Developments

Supply Chain Excellence: Series 1 – Understanding the Supply Chain

https://www.nzpics.org.nz-Vishnu Rayapeddi Whenever we ask what supply chain is, we get different answers depending who we ask. Some say it is planning & purchasing or procurement and some say inventory management and some others may say it is logistics management. Yes all these correct answers. But there is much more! According to APICS (Association for Operations & Supply Chain Professionals, USA) dictionary, “Supply Chain Operations Reference (SCOR®) model” is “A process reference model developed and endorsed by the Supply Chain Council as the cross-industry, standard diagnostic tool for supply chain management. “The SCOR model describes the business activities associated with satisfying a customer’s demand, which include plan, source, make, deliver, and return. Use of the model includes analysing the current state of a company’s processes and goals, quantifying operational performance, and comparing company performance to benchmark data. SCOR has developed a set of metrics for supply chain performance, and Supply Chain Council members have formed industry groups to collect best practices information that companies can use to evaluate their supply chain performance”. In essence, the SCOR Framework is the world’s leading supply chain framework, linking business processes, performance metrics, practices and people skills into a unified structure. By deploying the SCOR framework at your organization you can: 1) Increase the speed of system, 2) Implement Support organizational learning goals, and 3) Improve inventory turns. Level 1 Processes included in SCOR are: Plan, Source, Make, Deliver, Return and Enable Level 1 Metrics included in SCOR are: a) Perfect order fulfilment, b) Order fulfilment cycle time, c) Upside supply chain flexibility, d) Upside supply chain adaptability, e) Downside supply chain adaptability, f) Overall value at risk, g) Total cost to serve, h) Cash-to-cash cycle time, i) Return on supply chain fixed assets, j) Return on working capital. So, how do we define […]

National Maintenance Engineering Conference announces major package for students and apprentices

The 2015 SKF National Maintenance Engineering Conference is set to become the Mecca for Generation Y engineers with the announcement of a major conference participation package for apprentices and engineering students. Participation pricing for the 2 day national event are already the lowest in the Southern Hemisphere at $795+GST pp, however the announcement of a special apprentice and student package at $320+GSTpp represents unbelievable value for people new to industry and wanting to grasp the opportunity to learn and network. Organised by the Maintenance Engineering Society of NZ, the annual event reflects the ethos of the society in embracing and developing engineers. Society members need no convincing of the importance of nurturing each new generation and the organisers are backing the radical move to open up access to apprentices and students. According to Expo Manager Chris Thomas, “This event already has a significant focus on engineering careers with the Bill Buckley Engineering Scholarship and the Competenz Stuart Tolhurst Apprentice Trophy being presented during proceedings. Add to this over 60 major industry suppliers in the Exhibition Hall, 2 days of inspiring and informative papers from our multi-national panel of speakers and the chance to meet with potential future employers and I know where I would be if I was starting on a career in engineering.” For apprentices on a time budget, a one-day pass is also offered a $190+GSTpp. Details and registration can be found online at www.mesnz.org.nz/conference/registration/ The 2015 SKF National Maintenance Engineering Conference will be held at the Claudelands Event Centre in Hamilton on November 18 and 19. As well as preconference training opportunities, the Exhibition Hall will be open for invited guests and pre-registered members of the public from 2-5:30pm on Tuesday 17 November.

