OCTOBER 2020 | WWW.PLANT.CA | $12
Why Napoleon has SIZZLE Quality BBQs, fireplaces and HVAC fuel growth Engage with Industry 4.0 Have a business recovery plan Cyber protection includes insurance Winners of the COVID-19 leadership awards
DAILY MANUFACTURING NEWS www.plant.ca
PLT_October2020_AMS.indd 1 2020-10-02 1:38 PM IT’S TIME TO TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT ITALIAN MACHINERY We are your link to over 10,000 Italian manufacturing solutions providers from every industry. When you’re looking for the competitive advantage that comes with innovative technologies, take a closer look at Italian-made industrial equipment. We connect you to partners who offer problem-solving, flexible design, expanded functionality, and creative, cost-effective solutions. Our goal is to help you achieve your goals. When you’re ready, look to Machines Italia.
For more information on Machines Italia visit www.machinesitalia.org
machinesitalia Machines Italia @ITAmachines Machines Italia
PLT_October2020_AMS.inddPLT_MarApr20_ITC_AMS.indd 2 1 2020-10-022020-04-01 1:382:02 PM October 2020 CONTENTS Vol. 79, No. 06
FEATURES
15 PERFORMANCE Avoid the obstacles that sap the desire to learn how to coach team members.
14 COVID-19 BDO offers five steps that manufacturers can apply as they build a post-pandemic growth strategy.
17 THINK LEAN Acting as an observer aids learning and rebalances processes so step back and let it happen.
18 CCOHS SAFETY TIPS Lifting is one of the 10 GROWTH most common causes of back injuries in Napoleon is hot and it’s not just the quality barbecues; the Barrie, Ont. workplaces but they are avoidable. manufacturer is also aiding home comfort with its HVAC product line.
DEPARTMENTS
4 Editorial 6 News Bulletins 7 Careers 12 INSURANCE Cyber attacks are becoming 13 AWARD The COVID: Industry Leadership 8 Industry Mix more frequent and wide ranging. Include Honours virtual event cited manufacturers 9 Economy cyber insurance as part of a risk mitigation whose performance during the pandemic PLANT Pulse strategy. stood out. 20 Leading Edge: Innovative ideas for plants 21 Plantware Events 22 Postscript: New era of IT’S TIME TO TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT intelligent manufacturing ITALIAN MACHINERY
We are your link to over 10,000 Italian manufacturing solutions providers from every 16 INDUSTRY 4.0 Canadian manufacturers 19 MACHINE TOOLS Three views of industry. When you’re looking for the competitive advantage that comes with innovative are slowly moving ahead with digital digitalization that will help machine technologies, take a closer look at Italian-made industrial equipment. We connect you to partners technology implementations but they tool builders prepare for the factory of who offer problem-solving, flexible design, expanded functionality, and creative, cost-effective have concerns. the future. COVER IMAGE: Stephen Urhaney, a Napoleon barbecue. solutions. Our goal is to help you achieve your goals. When you’re ready, look to Machines Italia. PLANT—established 1941, is published 7 times per year by Annex Business Media. Publications Mail Agreement #40065710. Circulation email: [email protected] Tel: 416-510-5182 Fax: 416-510-6875 or 416-442-2191 Mail: 111 Gordon Baker Road, Suite 400, Toronto, ON M2H 3R1. Occasionally, PLANT will mail information on behalf of industry-related groups whose products and services we believe may be of interest to you. If you prefer not to receive this information, please contact our circulation department in any of the four ways listed above. Annex Privacy Officer: For more information on Machines Italia [email protected] Tel: 800-668-2374. No part of the editorial content of this publication may be reprinted without the publisher’s written permission. ©2020 Annex Publishing & Printing Inc. All rights reserved. Performance claims for products listed in this issue are made by contributing manufacturers and agencies. PLANT receives unsolicited materials including letters to the editor, press releases, visit www.machinesitalia.org promotional items and images from time to time. PLANT, its affiliates and assignees may use, reproduce, publish, re-publish, distribute, store and archive such unsolicited submissions in whole or in part in any form or medium whatsoever, without compensation of any sort. This statement does not apply to materials/pitches submitted by freelance writers, photographers or illustrators in accordance with known industry practices. Printed in Canada. ISSN: 1929-6606 (Print), 1929-6614 (Online).
www.plant.ca PLANT 3 machinesitalia Machines Italia @ITAmachines Machines Italia
PLT_MarApr20_ITC_AMS.indd 1 2020-04-01 2:02 PM PLT_October2020_AMS.indd 3 2020-10-02 1:38 PM EDITORIAL OPERATE AT THE Ingredients for recovery NEW SPEED OF INDUSTRY in a post-COVID Canada Editor Joe Terrett he COVID-19 crisis has brought anguish to thousands of families, swung a 416-442-5600 ext. 3219 wrecking ball at the economy and escalated business uncertainty. Yet there is [email protected] a potential positive. The pandemic is transforming the way manufacturers con- T Senior Publisher duct business in ways that lead to new opportunities and improve the diversity of Scott Atkinson the workforce. But chief among the changes will be the application of technology. 416-510-5207 [email protected] More companies are waking up to the benefits of digital technology. Annex Business Media publications Canadian Manufacturing and PLANT Magazine are National Account Manager Ilana Fawcett releasing the results of the 2021 Advanced Manufacturing Outlook report this 416-829-1221 month (polybagged with this issue or available on www.plant.ca). The study [email protected]
shows more manufacturers (30%) are applying Industrial Internet of Things Media Sales Manager (IIoT) than last year’s study sample (24%) while another 17% have a plan, more Jason Bauer than doubling last year’s response. 416-510-6797 / 437-218-0941 [email protected] The Outlook report complements KPMG’s Global CEO study that found 84% of Canadian company leaders (all sectors) are prioritizing technology investments Media Designer Andrea M. Smith to meet growth and transformation objectives; and most (92%) say COVID-19 has [email protected] accelerated the digitalization of their operations. But US companies (all sectors) Circulation Manager spend an average C$22.8 million per technology – 30% more than what Canadians Beata Olechnowicz spend, according to a KPMG/HFS Research report. 416-510-5182 The Outlook report shows 56% of manufacturing executives spnt the most on [email protected] robotics and automation (average $129,800) but most companies (65%) are invest- Account Coordinator ing in the cloud ($61,000). Debbie Smith 416-442-5600 ext 3221 Canadian manufacturers, mostly small, find investment dollars are tight, es- [email protected] pecially this year, so no wonder Outlook survey comments show caution when it COO comes to technology adoption with an emphasis on ROI. You will find a few tech Scott Jamieson planning pointers (page 16) to build confidence, but be mindful of how informed [email protected] vendors are and how closely they align with your values and culture. Research by ERP provider IFS notes poor advice from vendors tops the list of why digital transformation projects fail for 37% of global respondents. The disruptive effects of the pandemic have further exacerbated shortages of Subscription Price labour and skills, driving the need for technology to improve productivity, yet Canada $76.00 per year, US $201.00 (CAD) per year, Foreign $227.00 (CAD) per Making Smart Factories Future-Ready people with skills necessary to operate digital solutions are in short supply. This year. Single Copy Canada $12.00. Add points to a need for greater gender diversity within the skills pool. applicable taxes to all rates. Combined, expanded or premium issues, which count High-speed industrial communication empowers The recent speech from the throne called for an action plan to involve more as two subscription issues. women in the economy to reverse a drop in their participation in the workplace smart factories to achieve the potential of Industry because of the pandemic. That certainly makes sense, especially with half the Mailing Address population chronically underutilized in business and industry; and some realign- Annex Business Media 4.0 and maximize productivity. 111 Gordon Baker Road, Suite 400 ment is necessary, according to another study by Ryerson’s Diversity Institute Toronto, ON M2H 3R1 and the Public Policy Forum. It notes occupations in STEM fields often define LAPP provides high performance solutions that deliver technology roles and stereotypes of entrepreneurs by unintentionally excluding Circulation Beata Olechnowicz reliable, high-speed industrial communication networks women, thus impeding innovation by making technology the focus rather than 416-510-5182 using it to drive change. [email protected] including Industrial Ethernet. Our range of robust, Fax: 416-510-6875 or 416-442-2191 The Trudeau government would be wise to also consider the contents of a factory resilient cables extends to CAT.7 and off ers report by the national Task Force for Real Jobs, Real Recovery. It represents 250,000 businesses (see page 8) and declares the key to a recovery plan is the continuous fl ex, tray rated and torsion options to meet engagement of Canada’s natural resource sectors and manufacturing. It offers all applications. 19 recommendations that focus on social, regulatory and climate goals with the potential to create 2.6 million jobs and generate $200 billion in labour earnings. Explore LAPP’s full range of Industrial Communication Technology, greater effort to achieve gender parity in industry and harnessing the power of natural resources and manufacturing should be part of a strategy products and solutions. driven by governments and industry to reboot manufacturing as a more agile, innovative contributor to Canada’s economy. lappusa.lappgroup.com/automation.html The ingredients are there. Let’s move quickly on a national plan.
Joe Terrett, Editor Comments? E-mail [email protected].
