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Hawke’s Bay IT company ABC Software is targeting Australia as a potentially major export market for a system it has been developing to track a wide variety of fruit through every step from tree to consumer. Founder-director Sharon Chapman says the barcode-based tool already installed in New Zealand, Victoria and Western Australia traces and records all processes including picking, cool storage, packing and transport to help ensure produce is handled correctly and kept in best condition. “People want to know where their fruit comes from and if it has been handled as it should,” Ms Chapman said. “Traceability is already becoming part of the supply chain – customers and supermarkets want more information as their standards and parameters for good quality fruit are becoming tighter to enhance the eating experience. “Supermarkets are hearing of customer experiences which are not great when they buy fruit it can be soft or with a disappointing taste due to not being cool stored or handled properly. “With more information they can target the orchards they know will meet the parameters they want so competition increases and the whole industry lifts its game  it has been the same with meat with the industry getting better at supplying consistent quality product.” Ms Chapman said the tracking issue was highlighted several years ago when US supermarkets were swamped with diseased tomatoes. “They were pulled of the shelves but no-one had traceability or could immediately say where they came from,” she said. “Traceability was there if they trawled through mountains of paperwork but it was not at their fingertips. “Our system provides that instant information. Every carton of fruit has a unique barcode so if apples are in Hong Kong or Europe the block they were grown on, who handled them and how is all there.” A computer […]

The largest commercial installation in New Zealand of thin film solar panel technology has been activated at Hubbard Foods in Mangere, Auckland. This installation, which is a joint initiative between infrastructure company Vector and cereal maker Hubbards, is the first commercial enterprise of its size to use second generation thin film solar panels. Combined, the 160 solar panel installation covering 227.5m2 will generate 29,000 kW/h of electricity per annum and will be used to power the lighting for Hubbards’ finished goods warehouse. This is equivalent to the power used to produce 169,000 packets of cereal or the amount of electricity consumed by 3.5 homes over the course of a year. “A significant feature of these new generation panels is that they continue to perform, even if it is a cloudy day. This is a key difference with first generation crystalline solar panels which have considerably reduced capacity when the sun isn’t shining,” says Hubbard’s CEO Doug Paulin. “This feature is a decided advantage for a business based in Auckland, which is not known for being the sunniest city in New Zealand. Vector CEO Simon Mackenzie says this initiative could signal a new chapter of solar panel usage by commercial businesses and describes it as an example of developing technology that in the future could lead to power at a lower cost. “While this solar PV installation is not designed to power Hubbards whole business, the savings still count. The added advantage is the new thin-film technology makes them lower cost per watt, easy to install and maintain.” Mr Mackenzie also emphasised the opportunity the initiative provided for Vector in understanding the effect of distributed solar PV systems on its electricity network. “In particular we want to ensure that our network can support this technology into the future,” he says. “This […]

The Improve Group has a successful history of working with world renowned manufacturers throughout Australasia enabling them to enjoy greater business success. Their programs encompass the best of Lean Manufacturing, Lean Logistics, Lean Processing, Six Sigma and TPM (Total Preventative Maintenance). Government Funded Competitive Manufacturing Programs. The Competitive Manufacturing Program is a nationally recognised training program providing companies and their staff with real workplace based projects designed to improve processes.The program is tailored to meet the individual needs of your business. Competitive Manufacturing enables companies to reduce production costs and increase profits by introducing a number of improvements to the workplace including waste reduction. Upon successful completion of the program each participant is awarded a Certificate (III or IV) or a Diploma of Competitive manufacturing. Government funding is available to undertake Competitive Manufacturing training (subject to eligibility criteria). In many cases these programs can be cost neutral or better. You can turn your training department into a profit centre (Australia only). In New Zealand these programs are still subsidised. Government Subsidised Lean Manufacturing Assistance. The Improve Group is a preferred provider to the Australian and New Zealand Governments to assist industry implement productivity improvement programs using Lean methodologies. These programs can attract a 50% subsidy through the Enterprise Connect (Australia) and NZTE Lean Business Program (New Zealand). Rapid Improvement Events Accelerate your improvement program with action based Rapid Improvement Events. These include a mixture of “train and do”, normally run during a two to four hour session followed by rapid application of the learning. Carried out over a two to five day period, these workplace events are used to make a radical change in a short time. The changes are so dramatic it is hard to go back to the old way of doing things.  Used as a key tool […]

The falling current account deficit is reassuring news given the global tight market conditions, the Employers & Manufacturers Association says. But it would be a mistake to become euphoric over the improvement as debt is still growing albeit at a slower rate than hitherto, said Alasdair Thompson, EMA’s chief executive. “Our international debt is $167billion or 89 per cent of GDP,” Mr Thompson said. “Though the short term debt position has improved substantially, the challenge for kiwi businesses is to look for ways to boost export earnings much more. “The news on the balance of payments is especially welcome as it confirms that though imports came down in the March quarter, the value of our exports has been holding reasonably well despite the tight global market conditions. “Nonetheless its ironic that the main contributor to the improvement was due to foreign owned companies earning less in New Zealand and therefore expatriating less profit.

