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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
June 30 is creeping up fast. With it comes the inevitable question of whether it’s time to invest in new equipment or wait until the next tax year. This question is even more urgent for small and medium businesses who are counting the final days of the $20,000 instant asset write-off, arguably one of the […]
Ever found yourself confused with coding and labelling acronyms? Here, we decode the acronyms every manufacturer needs to know. LABELLING TECHNOLOGIES LPA = Label Printer Applicator Label Printer Applicators (LPAs) print information onto pressure-sensitive labels, then automatically apply those labels onto cartons, pallets and products. You might also know them as “print and apply” […]
Quality is the biggest differentiator for small and medium-sized manufacturers. Get it right, and it could be what takes your business to the next level. Let your product quality slip, and you could lose your customers and your reputation. If you’re looking for ways to improve product quality, then automation could be the key. Automation […]
Food waste reduction is now a national priority for the Australian Government. Does this mean change is imminent for food labelling? Food waste is estimated to cost the Australian economy $20 billion each year, with Australian consumers throwing away around 3.1 million tonnes of edible food a year. Research indicates Australians bin the equivalent of […]
Track-and-trace has long been recognised for its ability to protect against counterfeiters and facilitate more effective recalls. But today’s manufacturers are using it as a strategy to better see and manage the entire ecosystem of their production facilities, and make smarter manufacturing a reality. Before we delve into the benefits of track-and-trace, here’s a quick […]
It’s been a big year for manufacturing in Australia. Activity surged to its highest level in 15 years during 2017. Then began to slow down again. We met robots such as Sophia and AMY. We said goodbye to 457 visas, and hello to Amazon. As the new year rapidly approaches, we can’t help but wonder… […]
Augmented reality on the rise. Goodbye 457 visas. Sophie the robot granted citizenship. Look at the headlines from the past 12 months and one thing’s for sure: it’s been a year filled with surprises. (And we thought 2016 was shocking!) Just before we rewind and look at some of the year’s biggest stories for manufacturers, here’s how […]