Manufacturing & Supply Chain Vol 1 Issue 4 by Coln Murphy

VOLUME 01 / ISSUE 04

CONNECTING KEY DECISION MAKERS IN THE UK & IRELAND

CONNECTING KEY DECISION MAKERS IN THE UK & IRELAND @NationalMSC

Manufacturing & Supply Chain Conference & Exhibition

www.manufacturing-supply-chain.com

 Ireland’s Winning Formula Continues to Attract Pharmaceutical Investment

 WuXi Biologics Builds Exciting BioPharma ContractManufacturing Facility in Ireland

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 Gaining Crucial Business Insights Through Supply Chain IoT

COMPANIES

PUBLISHING & EVENTS

Top 50 Pharmaceutical Companies in Ireland

Schneider Electric transforms Flint site into leading Smart Factory

Reliance Launches Dublin Automation Hub

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MANUFACTURING & SUPPLY CHAIN

CONTENTS

CONNECTING KEY DECISION MAKERS IN THE UK & IRELAND

PHARMACEUTICALS Ireland’s winning formula continues to attract pharmaceutical investment. Top 50 Pharmaceutical Companies in Ireland.

BIOPHARMACEUTICALS WuXi Biologics Builds Exciting BioPharma Contract-Manufacturing Facility in Ireland. Aseptic Fill/Finish – A Market Shift Toward Small Scale Batch Processing.

ROBOTICS & AUTOMATION Reliance launches Dublin automation hub.

CLEANROOMS Cherwell Announce Additions to ImpactAir Range of Microbial Air Monitors. 15-17

MANUFACTURING ifm Launches Miniature Inductive Sensors with Long Range. Solving Vibration With Smart 3D.

3D TECHNOLOGY 3D printing for Stanley Black & Decker is 12x cheaper and 20x faster than casting and machining.

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Pfizer was the first pharmaceutical manufacturing multinational company to locate in Ireland in 1969.

Get hands-on with innovative technology at Dublin’s first automation hub.

INTELLIGENT BARCODES Powering the Future of Retail - Beyond EAN - building on the 40-year foundation of retail barcodes. 31

FOOD PROCESSING New €140 million continental cheese facility for Ireland. 33

FEATURED INSIDE:

LOGISTICS The ‘Earn as you Learn’ Logistics Associate Apprenticeship. 35-37

SUPPLY CHAIN Gaining Crucial Business Insights Through Supply Chain IoT. Making Third-Party Cybersecurity a Priority to Advance Supply Chain Information Resilience.

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COMPANIES

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Top 50 Pharmaceutical Companies in Ireland.

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Edgardo Hernandez, Senior Vice President at Eli Lilly and President of Manufacturing Operations.

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Brendan McGrath, Ireland Site Head and VP Manufacturing, WuXi Biologics.

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Smart Factory Technology.

EVENTS National Manufacturing & Supply Chain Conference & Exhibition 2022 – 25&26th May - RDS Simmonscourt, Dublin.

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Jim Bergin, CEO, Glanbia Ireland.

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SMART FACTORY TECHNOLOGY Schneider Electric transforms Flint site into leading Smart Factory.

DRINKS PROCESSING Chivas Brothers to invest £88 million in expansion of two distilleries.

Factory design today with the tools of tomorrow.

Diageo to invest £40.5 million in its beer packaging facilities.

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Deirdre Delaney, Operations Manager at Diageo’s Belfast Packaging site.

Managing Director: Colin Murphy, Editor: Mike Rohan, Group Operations & Awards Director: Sylvia McCarthy, Advertising: Rachel Howard, Mark Hutchinson, Production Manager: Sylvia McCarthy Manufacturing & Supply Chain is published by Premier Publishing Limited, 51 Parkwest Enterprise Centre, Nangor Road, Dublin 12. Tel: + 353 1 612 0880 Fax: + 353 1 612 0881 E-Mail: info@prempub.com Website: www.manufacturing-supply-chain.com Premier Publishing Limited can accept no responsibility for the accuracy of contributors’ articles or statements appearing in this magazine. Any views or opinions expressed are not necessarily those of Premier Publishing and its Directors. No responsibility for loss or distress occasioned to any person acting or refraining from acting as a result of the material in this publication can be accepted by the authors, contributors, editor and publisher. A reader should access separate advice when acting on specific editorial in this publication! Design and Artwork by The Graphics Factory Printed by W&G Baird. MANUFACTURING & SUPPLY CHAIN VOL 1 ISSUE 4

MANUFACTURING & SUPPLY CHAIN

PHARMACEUTICALS

Ireland’s Winning Formula Continues to Attract Pharmaceutical Investment Ireland’s pharmaceutical manufacturing industry continues to reinforce its position as a global leader and to attract new investment from overseas.

