For facility operations managers, initiating a 5S lean manufacturing program can reduce waste and boost productivity through better workplace organization. With each S (Sort, Set in order, Shine, Standardize, and Sustain) accounting for a separate 5S stage, the process can seem like frustrating, but does not have to be.
 
“You don’t have to get the 5S process perfect right away,” says Tina Huff, Group Product Manager at Avery Products Corporation, a commercial and industrial label manufacturer. “Just get started and keep improving over time.”
 
Because nothing is set in stone, using industrial brands for organization and identification that are created to be utilized and removed, as well as customized, can help to boost each single stage of the process.
 
Sort
 
The first 5S stage, Sort: purges clutter and unneeded goods from the work area. This leaves just the parts, tools, machines, and supplies important for daily use on the manufacturing or warehouse floor. In this phase, impermanent labels can be put on items as the facility’s staff sorts through them.
 
“One method is to mark items as TBD, and then wait a month or so,” says Huff. “When you use an item, consider how it’s used or who uses it to determine its permanent home. If you haven’t used it in that time, consider discarding it.”
 
For greatest results, ensure that to use labels that are won’t fall away during the Sort stage, however try not to cause damage or leave behind residue when you need to remove them.
 
Set in Order
 
The second stage, Set in order: locates parts, people, tools, and equipment in the most efficient, ergonomic positions, so operators do not waste time or effort searching for needed items.
 
To increase workplace productivity, identification labels can be built in to identify and classify parts, tools and equipment, so items are readily accessible and everything has a home. Racks, shelves and cabinets also make sense to label, as do smaller portable items like bins, totes and toolboxes, which help with organization.
 
Color coding labels can add another level of organization to items. With labels that are printed on a laser or inkjet printer, it is simple to include color, icons or even photos on labels. This makes it easier to quickly identify items and determine where they belong.
 
Shine
 
The third stage, Shine: makes sure the workplace stays totally free of clutter, grime and malfunction. This helps for preventing serious work breakdowns or slowdowns. In this process, cleaning and inspecting through cleaning is critical. Then again, labels that are not lasting can get torn or otherwise unreadable, which is a particular problem with barcode labels.
 
“During inspection, it’s good to replace any damaged or inaccurate labels,” says Huff. Also, keep track of machine maintenance with inspection labels so routine maintenance isn’t forgotten. This helps to prevent costly downtime and improve safety by reducing malfunction related accidents. Be sure that there's a process in place so whoever is responsible knows which machines they need to examine, and how frequently. A good inspection label will include areas for marking the date and person who conducted the inspection.
 
To reliably perform through the Shine stage, however, it is significant to create ID labels that are designed to withstand daily wear and tear, dirt, grease, oil, chemicals, and wash downs while providing good barcode readability.
 
Standardize
 
The fourth stage, Standardize: systematizes the most beneficial work methods with clear standards. Utilizing schedules, checklists and standard operating procedures are an integral part of this process.
 
Without standard operating procedures and clear processes, a facility will not run consistently and properly, even if everything is labeled accurately. Wherever possible, it is useful to place procedures and checklists on labels posted near work areas.
 
Sustain
 
The fifth stage, Sustain: trains and maintains company standards and procedures until they end up a habit and are continually followed. Because 5S is a continuous process, however, organizations will reorganize or improve processes throughout the year, as well as accommodate changes in data, format, and regulation.
 
In this case, easily removing old labels and printing custom, updated ones can be important. If not, employees can spend time tossing old labels off, using heat guns or even razor blades. They may be hesitant to update labels if it is difficult to get the old ones off, so may make do with sub-standard situations.
 
The ideal solution would be to use industrial labels for organization and identification that are very easy to adhere, resilient enough to endure harsh conditions, yet be removed cleanly when necessary, leaving no trace.
 
Available in a variety of sizes, they print easily on standard laser or inkjet printers, enabling custom, do-it-yourself labels for signs and identification. The company’s free online Design and Print Software allows customizable printing utilizing OSHA/ANSI compliant and 5S templates. Employees can create and print their own informal, official, or compliant labels from pre-designed templates or create them step-by-step at their desk. Employees find the process intuitive, since it resembles creating an office document from pre-designed templates.
 
To accommodate warehouse settings, the software’s barcode generator makes it easy to add text, graphics, serialized numbers or barcodes in a few steps. The combination of a bright white label material with superior ink/toner anchorage further enables accurate barcode scanning, even at extended distances.
 
With all the equipment, supplies, racks etc. used in industrial settings, the ability to conveniently print new 5S sign and identification labels in minutes, while being able to cleanly remove the old, will go a long way toward keeping facilities efficiently up to date without the hassle, mess, or cost.
 
This article is originally posted on tronserve.com

Led by Katsumasa Tanaka, a top climate risk researcher at the National Institute for Environmental Studies in Japan, the study examined global circumstances for transitioning from coal to gas using a novel approach that applied metrics developed for climate impact assessments to the coal-gas controversy the first time. Working on the world's main power generators — China, Germany, India, and the United States — the study evaluated the impacts from many different direct and indirect emissions of such a shift on both shorter and longer timescales covering for a few decades to a century.
 
'Many previous studies were somewhat ambivalent about the climate benefits of the coal-to-gas shift,' said Tanaka. 'Our study makes a stronger case for the climate benefits that would result from this energy transition, because we carefully chose metrics to evaluate the climate impacts in light of recent advances in understanding metrics.'
 
'Given the current political situation, we deliver a much-needed message to help facilitate the energy shift away from coal under the Paris Agreement,' Tanaka said. 'However, natural gas just isn't an end goal; we consider it as a bridge fuel on the road to more eco friendly forms of energy in the long run as we move toward decarbonization.'
 
Issues about methane leakage from natural gas have been seriously argued, in particular in the United States given the increasing use of fracking over the past decade. Recent scientific efforts have advanced understanding of the degree of methane leakage in the United States, but the possible affects of methane leakage continue highly uncertain in the rest of the world.
 
'Our conclusion that the benefits of natural gas outweigh the possible risks is robust under a broad range of methane leakage, and under uncertainties in emissions data and metrics,' Tanaka said.
 
