Based on preferences by consumers for greater convenience, the demands on the packaging industry are growing to be more nimble and flexible. In this 5-minute YouTube video, Achieving Excellence in Packaging Operations, Emerson’s Derek Thomas explains how an increased emphasis on production, safety, sustainability and reliability is helping packagers stay competitive, drive profitability and achieve operational excellence.

From a production standpoint, packagers must be able to have the flexibility to manufacture a growing number of packaging options and sizes. You only have to walk down a supermarket aisle to see this ever-increasing variety of products and packaging choices. Packagers are challenged with shorter runs, more frequent, packaging machine adjustments, and more downtime between these switchovers. More modular and flexible technologies can help address these challenges.

From a safety standpoint, due the these more frequent changeovers, operators are interacting more than ever with the machinery. Having robust sensing and actuating instruments to perform automatic stops, safe energy releases and return to safe state conditions is critical.

From a sustainability standpoint, manufacturers are seeking ways to minimize waste not only from an environmental perspective, but also from a cost perspective. And from a reliability standpoint, the challenge is to maximize throughput to meet the demand for the product being packaged. Technology can play a large role in measuring the variabilities in the production process and adjusting to keep the packaging machines running optimally while avoiding unplanned shutdowns or slowdowns.

Contact Emerson’s packaging experts to discuss ways to improve machine production, safety, sustainability and reliability.