More business owners planning to sell within two years Estimated market value of businesses is changing Profit overtakes customer base as driver of business value An increasing number of business owners are planning to sell within two years, and perceptions are changing over the market value of their businesses, according to survey results released by ASB. The Q1 2010 ASB Succession Planning Monitor reveals that although the “good time to sell” index remains fairly static – with most business owners surveyed believing now is not a good time to sell – respondents are changing their perceptions about what drives the value of their business. ASB’s Chief Executive, Relationship Banking, Stewart McRobie says the impact of the economic recovery could well be influencing the results. “For the past year we have seen business owners battening down the hatches and putting off selling their businesses for the foreseeable future, or at least for the next five years,” he says. Business sale plans taking shape This quarter, however, we have seen a six percent increase in the number of business owners saying they are considering selling their business in the short term. Almost 20 percent now say they may sell within two years, as opposed to 14 percent last quarter” adds Mr McRobie. This is a significant shift in sentiment, even though the majority of business owners still say they are not planning to sell within the next five years. The next six months will be crucial in determining whether the tide really has turned in this respect,” Mr McRobie says. Encouragingly, there is also a significant drop in business owners planning to close down and sell their assets (11 percent), and an increase in those business owners with plans to sell to a current staff member (12 percent). The most popular means […]

FactoryTalk VantagePoint EMI business intelligence software for manufacturing helps empower users at every level of an enterprise. The provision of information from Web-based dashboards and reports on key performance indicators from multiple manufacturing and business data sources allow manufacturers to better monitor and manage productivity in real time. The software also allows them to make more insightful decisions about business prioritiesÑsuch as product quality, equipment utilisation and global supply-chain management. The FactoryTalk VantagePoint EMI software connects to multiple data sources’ real-time, historical, relational and transactional’ to create a single resource that can access, aggregate and correlate information via a Web browser. The application is based on a unified production model (UPM) that provides a unified view of seemingly disparate manufacturing data and gives a context for relationships among equipment, product, materials and people. The UPM organises various manufacturing and enterprise data using commonly referenced business terms, like ‘equipment’, “batches” or “manufacturing lots”. Access to this information improves decision-making for the manufacturing environmentÑfrom inventory to maintenance, quality to production, all the way through the enterprise, including the supply chain. The new business intelligence software allows users to report data through a variety of tools, including Microsoft Excel, Trend and SAP Business Objects Dashboard Builder, and view it through the FactoryTalk VantagePoint software, Microsoft SharePoint and other portals. FactoryTalk VantagePoint EMI is the second application from Rockwell Automation to leverage technology acquired from Incuity Software, and extends the functionality of the first edition, FactoryTalk VantagePoint. Both editions combine data produced by the Rockwell Automation Integrated Architecture system and other third-party production systems to provide a single access point for information that can help make better manufacturing decisions. With two versions now available, manufacturers can select the most appropriate feature set for their needs. The new application can be used to address single […]

Leading waste disposal solution supplier, Wastech Engineering, has dramatically improved its design and modelling processes by upgrading its CAD software to SolidWorks from Australian reseller, Solidtec Solutions. A leading supplier of waste management products and consulting solutions, Wastech Engineering designs and manufactures garbage and recycling chutes, compactors, bin lifters, garbage trucks and waste transfer stations. The Challenge Since every client’s waste management requirements are different, Wastech incorporates a high level of customisation in every design, using 3D CAD software to create and test its models. Wastech Mechanical Design Engineer, Andrew Puclin, said the company’s previous 3D CAD solution was extremely slow and cumbersome to use, requiring complex processes to revise design iterations. “We are a design-led company, so the CAD software we use has a huge impact on our ability to deliver results to clients in a timely manner,” said Mr Puclin.  “Because of the complexity of the previous software, we could only use it for high-end design and presenting new concepts to clients in a 3D format.” The Solution Mr Puclin had previously used SolidWorks at another company and, knowing that it would significantly enhance Wastech’s design capabilities, he persuaded management to make the switch in mid-2009. Wastech purchased three licences of SolidWorks (one Premium and two Standard) for its design engineers.  Not only does the software run more efficiently on the same hardware platform, but SolidWorks is more feature-rich and intuitive, guiding the users through the design process and enabling them to complete tasks much more quickly. “SolidWorks delivers greater functionality and ease of use, allowing us to create 3D models in half the time we used to need,” said Puclin.  “The Standard licences offer all the functionality we need to accomplish our design tasks, while the Premium version also includes advanced capabilities for simulations, stress analysis, rendering, […]

