Confused about labelling rules for fresh produce? What’s mandatory? What’s not? What do retailers want? Here’s what Australian fresh produce suppliers need to know. Farming and agriculture remain vitally important to Australia’s economy, contributing almost $50 billion a year to our bottom line. But times are changing. Consumers are increasingly interested in what they’re eating and are looking […]
In light of the current strawberry-confidence crisis, what options can packers look at to protect their produce and businesses? Just now there is a crisis of consumer confidence in the Australian strawberry market: there have been some 100 reported instances of needles or pins being found in strawberries in Queensland, NSW, Victoria, Tasmania and South […]
Have you noticed how recall notifications have soared recently? From listeria outbreaks to undeclared allergens and even faulty condoms, it seems barely a week goes by without Aussie news headlines warning about another major recall. Fact: Recalls are a risk for every manufacturer. Chances are the risk of a recall or withdrawal weighs on your mind […]
Why is OEE such a popular manufacturing-operation metric? The reason is simple: OEE can deliver accurate and actionable information to manufacturers for significant productivity improvement. First, a reminder of some OEE basics: OEE (Overall Equipment Effectiveness) is a best-practice metric for measuring the effectiveness and efficiency of a manufacturing process.Calculated asthe product of three factors […]
Just when it seems like the Australian organics market can’t grow anymore, it skyrockets. The market has grown 88% since 2012 and is now estimated to be worth $2.4 billion, according to 2018 Australian Organic Market Report. So, what does this mean for Australian food & beverage manufacturers? Where are the growth areas? What can […]
Optimising your equipment’s efficiency is an essential element of continuous improvement for manufacturers. Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) is a powerful way to achieve this. Get the implementation right, and OEE can be used to pinpoint problem areas on your line and, ultimately, help you make the necessary changes to improve production. However, there are some […]
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. […]
Are you using plastic-free packaging? What happens to packaging once it’s in consumers’ hands? How can you help reduce food waste? As sustainable manufacturing gains momentum, these are just some of the questions facing manufacturers. What is sustainable manufacturing? There is no single common definition of sustainable manufacturing, but the OECD sums it up as […]
Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) is a powerful metric. Considered the gold standard for measuring manufacturing productivity, the OEE key performance indicator (KPI) brings together data on availability, performance and quality to tell you the percentage of manufacturing time that is truly productive. How to calculate OEE OEE is measured as the product of three factors […]
The waste industry has called for $150 million “circular economy and action plan” to fix recycling uncertainty. So, what is a circular economy and why is it important for Australian manufacturers? Here’s what you need to know. If you haven’t heard by now, there are big changes afoot in the world of waste. China imposed […]