he pharmaceutical sector reported a Net Selling Value of Eur53.0 billion in 2020, equivalent to 41.7% of Ireland’s total. The world’s ten leading pharmaceutical companies have all established substantial operations in Ireland. Five of the world’s eight top selling drugs are currently produced in Ireland and the country has become the third largest exporter of pharmaceuticals globally. Indeed, Ireland is now recognised worldwide as a centre of excellence in pharmaceutical manufacturing and R&D. The pharmaceutical sector in Ireland only started to be developed in the 1960s. Initially producing active ingredients in bulk to export to other countries for processing into end products such as capsules and tablets, the Irish industry has evolved to produce finished products. A number of pharmaceutical companies have also established research centres in Ireland and are involved in joint research projects with Irish universities. Utilising state-of-the-art technologies and processing systems, the Irish

According to the Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association, Ireland is one of the leading locations for the pharmaceutical industry in Europe and is undoubtedly a world player in pharmaceutical production.

pharmaceutical industry currently offers a wide range of products and services, including R&D for the development of new medicines. According to the Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association, Ireland is one of the leading locations for the pharmaceutical industry in Europe and is undoubtedly a world player in pharmaceutical production.

Winning Formula The reasons for Ireland’s success in developing a thriving pharmaceutical sector are chiefly due to access to a well educated and talented workforce, the lower corporation tax regime, an economic environment that encourages R&D and innovation, along with a strong track record of both international and local pharmaceutical companies operating successfully in the country.

The first pharmaceutical manufacturing multinational company to locate in Ireland in 1969, Pfizer has since invested in excess of Eur8 billion in the country, and is currently investing over Eur300 million across its Irish operations.

IDA Ireland has played a key role in developing Ireland as a global pharmaceutical manufacturing and R&D hub and attracting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the sector. About Eur2 billion is currently being invested in biopharma R&D by IDA client companies annually with an additional Eur1 billion in MANUFACTURING & SUPPLY CHAIN VOL 1 ISSUE 4

capital expenditure added each year.

Top 50 Pharmaceutical Companies in Ireland The Top 50 pharmaceutical companies operating in Ireland are listed in the Tables and include global giants such as Allergan, Pfizer, Perrigo, Sanofi-Genzyme, Bristol-Myers Squibb, GSK and Alexion Pharmaceuticals. The 50 companies range in scale from the Eur14.8 billion turnover Allergan (now part of Abbvie) down to 50th ranked Trinity Biotech with annual revenue of Eur88.7 million. Companies with annual revenues in excess of Eur1 billion occupy the top 13 places in the league table. The move up the value chain by Irish pharmaceutical manufacturers is exemplified by Pfizer, the world’s largest biopharma company and ranked 4th in the Top 50. The first pharmaceutical manufacturing multinational company to locate in Ireland in 1969, Pfizer has since invested in excess of Eur8 billion in the country, and is currently investing over Eur300 million across its Irish operations. Ringaskiddy in County Cork was the first location of Pfizer in Ireland and 3

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PHARMACEUTICALS the company has since expanded to six sites nationwide including: Little Island in County Cork, Newbridge in County Kildare, and Grange Castle, Ringsend and City West in Dublin. Pfizer’s operations in Ireland encompass manufacturing, shared (financial) services, scientific research and development (R&D) and commercial operations. Pfizer’s Irish operations contribute over Eur2 billion to the local economy annually.

Innovative Medicines Pfizer’s Irish operations play a central role in delivering innovative medicines to patients in over 100 countries around the world. On the manufacturing side, the Irish facilities are involved in the production of active pharmaceutical ingredients, solid dose pharmaceuticals, sterile injectables, vaccines and biopharmaceuticals. Part of Pfizer’s Worldwide Research & Development (WR&D) is also based in Ireland - the Global Biotherapeutics Technology group at Grange Castle was established in 2006 and is part of a worldleading protein drug discovery unit within Pfizer Worldwide R&D. Indeed, last year Pfizer decided to manufacture a Covid-19 vaccine drug substance at its Grange Castle facility in Dublin. This involves investment of some $40 million in the expansion of the Grange Castle site to allow for the extra production

Last year Pfizer decided to manufacture a Covid-19 vaccine drug substance at its Grange Castle facility in Dublin. This involves investment of some $40 million in the expansion of the Grange Castle site.

most welcome news and a strong vote of confidence in the skills, expertise and capability to manufacture this mRNA drug substance here.”

Continued Investment The pharmaceutical sector in Ireland continues to invest in future growth with the emphasis on biopharmaceutical manufacturing, high end chemical synthesis and product and process development. Recent and ongoing investment projects are of two types – expansions to existing operations by companies present in Ireland for some years, and greenfield developments by new entrants to the Irish pharmaceutical sector The Top 50 pharmaceutical companies operating in Ireland range in scale from the Eur14.8 billion turnover Allergan (now part of Abbvie) down to 50th ranked Trinity Biotech with annual revenue of Eur88.7 million.

that is part of the global Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine supply chain network, contributing to the worldwide supply of the vaccine. The decision by Pfizer to manufacture a Covid-19 vaccine drug substance at its Grange Castle facility, “underlines the importance of the pharma sector in Ireland and demonstrates the capability of the biological sector here,” points out Martin Shanahan, CEO of IDA Ireland. “This is

The expansions to existing plants are often for further product or process development. However, other projects are designed to facilitate advanced biopharmaceutical manufacture, such as the new synthesis plant at Pfizer’s Ringaskiddy facility.