This research was partially supported by the Environment Research and Technology Development Fund (2-1702) of the Environmental Restoration and Conservation Agency in Japan, with additional support from the Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies in Germany and the Research Council of Norway.
 
Multiple Metrics to Simultaneously Examine Short- and Long-Term Climate Impacts
 
Emissions metrics, or indicators to evaluate the impacts to climate vary from different emission types, are useful tools to gain insights into climate impacts without the need for climate model runs.
 
These metrics work similarly to weighting factors when calculating CO2-equivalent emissions from the emissions of a variety of greenhouse gases. In spite of this, the resulting climate impacts observed through CO2-equivalent emissions are sensitive to the specific metrics chosen.
 
'Because the outcome can strongly depend on which metrics are chosen and applied, there is a need for careful reflection about the meaning and implications of each specific choice,' said Francesco Cherubini, a professor at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology. 'Each emission type elicits a different climate system response. The diverging outcomes in previous studies may well stem from the type of metric that was chosen.'
 
The study joined together a number of metrics to address both short- and long-term climate impacts in parallel. It was uncovered that natural gas power plants have both smaller short- and long-term impacts than coal power plants, even when high potential methane leakage rates, a full array of greenhouse gases and air pollutants, or uncertainty issues are considered.
 
Regional Differences
 
To ensure that possible regional disparities were taken into account in the global study, the study compared global metrics with regional metrics to more precisely examine impacts.
 
'We considered a suite of so-called short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs), such as SOx, NOx, and black carbon, that can be emitted from these plants,' said Bill Collins, a professor at the University of Reading, in the United Kingdom. 'This required a regional analysis because climate impacts from SLCPs depend on where they are emitted, due to their short lifetimes in the atmosphere.'
 
Future Directions and Policy Relevance
 
The study by Tanaka and coauthors is part of an emerging body of literature that reaffirms the need to phase out coal to be able to reduce rising global temperatures and slow or reverse negative impacts of climate change.
 
Future related work could think about supply chains and trade within and across nations and other environmental factors, in addition to work on maximizing the consistency of metrics for comparing climate impacts.
 
'Air quality is not part of our analysis, but including it would likely strengthen our conclusion,' said Tanaka. Other environmental effects, such as drinking water contamination and induced seismic activities, could also add important dimensions to the debate.'
 
This article is originally posted on tronserve.com

When financing industrial or manufacturing equipment, usually there are a number of pitfalls to avoid. Some of the “gotchas” in equipment financing and leasing contracts are outright swindles, while others are more subtle. Understanding the potential financing risks can help keep from a costly and unpleasant experience when acquiring equipment.    
 
One pitfall to be aware of is “interim” or “pro-rata” rent on prefunding. Pro-rata rent means payments that are made up front of a lease or finance commencement date. Pro-rate is very much like rent on an apartment which is due on the first of the month. If a renter moved in on the 15th of the month they would be charged for half a month of rent.
 
Just picture an order for $2 million worth of production line equipment. Sellers in most cases will never start work before receiving the first progress payment (often 25-50 percent of total cost). Also imagine it will require 15 months between the first progress payment and delivery, installation and inspection of a completed production line. Then finally, assume having been approved for an 84-month term with payments of $28,000 monthly.
 
When a lender makes a payment in advance of delivery, the industry jargon word used is “pre-funding.” Many equipment leases stipulate that pro-rata payments must be made for the time period between pre-funding and delivery, installation and inspection of the completed order. In the above scenario, interim may consist of 15 months. During that time, 15 payments of $28,000 may be imposed, and those payments do not decrease the principal balance of the equipment lease or finance contract. In the above example, pro-rata could represent $420,000 in unplanned finance charges. Due to this, equipment lease companies will gladly offer to pre-fund progress payments to an equipment dealer, as those pro-rata payments represent almost pure profit.
 
Large interim payments are a usual incident in “non-bank” equipment financing. Knowing the dangers of interim payments in advance gives a company options to minimize or negotiate irrelevant finance charges. As an example, one can negotiate upfront that interim is to be paid only on the advance amount (i.e. on a 25 percent progress payment towards a $2 million equipment purchase, pro-rata can be negotiated to be paid on the $500,000 advance, versus the entire $2 million). On the other hand, short-term credit lines might be a method to fund progress payments. In some cases, qualified buyers can negotiate with equipment lenders to have pro-rata payments removed or significantly much lower.
 
The other lure to be mindful of involves equipment financing or equipment leases with a quarterly payment. These transactions also can carry “pro-rata” language within contracts which is commonly abused by unscrupulous lenders. Some lenders create lease commencement dates every business day of the year; this allows them to collect 89 days of interim rental payments regardless of the delivery date of the equipment. For example, going back to the model above with $2 million worth of equipment, slipping an extra 89 days of “rent” into a contract allows the leasing company to get an additional $83,066 in payments without creating any actual value whatsoever.
 
Evergreen lease clauses can also become a challenge for many businesses. Many equipment lease contracts are “lease to own,” meaning ownership occurs immediately upon the last payment. Other lease contracts are written as a “lease with an option to own.” Consequently after making the final payment, the company may purchase the equipment or return it. However, hidden deep within some contracts is language stipulating that intent to purchase must be made between 90 and 180 days prior to the end of the lease; failure to provide such notice can trigger an automatic 12-month extension of that lease. Back to our $2 million production line, that extension can represent an additional $336,000 in payments. Equipment lease companies often times do not notify customers of upcoming lease expirations. There have been reports of companies that have made several years of various other payments because they were unaware that leases had “rolled over.”
 
All the above financing and leasing traps can often be stopped by carefully reading any equipment financing or leasing contract. It is wise to have an attorney review contracts prior to signing; this is specifically true for purchases of equipment that exceed $150,000 in costs. A further recommendation is to have an attorney at law that specializes in equipment leasing review contracts as they should be familiar with most of the common problems that companies run into when financing equipment.  These simple steps can possibly save a company thousands when financing equipment.
 
