By Karissa Kopecky, marketing manager, Falcon Plastics Most manufacturers focus the bulk of their new program startup energy on customer programs – and rightly so. But when a manufacturer launches an internal product line, like Falcon Plastics’ High Plains Trays, the same startup discipline still applies. In fact, it becomes an opportunity to test and refine best … [Read more...] about Building Better from Within: A Lean Startup Mindset for Internal Product Lines
Process Improvement
Recognizing the Red Flags: When to Consider Changing an ERP System
By Jake Rohrer, manager, Wipfli Significant decisions rarely happen in an instant; they typically arrive after collecting sufficient evidence. Just as a person might consider a new car after months of repairs, replacing an ERP system often is the result of months, even years, of consternation. Rarely do businesses have a tangible, running list of grievances and complaints … [Read more...] about Recognizing the Red Flags: When to Consider Changing an ERP System
What’s AI Doing for the Plastics Industry?
By Rick Zettler, owner, Z-Comm LLC Talk of artificial intelligence (AI) has taken the recycling industry by storm and for good reason. When applied correctly, today’s emerging AI technologies have transformative powers, driving automation and efficiently enabling more granular sorting of complex material fractions. Much of this buzz originates from the type of ejection … [Read more...] about What’s AI Doing for the Plastics Industry?
Metro Plastics Makes an Impact with Inventory System
By Lindsey Munson, editor, Plastics Business Business gurus often talk about the view from 30,000 feet – the big picture that provides a look at overall operations. Perhaps, however, the focus should be on the view from 30 feet – a close-up of specific processes and procedures that make an impact now. For more than 45 years, Metro Plastics Technologies, LLC has been … [Read more...] about Metro Plastics Makes an Impact with Inventory System
ERP and MES: The Importance of Data-Driven Software in Plastics
By Lindsey Munson, editor, Plastics Business For plastics processors, data evaluation is crucial to the functioning properties across the entire company, and with that, there are several prominent options in data management and monitoring systems. For this article, the focus is on enterprise resource planning (ERP) and manufacturing execution system (MES) software, and how, … [Read more...] about ERP and MES: The Importance of Data-Driven Software in Plastics