Manufacturing Operations Management

• DMAIC Improves Process for Energy and Utilities Use

  DMAIC Process Improvement DMAIC (define, measure, analyze, improve, control) has been a staple of Six Sigma process improvement in the American industrial culture for decades. DMAIC has been used to help companies improve their products and processes within their facilities and within their business structures. Whether an organization needs to improve the quality of a […]

  Read MoreDoug Medley, PE / Energy Efficiency / Industrial Automation Engineering / Manufacturing Operations Management / Multidiscipline Engineering / Process Design / Sustainability / Manufacturing /

• Buried Utility Replacement Programs

  Buried Utility Replacement Programs Underground utility failures can be devastating for manufacturing facilities. These failures can result in worker injuries, property damage and create high risk situations while the utility is out of service. The costs associated with the emergency repairs and production downtime can be astronomical. Todd Green, PE highlights Matrix’s approach to evaluation, […]

  Read MoreTodd Green, PE, SI, CFPS / Buried Utilities / Civil Design / Manufacturing Execution / Manufacturing Operations Management / Matrix Moment / Mechanical Design / Process Design / Risk Mitigation / Utility Newtork / Utility System Design / Improvement /

• Remote Monitoring Devices Collect Data for Safety Monitoring and Notifications

  Remote Monitoring Devices Collect Data for Safety Monitoring and Notifications Monitoring devices are everywhere in manufacturing. There are devices for process monitoring, production monitoring, safety monitoring, environmental monitoring, and the list goes on and on. The latest technologies offer easy-to-connect devices, referred to as “things,” which make up the industrial internet of things (IIoT). Some […]

  Read MoreJohn Lee / Application Programming Interface / Industrial Automation Engineering / Industrial Internet of Things / Manufacturing Operations Management / Manufacturing Process Control / Monitoring Applications / ProRAE Guardian / Software Development Kit / SQL Server Express / Improvement / Data Management /

• Building a Business Case

  Building a Business Case Ryan Courtney, MEM, PMP, Project Manager 2 discusses Building a Business Case. How to achieve that go/no-go decision and avoid killing a project before it begins. Topics discussed in this video include; determining the business needs, situational analysis, recommendations, and an evaluation. These steps will help ensure that you have performed […]

  Read MoreRyan Courtney, MEM, PMP / Engineering / Feasibility / Improvement / Industrial Automation Engineering / Manufacturing Operations Management / Matrix Moment / Planning / Process Design /

• Make Informed Decisions with Manufacturing Intelligence

  Make Informed Decisions with Manufacturing Intelligence Data driven decisions are critical in today’s manufacturing operations. Decisions on the plant floor affect lean manufacturing and performance, operations, maintenance, safety and many more factors. Having the right information at the right time enables better decisions for smart manufacturing. In the era of Big Data and connected enterprises, […]

  Read MoreJohn Lee / Digital Transformation / Industrial Automation Engineering / Manufacturing Intelligence / Manufacturing Operations Management / Manufacturing Process Data Management / Smart Manufacturing / Management / Data Management /

• Testing Throughout an Automation Integration Project is Key to Success

  Testing Throughout an Automation Integration Project is Key to Success For any size automation integration project, testing is vital to a success. Planning for testing in the design phase and developing your code to allow for proper testing will lead to well-executed factory and site acceptance tests, as well as successful startups. This article will […]

  Read MoreBill Warnke / FAT / HMI Programming / Industrial Automation Engineering / Manufacturing Operations Management / Manufacturing Process Control / Programmable Logic Controller / Site Acceptance Testing / Planning / Integrations /

• Digitizing Field Data Collection Provides Instant Access to Information

  Digitizing Field Data Collection Provides Instant Access to Information Paper records present a challenge to manufacturers, especially when performing maintenance checks and rounds. Filing paperwork or performing data entry when some notes are illegible, the pen ran dry or the paper got weathered just makes things difficult and sometimes inaccurate. Using a digital device with […]

  Read MoreJohn Lee / Data Analysis / Data Collection / Industrial Automation Engineering / Information Technology / Maintenance / Manufacturing Operations Management / Mobile Data Logging / Operations Technology / SQL Server Express / Improvement / Microsoft /

• Managing a Decaying Industrial Utility System

  Managing a Decaying Industrial Utility System Manufacturing, refining and specialty chemical facilities across North America are facing utility infrastructure challenges. Large campus sites and facilities have utility networks that are comparable to small municipalities, complete with sewer, water distribution, power, communications, natural gas and water/wastewater treatment systems. On top of the basic utilities, most manufacturers […]

  Read MoreTodd Green, PE, SI, CFPS / Chemical Plant / EPC / Industrial Automation Engineering / Manufacturing Operations Management / Planning / Process Design / Utility System Design / Renovation / Manufacturing /

• Pandemic Necessitates Virtual Risk Assessment

  Matrix Technologies provides machine safety risk assessment and training from a safe distance Risk assessments are key to identifying safety hazards revolving around equipment, operations and the production environment. During times of physical separation, such as those required during the COVID-19 outbreak, risk assessments may still be required to mitigate risks to essential workers. In […]

  Read MoreMackenzie Coughlan, MBA / Carl Bohman, PE / COVID-19 / Essential Workers / Industrial Automation Engineering / Machine safety / Manufacturing Engineering Consultants / Manufacturing Operations Management / Manufacturing Process Control / Risk Assessment / Safety / Improvement / Safety /

• Electronic Logging Improves Access to Documentation for Pharmaceutical Company

  Logging matters in regulated environment. The pharmaceutical industry is a Food and Drug Administration-regulated industry that is required to track processes and procedures using detailed log books. Many companies opt to use paper log books that are difficult to maintain, require lots of physical storage space, and are nearly impossible to query for valuable information. […]

  Read MoreJohn Lee / Food and Drug Administration / Industrial Automation Engineering / Manufacturing Operations Management / Manufacturing Process Control / Software Engineering /