4 PLANT October 2020
PLT_October2020_AMS.indd 4 2020-10-02 1:38 PM PLT_Lapp_Oct20.indd 1 2020-09-16 11:23 AM OPERATE AT THE NEW SPEED OF INDUSTRY
Making Smart Factories Future-Ready High-speed industrial communication empowers smart factories to achieve the potential of Industry 4.0 and maximize productivity. LAPP provides high performance solutions that deliver reliable, high-speed industrial communication networks including Industrial Ethernet. Our range of robust, factory resilient cables extends to CAT.7 and off ers continuous fl ex, tray rated and torsion options to meet all applications. Explore LAPP’s full range of Industrial Communication products and solutions. lappusa.lappgroup.com/automation.html
PLT_Lapp_Oct20.inddPLT_October2020_AMS.indd 1 5 2020-09-162020-10-02 11:23 1:38 PMAM NEWS
Peak Processing Solutions ATS lands $20M BULLETINS granted a HC cannabis licence order for syringe line Siemens Energy (corporate headquar- Manufacturing service covers multiple products CAMBRIDGE, Ont. — A medical device ters, Oakville, Ont.) is providing its gas manufacturer has booked a $20 million turbine technology to the planned 900 order with ATS Automation Tooling Sys- megawatt Cascade Power Plant in tems Inc. for several automated safety Alberta. It will support the decarboniza- syringe-manufacturing systems. tion of the province’s power supply by The deal features the Cambridge, switching from coal to natural gas and Ont. automation company’s patented reducing Alberta’s carbon emissions Symphoni technology. from energy production by up to 5%. The ATS said the order by an unidentified $515 million order comes from Kineticor, customer will produce syringes to meet a developer and manager of clean power demand related to COVID-19 vaccine projects across Canada. The Cascade production. plant is expected to begin operating in The program is related to the US 2023. government’s Operation Warp Speed. It aligns production of safety needles and Fertilizer manufacturers overcame rail Beverage canning line. PHOTO: PEAK PROCESSING syringes to meet demand as supplies disruptions and COVID-19 to ensure Ca- are consumed in routine healthcare and nadian farmers had all the crop nutrients TECUMSEH, Ont. — Peak Processing Solutions has treating the surge of COVID-19 patients. they needed for planting this spring, received its Health Canada processor’s licence allowing it to ATS describes Symphoni as high-per- new Statistics Canada data shows. move to the next phase of its contract service model. formance digital manufacturing tech- Shipments of nitrogen and phosphorus Peak, a subsidiary of Althea Group Holdings and based nology that multiplies the productivity of fertilizer reached record levels this year. in Tecumseh, Ont., said it has large-scale cannabis pro- automated assembly processes by elimi- And shipments of potash and sulphur cessing and packaging capabilities with an automated can- nating non-value-added production time. were steady, down only slightly from ning line and hydrocarbon extraction. Its service model is All movements are precisely mapped near record levels. Canada’s fertilizer aimed at cannabis licence holders and non-licensed CPG out and synchronized through electronic industry contributes $24 billion to the groups looking to enter the Canadian market. gearing resulting in a “symphony of economy and sustains more than 76,000 The 40,000 square-foot facility formulates, processes motion.” Consumables such as syringes jobs. and packages a variety of product types including: canned are assembled at very high rates in a beverages; concentrates; topicals; powders; vaporizers; compact footprint while assuring compli- CSV Midstream Solutions Corp. in and medicinal products. ance to rigid quality standards. Calgary has completed expansion of its Althea Group Holdings Ltd. is an Australian licensed ATS employs approximately 4,400 Karr 6-18 Sour Natural Gas Processing producer, supplier and exporter of pharmaceutical grade people at 22 manufacturing facilities. Plant, acquired from Paramount Re- medicinal cannabis. sources Ltd. in 2019. Karr, near Grande Prairie, Alta., now has 150 million cubic feet per day of total raw sour gas han- GM invests $28M in cogen at engine plant dling capacity. The expansion includes sour gas sweetening, refrigeration, oil St. Catharines project cuts greenhouse gas emissions, electricity costs treatment, storage, water handling and OSHAWA, Ont. — Gen- to run on the renewable utilities including the addition of a digital eral Motors Canada has landfill gas delivered to control system and 15 megawatts of gas completed a $28 million the plant through a short turbine-driven power generation. investment in cogenera- pipeline. tion at its St. Catharines, The project involves BevCanna Enterprises Inc., a Vancouver Ont. propulsion plant. partnerships with manufacturer of cannabinoid-infused The automaker fore- Alectra Utilities and beverages and consumer products, has casts cogeneration will the Ontario Centres of signed a letter of intent with State B reduce net greenhouse Excellence. It’s the first Beverage Co. to manufacture white-la- gas emissions by ap- complete renewable bel CBD and THC-infused drinks. State B proximately 70% while landfill gas industrial is a Brujera Elixirs Inc. brand that cur- buffering the engine and cogeneration system rently includes Boozewitch (sober-cu- transmission plant from Inside GM’s St. Catharines, Ont. engine plant. PHOTO: GM in Ontario delivering rious mixers) and three performance rising electricity and renewable fuel from an drinks in development by the Squamish, carbon costs. generate electricity from newly offsite source. BC company. BevCanna will create the The 6.4-megawatt project installed engines at the plant. GM has committed to power new State B beverage concept that will uses renewable landfill gas GM will also recover other- all of its global operations’ combine functional and cannabis drinks. delivered by pipeline from the wise wasted thermal energy to electricity needs with 100% State B will handle national sales and nearby Walker landfill working power and heat the plant. renewable energy by 2040. marketing efforts. with partner Integrated Gas Instead of using natural gas, The facility will be running Recovery Services (IGRS) to the new engines are adapted at full capacity by Oct. 31.
6 PLANT October 2020
PLT_October2020_AMS.indd 6 2020-10-02 1:38 PM Elkem to build biocarbon pilot in Quebec Plant will produce a renewable alternative to metallurgical coal CAREERS CHICOUTIMI, Que. — A Norwegian company Lafert North Amer- that produces silicones, silicon and alloys is in- ica, a supplier of vesting in a new biocarbon pilot plant in Canada. motors and drives, Elkem Metal Canada Inc.’s $26 million project has appointed aims to secure industrial verification of its tech- Douglas Backman nology for renewable biocarbon with a long-term its North American goal of climate-neutral metal production. The sales director. Most technology also has potential for use in other recently he was industrial sectors. the vice-president Douglas Backman The project is getting more than $17 mil- Pilot plant will use sawmill waste. PHOTO: ELKEM of Danfoss (Vacon) lion from the Canadian, Quebec and City of Canada Inc. in Mississauga, Ont. Saguenay governments, reducing Elkem’s net biocarbon briquettes, or compressed blocks of investment to $8.7 million. coal dust, a renewable alternative to metallurgi- Aurora Cannabis Inc. has appointed Construction is planned for this year near cal coal that reduces the environmental impact Miguel Martin CEO, replacing Michael Elkem’s production site in Chicoutimi, Que. of foundries and steelworks. Singer, who has served as Interim CEO The industrial process, specifically for silicon Elkem Metal Canada intends to replace 43,000 since February. He continues his role and ferrosilicon production, will use climate-neu- tonnes of metallurgical coal per year used at its as executive chairman. Martin came tral, renewable biocarbon instead of fossil coal Chicoutimi plant, with 37,000 tonnes of bio-bri- to Aurora from Reliva, a US CBD brand as a reduction agent. quette (biocarbon) for a potential reduction of where he served as CEO. He assumed Elkem already uses close to 20% biocarbon in 100 kilotonnes of CO2 equivalent per year. the role of CCO at Edmonton-based its Norwegian production and the company is The pilot plant will source raw materials from Aurora in July. targeting 40% by 2030. local sawmills, including recycled bark, wood The project supports the manufacturing of chips, sawdust and wood shaves. Nexii Building Solutions Inc., a manufac- turer of green construction materials, has hired four executives. Brian Carter, . executive vice-president of manufac- Province ramps upventilator Micron to make.. turing, joins the Vancouver company components production face masks. following seven years as president and Linamar gets $2.5 million to produce 10,000 units for COVID-19 fight CEO of Seaspan Shipyards. Rob Simp- son, senior vice-president of engineer- VANCOUVER — Micron Technologies ing, previously led structural engineer- Inc. is ramping up to produce face ing firm Glotman Simpson.Laurenz masks for the fight against the COVID-19 Kosichek, vice-president of architec- pandemic. ture, was a principal at Stantec Archi- The manufacturer of personal protec- tecture Ltd. David Fisher, vice-president tive equipment, a subsidiary of Micron of business optimization, comes to Nexii Waste Technologies Inc. in Vancouver, from Mitsui Home Canada. has installed a three-ply mask-man- ufacturing machine and associated General Fusion has appointed Klaas de equipment. Boer as chair of its board. His appoint- The company has received a Medical ment coincides with the arrival of new Ontario Premier Doug Ford and Linamar CEO Linda Hasenfratz tour the Device Establishment Licence from institutional investors backing the Guelph, Ont. plant. PHOTO: ONTARIO GOVERNMENT Health Canada that permits it to manu- Vancouver fusion energy developer’s facture Class I products at its Delta, BC commercialization program. de Boer has GUELPH, Ont. — The Ontario government is investing facility. more than 20 years of venture capital $2.5 million in Linamar Corp. to support the retooling of its A N95 mask-manufacturing machine is experience spanning Europe, North assembly line to manufacture ventilator components. also onsite and Micron expects produc- America and the Middle East. The company, a major player in automotive parts and tion to begin in October. The company systems based in Guelph, Ont., will produce 10,000 e700 plans to send samples to the National Neo Performance Materials Inc. has ventilators. Institute for Occupational Safety and appointed Greg Share an independent O-Two Medical Technologies has partnered with Health for certification for medical grade director. Share is managing partner of Linamar and others, including Bombardier, to produce the N95 masks. Ambina Partners LLC, an investment devices. “We believe that the supply of face firm focused on financial services and “By building home-grown capacity to make ventilators, masks will remain constrained as software companies. Neo Performance we will never again have to rely on any other country for governments and corporations mandate Materials in Toronto manufactures rare this critical piece of lifesaving medical equipment,” said masks be worn in public spaces, the earth- and rare metal-based materials Ontario Premier Doug Ford. workplace, and in educational centres,” for high technology and sustainable The funding comes through the province’s Ontario To- said Micron CEO Kal Malhi. products industries. gether Fund.
