Author: Michelle Szemanski
Improving Production at the Employee Level
New technology in production management has begun to revolutionize the production industry. The implementation of this technology is relatively simple. You simply pay a company to code and install whatever tracking system you decide to go with. The bigger issue with the implementation is getting your employees to use a new system and keep up with it. It requires them to change their habits as well as get new training in some cases. How can you help motivate your employees to change to the new procedures so you can see benefits in the long run?
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Revisiting Automation: The Big Picture
When do you turn to an automation solutions company — when your current automation system fails?
Many companies regard automation systems with the bare minimum of concern, only closely examining a system when something breaks. Efficiency gets reduced to making equipment run for as long as possible with as little maintenance and attention — and therefore cost — as possible. So when an automation system breaks down, companies often replace the broken pieces with slightly newer parts that function the exact same way.
3 Factors in a Successful System Integration Project
System integration — a sometimes daunting but valuable project that coordinates the manufacturing process into a seamless whole. Integrated systems have evolved over time, but an experienced System Integrator can still make or break your integration project. What 3 factors should you consider when choosing an integration partner?
Drive Solutions: Preventative Maintenance for Variable Frequency Drives
Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs) can extend the life of your motors, but how can you extend the life of your VFD? The most expertly specified VFD is only as useful as its operational reliability. This guide reviews variable frequency drives basics of care to ensure long-term productivity and cost-effectiveness.
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The 3 Tiers of Automated Quality Inspection
Implementing or integrating an automated quality inspection system can be a daunting task. To justify the cost, the system must be highly accurate, provide analytical insight, and allow the operator to communicate with and control the system. There are three tiers to quality inspection that can help you achieve the most value from an automated system.
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Automation Solutions: Effective Alarm Management
How many blinking lights register as background noise for the operator on your plant floor?
In the design or planning phase of a project, alarms may be touted as central to the safety and efficiency of a process. But without considering the realistic use for an alarm and taking steps to ensure truly effective reactions, alarms may do more harm than good.
The real danger is that important alarms will get lost in the static. Known as “alarm fatigue,” it can dull an operator’s sensitivity to alarms when a dangerous or costly situation occurs.
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Automation Solutions: Eliminating EMI
“Please turn off all personal electronic devices, including laptops and cell phones. Thank you!”
Many of us who have boarded a commercial flight are familiar with this quirk of air travel. If you own a smartphone, it likely features a toggle called “Airplane Mode” somewhere in your settings. Why? And what does it have to do with manufacturing?
The answer is Electromagnetic Interference, or EMI.
Historically, cell phones are considered a culprit of EMI, which can impact the performance of navigation instruments in a plane. In manufacturing, EMI plays an even bigger role in producing “dirty power” that can pollute an electrical system.
This could be a major factor behind your factory’s unplanned downtime when equipment falters or the entire system shuts down.
The 3 Quiet Problems Behind the Skilled Manufacturing Shortage
A recent study by Deloitte revealed that the industry will face a shortfall of almost 2 million skilled manufacturing workers in the next decade. That’s a lot of shoes to fill. Unfortunately, manufacturers often aren’t sure how to prepare for the gap, especially in a challenging global market. Three recurring problems have been shadowing the industry for a long time, contributing to the shortage companies see today.
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Automation Solutions: Six Sigma and Quality Control
If you trace the demand for automation solutions back to the source, you’ll find the same pressures and economic pitfalls that affect manufacturing across diverse industries. The difference? How companies adapt and grow in response to a challenging market.
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Premier Automation Achieves ISNetworld Certification
PITTSBURGH, February 17, 2016 – Premier Automation is proud to announce ISNetworld certification. While many companies promise a seamless partnership, fewer businesses back up these claims with the documentation clients really need. ISNetworld (ISN) provides a portal for companies and clients to pool safety, insurance, quality and regulatory documentation to streamline projects, saving money and time for both parties. The ISN system standardizes project management to decrease incident rates and increase compliance rates.
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