Implementing Industry 4.0 and smart factory solutions in your manufacturing operation requires a fresh approach to solution delivery, platform implementation, and IT infrastructure. Central to most solutions is the use of cloud technologies, such as Microsoft Azure. At SL Controls, we have extensive experience working with a range of cloud solution providers. Plus, we offer …

Benefits of Microsoft Azure for Manufacturers in the Life Sciences & Technology Sectors Read More »

OEE is a well-established method of measuring productivity in manufacturing operations. Its origins can be traced back to the 1950s, however, so does it still have relevance today in the Industry 4.0 era? Not only is OEE still relevant, but its importance has been amplified with the opportunities and challenges created by Industry 4.0 technologies …

The Relevance of OEE in the Industry 4.0 and Smart Factory Era Read More »

OEE – Overall Equipment Effectiveness – has long been a performance measurement used in factories to reduce costs, improve quality, increase capacity, and more. The objective is always to optimise OEE. How can Smart Factory technologies help with this optimisation? Let’s first quickly define the Smart Factory. It’s a complex picture but, at its simplest, …

How Smart Factory Solutions Improve OEE in Modern Manufacturing Facilities Read More »

As automation, machine learning, sensor technologies, remote monitoring, artificial intelligence, etc advance, manufacturing companies increasingly rely on bespoke software solutions to achieve their objectives. This includes both fully bespoke solutions and software that is customised according to your requirements. Delivering this type of tailored software to the regulated sector – such as to pharmaceutical or …

Delivering Bespoke Software Solutions to Companies in the Regulated Sector Read More »

In manufacturing environments, vendor neutrality typically refers to software platforms and solutions that can operate regardless of machine or equipment vendors. The aim of this type of software is usually to improve performance as well as deepening levels of integration on the production line to enhance efficiency and productivity. Even for software platforms and solutions …

What Is Vendor Neutral and Why It’s Important to Your Manufacturing Facility? Read More »

Batch changeovers are an essential part of many manufacturing facilities. They also represent a loss of productivity, however. After all, when you are changing batches, you are not producing products. This is amplified further in pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities where the batch changeover and batch control processes are subject to regulations. So, how do you reduce …

Automation of the Batch Changeover Process – Saving the Time Between Batches You Don’t Have Read More »

OEE, TEEP, and OOE are terms often used in the manufacturing industry. What do they mean, however, how do you calculate them, and why are they important? OEE, TEEP, and OOE are different methods of defining the availability of your production line. In other words, they measure the difference between how much good products you …

OEE, TEEP, and OOE – What is the Difference? Read More »

OEE is one of the most important performance measurements in modern manufacturing facilities. By optimising OEE, you can increase capacity, reduce costs, improve quality, and/or increase efficiencies in your production lines. Now, here is the really interesting part – it’s possible to achieve significant performance gains in your manufacturing facility by optimising OEE. Before getting …

OEE and Why It’s Important Read More »

Data is essential in modern manufacturing. Without data, you must make decisions based on guesswork and hunches. It is also harder to identify risks and opportunities without data. In addition, modern regulatory systems are data dependent. It is not enough to have data, however, as you must also have data integrity. After all, the value …

Data Integrity in the Manufacturing Process Read More »

There are machines, software solutions, processes, and equipment that can and will improve your production line output as well as the profitability of your business. There are also things that will cost money to implement but will deliver negligible improvements. Making a distinction between the two is the conundrum facing managers in today’s manufacturing facilities. …

Convincing Management it’s time for Machine Monitoring Software Read More »

Data is central to almost all significant improvements your production line and overall operation will experience over the coming years. Industry 4.0, enhancing OEE, automating additional processes, integrating machines and platforms – all this and more relies on data. In simple terms, this means a machine putting out data and another machine or system acting …

Harmonising Data from Different Manufacturing Control Systems Read More »

If you’re in a regulated sector like pharmaceutical or medical device manufacturing, what type of software provider is right for your needs? Firstly, you need a provider that delivers bespoke solutions with complete flexibility. Secondly, you need a provider that has access to the right expertise and adequate resources. This means you need a provider …

Why the Regulated Sector Needs Bespoke Software Solution Providers That Are Not Too Big or Too Small Read More »

It’s Christmas and everyone is looking forward to the time off. All that’s left to do is to switch off all the equipment on the line, turn the lights off, and head home. How you do this, however, will have a major impact on what happens when you start up again in January. If you …

The Importance of a Controlled Christmas Shutdown Read More »