www.plant.ca PLANT 7
PLT_October2020_AMS.indd 7 2020-10-02 1:38 PM MISCELLANY FROM THE INDUSTRY MIX WORLD OF MANUFACTURING
Kraken unleashed In Scandinavian folklore, the kraken is a giant Bet on natural resources squid-like monster that terrorizes sailors off the A national task force has coasts of Greenland and Iceland. The Newfound- a plan for getting Canada land Labrador version is not so scary. It’s doing through a pandemic re- interesting things with marine robotics. covery: natural resourc- Kraken Robotics Inc.’s XL version of the Thun- es. Canada has plenty of derFish autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) them but the idea is to is larger than the Alpha model, has an increased The ThunderFish XL. PHOTO: KRAKEN go beyond sending raw depth rating, carries a larger payload and has materials out to be made greater endurance during deep dive survey missions. Canadian recovery plan. PHOTO: HUEBI - STOCK.ADOBE.COM into stuff that we end up NRC-IRAP is helping the project along with non-refundable funding of $3 million. buying back. Capabilities include: transitioning from high-speed survey mode to “zero” speed The Task Force for Real Jobs, Real Recovery – which represents more hovering mode; through-the sensor acoustic, laser and optical target detection, than 250,000 businesses and over 3 million workers – released a blueprint image recognition and inspection; and onboard sensors that improve navigational that shows under the right conditions, natural resources and manufacturing accuracy. could create up to 2.6 million new jobs and increase GDP by 17%. This rep- The AUV will be depth rated to 6,000 metres and carry an array of sensors and resents a potential $200-billion increase in potential labour earnings, while custom payload modules that will be integrated with – holy Industry 4.0 – advanced cutting greenhouse gas emissions. artificial intelligence algorithms. The report outlines 19 recommendations aimed at achieving goals that Stay tuned for a concept of a robust and autonomous multi-modal docking solution include: allowing the AUV to function as a seabed resident that runs missions from its under- • Leveraging Canada’s world-class industries; advancing regulatory effi- water docking station. ciency; attracting capital investment; ensuring access to resource lands; and maximizing Indigenous economic participation. • Ensuring job creation and building resiliency; advancing Indigenous employment; and enhancing skilled workforce mobility. • Aligning climate action and natural resource development; driving chal- lenge-oriented innovation; advancing emissions reduction technologies and plastics innovation; supporting sustainable forestry and mining; and developing hydrogen and small modular nuclear reactor industries. …We have raised the issue Check out Securing Canada’s Economic Future: Natural resources for real jobs and of Canada’s unpreparedness real recovery at https://realrecovery.ca. for pandemic diseases for quite a while. You need to have manufacturing Just like real cigarettes capacity. You need to have the ability We have Beyond Meat, stay tuned to quickly respond. for Beyond Tobacco. Interesting story, Molori Energy Volker Gerdts, director of VIDO-Intervac, which is leading the Canadian efforts to develop a COVID-19 vaccine, commenting on how greater government investment Inc., a Vancouver oil and gas compa- in a facility would have put a Canadian solution at the forefront of global efforts. ny, has taken a hard turn out of the energy business to provide a safer smoking experience. It recently acquired a start-up life AI R&D comes to Toronto sciences company in Las Vegas and Cerebras Systems, which has developed a computer system has adopted its name, Taat Lifestyle that accelerates artificial intelligence (AI) work, is expanding & Wellness Ltd. The Beyond Tobacco smoking to Canada with an office in Toronto. An unidentified manufacturer al- alternative. PHOTO: TAAT The tech company based in Los Altos, Calif. introduced its ready producing cigarettes is handling CS-1 technology in November 2019. Its innovative computing the first production-scale batch of system helps companies using artificial intelligence to poten- Beyond Tobacco cigarettes made with hemp. They feature “rich naturally tially cut the training time of an artificial neural network from occurring terpenes” as Taat makes a play for some of that still significant weeks to a few hours. global tobacco money (1.3 million smokers, US$975 billion). The magic to this deep learning is a giant (46,255-square The CS-1 computer. Taat filed a US patent application for a process that causes the hemp- millimetre) wafer scale engine that contains 400,000 sparse PHOTO: CEREBRAS based material to emit the scent and taste of tobacco – original flavour and linear algebra compute cores, each flexible and programma- menthol – with a satisfactory volume of smoke, but no nicotine. And the ble. The system provides the performance of a room full of servers into a compact cannabidiol (CBD) content is a non-psychoactive derivative of hemp, so unit the size of a mini-fridge maxing the power draw at 20 kilowatts. lighting one up won’t result in a wacky tobaccy buzz. Cerebras likes Ontario’s innovation vibe, hence the regional office in Toronto that The “sticks” look like regular smokes and they come in a regular-looking will focus on accelerating R&D and establishing an AI centre of excellence. package (in the US), all of which emulates the classic smoking experience. With more than 15 engineers currently employed, Cerebras plans to triple its A test run in Nevada sold out in less than 72 hours. Toronto team.
8 PLANT October 2020
PLT_October2020_AMS.indd 8 2020-10-02 1:38 PM ECONOMY
Productivity is up …but a record job decline
he COVID-19 pandemic and the OWNERSHIP OF NEW FIRMS ACROSS INDUSTRIES resulting lockdown helped boost labour productivity but led to a Educational services The success of enterprises owned by women T Health care and social assistance record decrease in employment. depends on the industry, according to a 2005- Arts, entertainment/recreation Statistics Canada reports the la- Other services (except public admin.) 2013 Statistics Canada study. Fewer than one- bour productivity of businesses rose Retail trade fifth of start-ups were owned by women during 9.8% (compared to 4.5% in Q1). Hours Accommodation/food services the study period. Most had lower survival rates worked falling at a much faster pace Admin/support, waste mgmt./remediation services and labour productivity than those owned by men than output drove the productivity Real estate, rental/leasing or equally owned. In industries where there’s a Finance/insurance gain. higher concentration of women-owned start- Professional, scientific/technical services ups, survival and productivity were higher than However, the real gross domestic Information/cultural services product of businesses declined 14.5% Management of companies & enterprises enterprises owned by men. In manufacturing, (mostly occurring in April) following Wholesale trade women owned 4% of firms, men 70% and 16% a 2.8% decrease in the first quarter. Manufacturing reported shared ownerships. This is a 16.7% drop from the second Utilities quarter of 2019. The decline was Agriculture, forestry, fishing/hunting Majority Women Owned Transportation/warehousing widespread across all goods- and Majority Men Owned Construction Equally Owned service-producing industries. Only Mining, quarrying & oil and gas extraction the agriculture and forestry sector 0% 50% 100%
saw an increase. Source: Statistics Canada, CANSIM Hours worked fell 22.1%, more than three times the 7% decrease in the first quarter. Hours worked were down 27.5% from the second quarter Average pay for a Percentage of Canadian 40% of 2019. university graduate CEOs that remain as Employment also suffered a record employed in confident as they were drop (22.7%), while hours worked per manufacturing with pre-pandemic, versus 26% job rose 0.7%. The number of people an executive or senior of global CEOs; 12% are who had more than one job fell by management role, less optimistic compared almost half (44.3%), while the number according to the to 29% of global CEOs, of people who were absent without 2020 EMC-PLANT according to KPMG’s pay almost doubled (98.6%). Manufacturing Salary Global CEO Outlook. Hours lost vary by industrial sector. $134,747 Survey. Manufacturing was down 30.6 million hours. The greatest decline was in other private services (41.9 million hours). Labour costs per unit of output US respondents rose 4.1% after rising 0.7% in the first Percentage of Canadian 58% who objected to the quarter. The last comparable increase 69% businesses that require PPE to now-cancelled Trump occurred in fourth quarter of 1986 operate safely administration’s 10% (3.6%). according to an tariff on Canadian raw This rapid rise is attributed to “an August survey by aluminum, according to unprecedented increase” in the aver- Statistics Canada. an Aug. 7-9 poll by Leger age compensation per hour worked and the Association for (14.3%), which topped a historic Canadian Studies.
productivity gain (9.8%). IMAGES: STOCK.ADOBE.COM Average hourly compensation rose 16.5% in service-producing businesses and increased 9.5% in goods-produc- ing businesses. The gain in hourly Net hiring outlook for Canadian manufacturers of non-durables over compensation was widespread across the next three months, according to the latest ManpowerGroup all main industrial sectors, except 12% Employment Outlook Survey. Net outlook for durables manufacturers professional services (3.5%). is 9%. Overall, Canadian employers have a seasonally adjusted outlook of 6%. Labour productivity in the US rose Net outlook is based on organizations that plan to hire versus those laying off 1.6% in the second quarter, after employees. Seventy-three per cent of employers expect current staffing levels to posting zero growth in the previous remain unchanged, 12% expect to increase payrolls, 9% will cut staff and 6% are quarter. unsure of their hiring intentions.