Wearply offers outstanding fatigue life in machinery and plant

PIC CAP: Wearply is used for applications ranging from vibratory conveyor leaf springs through to electrical motor, generator and transformer components; insulated rail joints, and minerals processing components. A hugely durable reinforced plastic composite that weighs less than aluminium but has up to 10 times the specific strength of 1020 steel is being offered by Cut to Size Plastics for demanding mining and energy, materials handling, electrical and rail applications. Wearply reinforced plastic composite – which can withstand millions of stress cycles at 1400 bar (20,000 psi) without fatigue failure – is used to optimise design and performance of machinery and plant components in which performance and reliability is vital including. • Vibratory conveyor, feeder, screening and materials handling technology • Insulated rail jointing – food and primary product processing • Automotive and vehicle suspension components • Flexible couplings that can transmit torque even when shafts are misaligned • Electrical motor, generating and transformer products Wearply derives its enormous strength, performance and durability from epoxy resins reinforced with continuously aligned, non-woven filaments. This allows plies to be laid so reinforcement is oriented to give greater strength and stiffness in the direction, or directions, in which it is most needed. Parallel filaments resist the stress abrasion that can shorten the fatigue life in conventional reinforced plastics, says Cut To Size Plastics Managing Director Mr Laurie Green. “This advanced engineering material is winning the attention of machinery designers globally for its superior performance in a huge range of applications, from vibratory machinery in minerals and primary production processing to its hygienic, highly resilient high insulation properties in food and beverage plant and electrical applications. The same qualities that make it suitable for advanced aerospace and medical applications – such as helicopter blades and MRI equipment – mean it can be employed with confidence […]

Peterson’s Perspective: Will the science and R&D plan work?

by Gilbert Peterson on www.mscnewswire.co.nz For the past six years New Zealand’s innovation landscape has been littered with dithering and waste as the country’s investment in science and R&D failed to rise to an average OECD performance. With that in the background this week’s announcement of the new ‘National Science Strategy’ and Building Innovation plan, must surely be Minister Steven Joyce’s last shot at gaining traction in this the economy’s weakest performing, and most critically exposed area. The launch of the new way forward for science and innovation is at least as important, if not more so than the announcement of the TPP agreement though totally eclipsed by it. But the question remains: Will the new approach prove the most efficient and effective way to move science investment and its commercialization significantly forward? Certainly Science and Innovation Minister Joyce deserves congratulations for hearing what business and the science community had to say, and coming up with a plan to address their concerns. For the first time I can recall the minister articulated clearly the economic value contribution made by science and R&D to the nation. In launching Building Innovation he said: “Successful innovation improves competiveness, increases our output, drives productivity growth, and creates successful exports by introducing new or improved products, processes, or methods into the economy.” Bravo for that. Our future prosperity depends on innovation and the science and R&D that underpin it. The chief economist of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, Roger Proctor, spelled this out in a blog earlier this year. In answering the question, ‘Where does income growth come from?’ he said it comes from increases in productivity that occur when new things are produced that people are willing to pay more for than they cost to produce, and by producing new things we […]

New Zealand 16th most competitive country in the world

According to the Global Competitiveness Index, which ranks countries according to their performance on factors such as innovation, market size, market efficiency, infrastructure, business sophistication and others, New Zealand has steadily climbed the competitiveness rankings, from 17th place last year and 18th the year before, and from placings between 20th and 24th in previous years. New Zealand’s GDP per capita (currently US$40,000) has also climbed steadily over the same period. BusinessNZ Chief Executive Phil O’Reilly says this year’s results highlight the outstanding strength and integrity of New Zealand’s institutions and economic fundamentals, while pointing to the need for improvement in areas such as innovation, business sophistication and infrastructure. “In our progress towards becoming a more value-added, sophisticated exporter of goods and services, New Zealand performed ‘okay but could do better’ on factors such as collaboration for innovation, government purchasing fostering innovation, investment in R&D and training, availability of in-demand skills, availability of engineers and scientists, availability of finance for innovative start-ups, appetite for entrepreneurial risk, development of unique products and processes, companies’ control of international distribution of their products, and participation in value chains and clusters,” Mr O’Reilly said. “In New Zealand’s environment for business, areas for improvement include the compliance burden on business, restrictive regulations on hiring and firing, restrictive foreign investment rules, restrictions on hiring foreign labour, lack of ‘pay for productivity’ practices, and tax and benefit policies reducing incentives to work and invest. “The Competitiveness Report found that New Zealand’s road and rail infrastructure were of a middling ranking but could be improved. “Good scores were achieved for strategies for and use of ICT and for companies growing online sales. “And the excellent performance of New Zealand’s institutions and economic settings continues to support and grow our creditable, improving overall competitiveness scores,” Mr O’Reilly said. The top ten […]