This article is originally posted on tronserve.com

In view of the current fires and loss of life in refurbished buildings, Cintec™ has been completely aware of the danger of fire and has constantly prepared fire resistant remedial anchors and reinforcement.
 
In the earlier few years, fire has been an increasing concern when buildings are being retrofitted, restored, or modernized. On June 14th, 2017, a fire broke out in the 24 storey Grenfell Tower, widely reported as the worst residential fire to take place in the U.K since the second World War, due to failures by design.
 
As fears over fire safety spread through the country, Prime Minister Theresa May ordered a public inquiry. As claimed in the final report of the review of building regulations and fire safety, England is by no means alone in needing to augment building safety, as building regulations are a global concern.
 
Under the terms of the EC Construction Products Directive, resistance to fire is one of the important requirements for which performance tests are desired. In Europe, thin-joint mortars have become popular, thus there are a range of situations where fixings are created using organic polymers as either the tie body, or in the type of resin glues. Such ties are not inherently fire resistant and could fail and shorten the life of a cavity wall in a fire, or lead to the collapse of cladding resulting in danger to escaping occupants and fire fighters.
 
As a leader in functional preservation, Cintec™ has continually been an advocate for the restoration of safe buildings through fire-resistant anchors, as long ago as 1993 fire tests were carried out by the internationally recognized Building Research Establishment in accordance with BS476( ), ISO( ), and CEN( ). The fire rig was developed for use in the measurement of the performance of Cintec's™ anchors in a fire situation while subjected to a technical load which might be a result of wind suction of fire-induced thermal movement.
 
Cintec's™ remedial anchors survived a two-hour test without failure of any of the samples. Every sample achieved multiple hundred degrees in the part of the anchor nearest to the fire face. This suggests the anchor system can be advisable for repair work to buildings needing a fire rating of up to two hours.
 
Cintec™ Anchors were later, unintentionally, put to the test at the Fullers Brewery in London. The Cintec™ anchor system had been used greatly to repair and restore the Brewery's facade. A brutal fire followed, destroying large sections of the building. Irrespective of the brickwork being subjected to exceptionally high temperatures, tests revealed that the cementitious Cintec™ anchors did not fail, executing to their original design. They retained their integrity and could be reused for the repair work. If the anchors were an epoxy or resin type, they would have melted, releasing probably damaging fumes in the process and have been conveniently pulled out, granting the wall to crash. One could say that the Cintec™ Anchors having survived the fire are in fact fire proof.
 
In New York City, according to the NYC Buildings Department, adhesive anchors are not granted to assist fire-resistance rated construction unless the use of such anchors meets the conditions set forth in the recognition criteria. Post-installed anchors in masonry must be manufactured in accordance with the NYC Construction Codes, describing the masonry substrate type and condition, as well as proof of pull tests.
 
Howard Zimmerman, the well-known NY Architects, had issues about the lack of fire ratings for resin-based anchor systems in high rise apartments near Central Park, New York. After analyzing Fire Test Data and performance tests on a severely damaged building after a fire, it was determined that the Cintec™ System was the best anchor to meet the project engineers' concerns.
 
Cintec™ anchors are the cementitious fire-resistant alternative to resin anchors. Since Cintec's™ anchors are based on reliable restoration materials, cementitious grout and stainless steel, they easily provided the elusive fire rating typically absent in other systems.



This article is originally posted on Tronserve.com

MONTERREY, MEXICO (April 15, 2019) - Allied Machine & Engineering presents their hottest GEN3SYS XT Pro high-penetration insert fashioned particularly for beam and plate production at FABTECH, May 7th - 9th, in booth #1417. In addition to this material-specific innovation, Allied highlights the Revolution drill and Structural Steel T-A drill, both of which are engineered to excel in structural steel applications.
 
With an specialized combination of substrate and multilayer coating, the hottest XT Pro insert is engineered to withstand the heat generated while drilling in structural steel beams or plates in high production facilities. The unique composition of carbide grade, geometry, and high-temp coating are created to run at or beyond current O.E.M. rates while offering stretched tool life.
 
A constant issue in stacked plate applications appears when the insert spins along with the exit disc produced from the first plate of steel. This can crush the insert and result in catastrophic tool failure. Allied's stacked plate Revolution drill has an flexible diameter and is created to drill through plates with up to 0.125' gap, eliminating the problematic exit disc. The Revolution drill doesn't require a pilot hole, reducing set-up time, and the adjustable diameter allows for reduced tooling inventory.
 
The Structural Steel T-A drill makes optimal results when drilling holes in I-beams and H-beams. For example, a recent customer manufacturing over 100,000 tons of steel
beams, bars, and ductwork increased their penetration rate from 1.05 IPM to 3.52 IPM using the Original T-A structural steel drill, reducing their cycle time by 70%.



This article is originally posted on Tronserve.com

MINNEAPOLIS, MN (April 23, 2019) - Turck offers the FEN20-4IOL industrial Ethernet I/O module, which uses IO-Link to increase device configuration, monitoring and replacement in industrial applications.
 
The compact block comes with four IO-Link stations. It is best for a wide range of industries, including manufacturing where space is at a premium, on robot end-effectors where small I/O is required, and in automotive manufacturing and Tier 1 plants. In addition to the device functioning as an IO-Link master, each of the IO-Link (C/Q) pins can optionally be configured as digital input or output.
 
The FEN20-4IOL is also a Field Logic Controller (FLC). As an FLC, the module can carry out control tasks at the field level. This lets users to carry out simpler applications without the need for an alternative PLC. In most advanced applications, the FLC function offers the processing requirement for the parent control system. Configuration and programming are carried out via Turck's ARGEE web-based engineering system.
 
With multi-protocol plug-and-play features, the FEN20 devices are instantly ready for use in PROFINET®, Modbus® TCP or EtherNet/IP™ systems. The device finds the protocol used by listening to the communication traffic during the startup phase. The FEN20 device calculates just 55x62.5x30 mm and carries an IP20 rating, and fits in tiny control boxes, control panels or other existing housings.
 
The FEN20-4IOL is furnished with an integrated EtherNet switch and a built-in web server to show diagnostic information and provide access to device settings parameters. The web page was provided with a responsive design so that even a smartphone can be used for simple diagnostics.