www.plant.ca PLANT 9
PLT_October2020_AMS.indd 9 2020-10-02 1:38 PM GROWTH
Hats off to a manufacturing dynamo for doubling revenues in five years. NAPOLEON’S INNOVATION BY KIM LAUDRUM
AND QUALITY ot even COVID-19 can douse the sizzle at Napoleon. The manufacturer of ARE PART OF Ngas and wood stoves and fireplaces, barbecues, and heating and air conditioning ITS DNA (HVAC) systems embarked on an ambitious SIZZLE five-year plan in 2013 to ensure revenues from innovations represented 30% of sales within each of its three divisions. By 2018, overall sales doubled, earning the Barrie, Ont. firm its seventh nod as one of Canada’s Best Managed Companies. On March 23, Napoleon shuttered its plants and operations to comply with COVID-19 lockdown requirements in Ontar- io. During this time, some of its 900 skilled workers volunteered with neighbouring manufacturers to meet surging demand for medical equipment by making face shields. By mid-April, Napoleon recalled 50 of its workers, established new COVID-19 pro- tocols throughout the plant to protect the health and safety of staff, and returned to manufacturing, eventually bringing back all of its Canadian workforce. Why? Sales are on fire. Families isolating during the pandemic are eating meals at home. That’s boosting an already emerging trend for backyard entertainment products and demand for barbecues beyond normal expectations. In fact, the company is hiring 100 skilled workers, according to Napoleon president Ron McArthur, and it already has 400 applications. McArthur says finding skilled workers is not a challenge in the Simcoe County area. Being near major highways, Georgian College and a manufacturing hub serving OEM auto manufacturers Honda and Toyota means Napoleon can tap a large skilled- trades labour pool. The area’s reputation as a four-season out- door playground also makes it an attractive place to live and work. Plus, the company offers good paying jobs. “When you are a company with a good reputation, it makes it easier to recruit,” McArthur says. How did Napoleon get there? Wolfgang Schroeter, a Germany-trained tool and die maker, and his wife Ingrid Schroeter co-founded the manufacturing business in the late 1970s, initially making steel railings and patio furniture in Barrie. As the story goes, in 1978 Wolfgang designed and built a wood stove for his father-in-law that so im- pressed his neighbour, he also wanted one. President Ron McArthur presents a Napoleon barbecue. PHOTOS: STEPHEN URHANEY As demand for the wood stove grew, so too
10 PLANT October 2020
PLT_October2020_AMS.indd 10 2020-10-02 1:38 PM did Wolf Steel Ltd.’s reputation for on-time ensuring most manufacturing such as ma- delivery, quality work and innovation. chining, fabricating, assembly, welding and Wolf Steel was the first wood stove manu- painting operations take place onsite. facturer to introduce a single-cast-iron door Making Napoleon a recognized quality with Pyrocerm ceramic glass so customers brand spurred sales in other divisions, too. could see the flame inside. Continuous Focus groups indicated 70% of gas-grill improvement and innovating products to consumers remember the brand name. But meet market demand was in the company’s only 4% of fireplace or furnace customers DNA from the start. It drives the successful Preparing parts for installation on HVAC products. remember any manufacturer’s brand. growth strategy at Wolf Steel, now the legal To gain quality brand awareness is one entity of what is best known as Napoleon. of the reasons why Napoleon expanded its That growth can be traced from the wood barbecue line and distribution to big-box stove market to developing residential retailers such such as Canadian Tire, Home fireplaces. Venting innovations in fireplace Depot and Lowes in the US. It’s hoped build- design sparked industry firsts and Napo- ing quality brand recognition in one market leon’s name awareness grew. So making will cross over to the fireplace and HVAC di- hearth products for the larger market in visions, boosting sales across the board. No- home-building developments made sense. tably, HVAC market potential is greater than Diversifying the lineup to include products the grill and fireplace markets combined. in the multi-billion dollar HVAC market was Producing high-volumes of barbecues at a a logical next step. Components destined for the HVAC line. price point of less than $1,000 for the big-box Wolfgang brought ingenuity for design stores and to reach a global market prompt- engineering and a knack for solving man- ed Napoleon to manufacture in China. To ufacturing challenges to the enterprise, ensure quality control and reach markets in successfully matched by Ingrid’s talent for Asia, a plant was purchased in Guangzhou, administration and marketing. Their sons China. Chris and Stephen also work for the family Napoleon is registered to ISO9001 – 2015 business. After 36 years the Schroeters were certification, which helps ensure consistent proud of their success, but sought to position quality control at all of its manufacturing the company Chris and Stephen could see to plants. In all, Napoleon has two plant loca- its future growth. tions in Ontario (Barrie and Mississauga); one in Crittenden, Ky.; and one in China. Growth strategy Working on the fireplace line. Total manufacturing capacity is 1.4 million In 2018, Chris and Stephen became co-CEOs square feet. of Napoleon. Like his father Wolfgang, Chris tighter than a Swiss watch,” he says. Worldwide, Napoleon had about 800 looks after operations as well as research and At the outset of creating the strategic plan, employees in 2013. Now it employs close to development. Stephen takes after his mother McArthur says Napoleon learned it had been 1,600 and sells to more than 35 countries, Ingrid, running sales and marketing. Wolfgang doing some things well. from Dubai to Australia. International sales and Ingrid continue on the company’s board “We knew we had to provide world-class represent 20% of total revenues. of directors. customer service to reach our objective,” he It’s interesting to note 60% of Napoleon’s McArthur joined the company as president says. “How could we ensure the customer mainly high-end gas grills are made in Can- in 2012, responsible for management and has a ‘Wow!’ experience every time they deal ada. Some barbecues for the big box stores finance. Previously, he served as president with us?” are manufactured in China. But “100% of Na- of Hudson Bay Wholesale. He was president Napoleon provided a superior product, poleon’s gas and wood fireplaces are made in of the largest division within the Van Houtte which he says customers perceived to be Canada,” McArthur says. Coffee Co. And he worked for WSI, where he expensive. Top of the line Prestige gas-grills Continuous improvement has always expanded the internet marketing company range in price from $1,299 to $4,549. “But been important to innovating new products, into 32 countries in Europe, the Middle East when we ask them, ‘Why did they buy it?’ reducing time and costs, and improving man- and Latin America. customers answer: ‘Because of the quality’.” ufacturing processes. Says McArthur, “We By 2013 Napoleon set a growth goal: to The barbecues are well made with innova- could put in a new process or system and in double sales within five years. To do it, tive safety features such as LED-lit control a couple of months we’ll look at it again and Napoleon aimed to reach 30% of sales every knobs that indicate if the gas is left on. The see if we could improve it.” year from new products in each of its three Prestige line also comes with a lifetime With growth doubled and exports rising, divisions. That would require an ongoing “bumper to bumper” warranty. Napoleon burns bright. dedication to research and development of Quality is a key part of Napoleon’s strategy new barbecue, hearth and HVAC products. for keeping competition at bay. It’s not the Kim Laudrum is a Collingwood, Ont.- McArthur won’t reveal the percentage of only Canadian manufacturer of barbecues. based business writer and regular contrib- the annual budget set aside for R&D, but he Broil King, for example, operates out of utor to PLANT. E-mail kimlaudrum777@ does allow it’s “significant.” He’s also tight- Waterloo, Ont. and the US Broil King’s grills gmail.com. lipped when asked about annual revenues. are also sold across the country through big “As a private enterprise the company is run retail chains. Quality control is achieved by Comments? E-mail [email protected].
www.plant.ca PLANT 11
PLT_October2020_AMS.indd 11 2020-10-02 1:38 PM INSURANCE
Include cyber insurance as part of a risk mitigation strategy.
BY IMRAN AHMAD, KATHERINE BARBACKI, JELENA CVETKOVIC AND JULIE MORAND
yber attacks are on the rise. Of the various threats aimed Cat manufacturers, ransom- ware continues to be among the most common. The ease with which sophisticated attackers can infect entire networks to quickly paralyze operations Cyber insurance has evolved in response to evolving threats. PHOTO: ZEPHYR_P - STOCK.ADOBE.COM has led to a surge in ransom amounts. malware, phishing and other Faced with continuously techniques leading to a loss. evolving threats, it’s difficult, if Cyber Privacy liability. Privacy is- not impossible, for companies sues are increasingly important, to completely eliminate the risk especially when they entail the of becoming victimized. That’s unauthorized access or exfil- why it’s important to deal with tration of personal information. attacks quickly and efficient- Cases of class action litigation ly. One of the ways to do so is ATTACKS have risen steadily in Canada through cyber insurance, which over several years. has become an essential part of ARE YOU COVERED? The continuously evolving any risk mitigation strategy. sophistication of attacks com- Most policies will offer general ware attacks typically involve ters, credit monitoring services bined with increasing regulatory coverage for extortion, includ- a ransom demand in exchange and call centre services. scrutiny and data protection ing the ransom payment and for a decryption key that allows • Business interruption. legislation means companies services of specialists such as the victim to recover data. The Ransomware attacks often have must be equipped to respond. A forensic and communications amounts demanded vary widely, a paralyzing effect leading to comprehensive cyber insurance firms. Typically, specialists but can be significant. loss of income. Business inter- policy provides rapid access to recommended by insurance • Forensic investigation. ruption coverage helps recover vetted cybersecurity experts providers have been carefully Systems must be secure before income lost during an attack and and some monetary relief from vetted for their expertise and being brought back online. the period of restoration. the increasing costs associated have pre-negotiated rates. This entails an investigation to • Crisis management costs. with cyber attacks. Insurers typically appoint a determine the cause and scope Reputational harm is another as- lawyer specializing in cyber- of the breach. This also helps pect of cyber attacks. Having ac- Imran Ahmad – imran. security and privacy law. This determine whether a company cess to a team of experts trained [email protected], (416) breach coach will take leader- is subject to any reporting or to respond to the media and 863-4329) – is a partner ship of the incident response, notification requirements under other inquiries helps alleviate and Katherine Barbacki – including coordinating be- Canadian privacy law. some of the potential damage katherine.barbacki@blakes. tween the various internal and • Data restoration. Opting and reduce the likelihood of a com, (514) 982-4138 – is external teams, asserting legal not to pay the ransom and re- third party lawsuit. an associate at the law firm privilege on all communications storing networks from backups Blake, Cassels & Graydon and documents, and navigating or from scratch (or paying the Covering costs LLP. Both practice in the area potential reporting and notifi- ransom, but data is lost) will Basic cyber insurance also of cybersecurity, privacy cation obligations. This further likely lead to costs associated covers third party costs (liability and technology law. Jelena protects the insured in the event with restoring systems to the coverage). This includes costs Cvetkovic – jelena.cvetkovic@ of an attack that results in a pre-attack state. incurred for damages caused to cna.com, (416) 915-6928) – is third-party lawsuit. • Notification costs. Under the third parties as a result of an the specialty claims manager Basic coverage under a typical Canadian privacy legislation, attack, such as: and Julie Morand – julie. policy includes first party costs companies may be required to Network security liability. [email protected], (416) 542- from expenses relating to vari- notify affected individuals in the In the event of a cyber attack, 7435) – is a specialty claims ous components of the incident event of attacks involving a risk the policyholder could incur analyst at CNA Insurance. response and remediation of harm due to data theft or un- damages and claims resulting efforts, such as the following: authorized access. Costs include from unauthorized access to (or Comments? • Cyber extortion. Ransom- the mailing of notification let- disruption of) its network using E-mail [email protected].