Meet Model X from Tesla

Model X is said to be the safest, fastest and most capable sport utility vehicle in history. Standard with all-wheel drive and a 90 kWh battery providing 250 miles of range, Model X has ample seating for seven adults and all of their gear. And it’s ludicrously fast, accelerating from zero to 60 miles per hour in 3.2 seconds. Model X is the SUV uncompromised. The estimated delivery for new reservations is the latter half of 2016. Safety First Design Every part of Model X is designed with safety as a first priority. The floor-mounted battery lowers the centre of gravity so that the risk of rollover is almost non-existent. The battery structure strengthens Model X against side impact intrusions. And without a gasoline engine, the large front trunk acts as a giant impact-absorbing crumple zone. Active Safety Model X continually scans the surrounding roadway with camera, radar and sonar systems, providing the driver with real-time feedback to avoid collisions. Even at highway speeds, Model X will automatically apply brakes in an emergency. Pollution Free, Inside and Out A medical grade HEPA filter strips outside air of pollen, bacteria, viruses and pollution before circulating it into the cabin. There are three modes: circulate with outside air, re-circulate inside air and a bioweapon defence mode that creates positive pressure inside the cabin to protect occupants. Falcon Wings Falcon Wing doors allow easy access to second and third row seats from any parking space. Minivan style sliding doors open at most halfway while traditional doors are not capable of opening fully when parked next to another car. With only a foot of clearance, Falcon Wing doors articulate smoothly up and out of the way, allowing passengers to enter from both front and rear directions. The side and overhead opening is so large […]

Free electrical design software with DesignSpark Electrical

RS Components (RS), the trading brand of Electrocomponents plc, the global distributor for engineers, has launched DesignSpark Electrical, which brings the benefits of design software to all those not already using electrical CAD tools. The new software targets electrical design engineers and other electrical professionals, enabling them to save time and money. Supported by Schneider Electric, DesignSpark Electrical joins the award-winning suite of DesignSpark engineering resources and continues to drive the initiative of removing the barriers to innovation for every engineer. DesignSpark Electrical is a fully specified electrical CAD package delivering time saving and error avoidance, for control panel, machinery and electrical system design. This new free tool provides access to the functionality of electrical CAD for businesses that in many cases cannot reasonably justify the considerable price tag per seat for existing commercial electrical CAD software. A key element of the DesignSpark Electrical software is the integration of a library that comprises more than 250,000 components and parts, including 80,000 from Schneider Electric and 10,000 from RS, which can easily be added to customer designs. Other key features of the highly intuitive and highly functional software include intelligent and specialist electrical design tools, real-time referencing and validity checking to allow the creation of accurate 2D panel layouts, all of which saves time and reduces errors. Also built into the software is Bill-of-Materials (BOM) quote functionality, enabling customers to order parts via RS for their designs, both quickly and easily. The high cost and the learning time required of existing commercial electrical CAD tools have been major barriers to adoption for many companies. The introduction of the highly intuitive DesignSpark Electrical removes these cost barriers in a single stroke and passes on the key benefits of electrical CAD to all engineers. DesignSpark Electrical is available for free download at www.designspark.com.

