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At last, effective job scheduling software for manufacturers

-By David Lawrence, Lean Manufacturing Consulting. I wrote this article in the hope it helps manufacturers and engineers with a far smarter and far better means of job scheduling. I have worked in the manufacturing industries as a Production Manager for most of my 30 year career. In the last six years I have also implemented Empower time tracking and factory productivity software in over 30 engineering businesses and 70 other manufacturing businesses throughout Australia and New Zealand. I am an independent contractor who works directly for engineers and other manufacturers. I myself have struggled with job scheduling with NO good software available until 2016. I have manually updated spreadsheets several times through the day to “rejig” the schedule, I have updated job lists on paper and on whiteboards and then held meetings with other management and factory staff through the day to communicate the revised schedule. Sound familiar ? In the last two years ‘Empower Job Scheduling’ has been re-built in the latest Cloud technology and it now works extremely well. This is a direct result of Empower implementing literally several hundreds of improvements suggested by many of our successful clients. Empower Software is a locally owned company and has been developed with NZ and Australian engineers and other manufacturers over 14 years, which has proved invaluable in the success of this development. Our Wish List at the start of the new Empower Job Scheduling Development included: 1 Must suit all forms of engineering, including general engineering, fabrication, sheet metal, structural, component manufacturing, trailers and all forms of agricultural and other equipment manufacturing. Must suit all businesses sizes from 6 factory staff to 100+ factory staff 2 Must allow Jobs and Tasks to be moved simply and quickly from one day to another by dragging and dropping within the […]

ARANZ Medical named Supreme Innovator of the Year

ARANZ Medical, a specialist in 3D scanning and informatics solutions for the healthcare sector, has been named the winner of the Bayer Supreme Innovator of the Year in the 2016 New Zealand Innovators Awards. The company was also named the winner of the Innovation in Technology Solutions category for its key innovations Silhouette and FastSCAN. Dr Bruce Davey, CEO of ARANZ Medical says, “This is a wonderful acknowledgement for our dedicated team who are passionate about developing innovative technology to help people heal people. We’ve replaced some of the most primitive processes in healthcare that hadn’t seen any innovation in decades with highly innovative and sophisticated yet easy-to-use medical technology.” ARANZ Medical’s 3D scanning and information solutions for skin and wound assessment transform clinical assessment processes, improve quality of care, and make healthcare more cost-effective. Key innovations include: Silhouette, an FDA-approved advanced wound surveillance system which supports precise and productive wound management in clinical practice and research; and FastSCAN which enables the custom-fit of orthotics and prosthetics. Dr Davey says, “We can help improve the lives of millions of people worldwide, including high risk groups such as diabetes sufferers and the elderly, by empowering healthcare providers to address challenging medical problems in wound care and orthotics/prosthetics. Silhouette and FastSCAN literally shed light on changes in the skin with a level of accuracy and ease that has not been possible before, so healthcare providers can make better-informed decisions that could lead to better healing outcomes.” The company’s technology is being used in over 35 countries in a range of settings from clinical researchers in rural Africa studying the Buruli ulcer, one of the most neglected tropical diseases, to the largest healthcare providers in the US and UK. Dr Davey says demand for their technology is being driven by diseases like diabetes, […]

Right Move in the Wrong Direction

The Government is right to make adjustments to our immigration system in response to high numbers causing housing and infrastructure pressures. However, the focus on skilled migrants may add pressure on manufacturers and exporters who are already finding it hard to get skilled staff they need to grow, say the New Zealand Manufacturers and Exporters Association (NZMEA). NZMEA Chief Executive Dieter Adam says, “Government has finally acknowledged that the mismatch between net inward migration and infrastructure development – housing first and foremost – particularly in Auckland. “Unfortunately, the changes introduced constitute a significant lift in barriers for skilled migrants, while leaving other migrant categories largely unchanged. “New Zealand businesses, right across all sectors, are increasingly held back from growing by a lack of highly skilled workers. The reasons behind this are complex, including a tertiary education policy that is not meeting our skills needs, and immigration alone cannot be the whole answer, now or in the long term. “In the short term, however, allowing employers to find highly skilled staff abroad that are simply not available domestically, is important for the future economic development of New Zealand. Highly skilled workers means people capable of operating complex, computer controlled machinery in the manufacturing sector, for example. The government claims that the changes it introduced yesterday “will prioritise access for higher-skilled SMC migrants …” – Given the Government’s sketchy track record to date in managing the skilled migrant scheme to match what the economy most urgently needs, it remains to be seen whether that will actually be the case. “We believe our immigration system is leaky at a different point, people coming in on a student visa and then being allowed to seek employment when they have completed their studies, which can be after as little as one year. “New Zealand approved […]