12 PLANT October 2020
PLT_October2020_AMS.indd 12 2020-10-02 1:38 PM AWARDS Pandemic Looking for a fabricator for a complex project?
HEROES Whether it’s a heat exchanger, stack, pressure vessel, THE WINNING MANUFACTURERS filter, or other custom process equipment, Alps Welding Virtual event honours outstanding can turn your design into reality. contributors to the COVID-19 fight.
BY PLANT STAFF
hen Canada was swept up in the COVID-19 pandemic, many manufac- W turers acted quickly to fill shortages of personal protective equipment (PPE) for frontline workers and civilians, hospital equipment and monitoring devices. Annex Business Media publications Ca- nadian Manufacturing, PLANT Magazine and EP&T hosted the Responding to COVID: Industry Leadership Honours virtual event Sept. 17 to recognize companies that stand out as quick and innovative responders. Here’s a brief rundown of the winners but go to www.plant.ca/qO6PL for a We have experience working with steel, stainless, recap of the event and details about all the finalists. and other alloys, including titanium. PPE-large manufacturer, and Ultimate COVID Hero (most significant impact). The Canadian Shield was founded in March at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, when the Kitchener, Ont.-based InkSmith, an educational technology company (about eight employ- ees), decided to produce medical face shields. Within the first few weeks, it donated 20,000 face shields to frontline healthcare workers across Ontario, and has donated 750,000 face shields to teachers. Now the company employs more than 300 team members and has a federal government contract to produce 10 million units. PPE – Medium-sized Manufacturer. Auto parts manufacturer Molded Precision Components (Shanty Bay, Ont.) pivoted to make face shields when COVID-19 hit in March. PPE – Small Manufacturer. I3 Biomedical (Mirabel, Que.) creat- ed a mask infused with its TrioMed technology that deactivates the COVID-19 virus. Assisting the Sick. Aerospace manufacturer Space Engine Sys- With over 150 welding procedures, and 40 years of tems (Edmonton) custom-designed and produced a ventilator and experience meeting the demanding specifications of the brought it to market in 21 days. energy, mining, chemical, and cleantech industries, Disease Detection. iLobby (Toronto) launched Fever Check tech- make Alps Welding your first call when looking for a nology that uses a thermal camera to scan visitors’ temperatures. fabricator for critical equipment. Services. Nuclear power provider Bruce Power (Tiverton, Ont.) streamed 1.7-million pieces of PPE to more than 100 organizations. Sanitization – Hygiene. Hunter Amenities (Burlington, Ont.), a multinational cosmetic manufacturer, quickly pivoted to hand sani- tizer that isn’t scented or alcohol-based. Sanitization – Innovation. Envision SQ Inc. (Guelph, Ont.), a manufacturer of pollution filters, created a semi-permanent disinfec- tant that sticks to virtually any surface and kills COVID-19. Machines Italia – COVID Hero. Forty Creek Distillery Ltd. (Cam- pari Canada) in Grimsby, Ont. produced high-alcohol hand sanitizer 400 New Huntington Road for several organizations in the region. Woodbridge, Ontario 905-850-2780
Comments? E-mail [email protected]. www.alpswelding.com
www.plant.ca PLANT 13
PLT_JanFeb_Alps.indd 1 2019-01-16 11:02 AM Alps_Plant_ Jan 2018.indd 1 2019-01-08 12:55 PM
PLT_October2020_AMS.indd 13 2020-10-02 1:38 PM COVID-19
Hit hard by market Plan for growth. disruptions, manufacturers PHOTO: STOCK.ADOBE.COM
are rethinking strategy. current and future landscape. Focus on Workforce management. BY DAVID LINTON 3.Unprecedented challenges have strained the HR capabilities upply chain disruptions of many manufacturers that have and increasing costs are laid off staff as production lines Seroding competitiveness. As GROWTH were halted. Or they were faced manufacturers pass through the with a labour shortage caused by recovery stage of the COVID-19 FIVE STEPS TO TAKE DURING the closing of borders. pandemic and think about Consult an HR advisory team growth strategies, there are a THE ECONOMIC RECOVERY about return-to-work programs, policy updates, leadership and few areas to keep top-of-mind. management support, and a staff What needs to change? What communications strategy. does success look like? Where Business continuity should the shifts be made to stay 4. planning. A robust plan competitive? minimizes risk of disruptions as Here are five areas for building conditions change. Be ready to a growth strategy: change with them. Supply chain disruptions. Build, test and deploy a plan to 1. Traditional supply chains – minimize disruptions as condi- both direct material supply and tions change. Include preserving product sales – will be disrupt- business continuity, managing ed for some time. Moreover, cash flow, rethinking budgets, costs have increased. To remain maintaining important vendor competitive, find new supply and stakeholder relationships, channels while minimizing addi- and leveraging technology to tional cost increases. To combat help keep your various plat- disrupted sales channels, either forms running. find new sources of revenue Cash flow and working or expand existing ones. This 5. capital management. Dy- might mean new geographies, namically reforecast as condi- new products or new channel tions change to maximize your partnerships. use of working capital and avoid Build and execute a plan to cash flow stress. review and adjust supply sourc- Re-plan as needed, pivoting es that improves resilience, business at any given point manages costs and adjusts and react quickly to change. inventory-carrying policies. Re- There will be losses in line with EXTENSIVE UP-TO-DATE CANADIAN view go-to-market options, think the economic downturn. That about diversifying your product stresses the importance of man- LABOUR MARKET INTELLIGENCE portfolio and prepare to expand aging liquidity and cash flow into new sales channels. now, taking uncertainties into ACCESS DATA FOCUSED ON WAGES, TURNOVER, Margin erosion. Reduced account for future planning. VACANCIES, PROJECTED INCREASES AND MORE! 2. margins will continue for Addressing these issues will Also, this year, the ManufacturingGPS survey is the foreseeable future. Your help increase market share with- exploring experiences in training across the manufacturing growth strategy must address the out sacrificing margin. sector. Through this survey, we will be able to learn about employers’ motivations for investing in skills training, fact direct material costs have as well as their preferences for funding models that increased while some costs have This is an edited version of a support their investments. remained fixed. longer article (Æ) contributed Incorporate reductions in by BDO Canada LLP (www. direct material costs and fixed bdo.ca), an accounting, tax, costs, while increasing revenue consulting and advisory firm. and productivity. This might Contact David Linton, partner include automating production and BDO Consulting’s national lines, retooling and retraining manufacturing and distribu- staff. Pivoting from what’s cur- tion leader at (647) 795-8008. rently being produced may be a solution. Stay on top of financial Comments? forecasting to respond to the E-mail [email protected].
14 PLANT October 2020
PLT_ExcellenceinMFG_Oct20.indd 1 2020-09-23 2:08 PM
PLT_October2020_AMS.indd 14 2020-10-02 1:38 PM PERFORMANCE
• Are your frontline leaders more clarity about what to do clear about priorities? next. Ready to COACH? Go to the production floor to ask the frontline leaders direct- Hugh Alley is an industrial en- MAKING USE OF NEW SKILLS ly, “What do you understand to gineer based in the Vancouver be the priorities of the organi- area who helps organizations Obstacles and escalating ties, only urgent requests. zation right now?” and “What achieve significant perfor- priorities can sap a team If you are frustrated your lat- things are currently preventing mance gains. Call (604) 866- est initiative is floundering, ask you from addressing those pri- 1502 or e-mail hughralley@ leader’s will to learn. yourself the following questions: orities?” Don’t argue or correct gmail.com. • What unintended obstacles their answers. Just listen, then BY HUGH ALLEY make it hard to do what is thank them. Comments? asked? These answers will provide E-mail [email protected]. ean expert (Modele Con- sulting) Dorsey Sherman’s L presentation at the KataCon6 conference in February ques- tioned the meaning of the word “coach.” During the discussion, Mike Rother, author of Toyota FIND OUT HOW Kata, asked how much man- agers, supervisors and team YOUR INDUSTRY 4.0 ADOPTION leaders really wanted to develop COMPARES WITH OTHER their skills. Did they want to learn to coach, or were they just CANADIAN MANUFACTURERS doing it to respond to pressure? Many answers reflected dis- interest. One attendee reported A FREE ONLINE PRESENTATION a coaching program where 30 managers/supervisors finished a November 2 • 2 pm EST. 90-day program but only 15% of them actually carried on using their new skills. What can we learn from this? Join us November 2 at 2pm EST as 2021 Jason Myers CEO of Next Generation Here are five possible conclu- ADVANCED Manufacturing and Will Mazgay, Editor of sions: MANUFACTURING Canadian Manufacturing, discuss the results 1. The employer didn’t measure OUTLOOK REPORT of the Advanced Manufacturing Outlook or reward the behaviour so report and the adoption of Industry 4.0 they ignored it. technologies by Canadian companies. 2. Only outcomes were rewarded, people development is ignored. 3. Frontline managers face so Industry 4.0 is here, are Canadian many ‘priorities’ the initiative Manufacturers ready? got lost. 4. Frontline managers were pre- viously chastised for the new STOCK.ADOBE.COM behaviour. Published by: Sponsored by: 5. Participants felt discouraged Jayson Myers Will Mazgay Chief Executive Officer Editor
by the obstacles to using their PLT_AdvMfg_Nov2020_AMS.indd 1 Next Generation Canadian Manufacturing new skills. Manufacturing Canada magazine But two factors point to the best answer. The first is something Deming REGISTER ONLINE: bit.ly/indstry4report talked about 60 years ago. A lot of people discouraged by obsta- cles put in their way give up. WEBINAR SPONSORED BY REPORT SPONSORS The other comes courtesy of a 2015 Gallup study. It found while executives typically have 10 priorities, at the front line they become over 40 ‘priorities.’ With that many, there are no priori-
www.plant.ca PLANT 15 PLT_2021AMO_report_ISL_SVA.indd 1 2020-09-30 12:50 PM
PLT_October2020_AMS.indd 15 2020-10-02 1:38 PM INDUSTRY 4.0
Survey shows more manufacturers are investing in the future.