Pictured at the formal opening of Gilead Sciences’ Dublin city centre office are (from left to right): Merdad Parsey, Chief Medical Officer; David Cadogan, Cork Manufacturing Site Head, VP Operations; Reggie Kelly, Dublin Site Head, VP Development; and Michael Lohan, Global Head of Lifesciences, IDA Ireland. MANUFACTURING & SUPPLY CHAIN VOL 1 ISSUE 4

Centre of Excellence Since the start of this year, two Top 50 companies have announced major expansions of their Irish operations. Gilead Sciences (ranked 8th in the Top 50) has formally opened its Dublin city centre office focused on developing new paediatric

TOP 50 PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES IN IRELAND Company Revenue (€) 1 Allergan................................ 14.8 billion 2 Shire..................................... 13.7 billion 3 MSD...................................... 11.9 billion 4 Pfizer...................................... 7.4 billion 5 Perrigo................................... 4.4 billion 6 Icon......................................... 2.5 billion 7 Alexion Pharmaceuticals....... 2.3 billion 8 Gilead Sciences...................... 2.1 billion 9 Jazz Pharmaceuticals............ 1.9 billion 10 BD........................................... 1.9 billion 11 Uniphar.................................. 1.4 billion 12 Depuy..................................... 1.3 billion 13 UDG Healthcare..................... 1.2 billion 14 Sanofi Genzyme................839.5 million 15 Elie Lilly..............................705 millionE 16 Alkermes...........................662.9 million 17 Bristol-Myers Squibb........660.3 million 18 Servier (Ireland)................ 629.3 million 19 Cook Ireland......................572.1 million 20 GSK.....................................466 millionE 21 Wyeth Nutritionals Ireland...............................455.7 million 22 Phardiag............................436.9 million 23 Teva Pharmaceuticals........400 millionE 24 GE Healthcare................... 390.9 million 25 Boots.................................386.2 million 5

MANUFACTURING & SUPPLY CHAIN

PHARMACEUTICALS investment project is subject to planning approval.

formulations for its portfolio of medicines. Development, clinical operations, legal/IP, medical affairs and regulatory teams will work together to create the company’s only Global Paediatric Centre of Excellence, based in the North Dock area of Dublin.

Supportive Government Policies

Edgardo Hernandez, Senior Vice President at Eli Lilly and President of Manufacturing Operations, explains: “Over “Gilead’s therapies address some the past 40 years, we have of the world’s most challenging viral continued to invest in Ireland diseases, including HIV, viral hepatitis in part because of supportive and COVID-19. Our Dublin teams play a government policies that critical role in adapting these therapies value life science innovation. to treat children. In addition, as Gilead This new Lilly campus in expands its work in oncology, our Limerick will allow us to Irish teams could help to address the expand our capacity to make urgent challenge of childhood cancers,” innovative new medicines Global healthcare and biopharmaceutical group Eli Lilly (ranked 15th in the Top explains Daniel O’Day, Chairman 50) is to invest over Eur400 million in a new manufacturing facility in Limerick. that can help treat some of and Chief Executive Officer of Gilead the world’s most serious Sciences. “Ireland has long been a global hub for life sciences and Gilead is proud illnesses. This facility will to have been part of that since 1999. The new use the latest technology to support Dublin facility is a further investment in our advancements in science, productivity and TOP 50 PHARMACEUTICAL long-term presence.” sustainability, further establishing Lilly as a COMPANIES IN IRELAND global manufacturing leader.” Gilead’s Cork manufacturing facilities Company Revenue (€) 26 Merck Millipore................. 352.2 million 27 Liberty Medical Services... 351.6 million 28 Mylan................................. 343.4 million 29 Baxter................................ 335.8 million 30 McKesson.......................... 321.3 million 31 Recordati Ireland.............. 296.4 million 32 Alere International............ 258.8 million 33 Bausch & Lomb Ireland.....255 millionE 34 Takeda............................... 225.5 million 35 AMCo Ireland.................... 221.3 million 36 Norbrook Laboratories..... 210.7 million 37 Novartis Ireland................ 202.1 million 38 Bimeda Animal Health...... 183.3 million 39 Helsinn.............................. 161.4 million 40 Zimmer Orthopedics......... 147.4 million 41 Ipsen Manufacturing......... 143.5 million 42 FMC....................................133 millionE 43 Novartis Ringaskiddy........ 112.1 million 44 Rottapharm....................... 110.3 million 45 Barclay Chemicals............ 102.3 million 46 Johnson & Johnson.......... 101.2 million 47 Roche..................................96.1 million 48 Sam McCauley Chemists....94.5 million 49 Natus Nicolet......................92.5 million 50 Trinity Biotech.....................88.7 million Source: Irish Times Top 1000. E= estimate.

produce 22 different products and its Dublin distribution centre, separate from North Dock, is critical in its global supply chain.

