Articles
Air Movement Reduces Condensation, Improves Workplace Safety
October 8, 2012 10:56 am | by Erin Hsu, Senior Copywriter, Big Ass Fans | CommentsIndustrial facilities worldwide have seen the condensation-busting effect of large diameter, low speed fans. These aptly-named fans range in size up to 24 feet in diameter and use their immense size, rather than speed, to efficiently move air throughout an entire space, from high ceilings to the floor, and wall to door.
Fukushima Revisited: Lessons Learned
October 8, 2012 8:26 am | by Karl Stephan, Consulting Engineer, Texas State University, San Marcos | CommentsPerhaps the most significant legacy of the earthquake will arise from what happened at the Fukushima nuclear plant, which was situated in the direct path of the tsunami. The fact that the emergency generators were in a vulnerable position where floodwaters could stop them is only one of a number of design flaws that contributed to the magnitude of the disaster.
A Better Framework For Evaluating S&OP Processes
October 5, 2012 1:25 pm | by Richard Howells, Senior Director of Solution Marketing, SAP | CommentsA plan created by such a process will ensure that the organization is able to meet its overall demand as well as customer order metrics at the lowest delivery cost. In order to achieve this dream, organizations have tried to implement a sales and operational planning (S&OP) process within their environment, but only a few organizations can claim to be satisfied with their results.
The Instructable You
October 4, 2012 3:47 pm | by Meaghan Ziemba, Associate Editor, PD&D | CommentsInstructables is a combination of things. It’s a web-based documentation platform where people with design ideas can share what they do and how they do it. They can also learn from and collaborate with others in areas such as technology, living, arts and crafts, food, kids, and outdoor living – the two most popular categories on the site are technology and living.
Q&A: Weathering The Drought
October 4, 2012 10:52 am | by Brette Simon, Transactional Attorney, Bryan Cave LLP | CommentsAs a result of this year’s drought, many food companies are already seeing an uptick in commodity prices that is impacting their bottom lines. Attorney Brette Simon discusses how the drought may impact food companies, especially when it comes to mergers and acquisitions.
Same Skills, Different Problems
October 4, 2012 8:26 am | by Alan Nicol, Executive Member, AlanNicolSolutions | CommentsSometimes, when we decide to engage in process improvement or business improvement endeavors, we feel like we need to hire or contract people with special skills. The truth is, we probably have the right skills already inside of our businesses.
Some Call It 'Correlation Matrix,' We Call It 'Golden Opportunity'
October 3, 2012 1:30 pm | by Alan Nicol, Executive Member, AlanNicolSolutions | CommentsThe golden question that shows up in Axiomatic Design, Value Engineering, Design for Six Sigma, TRIZ, and throughout history is, “How can I use this to also do that?” Our truly innovative designs and revolutionary solutions all get our attention because they have brilliantly elegant ways of addressing obvious conflicts.
Planning For FSMA Compliance
October 3, 2012 1:17 pm | by Katie Beissel, Global Industry Manager – Food and Beverage, GE Intelligent Platforms | CommentsWhile planning for these new regulations is under way by now, there are ways to optimize preparation for FSMA and any regulations that may occur in the future. One of the most important factors is to focus onfood safety risk prevention and reporting.
How Consumers Impact Medical Device Innovation
October 2, 2012 1:55 pm | by May Sayco, Industry Solutions Director, Sparta Systems | CommentsWith today’s 21st Century technology and the speed and accessibility of data or information from the internet, medical device manufacturers are faced with unique — and at times unprecedented — trends in meeting consumer needs as well as global regulatory requirements.
Functional Ingredients For Fortified Dairy
October 2, 2012 1:23 pm | by Dr. Loren Ward, Director of R&D, Glanbia Nutritionals | CommentsFrom a manufacturer’s point of view, dairy ingredients boost nutrition while enhancing functionality in products, helping to overcome formulation challenges. Therefore, fortifying products with nutritional and functional dairy ingredients is a growing trend in food manufacturing.