BY JOE TERRETT, EDITOR
anadian manufacturers are not technology leaders. CMost are small, so they are inclined to follow once a tech- nology is proven and the costs come down. The 2021 Advanced Manufac- turing Outlook survey, conduct- ed by Toronto research firm RK Robotics and automation lead investment choices. PHOTO: BLUE PLANET STUDIO - STOCK.ADOBE.COM Insights for Annex Business Media publications Canadian flow overwhelm the next step in Manufacturing and PLANT the process. And consider the re- Magazine, shows companies are Getting quirements needed to implement more engaged with Industry 4.0 a technology solution profitably, and the “smart factory” than last such as the skills needed to year’s survey respondents, but operate the systems, data flow, they have concerns. And there communications and internal are still those who are reluctant processes. to adopt or are not interested. SMARTER NGen is helping companies Thirty per cent of senior exec- segment technology in more utives, managers and owners of COMPANIES ENGAGE WITH manageable ways. There are manufacturing operations are also groups that offer help, such applying industrial internet of DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY as MTech Hub in Burlington, things (IIoT). That compares to Ont. (www.mtechhub.ca) a 24% of those who participated in Manufacturing Canada. The not- solution needed to do the job. non-profit that focuses on digital the 2020 outlook survey, while for-profit is focused on matching And it’s not just about jumping transformation, hosted at its another 17% have a plan, more companies with advanced tech- in and investing in digital tech- innovation centre. than doubling last year’s re- nologies. “With the use of digital nologies. He observes a mistake He says companies should sponse. And 23% are evaluating technology, whether its commu- many manufacturers make is to also be looking at how technol- the technology. Thirty per cent nication, connecting factories invest in solutions looking for a ogy adds value for the customer are out of the loop compared to and work flow or supply chains, problem, rather than the other in terms of product, service and 39% from last year’s sample. it has become much more evi- way around. collaboration. And there’s a role There are several reasons dent why that’s important.” to play helping the customer add identified for not investing in ad- He says it also shows the im- Solving problems value to its customers. “Part of vanced technologies, but leading portance of having guidance and “My advice is to figure out what the change we’re seeing with the list are difficulty integrating some sort of playbook; it’s about the business model is, what you Industry 4.0 is it’s driving a more it in existing systems, followed having the processes in place to want to do, what processes you collaborative model of the value by a lack of skills to support manage the data and achieve the need to put in place, and what chain than a purely transaction- investment. desired business objectives. “It’s processes need to be improved, al model of how the supply chain The top reason for applying not as intimidating as people then go out and find the right works.” the technology is to improve ef- think,” he adds. solution,” he says. Business and The future looks bright for ficiency and productivity (41%), Manufacturers have faced skills requirements (getting the companies that respond quickly but improving maintenance challenges implementing job done using the technology to changes in the marketplace, functions, and analysis of data technology, most (60%) iden- that’s on hand) must be part of focus on innovation, bring new are also high on the list. Key tifying funding, plus a lack of the project document. products to market, or improve benefits reported by 76% of man- skilled talent (47%), resistance He cautions against using them, as many have done in ufacturers are reducing down- to change (41%) and integrating technology to solve a problem response to the pandemic. time, increased throughput and legacy technology (40%). that could be fixed by improving The survey received 183 re- increased quality of product. Myers offered some tips to the efficiency of an existing pro- sponses from company leaders. “[The survey] really shows help ease companies into more cess. And beware of bringing in Look for a copy of the report how COVID-19 has accelerated advanced manufacturing, noting technology for one problem that with roundtable comments at adoption of digital technolo- there’s plenty of help available, causes trouble elsewhere. He www.plant.ca. gies, even if it means remote and they don’t have to be tech- cites one company that automat- working,” says Jayson Myers, nology experts. But companies ed part of its process to increase Comments? CEO of Next Generation (NGen) do need to be experts on the flow, only to see the increased E-mail [email protected]
16 PLANT October 2020
PLT_October2020_AMS.indd 16 2020-10-02 1:38 PM LEAN THINKING
portunity as a learning moment. cashier. This improves through- Being an observer allows you to put but also accomplishes two Power of see the bigger picture instead tasks: it adds capacity by calling of just focusing on that 30-inch for more cashiers or redeploying view. Here’s an example. Team excess cashiers when there are leads on a very long packaging no customers. OBSERVATION line helped people in the final Many organizations are pack zone while others at the complaining about the detri- STEP BACK, LET IT HAPPEN start of line were standing mental impact COVID-19 has around. on their businesses and indeed Acting as an observer in to provide an additional set An observer that understands many are suffering. But others rebalances processes. of hands to help maintain flow. the process would have seen it have figured out how to create a But it’s more effective to step was much easier to rebalance better and more personal expe- BY RICHARD KUNST back, observe and rebalance resources. rience with no negative impact resources. on sales. If you view the role of iving with COVID-19 has Here’s a lesson from a boss Emerging benefits observers as adding value, think meant traditional processes years ago: “Learn to sit on your As we live with the potential of its as a great tool for building L constantly being modified, hands. You know what needs to effects of COVID-19 and organi- your brand while improving then adjusted. In some cases be done and you can do it faster zations of all kinds are reacting relationships. these changes are wonderful than the technician but if you with methods to support physical new and enduring experiences, slow down, instruct, educate distancing, some great benefits Richard Kunst is president which brings us to the 30-inch and coach, the technician will are emerging. Here’s an example and CEO of Cambridge, Ont.- view and the power of observa- understand and most likely from a grocery store. based Kunst Solutions Corp. tion. Thirty inches is the average never call you again when faced No more jockeying for the Visit www.kunstsolutions.com. length of a person’s arm. Natu- with the same problem.” shortest or fastest line at a ca- E-mail rkunst@kunstartofsolu- rally you’ll focus on what your Don’t teach by doing. By do- shier. Cashing out has switched tions.com. hands touch and manipulate. ing, the desired result will come from batching to sequencing If your team experiences a much faster, but you have failed by an observer who directs Comments? bottleneck, of course you jump as a leader by not using the op- customers to the next available E-mail [email protected].
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018191_Sullair_Plant Canada_8x5.375.indd 1 6/19/19 4:40 PM www.plant.ca PLANT 17 PLT_JulyAug_Sullair.indd 1 2019-06-20 11:33 AM
PLT_October2020_AMS.indd 17 2020-10-02 1:38 PM CCOHS SAFETY TIPS
Lifting is among the most tween both arms. common causes of back • The back should be com- fortably straight, tightening injury in workplaces. abdominal muscles. • Bend legs so they do the housands of Canadian lifting. workers are injured or per- • Lift the load smoothly, without T manently disabled by back jerking, keeping it as close to injuries each year. It’s fair to say the body as possible. every worker who lifts or en- Use hoists, cranes, lift trucks or dollies for heavy or awkward loads. • Keep the load in the middle, gages in other manual material PHOTO: MOODBOARD - STOCK.ADOBE.COM between shoulder and knee handling tasks is at some risk of height. musculoskeletal injury. • Avoid twisting and side bend- About three of every four Lifting ing while lifting. Step or pivot, workers whose jobs include turning the whole body. manual materials handling • Plan where to set the load suffer pain due to back inju- down, ideally on a raised ry at some time, accounting platform that won’t require for about 33% of all lost work bending down with the weight and more than one-third of all SAFELY of the load. compensation costs. Employers Ensure workers take advan- can reduce injuries by ensuring HOW TO AVOID BACK INJURIES tage of rest periods. Switch workers prepare and plan for the (more than two metres) whenev- ily and avoid exposed buttons, between heavy loads and lighter lift while practising safe lifting er possible and continue all safe zippers or loose flaps that ones. They should rest more and handling techniques. work procedures while follow- could get caught in the load. often when it’s hot and humid As long as COVID-19 is a ing these safe lifting tips: Add safety boots with toecaps or when it’s cold, and take more concern, workers must continue 1. Dress appropriately. Cloth- and slip-resistant soles, and time to warm up. Eventually practising physical distancing ing should be flexible, tear eas- protective gloves. safe lifting techniques will be- 2. Plan the lift. Clear obstacles come good habits. and debris – such as grease, Regardless of the tasks, have oil, water and litter – in the workers wash their hands or use load’s path. hand sanitizer before and after 3. Warm up with gentle touching shared items, using stretches. This is especial- equipment or when entering ly important for occasional and exiting production areas. lifters that may not be accus- Review processes such as tomed to handling loads. material pick-up, delivery and 4. Test the load. Check stability maintenance, then determine and overall weight by pulling methods that avoid congregating or sliding. Determine if the or working in the same area. load is liftable without a lot Finally, step up the cleaning of exertion. Workers should regimen. Develop a schedule get help for heavy or awk- for each work area, especially ward loads. When possible between shift changes, that use equipment such as hoists, includes cleaning and disinfect- cranes, lift trucks, dollies or ing all touched surfaces and FED UP? wheelbarrows. equipment.