New €400 Million Biopharmaceutical Facility Global healthcare and biopharmaceutical group Eli Lilly (ranked 15th in the Top 50) is to invest over Eur400 million in a new manufacturing facility in Limerick. The new facility will expand Lilly’s manufacturing network for biologic active ingredients, support increased demand for existing Lilly products and play a key role in bringing Lilly’s robust clinical pipeline, including its promising Alzheimer’s portfolio, to patients around the world. The proposed project is expected to create more than 300 new jobs for highly skilled workers such as engineers, scientists and operations personnel, who will use the latest biologics manufacturing technology to produce life-changing treatments that patients need to address health challenges. In addition, an estimated 500 additional positions will be required while the facility is under construction. The

Edgardo Hernandez, Senior Vice President at Eli Lilly and President of Manufacturing Operations.

Martin Shanahan, CEO of IDA Ireland, remarks: “An investment of this scale by Lilly is very welcome news for the Mid-West Region and indeed Ireland, where the global healthcare brand has had a presence since 1978. Lilly employs more than 2,300 people in Cork and the decision to significantly expand its footprint into the Mid-West region with the proposed construction of a new biopharmaceutical manufacturing facility on a greenfield site in Limerick demonstrates the confidence Lilly has in Ireland and the region’s strong talent pool.”

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New Entrant British-Swedish pharmaceutical and biotechnology group AstraZeneca is a new entrant to Ireland and is currently investing $360 million into a new manufacturing facility in Dublin. The new facility will be located at the 41 acre Alexion Campus in College Park, Dublin. It will serve as the next-generation active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) commercialisation and manufacturing facility for small molecules, positioning AstraZeneca’s global supply network for future growth. Based in Cambridge in England and operating in over 100 countries, AstraZeneca focuses on the discovery, development, and commercialisation of prescription medicines in Oncology, Rare Diseases, and BioPharmaceuticals, including Cardiovascular, Renal & Metabolism, and Respiratory & Immunology. The industryleading, future proof design of the new Irish plant will permit the addition of capability to manufacture a wide range of medicines.

Sterling Pharma Solutions has agreed to acquire the Novartis Ringaskiddy business (ranked 43rd in the Top 50).

British-Swedish pharmaceutical and biotechnology group AstraZeneca is a new entrant to Ireland and is currently investing $360 million into a new manufacturing facility in Dublin.

Martin Shanahan comments: “It’s great to see AstraZeneca establish its first manufacturing facility in Ireland. It will be a considerable addition to the well established life sciences ecosystem here. Competition for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) is more intense than ever and all investment is hard won. This investment, creating 100 highly skilled jobs, including scientists and engineers, is most welcome and will be of substantial benefit to the local economy.” Another newcomer is Sterling Pharma Solutions, which has agreed to acquire the Novartis Ringaskiddy business (ranked 43rd in the Top 50). Under the terms of the agreement, Sterling will acquire the 111 acre site, which includes three active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) manufacturing buildings, as well as facilities to support development and scale up in line with Sterling’s core business focus. The addition of the Ringaskiddy campus will see Sterling’s global network grow to five facilities across the UK, Europe and the US, with a workforce of over 1,000 employees.

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BIOPHARMACEUTICALS

WuXi Biologics Builds Exciting BioPharma Contract-Manufacturing Facility in Ireland A

major milestone in the growth and development of Ireland’s world leading biopharmaceutical industry was reached in April 2018 when WuXi Biologics announced through IDA Ireland, that it would build a €325 million manufacturing plant in Dundalk, Co Louth, marking the company’s first major investment outside China. WuXi Biologics is a leading global biologics CRDMO (Contract Research, Development and Manufacturing Organization) offering end-to-end solutions that empower partners to discover, develop and manufacture biologics from concept to commercial manufacturing for the benefit of patients worldwide.

Global Leader WuXi Biologics has grown into a global business over the past decade and is now viewed as an innovative market leader in the rapidly growing biopharma CDMO sector. The company’s business model is based around the contract development and manufacturing of biologics for some of the world’s largest biopharma companies. It already counts the world’s top 20 pharmaceutical companies among customers, who work with WuXi Biologics as a back-up manufacturing site or for additional capacity.