Hershey Visitors Create A Safe Candy Bar
October 2, 2012 7:36 am | by Eriez Manufacturing Co. | CommentsHershey’s “Create Your Own Candy Bar” attraction immerses visitors in an interactive, hands-on experience where they select their favorite ingredients, operate authentic factory equipment and design packaging for their custom-made candy bar.
Learning From Designers In All Walks Of Life At IDSA
October 1, 2012 1:20 pm | by Louise Rainone, Vice President of Marketing, PCDworks | CommentsWhat do you get when you bring leading industrial designers together for a four-day conference on the future of design in America? Engaging lectures, thought-provoking ideas, and a physically exhausting schedule of presentations followed by a packed schedule of daily networking events, otherwise known as parties.
Understanding Combustible Dust Standards For Food Manufacturing
October 1, 2012 1:16 pm | by Tony Supine, Plant Manager & Mike Walters, Senior Engineer, Camfil Farr APC | CommentsPreventing combustible dust explosions in food processing plants is a topic of widespread concern, and dust collectors are often at risk. This article describes the agencies that set and enforce standards and codes, and provides general guidelines on applying the right standards to protect against combustible dust explosions.
Averting Software Disaster
October 1, 2012 8:23 am | by Laura Woodhouse | CommentsWhen it comes to cloud computing services, it's important to use a company with expertise in the field in order to maximize data availability. Businesses should look for a company that is experienced with cloud-based services for the best results.
Sausage Company Streamlines Shrink Wrapping Efficiency
September 28, 2012 11:34 am | by Jim McMahon, Senior Writer, Zebra Communications | CommentsPackaged products have proven to be very successful, necessitating the redesign and integration of two of the company's packaging lines. The upgrade centered on a more streamlined and efficient shrink wrapping capability to process 100 percent more sandwiches through the line, while maintaining a zero product-defect rate and maximized uptime.
What’s That Noise?
September 28, 2012 8:30 am | by Patrick Rhodes, Applications Engineer, Garlock | CommentsHave you ever heard a high-pitched whine from an electric motor? Have you seen a bearing fail due to inadequate lubrication or contamination? How about a contact oil seal that has damaged your equipment? If so, chances are that a non-contact bearing isolator is available for your situation.
How [P2] Builds Energy Efficient LED And Fluorescent Lighting
September 27, 2012 3:59 pm | CommentsAt three manufacturing facilities in California, Wisconsin and Florida, Precision-Paragon [P2] is building energy efficient lighting that can reduce the energy costs for lighting systems by up to 60 percent in commercial and industrial buildings. The company built its first fixture in 1992, and some things haven’t changed in nearly 20 years.
Designing A More Patient-Proof Battery Holder
September 27, 2012 1:49 pm | by Tom Blaha, President, Memory Protection Devices | CommentsAn innovative battery holder technology makes battery replacement virtually fool-proof, providing added protection against incorrect battery replacement. For the average person, replacing a battery is highly intuitive, almost second nature. But this may not be the case for individuals who are unable to read, suffer from impaired vision or limited manual dexterity.
Tips: Successful Slide Selection
September 27, 2012 1:45 pm | by Susan Kearns, Accuride International | CommentsAlthough most designers are familiar with the basic criteria used to select slides for load bearing applications (drawer size, anticipated load, and available side space), a closer look at these criteria and other pertinent factors is necessary to make sure that the best slide is chosen for the project.
Rising Exports, Reshoring Could Help Create Millions Of Jobs
September 26, 2012 1:56 pm | CommentsCombined with jobs created as a result of reshoring, higher U.S. exports could add 2.5 million to 5 million jobs by the end of the decade, as manufacturers shift production from leading European countries and Japan to take advantage of substantially lower costs in the U.S., according to new research by The Boston Consulting Group (BCG).
