Wayne Labs

Innovation

Is the last mile the last challenge for retailers?

Many retailers know that a quick and speedy delivery is key to finding new business and holding onto it

Wayne Labs, Senior Contributing Technical Editor

March 15, 2018

Companies like Target and Amazon realize the importance of quick, same-day delivery when it comes to food and beverage products.

Food Safety

GAO releases report on FDA/FSMA progress

Report calls for performance measures, timeline for long-term food safety activities

Wayne Labs

March 9, 2018

With FSMA now the law of the land and the FDA budgeting $1 billion annually for food safety and nutrition, the agency needs to take several steps to meet food safety and nutrition objectives, says a report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO).

Engineering R&D

AI, IIOT help take the guesswork out of maintenance planning

Artificial intelligence and the Industrial Internet of Things are expanding the power and reach of predictive maintenance.

Wayne Labs

February 23, 2018

Whether a line stoppage at a plant is catastrophic or simply a waste of time, money and resources, everyone agrees that it would be better to know when the drive, motor, gearbox or substation will fail.

Automation

China turns to robotics to solve labor shortage problems

With China's working-age population falling, labor costs are sky-rocketing, and robotics may be the solution

Wayne Labs

February 15, 2018

China has been a leader in mass production—with lots of manual labor— but coming shortages in China’s working-age population have experts concerned. In the past, labor was plentiful, and automation was not seen as a necessity.

Why choose polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) for conveyor belting?

PVDF is not a new material, but its properties make it a good choice for conveyor belting in the food and beverage industry.

Wayne Labs

February 13, 2018

PVDF is not new to the food and beverage industry; it’s been a material of choice for flow tubing, pumps and piping, flowmeters and nozzles for spray washing—anywhere harsh chemicals or beverages are concerned.

Blockchain technology a solution for supply chain traceback issues

Exclusive interview with IBM’s Bridget van Kralingen, senior vice president, IBM Industry Platforms

Wayne Labs

February 12, 2018

IBM has been working with food processors, retailers and supply chain stakeholders to improve traceback response times using open-source Blockchain technology.

Food Waste

'Use by…,' 'Best before…,' confusion causes 10% of food waste in the EU

The problem of date stamps in the EU is just as much of a problem as in the US, even though there are only two date stamp choices in the EU.

Wayne Labs

February 11, 2018

A recent study on date stamping shows that confusion over date marking and other food label information contributes to as much as 10 percent of the annual 88 million tonnes (97 US tons) of food waste in the European Union.

Automation Series

Processors use technology to improve employee engagement

New tools are available for processors wanting to connect their workers, but to succeed, companies must have a business plan, transparent communications and a mindset for continuous improvement.

Wayne Labs

February 7, 2018

Before you look at technology solutions to motivate and engage your employees, you need first to evaluate your company’s workplace environment.

Portable devices grab moisture measurements anywhere

While fixed-location, on-line near-IR moisture sensors have been used for some time in several industries, a portable device lets you make spot checks in processes to see where problems are occurring.

Wayne Labs

February 4, 2018

A near-infrared (or NIR) handheld moisture meter can help locate a problem in your process without physically touching your product.