New Zealand Certificates in Manufacturing now available

Manufacturing businesses across the country will now able to effectively handle operational issues and coordinate manufacturing operations through the New Zealand Certificates in Manufacturing qualifications launched last month. The new manufacturing suite of qualifications has been designed to provide employees with the knowledge and skills to work safely and effectively in any manufacturing environment. The qualifications were developed in partnership with the manufacturing industry and the industry training organisation Competenz. Members of the manufacturing industry played a leading role in ensuring the new qualifications are fit-for-purpose for all New Zealand businesses. “The qualifications were developed through industry consultation to meet the needs of the employer and their employees,” says Mathew Vandy, Competenz Industry Manager for the manufacturing sector. “The National Certificates in Manufacturing qualifications no longer related to the requirements of the industry. These new qualifications have a suite of options that are very relevant to manufacturing businesses.” Training in the new qualifications allows for a more efficient and streamlined process. “Through the consultation process, we were able to narrow down the scope of the qualifications so it was more focussed, and people would have a better understanding of it,” says Rick Smith, Operations Manager for Patience & Nicholson (NZ) Ltd and member of the industry governance group working with Competenz to design the new qualifications. “There’s an increased focus on health and safety which is crucial for the industry. The new qualifications are more about performance and on-the-job tasks.” Strong industry representation has helped the Competenz team to appreciate the technical skills required. “It gives learners and employers the flexibility to choose graduate outcomes that are relevant to their business,” says Vandy. The learning materials for the new qualifications are currently being adapted for online and will be available in early 2017.

Why modernise control platforms?

As products age and give way to new technologies, the need arises to proactively plan and manage the transition from existing equipment to leading-edge products and technologies. Automation components, software and systems represent major capital investments that are instrumental to the success of industrial operations. In the face of rapidly changing markets and technologies, the industrial enterprise must keep step to remain competitive. Today’s contemporary automation systems offer unprecedented advancements in performance, flexibility, and security, with the potential to provide a competitive edge. Technology continues to advance at a rapid rate, accelerated by the emergence of the Industrial Internet of Things and advances in enabling technologies, including data analytics, remote monitoring and mobility. Rockwell Automation continues to incorporate these latest technologies in control and automation platforms and although the PLC-5 programmable logic controller has been a valuable part of their portfolio for more than 30 years, no technology can last forever. Modern control systems provide a higher level of integration, driving improved asset utilisation, increased system flexibility and easy access to information. The high performance, Rockwell Automation ControlLogix platform delivers the capabilities to converge production disciplines (discrete, motion, process and safety), including extreme environments and high availability applications, into an integrated plant-wide architecture enabling a connected enterprise. Information shared between Information Technology (IT) and Operations Technology (OT) across a secure network enables: · Greater production visibility, for quicker response to customer demand · Higher profit margins through improved inventory management, cycle times and quality control · Improved capacity and asset utilization, leading to greater Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) · Regulatory compliance and reduced exposure to security risks Migrating to the ControlLogix family of programmable automation controllers (PAC) provides the platform to leverage advancements in technology, including improved access to information, more informed business decisions, faster performance for more throughput and […]

Rexmoi controls temperature and humidity

Rexmoi® has now become a multipurpose tool with the ability to control temperature and humidity with applications such as drying various products, cooking at low temperatures, and controlled cooling of products. The units are sealed enclosed chambers which allows control of the atmosphere within, using smart controls and refrigeration technology. Air flow around the product is an important factor of how well the system works. There are different trolleys and trays and variable air flow to optimise this. Filters are used to control product particles in the chamber. An air sanitising system can be added. The Rexmoi® technology is not limited to our current units. It can be used to control the atmosphere in an existing environment, designed to suit your requirements. The existing units can be used for trials to obtain the information necessary to design a unit or environment to suit your product or situation. The Rexmoi® technology is not limited to food products. We have supplied a unit that heats and cures a material product at various temperatures for a certain length of time. The reason for choosing the Rexmoi® method is it a safer method of heating volatile products as there is no exposed electric elements or gas fire. This technology is available from Drying Solutions Ltd who are appearing at FoodTech PackTech on Stand 2100.

Thermaflo and Trepko tackle the New Zealand market with new agency agreement

Every single day thousands of milk, juice, and water bottles are filled along very sophisticated assembly lines in and around New Zealand. With that, there are very strict regulations in place that help ensure the products that end up on your supermarket shelf are safe for human consumption. Thermaflo have always employed best practice engineering principals as part of their design policies. This insures that they meet all of their client’s expectations as well as adhering to any local regulations relating to food safety. With the above in mind Thermaflo have been associating themselves with other world leading equipment suppliers. For many years they have been building relationships with companies not only in New Zealand but into other countries such as Italy, the UK and Denmark. These companies include Filmatic from South Africa who are a leading manufacturer of bottle, tub and jar filling lines and Trepko from Denmark, who specialise in high speed horizontal form fill seal, and other tub filling applications as well as butter wrapping and end of line packaging plant. It has been fortunate that Trepko and Filmatic have formed a joint venture and now together they are supplying complete filling and packaging lines, thus Thermaflo’s clients benefit from two world leading suppliers being represented here in New Zealand. With a large client base within the Australasian market it made sense for Thermaflo to partner with another company that had experience in these markets, but who were also looking to increase their market share. Recently, Thermaflo and Trepko signed a new agency agreement that has allowed Thermaflo to expand their product offering, while also assisting Trepko in their efforts to increase their client base in the New Zealand, Australian and Southeast Asian markets. With over 65 years of manufacturing experience Trepko are placed at the forefront […]