Factory of the Future The Dundalk facility is a state-of-theart ‘factory of the future’ based on the novel approach to the commercial biomanufacturing of biologics-based medicines pioneered by WuXi Biologics. This is the very latest pharmaceutical manufacturing technology where singleuse bioreactors are used for batchproduction of products as opposed to traditional stainless-steel vessels. This enables the same production line to produce a variety of different products in sequence without the constant need for costly shutdowns to sterilise vessels, while it also reduces consumption levels of key utilities, such as power and water making for a far more sustainable process when compared to traditional methods.

Highly Sophisticated The novel process also meets the changing demands of today’s biopharma industry. The growing sophistication in the development of highly specialised biologics medicines often involves the manufacturing of relatively small quantities of highly specialised drugs. Using traditional batch production methodologies would make it neither practical nor economic to manufacture small volumes of specialist biologics medicines.

However, the scale-out technology and processes which WuXi Biologics will operate at the Dundalk campus allow for costeffective production of biologics medicines regardless of the volume required. When production commences later this year, the WuXi Biologics Dundalk campus will be one of the largest single-use biopharmaceuticals production facilities in the world.

Why Ireland and Dundalk? The Dundalk project represents a major vote of confidence in Ireland as a global hub for the global biopharma industry. The decision to locate in Dundalk followed an arduous and rigorous selection process which saw the company examine no fewer than 10 alternative locations in Europe. Ireland’s track record in the biopharma space was among the key deciding factors. 9 of the top 10 pharma companies in the world all have a substantial presence in Ireland, which employing over 37,000 people in the sector recorded €93bn in pharmaceutical exports in 2020, making Ireland the third largest exporter of medicines and pharmaceutical products in the world. Over €10bn in capital investment has been invested in Ireland in the last ten years and the country is home to over 90 Pharmaceutical plants, over 50 of which are FDA approved.

Thriving Biopharmaceuticals Ecosystem Alongside this, Ireland supports a thriving ecosystem of activity generated by the expansive clusters of multinational and indigenous biopharmaceuticals businesses operating around the country, providing strong talent supply and an excellent research and education ecosystem which a top tier biologics operation can thrive on. These companies have been attracted by Ireland’s world-class research facilities and supportive business environment which are well-recognised for fostering innovation and growth.

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MANUFACTURING & SUPPLY CHAIN

BIOPHARMACEUTICALS In addition, Ireland’s population is one of the youngest and most highly educated in Europe, providing a rich pool of talent for the sector. Ireland’s universities have strong cooperative links with the industry and work hard to ensure that skills needs are met.

Trial batch production is anticipated to commence shortly with commercial batches following shortly afterwards. At the current rate of progress, it is expected that the WuXi Biologics Dundalk site will be producing product for global customers by the end of the year.

Bioprocessing Research and Training

Outlook

Ireland’s commitment to supporting the industry is exemplified by the establishment by the government of the National Institute for Bioprocessing Research and Training (NIBRT) in Dublin. NIBRT is a global centre of excellence for training and research in bioprocessing and offers world-class facilities and expertise to ensure the industry has a sustainable supply of suitable trained staff. Ireland’s exemplary record in working with both national and international regulators – the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) among others - is another key element of what makes Ireland an ideal location for global biopharmaceutical manufacturing.

Strategic Location Dundalk’s strategic location within an hour’s drive of Dublin and Belfast airports and 10 highly rated third level institutions, which produce large numbers of highly skilled graduates and researchers, played in its favour when it came to choosing a location in Ireland. Also of key importance was the existence of a suitable “ready to go” greenfield site then owned by IDA Ireland that already had strong support infrastructure. Summing up the underlying reasons for choosing Ireland at the time of the initial announcement in 2018, Dr Ge Li, chair of WuXi Biologics, said: “We had been engaging IDA Ireland before finalising this exciting investment in this community. These ventures showcase how competitive Ireland is for global enterprise and investment, and we are grateful for all the support local agencies and the talented people here have provided for us.”

Brendan McGrath, Ireland Site Head and VP Manufacturing, WuXi Biologics.

Construction Complete Construction work on the WuXi Biologics facility was completed on schedule and within budget. That achievement was facilitated by the fact that the project was deemed an essential commercial development, and this enabled construction to proceed largely uninterrupted for the majority of the 2020 and 2021 COVID-19 downturn despite the impact of the pandemic.

Looking to the future, the WuXi Biologics Dundalk site will play a critically important role in the WuXi Biologics global manufacturing network in the coming years. As Dr Chris Chen, CEO of WuXi Biologics, has said: “We are all excited to initiate our first global site to enable local companies and expedite biologics development in Europe. In addition, this is the start and a critical part of our global biomanufacturing network to ensure that biologics are manufactured at the highest quality and with a robust supply chain to benefit patients worldwide. We are committed to Ireland and will work with all local partners to build this state-of-art next generation biomanufacturing facility as a showcase to the global biotech community.”