Hello Industry 4.0

In the picture: The newest member of the KUKA robot family – the LBR iiwa lightweight robot At the KUKA booth, the visitors of this year’s Hanover Fair can deal with the increasing digitalisation of production and cooperative network of employees and machines. As Europe’s leading supplier of industrial robots and automated production systems, KUKA directly participates with its products and services in the fourth industrial revolution – Industry 4.0. Therefore, robots will be the defining component for industry in the future – while the human takes centre stage. Sustainable automation concepts can only be developed with efficient, flexible and first of all safe production systems respecting the needs of the production staff. KUKA will not only present ways in which KUKA products can improve competitiveness, but also prove its compatibility with the digital world. Across the more than 1000 square meters of space in the Industrial Automation area, KUKA will be presenting innovative solutions that have one key characteristic in common: they are all designed to meet the requirements of Industry 4.0 and bring flexibility in the utilisation of production capacity, in logistics, in the sustainable use of resources. KUKA achieves this by merging the IT world and conventional high-tech industry solutions into complete Cyber-Physical Production Systems (CPPS). In order to react in a flexible manner, to control process data streams from complex networks around the globe and to network digital controllers from different systems, interfaces based on Mainstream IT infrastructure are essential. This was already a key concept at KUKA in the mid-90s when it brought the first PC-based robot controllers onto the market. Subsequent KUKA innovations and developments also followed this core concept of simple integration. With the newest member of the KUKA robot family – the LBR iiwa lightweight robot and the controller Sunrise designed for […]

Toyota invests $US 50 million in artificial intelligence research

Kiyotaka Ise, Toyota’s Chief Officer of its Research and Development Group. The opportunities to improve every-day living through artificial intelligence supported technologies are boundless. Toyota will invest $US 50 million in the research and development of intelligent vehicle and mobility technologies with an ambitious new collaboration with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Stanford University, California. Joint research centres will be established at each university with Toyota investing $US50 million over the next five years. Dr. Gill Pratt, former Program Manager at DARPA (the Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency) and leader of its recent Robotics Challenge, has joined Toyota to direct and accelerate these research activities and their application to intelligent vehicles and robotics. Toyota believes the opportunities to improve every-day living through artificial intelligence supported technologies are boundless, with significant breakthrough potential for the development of life-saving intelligent vehicles and life-improving robots. “We’re here to mark the beginning of an unprecedented commitment. We will initially focus on the acceleration of intelligent vehicle technology, with the immediate goal of helping eliminate traffic casualties and the ultimate goal of helping improve quality of life through enhanced mobility and robotics,” said Kiyotaka Ise, Toyota’s Chief Officer of its Research and Development Group. Combined research will be targeted at improving the ability of intelligent vehicle technologies to recognise objects around the vehicle, provide elevated judgment of surrounding conditions, and safely collaborate with vehicle occupants, other vehicles, and pedestrians. The joint research will also look at applications of the same technology to human-interactive robotics and information service, said Dr. Pratt. Both Universities already have computer science and artificial intelligence research facilities. Beyond Toyota’s longstanding work on autonomous vehicles and advanced driving support systems, the company has been developing robots for industrial use since the 1970s, and for Partner and Human Support Robot applications for […]

Bringing youth into industry

-Ben Connolly Industry for me started when I was 16 with a part time job in a plastics manufacturing plant. The company had some fascinating processes. I wasn’t allowed to do any of the ‘fun’ stuff though, my job was to sweep the driveway and process production waste. At 16 I only had a few years left of school and needed to start making some plans for what I would do afterwards. The good old gap year tends to be well advertised towards the end of school. This was all pencilled in for me until I learnt about an engineering degree majoring in Industrial Management. The course was a good fit giving me the base skills to do the stuff I had been watching others do in the factory. I was the only person who enrolled that year for the course, and with no further enrolments in the following year or the year after, the course was cancelled. Why weren’t people enrolling? Lack of knowledge about industry is my best guess. Most youth won’t have an insight to the potential careers available in industry. I was fortunate that I was given a job in industry which gave me the inspiration to take my studies further and consider manufacturing and production as a career. The job opportunity was a gateway that led me to where I am now. I know few people who have followed a similar path into industry and even fewer who are getting the opportunities I got at the age I was. It is becoming a big issue in some industries that there is no young following through to take the positions of their elders. Should we be putting more effort into attracting young blood into industry as a contingency for the future? Could we be offering base […]

«‹ 101 102 103 104 ›»

News Ticker

Developments