Problem: You want to use the latest automation Task-specific training The Canadian Centre for technology. However, the complexity is overwhelming. Specific handling and lifting tech- Occupational Health and Solution: MOVIKIT® software modules! They niques are needed for different Safety (CCOHS) in Hamilton empower you to perform complex automation tasks kinds of loads or materials. contributed this article. It easily and without experience. No more login hours. No more complex programming. There’s no correct way to lift provides information, training, so provide on-site, task-specific education, management Positioning? Synchronization? training that includes these systems and solutions that Torque sharing? Winders? Yes, and even more. general lifting rules: support health and safety • Stand close to the load facing programs and the prevention Simple is good... the direction of movement. of injury and illness in the • Place feet wide apart to main- workplace. Visit www.ccohs.ca. Local Site: sewcan.ca tain balance. Corporate Site: sew-eurodrive.ca • Grasp opposite corners and Comments? balance the load evenly be- E-mail [email protected].
18 PLANT October 2020
PLT_SEW_Oct20.indd 1 2020-09-22 3:09 PM
PLT_October2020_AMS.indd 18 2020-10-02 1:38 PM TECHCENTRE MACHINE TOOLS SUPPLY LINES
Start at the design phase STABLE PPE SUPPLY to build more reliable Maitri Health (https://maitrihealth. ca) has launched a supply system machines. for Canadian-manufactured per- sonal protective equipment. BY RAMONA SCHINDLER “We intend to grow our trusted stable of manufacturers, technol- achine tool builders hear ogy innovators and logistics and and read a lot about digi- distribution partners, and ensure Mtalization. There are three we can scale to support Canadian ways OEM engineering and man- and global demand,” said Andrew agement teams can view this Morton, CEO of Maitri Health, the technology’s impact as it shapes global platform for healthcare sup- production and sales processes ply security based in Vancouver. of the future. The company will deliver certi- 1. Advantages during design. fied masks, face shields, anti-viral Digitalization is a viable means of cleaning solutions and disinfec- building a more effective, reliable tants, plus best in class test kits. and predictable machine from the very outset of the design GDW ACQUIRED phase. Investment firm Graycliff Partners Having a visual model of your LP in New York has acquired CNC machine for commission- Digitalization on the shop floor. PHOTO: SIEMENS Gerard Daniel Worldwide (GDW), ing makes the investment in a manufacturer of wire mesh and digitalization worthwhile. With other wire products. the data and design concept in Gerard Daniel makes 5,000-plus hand, you can use digitalization Three views of wire mesh and related products tools, such as a mechatronics for more than 3,000 customers concept designer, which brings worldwide. They’re used for the physics of the world to DIGITALIZATION filtration, sound suppression, heat your computer screen. You test dispersion and electro-chemical the PLC and the NC, run the applications. motion control or load protocols HOW IT’S ADVANCING Markets include automotive, including full machine kinemat- aerospace, energy, pharmaceuti- ics and conduct overall system MACHINE TOOL BUILDING cal, electronics, food and general component integration, prior to to market. customer. It also creates a closer manufacturing. the first manufacturing step of 2. Improved customer experi- touch point between builder and The Canadian division is based the build. ence. Digitalization adds defin- customer. in Mississauga, Ont. Digitalization tools provide able value that can be presented highly accurate hardware in the to customers. Tracking data LOCATOR IS HERE loop emulation, transitioning On a functional level, the 3. Better business models. Wiser Systems (www.wiser- from CAD to CAM to mechatron- digital twin further integrates Builders fashion new business systems.com) has made the first ic concept designer, then finally virtual and actual machine models for the use of machine deployment of its ultra-wideband to the virtual machine control- commissioning and production tools by demonstrating to (UWB) wireless location and ler. Since the model is essential- monitoring. The machine tool customers what can be done tracking systems in Canada. It’s ly mirroring the real hardware builder presents its machines with the data and to sell more being used for yard management in operation under power, the with enhanced, augmented services, optimize machine up- to track vehicles at a Gatineau, simulations of machine motion reality monitoring, customiz- time and track the performance Que. site. and feedback are more precise able apps for data prioritization of equipment in the field, all of Locator has Industry Canada than it would be with a pure and improved requirements which improves the customer certification for use in Canada simulation. and production data evaluation experience with your machines. and the Raleigh, NC manufacturer Specific customer challenges scenarios. New business models are also of redundant radio localization are addressed at this stage and This concept of data ex- created by the machine tool technology is looking at applica- the results for the machine tool change represents a richer value builder’s ability to help custom- tions for manufacturing, energy builder are faster resolution of proposition for the machine ers use digitalization tools to im- and other sectors. design issues and quicker path tool, as you present it to your prove their production. The vir-
www.plant.ca PLANT 19
PLT_October2020_AMS.indd 19 2020-10-02 1:38 PM LEADING EDGE Innovative ideas for plants tual twin, based upon the virtual NC kernel, allows various pro- duction, material handling and full motion control scenarios to GTS IMPROVES EFFICIENCY be sampled by the customer in the design stage. Virtual training Utilization levels above 95% for programmers, operators Fastems is aiming for greatly improved tool and maintenance personnel is storage and deployment efficiency with a also possible. This digital twin new release of the Gantry Tool Storage (GTS) is high-value in terms of market system. appeal, plus the embedded soft- Working with its management software and ware positions the training as flexible manufacturing system, the automation a perceptible value-add for the company is declaring machine utilization levels machine builder to pass along above 95%. to the end-customer. This saves Pick-and-place and traveling gantry robots the customer valuable machine provide access to 4,000 centrally stored cutting uptime on the shop floor. tools, and perform just-in-time tool delivery to As machine tool builders individual machines. become more capable of tracking MMS software commands automatic cutting data on their CNC machines, tool changes based on specific NC program there’s a dual benefit for the scheduling requirements and real-time cutting customer. Machine uptime is tool life status. improved with more streamlined There’s sharing among multiple machines, resolution of issues. Current and minimizing redundancy without having to rapidly emerging edge technolo- reserve a cutting tool for a single machine. gy also add more precise analysis Sharing also reduces the size of machine tool of the machine and the custom- magazines. And the modular design shortens er’s production process. delivery, installation and commissioning times. Studying component and Fastems LLC based in Chester, Ohio is a US Stores up to 4,000 tools. PHOTO: FASTEMS overall machine performance office of the Finnish company that provides in the field improves the design automation solutions to fabricating manufac- and production process of the turers. machine, even a global installed www.fastems.com base, and makes this data available to the end-customer. The machine builder then uses the available data to track line productivity, machine-to-ma- BIOCLOUD DETECTS COVID-19 IN THE AIR Up to chine or facility-to-facility com- Wall unit for facilities, transit vehicles 30 million welds. parisons, production schedule Kontrol Energy Corp. has PHOTO: TOLOMATIC variance and other KPIs. launched a technology Digital twins are emerging that detects the presence NEXT-GEN WELDING ACTUATORS as viable tools in the design of COVID-19 in the air and Two models, high and lower force and marketing of many CNC triggers an alert system. machine tools, a trend that will The company based in Tolomatic’s latest generation of high-force continue. Concord, Ont., a provid- actuators for seventh-axis robotic spot-welding Bottom line, digitalization, er of energy efficiency come in a compact footprint for faster resistant both at the concept and build technology through IoT, cycles. stages for the OEM and custom- Cloud and SaaS, de- The servo motor and high-force actuator ers, can be implemented at every scribes BioCloud as an combo deliver up to 30 million welds in typical level of machine tool operation. Kontrol BioCloud sensor. unobtrusive wall-mounted applications along with increased force and PHOTO: KONTROL ENERGY technology that would be speed capabilities, easily adapting to increases Romona Schindler is head of used in facilities but also in in production demand. machine tool systems, Sie- mass transit vehicles. The CSWX for steel and aluminum weld ap- mens, based in Switzerland. The detection chamber is fully replaceable after it plications provide up to 18 kN of pressing force Siemens Canada Ltd.’s head of- comes in contact with the SARS-CoV-2 virus. (4,047 lbf) in a 90-mm frame. fice is in Oakville, Ont. E-mail BioCloud will initially be manufactured at Kontrol Model CSW (15.6 kN or 3,500 lbf) is for lower ramona.schindler@siemens. Energy’s London, Ont. facility. First orders are expected duty cycle applications (20 million-plus welds). com. to ship in Canada and then globally. Tolomatic, based in Minneapolis, is a manu- www.kontrolenergy.com facturer of factory automation technology. Comments? www.tolomatic.com E-mail [email protected].