Furthermore, while other sectors of the economy have experienced substantial delays and interruptions in their supply chains, WuXi Biologics’ global scale successfully minimised disruption over the past two years. As a global company, WuXi Biologics benefits from being able to leverage a highly resilient global network of suppliers and facilities. With the construction phase now finalised work is now well advanced on the commissioning, qualification, and validation (CQV) of the new biologics’ facility which, when complete, will lead to the company seeking approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the Health Products Regulatory Authority in Ireland, and other appropriate regulatory bodies around the world. MANUFACTURING & SUPPLY CHAIN VOL 1 ISSUE 4

MANUFACTURING & SUPPLY CHAIN

BIOPHARMACEUTICALS

Aseptic Fill/Finish – A Market Shift Toward Small Scale Batch Processing C

ompared with a decade ago, the role of biopharmaceutical manufacturing has evolved considerably. Where the early 2000’s to 2010 placed larger emphasis on larger scale, higher throughput processing, contemporary market demand now centres on a need for more specialised treatments and targeted therapeutics – all of which facilitate a push toward smaller batch sizes during the manufacturing stage. Equally, CapEx tenders no longer fixate on the need for larger footprint equipment capable of processing high volumes of product. Instead, present day tenders / projects desire smaller and more flexible system solutions, to meet the needs of a highly versatile market space. However, despite this notable shift, it is generally acknowledged that rather than abating, process regulation continues to maintain, and in some cases, increase in stringency level. This is largely due to, regardless of throughput, the rigour with which aseptic fill/finish biopharmaceutical manufacturing must satisfy the highest of regulatory standards and compliance – falling short and noncompliance is simply neither an option, nor something the regulatory bodies will tolerate. To achieve this paradigm shift, in terms of a meeting a reduction in batch throughput, manufacturers have undergone a significant evolutionary process. An example of this being manufacturing facilities segregating their floorplans/sections to ensure their capability to build multiple versions of highly versatile smaller scale CapEx equipment in parallel, are maximised. Another interesting observation is of the need to manufacture not only small scale, fully GMP compliant equipment lines, but the individual elements of the line, where requested.

Flexibility remains a key driver pushing the fill/finish market, so the need for manufacturer’s to offer a smaller throughput vial washer that can fit on to a pre-existing de-pyrogenation tunnel or liquid filler is also of paramount importance. The mantra of today no longer emulates that of a decade and more ago, whereby one size - i.e. higher throughput - fits all. Please refer to the image below for a greater insight into the small layout currently demanded by companies and operators:-

•M achine operation costs are reduced as largely over-sized instruments are no longer needed to be powered up and used for batch sizes far lower than the operating capacity of the system

No Compromise on Quality • As previously mentioned, despite the smaller footprint and speed, this has no impact on the GMP compliance associated with the unit • From a Quality and Engineering Department perspective, a series of machine validation options are available, with supporting documentation to confirm the provenance and performance of the equipment • Extremely high process parameters, such as high accuracy liquid filling and check weighing for example are maintained

In terms of overall benefits to companies, operators, and engineers alike, these can be itemised into the following categories:

Footprint •M achines can be installed with minimal space requirements, as opposed to their higher throughput cousins • Companies are able to free up area in their facility, to accommodate other process equipment, and thus maximise their available laboratory or clean room use

Equipment Designed for Purpose •O perators are able to run small batches on instruments designed for smaller throughputs for better efficiency, rather than utilise much larger instruments to work on scales equating to a fraction of the overall capacity

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The trend toward this more efficient processing method and equipment is beneficial not just to manufacturers bottom line, but to the end users as it helps ensure that when sterile injectables are administered to patients, product efficacy, and patient health/safety are in no way compromised To discover more or discuss your requirement, speak to a BPS Crowthorne product specialist today. Visit www.bpscrowthorne.ie You may also be interested to watch these videos: • What does a filling line capable of processing 50 vials per minute look like in practice? https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=Mn3eGgIj3p0 • What does a vial journey look like? Here’s a full fill-finish solution in action! https://youtu.be/JJODN_ZmBzg

MANUFACTURING & SUPPLY CHAIN

CLEANROOMS

Cherwell Announce Additions to ImpactAir Range of Microbial Air Monitors Offering a flexible solution to best fit customer needs and applications while effectively achieving GMP Annex 1 compliance

herwell Laboratories, specialists in cleanroom microbiology solutions, are pleased to introduce new models to the ImpactAir range of microbial air monitors that they distribute from Pinpoint Scientific. The ImpactAir-ISO-90 and ImpactAir-90 ranges aim to support the new EU GMP Annex 1 requirements for continuous environmental monitoring. They are designed to be used in high-grade areas; within the pharmaceutical, healthcare and specialist food industries; where process monitoring of viable particles can be critical and where ISO-14698, BS EN 17141 and GMP Annex 1 compliance must be satisfied. The monitoring platform used by both range models meets the requirements of