This article is originally posted on Tronserve.com

The Paris Fire Brigade has seen its share of logistical challenges, but the massive conflagration that consumed parts of the Notre Dame Cathedral on the night of 15 April required a fight of epic proportions. The cathedral is 856 years old and built in a style that produces it nearly structurally impossible to have a fire. The site increases as both a wildly trendy tourist attraction and a holy site for Christians. Defending this symbol of French heritage would ask all the tactical and physical power the Brigade had at its disposal—human and otherwise.
 
Soon after firefighters came at the scene, the cathedral’s large spire began to reveal signs of collapsing into the building. For onlookers, a collapse would be a devastating loss of a faith based and cultural monument; for the Paris fire brigade, it would jeopardize the lives of the more than 400 firefighters already on the scene.
 
It was time to bring in the robot.
 
Colossus, a remote-controlled firefighting automaton fashioned and made by Shark Robotics, looks a bit like an army tank—if the tank were finished fire-engine red, retrofitted with a large hose instead of a gun turret, and shrunk down to the size of a large dog. It can project water up to distances of 250 meters. With its heat- and water-resistant chassis and powerful all-terrain treads, Colossus led the way into the most dangerous areas of the cathedral, extinguishing flames and cleaning away debris that could have harmed its human operators.
 
By midmorning on the 16th, the blaze was perfectly extinguished. The cathedral’s giant spire, along with the roof and internal scaffolding, had collapsed; a nation was in mourning. But no human lives were lost, and Colossus was well on its way to being an international robot celebrity.



This article is originally posted on Tronserve.com

Vention, a next-generation digital manufacturing platform for automated equipment, announced today the launch of its Certified System Integrator (CSI) Program, which will further grow its services from online machine design and programming to the field commissioning of equipment at end clients’ facilities. Building on Vention’s “design-to-order” digital workflow, the CSI Program enables end clients to deploy complicated factory automation projects — all while holding the ease-of-use and speed of the Vention platform.
 
Vention clients are now able to link with trusted system integrators for value-added services, such as equipment assembly, machine calibration and commissioning, custom software development, maintenance services, and operator training. Vention's Certified System Integrator (CSI) Network currently provides coverage all over the United States, Canada, and Eastern Europe, and will be widening coverage gradually through-out 2019 and early 2020. ' Since our first release in 2017, the Vention platform has matured substantially,' says Patrick Halde, VP of Business Development at Vention. 'Our clients are running on projects ranging from standalone automated gadgets to completely automating an entire section of a factory floor. Vention's CSI Network will permit us to broaden our scope of services all the way to final field commissioning.'
 
The CSI Program benefits end clients by providing:
 
A curated list of reliable system integrators with in-depth knowledge of Vention's technology
Flexible value-added services, from simple assembly to finish turnkey solutions
On-site assistance for equipment manufactured and requested on the Vention platform
System integrators chosen to join Vention's CSI Program have certain expertise in their given industries, notably in machine design, conventional automation and automation software development. In addition, Certified System Integrators have taken part in a comprehensive on-site training on the full electronic stack of the Vention platform. This includes designing in Vention's 3D MachineBuilder™, commissioning and programming our MachineMotion™ controller, and integrating our plug-and-play automation components.
 
'We are pleased to partner with a com
pany that not only offers a superior product but is highly responsive and delivers in days instead of weeks,' says Doug Spinn, President at Robot27 now part of Vention's network of trusted integrators.



This article is originally posted on Tronserve.com

The 2019 option will be held from 29th April to 2nd May, 2019, at Long Beach Convention Center, Long Beach, California.
At the 2019 edition Stewart Davis will be exhibiting the paper: 'TuPOD, Cube Satellite and Tube Satellite dispenser produced via 3D Printing, profitable launch orbit and dispensing of Two TubeSat'.
The speech is set for 2nd May, 8:45AM, at Long Beach Convention Center, room 202C, in the track: 'Next-Generation Additive Manufacturing'.
Stewart Davis will describe how the use of Windform® composite materials, primarily created for the Motorsports industry by CRP Technology, is now acquiring many uses in space exploration, especially as structural materials for space applications.
Mr. Davis will also illustrate how the employment of Windform® inaugurated a new era in aerospace missions. Highlighted at AeroDef Manufacturing® will be the case study that follows the successful construction and launch of the TuPod.
Additive manufacturing technologies have attained new heights with the production of constructive components for the new generation of Space parts using Windform composite materials.
Under the guidance of Stewart Davis, CRP USA's crafted up substantial experience supplying cutting edge solutions for space key industry leaders that chose to manufacture in the Windform® family of materials.
Based in Mooresville, North Carolina, CRP USA employs a highly competent staff that is skilled in the manufacturing and creation of end-use parts and prototypes created from Windform high performance composite materials for LS technology.
With new projects and new developing perspectives in the field of AM, CRP USA contributes to mark new milestones in the most challenging and harsh 3d printed applications arena. In fact it has been the technological partner of space applications such as the construction of a CubeSat in additive manufacturing, gathering the interest of the most important bodies involved in space engineering.
 
AeroDef Manufacturing® is an aerospace manufacturing and defense manufacturing conference and trade show for the aerospace and defense manufacturing industry.
AeroDef showcases the industry's most expert technologies across an innovative floor plan fashioned to facilitate interaction and business relationships between exhibitors and buyers looking for integrated solutions.



This article is originally posted on Tronserve.com

Efficiency is critical in most business operations and, most notably, manufacturing. Like judges in a footrace, customers usually only care about the result of a production “run”—the product itself. They don’t want to know how many working hours it took to assemble it; they could care less about how long it takes to move components across the factory floor. Their sole interest is getting the product they want at an appropriate price point and within a reasonable time frame.
 
Lean manufacturing is the industry’s equivalent to a runner optimizing his form. Toyota process guru Shigeo Shingo at the start put together the philosophy as a means of getting rid of the costs posed by human error and inefficiency.  As business researcher and author Michael Schrage highlights in an article for Harvard Business Review, Shingo’s ideas about lean manufacturing hung heavily on his attention to detail. Shrage writes, “Shingo looked for the simplest, cheapest, and surest way to eliminate foreseeable process errors. To make sure an assembler uses three screws, for example, package the screws in groups of three. Obvious? Perhaps. But “obvious” is frequently an underutilized and underappreciated asset.”
 
