Automation
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TECH FLASH

AIOE releases OEE Opportunity Calculator to track productivity gains

OEE is a commonly adopted KPI, and companies should continue to look for productivity improvement opportunities even after its adoption.

Shane O'Halloran

February 26, 2014

Understanding the relationship between OEE and improvement is essential.

TECH FLASH

NIST releases voluntary National Cybersecurity Framework

The voluntary framework was compiled at the direction of the Obama administration.

Shane O'Halloran

February 26, 2014

Over 3,000 stakeholder individuals and organizations contributed.

TECH FLASH

What you need to know about the Fourth Industrial Revolution

The industrial automation industry could be on the verge of a new era of highly efficient, flexible and customizable mass production.

Shane O'Halloran

February 26, 2014

A new trend toward flexibility and customization in manufacturing is emerging.

TECH FLASH

Growth of wireless technology creates security risks for manufacturers

The bring-your-own-device movement means networks can lack adequate security.

Shane O'Halloran

February 12, 2014

Several options for wireless networking are currently available, and process industry-specific options are gaining more widespread adoption.

Food Safety

Automated cleaning and sanitation saves time, produces better results

CIP and COP systems benefit from automated washing systems that make use of spraying equipment matched to the right chemical media.

Wayne Labs

February 7, 2014

With FSMA in place and many processors seeking GFSI certifications, effective cleaning and sanitation are more important than ever.

Vegetable processor improves productivity and capacity of canning operation with a fully automated retort room

Far less labor is required in the new high-efficiency system.

Shane O'Halloran

January 24, 2014

Due to the processing’s seasonal nature, 24 hour per day, seven day per week uptime is required.

TECH FLASH

ISA to develop new mission-critical professional certification program

The new program is part of a $23 million grant from the Department of Labor to prepare workers for careers in “mission-critical operations.”

Shane O'Halloran

January 24, 2014

ISA’s program will focus on industrial operations, a point of focus for many food and beverage processors.

Field Reports

From clipboards to CMMS, maintenance is now a snap

Fish producer uses computerized maintenance management to handle production equipment, farm equipment and operator certifications.

Wayne Labs

January 10, 2014

Snow Island is a Nova Scotia-based salmon producer distinguished by its commitment to the environment and sustainable farming practices for raising salmon from egg to plate. The company gives its salmon extra room to grow, maintaining a 98.5 percent volume of water to 1.5 percent of fish in its pens and nets. And while many other operations house one million-plus fish per farm, Snow Island farms contain only 500,000.

TECH FLASH

Cool energy waste in your refrigeration systems!

Energy audits can spot potential waste and provide short-term fixes, but a refrigeration energy management system can keep temperatures and costs cool.

Wayne Labs

November 25, 2013

A modular energy management system can keep a facility’s cooling costs under control.

TECH FLASH

Rockwell Automation Fair offers up-close look at trends in automation and process control

Global population growth means great challenges, but also great opportunity.

Shane O'Halloran

November 25, 2013

Improving asset utilization and innovation while managing risk will allow industry leaders to thrive.

On Demand Kelley Rodriguez, Editor in Chief of Refrigerated & Frozen Foods, will be joined in this 60-minute webinar by industry experts to help unpack the latest research.

On Demand Driven by climate goals, business risk, client interest, and resilience considerations, food and beverage companies are increasingly turning their attention to decarbonizing their production processes.