If you can’t count on your equipment to work when production is scheduled, it’s unreliable. In the manufacturing industry, unreliable equipment has a greater cost than just monetary: it can affect workers, customer relationships, brand reputation and beyond. So before you make any cuts to your maintenance budget or delay on replacing failing equipment, take […]
Have you heard about “cobots”? If you answered yes, you are in the minority. In a poll by Packaging Digest, 60% said they are unfamiliar with collaborative robots — or, “cobots”. Surprised? We were. That’s why we thought we’d share a few facts about cobots — at least, what we know so far, because, in the […]
Are you getting the full benefit of your OEE implementation? Here’s how to avoid the most common mistakes with Overall Equipment Effectiveness. With companies facing increasing pressure from overseas to squeeze as much productivity as they can from their assets, it’s no surprise that an increasing number of Australian manufacturers and processors are looking […]
Quality is everything in manufacturing today. But the demand for more products and faster turnaround times means it’s no longer enough to rely on human inspection to achieve the high level of standards customers and consumers expect. That’s where automated inspection systems come in. Metal detectors, checkweighers, scanners, X-ray and vision inspection … there’s a […]
The idea of Industry 4.0 has been hovering over the Australian manufacturing industry for a few years now, but what does it mean for manufacturers and why should you take notice? Here, we answer some common questions about Industry 4.0. It’s a term that makes some manufacturers shudder with fear and others with anticipation. […]
The news that Foxconn, the world’s biggest contract electronics maker, is developing industrial robots to target 30% automation in its Chinese factories by 2020, has shaken the manufacturing industry. As machines and robotics become more sophisticated and specialised than ever, we can’t help but ask: will manufacturing soon be taken over entirely by robots? But […]
Worried about wasting profits? Here’s how as a manufacturer, you can calculate the ROI of your checkweigher to help maximise the bang for your buck. We’ve previously discussed the benefits of lean manufacturing and how to boost your business’s operational efficiency and competitiveness. But there’s one very obvious way to reduce waste on the production […]
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 […]
Lean manufacturing isn’t just for the big guys. Today’s small and medium businesses can get an advantage over their competitors by looking to lean manufacturing practices. Here’s how. When we talk about lean principles, it doesn’t take long for big names such as Toyota and Boeing to crop up. But in reality, lean isn’t a […]
What’s really going on in the beverage market today? Here, we explore the major trends across soft drinks, juice, beer, wine, bottled water and beyond. Soft drinks slowing down The Australian soft-drink market needs a shakeup. On the surface, it seems that new companies are entering the scene, but Roy Morgan Research shows that Coca […]