these regulations whilst offering flexible solutions that can be tailored to meet the end users’ specific requirements. Benefits are gained from common components and user interfaces being used throughout both model ranges - reducing operator training requirements, reducing risk, simplifying regulator audits, simplifying product support and calibration, and allowing data from different areas to be compared on the same baseline. The ImpactAir-90 and ISO-90 instruments have a chamber for a 90mm Petri dish and use a highly efficient slit to agar method which offers a high degree of confidence in data captured. Air is drawn at high speed through a very narrow inlet slit, whereupon particles, including microbes in the air, impact and stick onto an agar surface in a Petri 14

dish. The Petri dish is slowly rotated under the inlet, ensuring the air is always ‘impacted’ onto an area of fresh agar. This dramatically reduces the desiccation of the microbes resulting in a very high biological and physical efficiency unmatched by other types of sampler or real-time systems.

• The ISO-90-N-POE Monitoring Head – ideal for bio-safety cabinets or isolators, the size and power consumption of the vacuum pump have been reduced so the pump can fit into the monitoring head and does not require any external vacuum source or pipework.

Another advantage of the rotating agar plate is that the results are time correlated. Whilst not timed to the second, localised growth on the plate can be time estimated based by its position on the plate. 4+ hours continuous monitoring is possible using a single 9cm agar plate. Andy Whittard, Managing Director at Cherwell, commented: “We are really excited by the opportunities that the new range of air monitors from Pinpoint offer. The compact, 90mm Petri version slitto-agar range can help users address the challenges presented by the new Annex 1 and the focus on continuous monitoring. The various options also provide users with differing solutions for challenges within their facilities.” The ISO-90 Monitoring Head is at the heart of the ImpactAir-90 and ISO-90 microbial air monitors. It contains all the controls and mechanisms required to rotate the agar plate during the monitoring period. The ISO-90 range comprises of: • The ISO-CON-90 Complete Monitoring System – a complete turnkey monitoring solution for isolators. A powerful builtin vacuum pump ensures the smooth running of the ISO-90 head at distances of up to 10+ metres away, making it possible to locate the ISO-Con away from the head in a more convenient location. • The ISO-90-V-Monitoring Head – designed specifically for isolator manufacturers who wish to perform their own flow control using their own vacuum source. MANUFACTURING & SUPPLY CHAIN VOL 1 ISSUE 4

The ImpactAir-90 range includes: • The ImpactAir-90-B/M Portable Monitor –by utilising the ISO-90 head and directly mounting it to a smaller ISO-CON system that incorporates low power electronics, the first battery powered, slit-to-agar air monitor, that is Annex 1 compliant, is now possible. Available as either battery powered with external PSU charger, or mains only version. With a footprint of only 150mm x 200mm, this is an ideal option for general monitoring in pharmaceutical, healthcare and food production industries. • The ImpactAir-90-HF High Flow Portable Monitor – this high flow option is ideal for those wishing to sample air in a much shorter time period or where large volume air samples are required. For more information about Cherwell Laboratories, please visit www.cherwell-labs.co.uk.

MANUFACTURING & SUPPLY CHAIN

MANUFACTURING

ifm Launches Miniature Inductive Sensors with Long Range Inductive proximity sensors in the new IES2xx range from ifm electronic feature M8 threaded bodies that are just 30 mm long, yet they have a sensing range of up to 6 mm for nonflush-mounting versions and 3 mm for flush-mounting types. These features, combined with robust construction and ingress protection ratings up to IP69K, make them ideal for a wide range of applications where space is restricted or where a sensing solution with very low mass is needed. Their stainless-steel bodies, which are extremely resistant to corrosion, and their wide operating temperature range of -40 to +85 ºC mean that the new sensors are equally suitable for use in the food sector and in general industrial applications such as machine tools and robotic systems. To ensure an accurate match with the widest possible range of user requirements, IES2xx sensors are available in two- and three-wire flush and non-flush-mounting versions configured for either normally open or normally closed operation. All types incorporate four status indication LEDs placed at 90º intervals around their circumference, which ensures that the switching state of the sensor can be seen at a glance, irrespective of the sensor orientation. All sensors in the IES2xx range use standard M8 connectors and ifm electronic offers a variety of connecting cables in lengths of up to 50m. Other accessories include mounting clips, mounting clamps, stainless-steel angle brackets and fixing nuts. MANUFACTURING & SUPPLY CHAIN VOL 1 ISSUE 4

MANUFACTURING & SUPPLY CHAIN

MANUFACTURING

Solving Vibration With Smart 3D In every production environment there are numerous factors that can thwart the effectiveness of machine vision systems. Aside from obvious challenges such as ambient lighting, temperature drift, and part positioning variation, vibration is one of the more subtle contributors.

n this article, we will discuss the advantages of 3D over 2D vision in solving the fundamental challenge of vibration.

The Problem of Object Movement Vibration most commonly occurs in transport systems such as conveyors. Movement is detrimental to inspection because it results in blurred edges and scaling effects that can have a negative impact on measurement precision (sometimes completely obscuring the edges or surface features of an object).