Let’s consider a real-world example.
 
A few years ago, I had the chance to tour a Panasonic refrigerator factory that had made “lean” thinking a central focus of its operations for over a decade. The work showed; that operation was undoubtedly one of the most reliable I had seen in my time working in the industry.
 
Here’s how it worked — rather than maintain a unique line for each variety of refrigerator, Panasonic created a manufacturing process that facilitated mix-model production on a single conveyor. This technique might not have worked if each product had to be painstakingly crafted according to model; nevertheless, Panasonic could maintain a single-stream process because they had developed a series of processes that allowed for mix model production. One of these is the dies used stamp out frames and doors were designed in order to be exchanged in below thirty seconds, in the place of the hours the same task would have demanded in a more traditional manufacturing environment. Each of the dies weighed tens of thousands of pounds and were likely challenging to integrate into the manufacturing operation, but having them enhanced operational flexibility for the manufacturer.
 
The benefits of lean manufacturing are intuitive. Manufacturers can save money during production, make better use of their workers’ time, and boost their capacity. The research on the potential for financial gain from “lean” thinking is limited, however it does offer some positive findings. In 2008, analysts partnered with Boeing to assess how lean manufacturing affected the company’s productivity on select projects. They found that lean initiatives resulted in a 28 percent reduction in labor cost, 60 percent of anomaly-caused time losses, 45 percent reduction in cycle time, and a 24 percent reduction in non-conformances. While these statistics are from a limited sample pool and don’t stand as hard-and-fast benchmarks, they do indicate a potential for savings and gains.
 
Value
Before manufacturers can grow to be “lean,” they need to build up a better sense of what their customers value. Typically, this requires some research into industry-established price points, expected quality, and typical turnaround times. Doing so will set up a few of the parameters for the company to use to develop productivity goals.
 
Value Stream
After the manufacturer has established their value parameters, they have to address the production process itself and identify any aspects that fail to create value. Rooting out these time-wasting steps will both allow for greater effectiveness and provide the manufacturer with a more comprehensive understanding of the production process.
 
Flow
All of the time-saving changes in the world will not likely make a difference if a production line is deficient in flow. If one area of production is hyper-efficient and the next slow, the line will inevitably form a bottleneck at the point of conflict. It's significant that manufacturers implement time-saving changes in order that the overall flow of production remains stable.
 
Pull
Developing pull requires manufacturers to improve their time to market benchmarks so as that customers won't need to suffer through extensive waiting periods. Having good “pull” isn't only a plus for the consumer, then again — short turnarounds empower manufacturers to produce on an as-needed basis, and thereby save them from the expense of accumulating a preemptive stockpile of products.
 
Perfection
There is never an endpoint for advancement. Being “lean” is a mentality, rather than a task; in this case, these thinkers strive for greater ability even though they implement massive innovations. Perfection may not exist — but lean manufacturers will continue to reach for it.
 
This article is originally posted on tronserve.com

Industry 4.0. technologies are enabling manufacturers to digitize their factories. One of the most important of these technologies is Internet of Things (IoT). Powered by connectivity and sensors, it generates actionable, near real-time data insights about the condition of physical things in the factory and throughout the supply chain. This put together with data analytics, new technologies and a fast network is helping manufacturers better manage their assets and boost efficiency in production.
 
Manufacturers today deal with unprecedented pressure. They must manage evermore complex global supply chains and new logistics models, grab hold of new ways of working, and handle the constant threat of cyberattacks. Customers are demanding more individualized products. Yet, customer loyalty is more hard to maintain as competition intensifies. Plus, all of this is playing out against the backdrop of a growing skilled-labor shortage.
 
To alleviate these pressures, more and more ambitious manufacturing companies are now utilizing faster networks, IoT and other technologies.
 
Here’s some of the ways IoT can help benefit manufacturing companies:
 
Workforce productivity: Manufacturers may use mobile IoT solutions to strengthen their employees. With near real-time factory floor insights, employees can easily locate and manage assets, monitor materials for quality, and develop worker safety.
 
Predictive maintenance: Remotely monitoring equipment with IoT improves ensure machines are correctly adjusted for most effective use and high-quality output. It also implies predictive maintenance. This can help manufacturers save time and money by repairing or replacing equipment before it fails.
 
Supply chain management: Tracking the location of assets in transit permits manufacturers predict when shipments will arrive. Paired with near real-time analytics, fleet solutions can allow end-to-end visibility of goods throughout the supply chain.
 
Near real-time insights: With IoT sensors and other devices set up on the factory floor and across the supply chain, manufacturers can gain near real-time workable insights via data analytics. But this will require an IoT asset management platform that supports multiple devices, communication protocols, networks and cloud environments, and that combines with existing enterprise systems.
 
IoT in Action: Data and Insights on a Global Scale
 
One global manufacturer, for instance, turned to IoT to boost performance in all these areas. As a leader in the design, production and servicing of commercial products, it enclosed connectivity inside the goods and services it brings to market. This combined with a global mobility solution provided entry to near real-time information and insights for the company’s research and development teams and its service technicians in the field. Remote technicians were further backed with a fleet management solution that promoted safety and efficiency. 
 
Back on the factory floor, Wi-Fi coverage and end-to-end network services meant on-demand capabilities. This works the company optimize operations and more perfectly scale capacity up or down to manage with business fluctuations.
 
On the whole, this combination of connectivity and data helped build up a complete view of the company’s assets including manufacturing equipment, inventory, vehicles, installed units and people, also their individual capability and efficiency. Finally, to ensure this information remained a competitive advantage, and not a liability, the total network is secured through the cloud.
 
This manufacturer is both huge and global. It’s not unique in its need for greater insight into operations. IoT solutions can help manufacturing companies of any size to proportion and act in response in near real-time to their operational and market challenges.
 
