Burlington, Ontario -- (SBWIRE) -- 07/16/2010 -- Few industries operate on as tight a margin as food manufacturing. The ability to develop accurate job cost data and production standards is make or break. According to John Rattray, Senior Executive with Memex Automation, “We suggest a low cost, single machine ‘Pilot’ system, so companies can experience real-time monitoring, reporting and analysis of production and performance OEE data from all manufacturing equipments.”
John Rattray recently discussed Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) in a feature article by manufacturing journalist TR Cutler, titled “Overall Equipment Effectiveness in Food Production.” The article appears in the current issue of the Food and Beverage Journal, published by FEP Executive Search.
Memex Automation Inc., www.memex.ca, a unit of Astrix Networks Inc., was created to leverage the research and development of Memex Electronics, which was founded in 1992.
Memex continues its tradition of serving the discrete manufacturing sector, supplying component hardware, memory upgrades, and visionary shop floor communication technology.
Memex products allow a manufacturer to “Automate the Automation” to increase productivity and decrease costs. Memex Automation focuses on delivering value with Real-Time Machine Monitoring and Control, which utilizes OEE+DNC solutions that boost efficiency by up to twenty percent with minimal capital investment. Memex Automation is based in Burlington, Ontario.
Food Quality Assurance Managers are being instructed to prevent problems and require a real-time performance OEE (Overall Equipment Effectiveness) dashboard to view the plant.
These data must capture metrics from each machine as well as run time, down time, cycle time, production rate. Other data needed include production and scrap counts and process (dwell, duration, inject, form, fill) time.
“C-Level Food Executives also want Food Plant Managers to develop accurate job cost data and production standards, compare actual results against standards to ensure accurate product costing. This information must be accurate and technology solutions must deliver data with the ability to analyze performance by shift, department, lot, product and machine,” insisted Rattray.
It is vital in food operations whether complying with HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points) or ISO 22000 standards, that Operations Managers are able to view plant performance data in real-time, anywhere, anytime. The ability to select data functions to display is possible whether viewed on any PC on the company LAN/WAN or via the web.
Tracking production in real-time to ensure goals are met and to minimize work-in-process are essential to optimize food safety and production.
Memex identified the importance of eliminating unproductive labor and manual data recording errors within the food industry production process. Rattray said, “Food companies must be able to alert Managers to potential problems with real-time E-mail and the E-mails must be sent automatically when performance and OEE targets aren’t being met, or machine status or operation changes.”
Rattray went on to suggest that improved scheduling with visual job queue and an optional ERP link to schedule and track job progress in real-time on each food production machine was very helpful: “Food production efficiency is enhanced with the ability to download ERP production requirements to job queue and then upload production data at job and shift end.
Companies are able to benchmark processes and track results continuously.”
Supporting Lean Initiatives with Technology
These technologies support Lean Manufacturing, Continuous Improvement and Six Sigma initiatives with accurate measurement of defined metrics and key performance indicators. Using easy-to-understand graphical displays to track progress, inform and motivate operators are essential in the food sector given wide array of skill sets and knowledge levels.
Memex, Inc.
http://www.memex.ca
John Rattray
jrattray@astrix.net
1-866-573-3895