Lost wages? Not if you’re spending on packaging technologies

Oct. 15, 2007
Greetings from Las Vegas, all, where PackExpo is in full swing.  I haven't been able to see many booths yet, but I've heard presentations from David Ray at Parsec Automation and Bob Naegle at Videojet, each of which was exciting in its own way. Ray gave a thorough explanation of how Parsec's real-time process management software can help manufacturers determine Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE). He provided enlightening examples of how seemingly minor problems in efficiency or availability can quickly lead to significant production losses, and conversely, how much extra money a small gain in OEE can generate over a one-year period. Ray is a Six Sigma Black Belt, so he isn't just selling a product. Naegle detailed Videojet's new line of track-and-trace solutions, developed through the company's recent acquisition of Prism, a data management software provider. The Prism software leverages Videojet's marking and coding capabilities to create sets of unique codes with parent-child relationships between codes used at the package, case and pallet level for ultimate traceability. The flexible system allows pharma manufacturers to specify their preferences for alphanumeric code, serial 2-D codes or complex 2-D codes, to upload the software to their own or Videojet-provided computers, and to use internet-based programs to track when and where those codes are scanned. This system seems promising both for anti-counterfeiting and anti-diversion as well as for product recalls. More to come; time to head to another meeting.  -HP
Greetings from Las Vegas, all, where PackExpo is in full swing.  I haven't been able to see many booths yet, but I've heard presentations from David Ray at Parsec Automation and Bob Naegle at Videojet, each of which was exciting in its own way. Ray gave a thorough explanation of how Parsec's real-time process management software can help manufacturers determine Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE). He provided enlightening examples of how seemingly minor problems in efficiency or availability can quickly lead to significant production losses, and conversely, how much extra money a small gain in OEE can generate over a one-year period. Ray is a Six Sigma Black Belt, so he isn't just selling a product. Naegle detailed Videojet's new line of track-and-trace solutions, developed through the company's recent acquisition of Prism, a data management software provider. The Prism software leverages Videojet's marking and coding capabilities to create sets of unique codes with parent-child relationships between codes used at the package, case and pallet level for ultimate traceability. The flexible system allows pharma manufacturers to specify their preferences for alphanumeric code, serial 2-D codes or complex 2-D codes, to upload the software to their own or Videojet-provided computers, and to use internet-based programs to track when and where those codes are scanned. This system seems promising both for anti-counterfeiting and anti-diversion as well as for product recalls. More to come; time to head to another meeting.  -HP

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pharmamanufacturing | pharmamanufacturing