It doesn’t halt with IoT. We could see other technologies being implemented to increase the manufacturing industry such as 5G, or 5th generation mobile networks.
 
Together with Samsung Electronics America, Inc. and Samsung Austin Semiconductor, LLC., we’re working towards the future of Industry 4.0 connected manufacturing. The strategy is to give insights into the future of a smart factory. We're working with each other to explore use cases and technologies such as industrial IOT sensors that monitor for environmental and equipment conditions which include vibration, temperature and speed as well as location services to help develop safety. 5G promises to someday have a major impact on manufacturing by helping to unlock new experiences in augmented reality, powerful machine learning and intelligent robotics.
 
The future of manufacturing is already here through IoT and on-demand, next-generation networking technologies. What creates the shift to Industry 4.0 much more thrilling is that it goes far beyond manufacturing to transform not only how modern factories work, but also how things are designed, used and serviced.
 
This article is originally posted on tronserve.com

For legacy businesses, there might be a disconnect from how a digitized supply chain will enhance the bottom line. In fact, IBM reports that 84 percent of manufacturers polled in a recent survey express that they have implemented real-time data sharing into their supply chains, but only 13 percent have done so efficiently. So how can supply chain management close the gap between implementation and optimization?
 
In the relatively first stages of supply chain digitization, the ongoing transformation of our industrial supply chain is unlikey the first large scale disruption to sweep through the business world. If we look back through history, every generation has seen major challenges driven by technology — the railroad, the telephone, the automobile, the television, and now the internet. What’s unique about today’s modernization is its unprecedented speed, enabled by new tools that act faster than human beings. Done well, this digitization also has the capability to turn the supply chain into a strategic profit driver, woven deep within the fabric of every competitive business.
 
We’ve witnessed first-hand, organizations are rethinking their approach to supply chain planning by integrating several individual phases of the system into one full circle system. Planning is typically siloed, with separate work streams for inventory, demand, and transportation. Progressively we are beginning to see planning happen across these areas simultaneously. The breaking down of these walls are enabled by the consolidation of emerging technology, including but not limited to:
 
·         Artificial Intelligence (AI)/Big Data
Aggregation and analysis of massive amounts of data to identify and respond to trends in customer demand
·         Advanced Robotics and machine learning
Modern warehouse management, plus “non-physical” robotics, like database tools for deeper trend analysis that can help predict the future
·         Automation/3D printing
Delivering custom service that meets the most specific, time-sensitive customer demands
 
The implementation of emerging technologies triggers satisfillment among fulfillment center employees and end consumers alike. In this situation, satisfillment is when simple processes make the issues of e-commerce a thing of the past. At Project Verte, this is our purpose - new supply chain technology is one component of a full circle experience for e-commerce businesses. With a digitized supply chain, companies are enabled to better serve customers and outdo expectations, ultimately getting to satisfillment. Early adopters are fervent about these new tools, but the rest of the world still grapples with how to start establishing more technology into their systems. Lots of people are just beginning to experiment and run initial programs — largely the big businesses and agile start-ups, while most, not all, mid-sized companies are eagerly watching.
 
The journey may seem daunting, so we recommend the following steps to make it more manageable:
·         Put emphasis on durable value: Before embarking on this journey, have an honest talk with board members to lay out how the investment in digitization will add value.
·         Mitigate employee fears: Digitization doesn’t always cause job loss. The fact is, these new technologies have the potential to upskill employees for the long term.
·         Don’t reinvent the wheel: Tap into specialized partners who have the institutionalized knowledge and assets to help implement your new business solutions.
·         Set manageable goals: Business transformation can take time. Break up the integration into manageable stages and frequently review what is working to ensure the process is on track.
 
The digitization of the supply chain is indicatory of a a lot more profound trend — the disruption of the business model. Organizations today who are going through a transformation have much different considerations than they might have had five years ago. Start out digitizing because the sidelines are no place for business.
 
This article is originally posted on tronserve.com

Commerce is not any longer described as a simple transaction of a product or service. In the past, the buying process only looked at a transaction in stores, through a direct salesman or supplier, or through an online storefront or portal, however nowadays it has evolved to be much more. With the merging of advanced technology, which includes artificial intelligence and voice, technology has pushed the commerce industry into a digital evolution. It's from these innovations that brands are now connected with customers directly and on a more personal level to change the consumer buying experience by and large.
 
The State of Disruption in Manufacturing
 
This digital development has escalated further to shake up the manufacturing industry. With numerous digital and technological innovations, it's hard for manufacturers to know what direction is best for their company. In order to prevent the common digitization mistakes, manufacturers need to give attention to new processes and strategies to look at how commerce can transform the core of their business.
 
Digital disruption has unsealed a new world of commerce opportunities for manufacturers, enabling companies and brands to make more personalized relationships and boost revenue when new practices are applied correctly. It’s by tracking commerce trends and experimenting with new technological solutions that manufacturers can find out what will and what will not help the manufacturing industry advance digitally.
 
The following the top trends contract manufacturing organizations should track to help them turn out to be a superior and mature brand that dominates within the commerce space.
 
Emphasizing Innovation:
Gone are the times where a simple passive website was sufficient. Today’s manufacturing industry is demanding that everything is digital: commerce, product catalogs, self-service portals plus much more. Companies are using the digital space to their advantage to deliver personalization and use digital technology that can take the load off on routine transactions and requests.
 
Digital-First Strategies:
Pop-up manufacturers and startups are seeing great results from establishing a primary targeted audience exclusively through digital. These early companies are then beginning to disrupt the industry by opening physical retail stores with an already established customer base. Digital has reduced startup costs now more than ever before, calling for established brands to know that new consumer companies are only going to continue to grow and disrupt the space.
 
Omni-Channel Fluidity:
Technological enhancements in recent years have provided manufacturers the power to experiment with different channels in order to enhance customer experiences. Half of purchases are made via mobile, and some experimental brands are screening the waters by incorporating artificial intelligence in order to help clients purchase through voice interaction and voice-controlled devices, like Amazon and Alexa. Never the less, there is one key takeaway when looking at the fluidity of the customer experience: customers are in control of the buying process. Companies really need to support their customers aside from their chosen channels for purchase.
 