How to get Asia-savvy

Want to break into an Asian market? New Zealand businesses need to think big but start small and get “Asian-savvy”, an expert in Asian business networks says. And that will take a shift in mind-set among some of our businesses as well as serious investment in upskilling. Professor Natasha Hamilton-Hart, the new director of the New Zealand Asia Institute, says New Zealand is “behind the curve” in developing a workforce with the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in Asian markets. “We’ve increased sales to the region, but we can’t rely on the low-hanging fruit to grow in the longer term,” she says. She says the $34.5 million government funding announced in June to set up new Centres of Asia-Pacific Excellence is welcome but overdue. “Australia is way ahead educating for Asia engagement, and even Singapore – which is squarely in and of the region – has recognised since the 1980s that it needs to actively develop the skills and mind-sets for expanding in the region. It won’t happen automatically.” Professor Hamilton-Hart has previously held positions at the National University of Singapore and the Australian National University. She introduced the Asia Savvy Conference at the University of Auckland Business School on Saturday 27 August. The conference, in its sixth year, is student-driven and supported by the institute. Speakers shared their experiences of doing business in Asia, emerging market trends and opportunities for New Zealand entrepreneurs. Being Asia-savvy not only helps entering a market, it means you’re less likely to be blindsided by predictable events, Professor Hamilton-Hart says. Her advice to businesses wanting to take on an Asian market: Really get to grips with your market. Beyond standard market research, businesses need to understand the wider culture and politics at play. Share stories of failure as well success. “There could be […]

Materials Handling & Logistic Show to run alongside Foodtech Packtech

With less than 8 weeks to go the countdown has begun for this year’s largest combined trade only industry event – the Materials Handling & Logistics Expo (MHL) running alongside Foodtech Packtech (FTPT). Event organisers, XPO Exhibitions have already confirmed in excess of 200 exhibiting companies across both shows and are expecting thousands of industry attendees across the three days. This is a unique industry opportunity to view latest products and cutting edge technologies across food & beverage manufacturing, food and industrial packaging as well as materials handling and logistics solutions. This year’s Materials Handling and Logistics Show already has 50 exhibiting companies – a number that’s well up on the previous event in 2013. We’ve had a great deal of interest from forklift providers right through to 3PL providers. “MHL is under new management and back alongside FTPT where it all began more than 10 years ago. Food specific materials handling and logistics solutions have always been popular exhibitor features within FTPT so the formal alignment of MHL is simply helping the combined show grow. The materials handling and logistics side of things completes our ‘New Zealand pasture (or sea) to plate’ capability story which is so important to realise our export market potential.” Says Tony Waite Events Director of XPO. “Now we’ve got MHL onboard we’ll also be cross referencing our database of close to 300,000 industry professionals registered for other successful trade shows we run – to send out relevant invites to a wide variety of industry interested in materials handling and logistics solutions. “Examples will include general engineering and manufacturing, homewares importers, retail and even the construction industry – anyone storing, moving or distributing good in New Zealand or internationally.” The organisers are quick to point out that Foodtech Packtech itself has grown a great deal […]

Got a Trade? Got it Made Week! – Building Skills for the Future

Got a Trade? Got it Made! Week is back for 2016. The national campaign to raise awareness of on-the-job training and careers in New Zealand’s trades and services is returning 22-26 August. The week also celebrates the talents and achievements of Kiwis making headway in their vocation. The multi-channel campaign has been co-organised by Competenz and seven of the country’s industry training organisations representing more than 140 trades and services, including the manufacturing sector. Got a Trade will be promoted on TV, radio and via digital channels throughout August and into the beginning of September. Competenz’ CEO Fiona Kingsford says that there are misconceptions on what a trade can represent. And that on-the-job training encompasses industries as diverse as manufacturing, to butcher, to refrigeration and air conditioning. “Genuine career opportunities currently exist in 140 trades and services in New Zealand, yet the current housing crisis has led the public to mostly focus on the opportunities in the building and construction sectors,” said Kingsford.“The manufacturing sector is most in need and calling out for 40,000 new people for it to keep up with growth and demand in the next four years. That’s an astounding yet exciting number of people learning new skills and contributing to moving our economy forward.”In an increasingly technical world, the practical skills that can be gained in workplace training teach apprentices to help turn ideas, innovation and great thinking into reality. “In today’s job market practical intelligence and technical trades are in very high demand, and this translates in to excellent earning potential,” said Kingsford. Plastics graduate and 2016 Plastics Apprentice of the Year Ben Ellis (pictured) has been working in the industry since finishing school. “I decided to apply for an apprenticeship with a local plastics company as the use of plastics is widespread throughout the […]

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doug

About doug

Posts by Doug Green: