Who Else Wants To Discover Takt Time?

Takt time is the beat of manufacturing. It is the rhythm of the company for making products or delivering services. Do you know what yours is? Let’s look at takt time and determine how to use it to our advantage. What is Takt Time? (Discover Takt Time) This is a German word taken from beats … Read more

What are the Different PLC Programming Languages

PLC programs are typically written in a particular application on a personal computer, then downloaded to the PLC. This downloaded program is similar to compiled code to keep the program efficient. The program is stored in the PLC in battery-backed-up RAM or non-volatile flash memory. Five Different PLC Programming Languages Albert Einstein said, “The world … Read more

How to Send Email to SMTP Server (VB6)

Simple mail transfer protocol (SMTP) is the email protocol for sending information. We can use this ability to email from our data logged from the PLC. Faults or errors the PLC detects can be emailed to individuals for correction. Shift reports on productivity can be automatically emailed to recipients. Note: Google is removing “Less Secured … Read more

Who Wants to Learn About On Off and PID Control?

Process control can be a bit intimidating. We will try and break down both On/Off and PID control in a fun way. This is a simple analogy without any math. On-Off Control Explained On/Off control can be used effectively with temperature control. Everyone’s house usually has a temperature controller that uses an On/Off control. The … Read more

Speaking to Individual People – Be Heard

Speaking to individual people is thought to be an easy task. Are you being heard and understood? Talking to individuals is a complex thing. Everyone is unique and has something to contribute. The way we conduct ourselves will determine how we are perceived. It boils down to our ability to modify our behavior to allow … Read more

Looking For Production Improvements – Then Do A Gemba Walk!

I recently went for a Gemba Walk with Ann Machan,  General Manager of Pentair. Instead of doing ordinary daily production meetings, their walk does everything you can do in a boardroom, plus so much more. What is a Gemba Walk? https://kanbanize.com/lean-management/improvement/gemba-walk Gemba 101 – The Gemba Walk from Creative Safety Supply We met in her … Read more