Personalization: The right place at the right time:
Customers wish personalization. To enable manufacturers to hit your objectives, they need to take a deep dive into their target consumer and know their buyers inside and out. Buyers want to be shown that companies recognize their wants and needs, with brands delivering personalized promotional offers and relevant content directed to specifically to them.
 
Data Driven Actions:
While customer relationships are vital, that shouldn't be the only point of concentration. In order to really guide sales pursuits, manufacturers need to make leveraging data a top priority. Sellers have a huge amount of data at their fingertips that they are able to make use of to promote their products. Leveraging artificial intelligence and machine learning can help create informed conversations, digital experiences, product offers and pricing across all sales channels. By sharing relevant reports with all direct sellers and translating them into actionable insights, they can present product offerings that customers are likely to order.
 
The Future of Manufacturing
 
Both the manufacturing and commerce industries have reached a digitally driven age, where new technological improvements and techniques are consistently evolving. To ensure manufacturers to survive, it is our predominant concern that high-level executives and CMOs utilize these evolving technologies and follow the latest commerce trends. As they continue to evolve, they're going to become digitally mature and lead the market through personalized businesses strategies tailored towards their customers.
 
This article is originally posted on tronserve.com

Increasing personal and team productivity calls for notable efficiency. Ensure that these practices get your attention:
 
Leverage technology
 
Accept and promote new trends, devices, and software as they appear. Let your workers use their own devices for business purposes if they desire. Why shouldn't you take benefit from a productivity source you don't have to pay for?
 
For the time being, give instant 'anywhere' access to workplace information. Let group members work from alternate locations with Wi-Fi when it's practical. When a person from my office manager's family is ill, it's easy to let her work from home during the day, and thus she can still be productive.
 
With Wi-Fi, Evernote, and all the snazzy apps we have access to, staff members can tap into work information irrespective of where they are. Give them a secure, reliable way to share ideas and communicate, enabling more flexibility and change-responsiveness.
 
Set and track efficiency goals
 
After you've pared your strategies down to size and set up goals with your team, set certain schedules for achievement. As it is with any project, break desired goals into controllable pieces, each with its own milestones and deadlines. Once you've achieved a goal, re-tune and set a new one.
 
Measure everything
 
You can better influence things when you can understand them, therefore be mindful of all the metrics that matter for your team. Use an accountability system, project management software, SharePoint, a common spreadsheet on Google Docs, Outlook Task Assignments, or a scoreboarding system that tracks important team metrics. The systems you use may be off-the-shelf or proprietary; it doesn't matter so long as you use them consistently.
 
Brainstorm regularly
 
Meet with your team from time to time to give eachother ideas on how best to achieve your strategic priorities and improve processes and procedures. Try to get areas of overlap and eliminate redundancy. Talk over what your team is doing that is deficient in value.
 
Remove steps that not any longer apply when something changes, and be certain that each person documents everything, so new people can get up to speed quickly. Remove your thought filters and let your ideas cross-fertilize to see what types of interesting hybrids result. Take a look at concepts from other fields, and how they might apply to yours. What would you like to do if it were possible?
 
The benefits of consistent training
 
For your team members to be productively efficient and effective, they need the right tools. This is an essential return on investment (ROI) tactic. Some personnel need blazing-fast computing power; others need smartphones and tablets that let them work on the go; still others might require specialized instruments to maximise their performance. Whatever the case, they all need constant training, undertaken as often as necessary to stay ahead of the changes rolling through your field.
 
None of us wants to spend money if they don't have to. But do remember, in business, what matters isn't what you spend now, but how much money you make later. You have to make short-term investments for long-term gain. It's all about ROI. Done correctly, training produces the extraordinary levels of ROI you need to stay ahead of the game.
 
This article is originally posted on tronserve.com

Commerce is not any longer described as a simple transaction of a product or service. In the past, the buying process only looked at a transaction in stores, through a direct salesman or supplier, or through an online storefront or portal, however nowadays it has evolved to be much more. With the merging of advanced technology, which includes artificial intelligence and voice, technology has pushed the commerce industry into a digital evolution. It's from these innovations that brands are now connected with customers directly and on a more personal level to change the consumer buying experience by and large.
 
The State of Disruption in Manufacturing
 
This digital development has escalated further to shake up the manufacturing industry. With numerous digital and technological innovations, it's hard for manufacturers to know what direction is best for their company. In order to prevent the common digitization mistakes, manufacturers need to give attention to new processes and strategies to look at how commerce can transform the core of their business.
 
Digital disruption has unsealed a new world of commerce opportunities for manufacturers, enabling companies and brands to make more personalized relationships and boost revenue when new practices are applied correctly. It’s by tracking commerce trends and experimenting with new technological solutions that manufacturers can find out what will and what will not help the manufacturing industry advance digitally.
 
The following the top trends contract manufacturing organizations should track to help them turn out to be a superior and mature brand that dominates within the commerce space.
 
Emphasizing Innovation:
Gone are the times where a simple passive website was sufficient. Today’s manufacturing industry is demanding that everything is digital: commerce, product catalogs, self-service portals plus much more. Companies are using the digital space to their advantage to deliver personalization and use digital technology that can take the load off on routine transactions and requests.
 
Digital-First Strategies:
Pop-up manufacturers and startups are seeing great results from establishing a primary targeted audience exclusively through digital. These early companies are then beginning to disrupt the industry by opening physical retail stores with an already established customer base. Digital has reduced startup costs now more than ever before, calling for established brands to know that new consumer companies are only going to continue to grow and disrupt the space.
 
Omni-Channel Fluidity:
Technological enhancements in recent years have provided manufacturers the power to experiment with different channels in order to enhance customer experiences. Half of purchases are made via mobile, and some experimental brands are screening the waters by incorporating artificial intelligence in order to help clients purchase through voice interaction and voice-controlled devices, like Amazon and Alexa. Never the less, there is one key takeaway when looking at the fluidity of the customer experience: customers are in control of the buying process. Companies really need to support their customers aside from their chosen channels for purchase.
 