20 PLANT October 2020
PLT_October2020_AMS.indd 20 2020-10-02 1:38 PM PLANTWARE
CLEANER MINE WASTEWATER Ethacor removes contaminants Functionality of the NA5 Sysmac HMI. E2Metrix Inc. has received $4.5 million PHOTO: OMRON from the federal government to help mining operations recycle wastewater while HMI IMPROVES CONTROL removing harmful contaminants. Omron Automation Americas has The specialist in wastewater treat- released new Soft NA software ment based in Sherbrooke, Que. said its for its industrial PC (IPC) that Ecothor technology cleans and separates improves control and visibility for contaminants, such as complex organics, applications not requiring a full total suspended solids, heavy metals, SCADA system. emulsified oils, phosphates, ammonia and It implements the full function- other contaminants. ality of the NA5 Sysmac HMI, The Ecothor reactor is cylindrical shape eliminating an IPC for data (such and balances electrochemistry, coagula- as ERP, SAP, Sysmac Studio or tion and hydrodynamics to decontaminate An Ecothore reactor. CXONE) and a separate NA5 HMI the wastewater. PHOTO: E2METRIX for NJ/NX machine control. Its automated process includes re- The greatest benefit goes to al-time water quality monitoring, data log- users needing an HMI interface ging, controls and guarantees compliance to the Sysmac NJ/NX system with discharge criteria. and the ability to run additional https://e2metrix.com/ software. Stores up to 4,000 tools. PHOTO: FASTEMS Omron Automation Americas is an industrial automation company based in Hoffman Estates, Ill. EVENTS the latest technology from suppliers, take in the keynotes https://automation.omron.com and network. Future Aluminum Forum Industry 4.0 Visit https://wmts.ca. NEW DIGITAL DUO Aluminum Association of Canada 3Diligent has updated its Industry Dec. 8-9, Quebec City PTDA 2021 Canadian Conference 4.0 procurement service with Presented by the Aluminum Association of Canada. The PTDA new software and name (ProdEX) focus is on Industry 4.0. June 9-10, 2021, Montreal while launching Shopsight, its Visit https://futurealuminiumforum.com. The 2021 conference will be held in Montreal. It brings key new manufacturing shop manage- decision makers from the Canadian power transmission/ ment software. ProMat Manufacturing and Supply Chain Show 2021 motion control industry together for business networking The two services work togeth- MHI and education. er. ProdEX is one-stop for express April 12-14, 2021, Chicago Visit www.ptda.org. manufacturing procurement Features the latest material handling and logistics equip- across thousands of material and ment and technologies. Includes over 140 sessions from CMTS 2021 technology options. It includes re- industry experts. SME al-time part assessment and quot- Visit www.promatshow.com. Oct. 4-7, 2021, Mississauga, Ont. ing that allow quick comparison of The Canadian Manufacturing & Technology Show (CMTS) manufacturing options. Customize ISA Calgary Show features advanced technologies, keynote speakers and eligible suppliers using criteria ISA panellists from government and business. such as country, certifications April 13-14, 2021, Calgary Visit https://cmts.ca. and conformance documents. The International Society of Automation (ISA) in Calgary Shopsight streamlines and presents the Instrumentation, Systems and Automation FABTECH Canada enhances pre-production and Show. The latest industry trends will be covered with SME production operations. technologies on display and opportunities for networking. June 2022, Toronto Pre-production, suppliers Visit https://isacalgary.com. Presented by the Society of Manufacturing Engineers assess in seconds which technol- (SME). Metal forming, fabricating, welding and finishing ogy-material combinations are Western Manufacturing and Technology Show (WMTS) event features world class suppliers with the latest in- viable for a job. SME dustry products and developments, plus tools to improve 3Diligent is a El Segundo, Calif. June 1-3, 2021, Edmonton productivity. digital services provide.r Western Canada’s manufacuring marketplace. Look for Visit https://canada.fabtechexpo.com. www.3diligent.com
www.plant.ca PLANT 21
PLT_October2020_AMS.indd 21 2020-10-02 1:38 PM POSTSCRIPT New era of intelligent manufacturing
BY JAYSON MYERS applications are likely to fail unless manufacturers have the right information systems, cybersecurity he World Manufacturing Forum brings to- safeguards and skill sets in place to manage the gether industry, academic and policy leaders technology effectively. It also underlines the im- Tfrom around the world to discuss the future of portance of finding good technology partners that manufacturing. Its annual report (to be released support AI deployment in a manageable, timely and in November) shines a light on how common the cost effective way. challenges and opportunities are for manufactur- It’s how the business model, systems and people ers, regardless the country they hail from. work together that counts. AI and automation help, This year’s report emphasizes the importance of but they must have a purpose with a clear under- innovation and focuses specifically on how trends standing of how processes and external business in artificial intelligence (AI) are defining the future relationships contribute to value creation. of manufacturing. As a member of WMF’s Advisory Today materials, products and processes are Board, I can speak to a few of the key themes . rapidly becoming data platforms. Now the name WHAT IF… The analytical power of AI is growing exponen- of the game is to learn from it, rapidly predict tially. So too are its applications in every sector outcomes from a more in-depth understanding of YOU COULD SAVE MILLIONS OF LITERS OF ALL TOO OFTEN, of the global economy. The WMF believes AI will current conditions, and create new forms of value reshape every aspect of manufacturing – not so that offer unique competitive advantages. IT’S TECHNOLOGY much because of the nature of the technology Intelligent manufacturing is about the value WATER BY MAKING A FEW SIMPLE CHANGES? FIRST WITHOUT A itself, but because of its potential to increase of products, machines, production systems and industry growth. For that reason, manufacturing is supplier-customer interactions increasing rather CLEAR DEFINITION OF expected to lead the way in AI applications. than depreciating over time. In this fundamental It’s important to see AI primarily from a business respect, manufacturers are becoming more like REPLACE NOZZLES BUSINESS OBJECTIVES, rather than a technological view. Functions under technology companies. To the extent their purpose AT THE FIRST SIGN the AI umbrella – natural language processing, is defined increasingly by customer or social out- UNDERSTANDING OF OF WEAR knowledge representation and reasoning, automat- comes, they’re also becoming more like personal AUTOMATE TANK CRITICAL PROCESSES, ed planning, intelligent robots, machine percep- services companies, and there’s profit in that! tion, and machine learning – are all basically However, the game has changed. Risks and re- CLEANING OR APPRECIATION systems of prediction. wards aren’t as clear-cut. Decisions need to be tak- Worn nozzles spray over RIGHT-SIZE OF BUSINESS The question for manufacturers is: Where in the en, results tested and actions recalibrated quickly. products, processes or general functions would a Here too AI is providing some powerful tools when capacity, resulting in water waste. YOUR NOZZLES REQUIREMENTS… better system of prediction create greater value for it comes to planning, scheduling, monitoring and Check nozzle flow rates regularly; Automated washing customers in a more efficient, higher quality, more maintaining operations. One caveat: it all depends visual checks won’t detect wear. timely and more profitable way? The selection of AI on the quality of the data fed into the algorithms. of tanks, totes, drums, vats and tools and techniques should reflect the most appro- But what’s important? Start with data that Replacing nozzles that are spraying more will ensure thorough, repeatable In many operations, lower priate way of achieving business outcomes. contribute to business objectives, and ensure it’s just 15% over capacity can save cleaning using the least amount of capacity nozzles can be used without Yet that’s not the way many manufacturers have good data. Low quality data leads to low quality millions of liters of water. Using less water possible in the shortest amount approached AI or broader automation and digital outcomes. And gather it from all parts of the en- compromising product/process quality. water means you’ll reduce chemical transformation initiatives. All too often, it’s tech- terprise, including customers, suppliers and other of time. Processors often reduce We helped one processor save more nology first without clear definition of the business business partners. Data silos lead to unintended and energy use too. cleaning time by as much as 75% than one billion liters of water annually objectives, understanding of critical processes or consequences and ultimately to unmanageable and water use by 50% or more. on conveyor cleaning. Evaluate and appreciation of business requirements for suc- deployments and unsustainable business results. cessful implementation. Maybe that’s why Deloitte There’s a lot to be said for basic lean thinking test your nozzles to see if you can reports 90% of all large-scale digitization projects here. Focus on value. Eliminate non-value adding experience similar benefits. fail, why more than half of Canadian manufac- activities. AI is radically expanding the boundar- turers report their technology investments have ies of both these concepts. That doesn’t mean the not delivered expected business results, and why principles no longer apply. Reducing water use is good for the environment and the bottom line. Let us help you make so many companies still struggle to get their ERP Watch for the WMF’s report (www.worldmanu- some of the simple changes described above. systems under control. facturingforum.org). It’s worth the read. If AI is viewed as a tool, the issue becomes We help companies around the world reduce water, energy and material use, decrease waste, minimize selecting the most appropriate tool or set of tools Jayson Myers, the CEO of Next Generation Manu- environmental impact and improve worker safety. Let our spray technology advance your sustainability initiatives. for the job, then ensuring they are managed in a facturing Canada, is an award-winning busi- productive way. ness economist and advisor to private and public MAKE EVERY DROP COUNT! Approaching AI in this way demystifies the sector leaders. E-mail [email protected]. technology and focuses on how it and other tech- Visit www.ngen.ca. nologies are deployed to grow a business instead of displacing jobs. In fact, it emphasizes that AI Comments? E-mail [email protected]. To learn more visit spray.com/sustainability
22 PLANT October 2020
CO849_AD_Whatif-Tank_9x12_PlantMag_052019.indd 1 5/20/19 4:19 PM PLT_October2020_AMS.indd 22 2020-10-02 1:38 PM PLT_MayJune_Spraying.indd 1 2019-05-21 11:05 AM WHAT IF… YOU COULD SAVE MILLIONS OF LITERS OF WATER BY MAKING A FEW SIMPLE CHANGES?
REPLACE NOZZLES AT THE FIRST SIGN OF WEAR AUTOMATE TANK CLEANING Worn nozzles spray over RIGHT-SIZE capacity, resulting in water waste. YOUR NOZZLES Check nozzle flow rates regularly; Automated washing visual checks won’t detect wear. of tanks, totes, drums, vats and Replacing nozzles that are spraying more will ensure thorough, repeatable In many operations, lower just 15% over capacity can save cleaning using the least amount of capacity nozzles can be used without millions of liters of water. Using less water possible in the shortest amount compromising product/process quality. water means you’ll reduce chemical of time. Processors often reduce We helped one processor save more and energy use too. cleaning time by as much as 75% than one billion liters of water annually and water use by 50% or more. on conveyor cleaning. Evaluate and test your nozzles to see if you can experience similar benefits.
Reducing water use is good for the environment and the bottom line. Let us help you make some of the simple changes described above. We help companies around the world reduce water, energy and material use, decrease waste, minimize environmental impact and improve worker safety. Let our spray technology advance your sustainability initiatives. MAKE EVERY DROP COUNT!
To learn more visit spray.com/sustainability
CO849_AD_Whatif-Tank_9x12_PlantMag_052019.indd 1 5/20/19 4:19 PM PLT_MayJune_Spraying.inddPLT_October2020_AMS.indd 231 2019-05-212020-10-02 11:05 1:38 PMAM Don’t overpay for IP69K Shop AutomationDirect for your Food & Beverage components
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