Is it possible to trace an individual turkey from farm to table? Last year, US agricultural conglomerate Cargill Inc. did exactly that using blockchain technology. So how does blockchain fit into the future of food traceability? In a campaign perfectly timed for Thanksgiving, the company allowed shoppers to type in the code from their store-bought […]
The technology behind bitcoin could improve food traceability. Unsure how that could be possible? Here’s how. If you’re a food manufacturer and you haven’t got to grips with blockchain technology, it’s time to start. Blockchain is the underlying enabling technology developed for the cryptocurrency, bitcoin. But beyond that, there’s a growing buzz around blockchain and […]
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 […]
Remember when Lean principles were the one and only way for manufacturers to do business? Fast forward a decade and Industry 4.0 is the new buzzword. But does this mean Lean management is down and out, or can the two be intertwined to create a whole new level of operational excellence? The Lean approach is […]
Rising energy costs are a massive problem for Australian food & beverage manufacturers. Are they fighting a losing battle? Or will emerging technologies give new hope in 2018? Food & beverage manufacturers are big users of electricity. According to the latest figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the food-manufacturing industry pays a staggering $706 […]
Automation, robotics, artificial intelligence, data, augmented reality, 3D printing … today’s manufacturing world looks a lot different to five or 10 years ago. But it’s not only the factory floor that’s changing; the shift towards Industry 4.0 demands a new set of skills in the workforce too. (You can find out the basics on Industry […]
There’s nothing like the New Year to make you review and evaluate your manufacturing business. So, how will you do things differently in 2018? We asked some industry experts what they believe to be the number-one New Year’s resolution every manufacturer should make. And while they had different ideas, there’s one thing upon which they […]
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 […]
The best manufacturers are always hungry to learn more. Why? Because they can’t afford to stop. Here are the 10 best blogs and publications to put on your reading list. Australian manufacturers need an unquenchable thirst for knowledge, ideas and inspiration. Without that, it’s hard to keep pace in a world that changes so rapidly. […]
With the spotlight on millennials, it’s easy to miss the fact that we’re getting older. Baby boomers are now approaching retirement age. This means almost a quarter of everybody on the planet will be over the age of 50 in 2017 – a record number. What’s more, the number of people aged over 60 will […]