Personalization: The right place at the right time:
Customers wish personalization. To enable manufacturers to hit your objectives, they need to take a deep dive into their target consumer and know their buyers inside and out. Buyers want to be shown that companies recognize their wants and needs, with brands delivering personalized promotional offers and relevant content directed to specifically to them.
 
Data Driven Actions:
While customer relationships are vital, that shouldn't be the only point of concentration. In order to really guide sales pursuits, manufacturers need to make leveraging data a top priority. Sellers have a huge amount of data at their fingertips that they are able to make use of to promote their products. Leveraging artificial intelligence and machine learning can help create informed conversations, digital experiences, product offers and pricing across all sales channels. By sharing relevant reports with all direct sellers and translating them into actionable insights, they can present product offerings that customers are likely to order.
 
The Future of Manufacturing
 
Both the manufacturing and commerce industries have reached a digitally driven age, where new technological improvements and techniques are consistently evolving. To ensure manufacturers to survive, it is our predominant concern that high-level executives and CMOs utilize these evolving technologies and follow the latest commerce trends. As they continue to evolve, they're going to become digitally mature and lead the market through personalized businesses strategies tailored towards their customers.
 
This article is originally posted on tronserve.com

Step aside, reindeer — robot dogs are hauling this stream.
 
In an ominous video titled “Mush, Spot Mush!” posted on YouTube Tuesday, robot maker Boston Dynamics showed off the sheer power of its SpotMini quadripedal robot dog. The clip shows 10 specialized Spotmini derivatives called Spotpower hauling a box truck all-around a parking lot — and at a one degree incline.
 
The robot maker established in 2018 that it will start promoting SpotMini robot dogs to the public this year. The 66 pound robot can climb stairs, cross a wide variety of different terrain and carry 31 pounds.
 
Possible applications range from home use to private security. The caption of today’s video launched that the Spotpower model will be sold to the public for a “ range of applications soon.”
 
What specifically those applications will look like and how much a Spotpower will get for is still confusing. But it’s an awesome feat of energy and agility that sets the bar for later commercial robots.



This article is originally posted on Tronserve.com

Boston, 2 April 2019 - Boston Dynamics today revealed the acquisition of Kinema Systems, a Menlo Park-based company that makes industrial robotic arms with deep learning technology to locate and move boxes on complex pallets.
 
Using a combination of vision detector and deep learning software, Kinema Systems’ Pick technology works with leading commercial robotic arms to move boxes off pallets to conveyors or build stacks of boxes on pallets. Pick enables logistics, retail, and manufacturing companies to achieve high rates of box moving with minimal set up or training for both multi-SKU and single-SKU pallets.
 
“ Bringing the Kinema team into Boston Dynamics expands our notion and learning capabilities while the Pick product increases our entry into the logistics market,” said Boston Dynamics Founder and CEO Marc Raibert. “ Beyond being a powerful tool for industrial robotic arms, Kinema technology will help our mobile manipulation robots tackle a wide variety of complex real-world tasks.”
 
Pick joins Boston Dynamics’ freshly upgraded Handle platform in handling the logistics industry. Last week, Boston Dynamics released a video of Handle performing both multi-SKU palletizing and depalletizing to conveyor tasks.
 
While development continues on Handle, Boston Dynamics plans to sell and support Pick for interested customers starting now.
 
Sachin Chitta, founder of Kinema Systems said, “Boston Dynamics’ reputation for innovation fits perfectly with our mission of developing the next generation of vision-enabled warehouse robots.”
 
The team at Kinema Systems will establish Boston Dynamics’ first office in Silicon Valley. With plans to expand the team in the Bay Area this year, they will focus on developing and selling advanced robotics products for the logistics market as well as researching, developing and applying deep learning and vision to the Boston Dynamics family of robots. 
 
The Boston Dynamics team will run live demos of Pick at Promat, a leading trade show for supply chain and manufacturing automation, from 8 - 11 April in Chicago at Booth S3347a.



This article is originally posted on Tronserve.com

Regardless of the excitement that exists around it, we have to consider that in its current format, Artificial Intelligence is actually really limited with what it can offer. Why? Because AI and ML are based on data - it doesn’t have opinions of its own. When I talk to Alexa, I can ask it what the weather will be tomorrow, the bookies favourite for the next Bond actor or how long to roast a chicken for, and it will be able to give you a fairly accurate answer. Yet when, after the 1000th time that week of hearing it, I ask why the song Baby Shark went viral, I’m faced with silence.
 
But even though you can have a lot of fun testing the ability of your Alexa or other AI technology, there are some practical applications of AI that can transform the workplace.
 
As a society, we are beginning to interchange the terms Artificial Intelligence (AI) & Machine Learning (ML) without fully determining what the nuances are between them. AI can be expressed as intelligent machines that emulate a human’s approach to solving challenges. An extension of this, is machine learning which is the act of leveraging vast amounts of data to automate a response.
 
Merchants for sample, will be able to identify if a credit card machine isn’t working and have pre-prepared back-up plans based on different predictions. Healthcare will be able to offer the most durable environment to their clinicians and enable them to present improved patient care through mobile working, safe in the knowledge that patient data won’t be sacrificed.
 
It’s not just enterprises either – the administration of sensors in smart cities, or the improvement of data security in school districts are other use cases for a comprehensive intelligence-driven cloud-based service that can provide intelligence and visibility. As Brian Troudy, Director, Networking and Infrastructure of Corona-Norco Unified School District explains, VMware’s Workspace ONE intelligence will provide the organization with a way to automate security practices and give access to metrics that will help to improve user experience for teachers, administrators and students.
 
“ It’s a clear win-win for our staff and students,” he says.
 
It’s time modern working environments used modern management tools, and automated threat detection. Security responses need to be part of this shift towards a more AI-driven workforce. It is no longer acceptable to use security as an excuse for poor employee experience. Employees demand the latest tools and devices, with one-click access to corporate resources, while maintaining high levels of security. The only way this can be achieved is through AI. But remember that AI on its own will only become another isolated service, true value will be gleaned when it is integrated as part of an overall API integrated ecosystem.



This article is originally posted on Tronserve.com