and medium-sized businesses can often benefit from new equipment, machinery or vehicles. However, it’s very common for business owners to put off buying new equipment because of the cost involved. Upgrading your existing equipment or purchasing new machinery can provide a tangible return on investment (ROI) through improved […]

Posted on October 11, 2016March 8, 2017 by Guest Author 1 Comment

30 Jun

Automation & Process Control

7 reasons why your business needs an X-ray inspection system

If your business can’t afford foreign contaminants in your products, then the chances are high that you need an X-ray product inspection machine. Predominantly, the food processing, pharmaceutical and packaging industries rely on these high-tech, yet surprisingly affordable, machines to detect potentially harmful foreign contaminants along the production lines. But they are also essential equipment […]

Posted on June 30, 2016October 17, 2016 by Guest Author Leave a comment

preventive maintenance vs breakdown repair

04 May

Lean Manufacturing & OEE

What you need to know about preventive maintenance vs breakdown repair

By guest author, Mario Soccio* You know what they say: “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”. For decades, many manufacturers have relied on a “fail and fix” approach for equipment, waiting until the very moment it breaks down before fixing the problem. However, there’s a growing school of thought that an alternative “predict and […]

Posted on May 4, 2016May 6, 2016 by Guest Author 1 Comment

23 Apr

Innovation and Best Practices

Beverage packaging: what’s new, what’s next?

By Llewellyn Stephens FAIP* There are a multitude of packaging options available for beverages in the local market. Compared with a global scale, the Australian market is small, plus has the challenge of significant transport distances. Producers also face a retail environment dominated by two major players, and where margins for commodities are low. Each […]

Posted on April 23, 2015July 14, 2015 by Guest Author Leave a comment

04 Feb

Innovation and Best Practices

Working out best board grades for shelf-friendly packaging (SFP)

By guest author, Ron Mines FAIP* Last year I participated in a training day at Woolworths Minchinbury DC (in Sydney), facilitated by IDG, the Australian Institute of Packaging AIP and Woolworths. The previous day, most of the trainees had gone to a Woolworths supermarket to see how shelf-friendly packaging (SFP) was being used in the […]

Posted on February 4, 2015May 23, 2016 by Guest Author Leave a comment

Christmas coding equipment shutdown tips

09 Dec

Innovation and Best Practices

Shutting up shop for the festive season? Just before you go…

By guest author, Mario Soccio* Continued advances in design and build quality mean Matthews’ coding and marking equipment has easy shut-down and start-up procedures. This includes extended shutdowns — such as holidays. Before you shut the factory doors this festive season, there are just a couple of things to do. Here’s a list of reminders. […]

Posted on December 9, 2014July 15, 2015 by Guest Author Leave a comment

23 Apr

Innovation and Best Practices

‘Ounce of prevention worth a pound of cure’ or why scheduled maintenance is a manufacturing must-have

By guest author, Mario Soccio* In the 18th century, Benjamin Franklin, a printer by trade and a scientist by fame, said: “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” So why aren’t today’s manufacturers applying this logic to their equipment? When factories experience lengthy downtime, it’s usually because a piece of equipment has failed […]

Posted on April 23, 2014February 7, 2017 by Guest Author 2 Comments