By Stephen Graham. When it comes to business, a lock-up isn’t a criminal offence, but it should be. In my view it is a crime against that most essential of business elements, cash flow. A lock-up means that while you do have cash, you cannot access it yet need it in order to fix or improve cash flow problems. So how does cash become ‘locked up’? To continue the prison analogy, there are three key crimes that cause a lock-up. One is the debtor (specifically poor debtor management), of which most businesses have plenty and indeed, over the past two years would have seen an increasing trend of more customers taking longer to pay. The second crime is having too much finished stock on hand awaiting sale. This can be a difficult balancing act as not enough stock may mean lost sales while too much stock will definitely tie up your cash. Thirdly, having raw materials or work in progress which are yet to become finished stock will lock up cash. And, the longer this transformation process takes, the bigger the problem.  Every business experiences this – even service industries including accountants where client work is delayed to the point where it cannot be invoiced because of hold ups in the job completion process. To prevent and/or manage a lock up, there are some key areas to focus on. Debtors – Focus on selling to your better customers; not necessarily those who purchase the most, but those who actually pay on time!  Poor payers get chased immediately and credit stopped. Finished Stock – Improve your stock management to reduce the potential for carrying old or obsolete items and then being forced to fire sell them.  Negotiate better terms with suppliers for delivery, pricing and payment. Ensure you understand your costs […]

The recent installation of a 60 meter pipe bridge, weighing a hefty 15 tonnes, marks the end of the first stage of construction of paint manufacturer Dulux’s new site in Gracefield, Hutt City -two weeks ahead of schedule. In a challenging exercise for the crane operators, the entire 60 metre pipe bridge was slotted into place on six support legs in a single lift, using the coordinated effort of three cranes. What made the exercise particularly complicated was the number of piping services that run across the bridge. The 60m span supports 1km of pipework in a 1.5m2 cross section and weighs a total of 15 tonnes. Once operational, the pipe bridge will transfer 200,000L of acrylic latex every week. With roading improvements also in place, the next step will be to move ten 50-60,000L tanks to the new tank farm. “We’re delighted with the progress,” said Dulux New Zealand General Manager Patrick Jones. “With stage one almost complete, we can see our investment in local manufacturing really starting to take shape.” Dulux is investing significantly to expand and reconfigure its water-based paint manufacturing operation for better traffic management, safety and logistics. Construction of the new plant, part of its $28 million investment in its Hutt Valley-based manufacturing operation, will continue in four stages until late-2011.

While Emerging Markets are leading the world out of recession, New Zealand businesses need to be well prepared and targeted before they engage with these markets, according to Peter Sherwin, a leading New Zealand business adviser for accounting firm Grant Thornton New Zealand. Commenting on a recent international survey of 7400 chief executive officers from 36 countries, Sherwin said that business leaders in emerging markets were vastly more optimistic about the prospects for their country’s economy than those for more mature economies. ‘A balance of 57% of respondents from emerging markets were optimistic about their country’s prospects in the year ahead compared with only 2% in more mature economies.  ‘The survey also looked at the countries identified as offering most opportunities and this was again led by China,  Sherwin said that for New Zealand companies to reap the undoubted benefits, they had to be thoroughly prepared and with a recommended focus on China and India. Many businesses entering the China market have found success through strategic joint ventures with a lot of information available from the likes of the Economist Intelligence Unit on the experience of other companies doing business in China. Companies need to be cautious and well advised when entering any of these markets, as fraud and corruption are systemic in many emerging markets and far removed from normal business practice in this country. Fonterra’s experience in China is a prime example of how a brand can be badly damaged by corrupt practices.                                                            ” China and India are not without these problems, but the potential benefits are enormous. Combined, India and China have in excess of two billion people and we have double tax agreements with both countries.  “India is also the largest democracy in the world, with English as the language of business along with a Commonwealth-style […]