2D is Sensitive to Vibration 2D solutions are component-based, which means they are made up of several independent products that must tie into a common mounting and calibration process

Vibration is captured as height oscillations in a surface scan.

Vibration correction results in cleaner 3D data (i.e., removes height variation). 16

3D vision technology has an integrated optical design that stabilizes the device, resulting in increased measurement accuracy.

to deliver metrology data. Component design makes 2D vision systems highly sensitive to object movement because any variation in object height changes pixel scaling and therefore measurement accuracy. MANUFACTURING & SUPPLY CHAIN VOL 1 ISSUE 4

System integrators, therefore, must introduce part fixturing along the optical axis (Z-axis), the use of scale-invariant feature detection, or large telecentric optics that have to match the size of the field of view in order to eliminate environmental effects such as vibration.

MANUFACTURING & SUPPLY CHAIN

MANUFACTURING

The Smart 3D Solution In contrast, 3D smart sensors have a fully integrated optical design for improved stability. All components in a 3D sensor are rigidly mounted on a single “spine” assembly that ensures focal lengths are locked-in relative to emitter and imager planes, and temperature compensation corrects for any drift. Built-In Vibration Correction In instances where vibration does appear in a height map, 3D smart sensors offer built-in tools for fast and easy correction. Since vibration presents itself as patterns in 3D height variation, the effect is already captured in the height map and can be subsequently processed for removal.

Uncorrected surface vibration (actual scan data)

Surface vibration corrected using the built-in tool (actual scan data)

How It’s Done - Vibration Correction Tool The Vibration Correction tool in Gocator® analyzes variation in 3D surface data and removes highfrequency noise. This tool is useful for increasing the repeatability and accuracy of measurements when subtle vibrations in your transport system introduce height variation. The Vibration Correction tool also allows you to correct data by selecting a designated region, which is useful when movement occurs regularly in a specific area of your scan data. The tool can then send corrected or difference (subtracted from original) surface data to other tools for applying measurements. The result is highly repeatable metrology performance that is otherwise difficult to achieve in 2D systems.

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visit www.lmi3D.com 17

MANUFACTURING & SUPPLY CHAIN

3D TECHNOLOGY

3D Printing for Stanley Black & Decker is 12x Cheaper and 20x Faster Than Casting and Machining Galway based 3D Technology Ltd. sees demand surge for 3D printing solutions in Ireland

tanley Black & Decker, an S&P 500 company, is a diversified global provider of hand tools, power tools and related accessories, electronic security solutions, healthcare solutions and engineered fastening systems. Stanley Infrastructure, a division of Stanley Black & Decker, is focused on ways to manufacture low volume, complex parts in a cost efficient manner. By leveraging Markforged’s Metal X additive manufacturing technology, the Infrastructure team is slashing capital costs on a range of various parts, including an actuator housing for the PD45 Hydraulic Post Driver. Just like many manufacturing companies here in Ireland, engineers at Stanley Infrastructure are rigorously testing the

Markforged Metal X

performance, durability and life cycle of 3D printed parts to replace traditionally manufactured alternatives. According to James Wall, founder of Ireland’s leading provider of 3D printing solutions 3D Technology Ltd., the adoption of 3D printed parts is revolutionising the manufacturing industry.

“The benefits of 3D printing within a manufacturing environment are undeniable,” according to Wall. “We are seeing more and more leading Irish manufacturing companies adopting 3D printing as they seek to improve efficiencies and significantly reduce costs. In terms of quality and durability, meanwhile, 3D printed parts and products are now regularly outperforming traditionally manufactured alternatives.”

The Challenge The STANLEY PD 45 is a high efficiency hydraulic post hole driver used by Stanley Infrastructure. To actuate the hydraulic driving mechanism, the device uses a group of ball bearings to transfer the trigger pull force into the hydraulic actuator. The actuator housing holds these bearings in series to transfer pull force around

Original part versus Markforged part MANUFACTURING & SUPPLY CHAIN VOL 1 ISSUE 4

MANUFACTURING & SUPPLY CHAIN

3D TECHNOLOGY a bend. Each housing, meanwhile, is tested every time the operator pulls the trigger.

Original Part The original actuator housing consisted of four parts - a cast and machined main housing, laser cut cover plate, and two bolts to fasten the housing assembly together.

work flow with the Metal X, Stanley Infrastructure saves between 34% and 48% on manufacturing costs and slashes part lead time by 69%. While these are significant savings, they even

produces parts in batches, printing single parts with the Metal X is 12.5x cheaper and 20x faster than casting and machining. The Metal X further undercuts this process by being a pay-per-part machine instead of a pay-per-batch machine.

Analysis According to a Stanley Infrastructure engineer, “it is very feasible to leverage the Metal X platform in additively manufacturing the discussed actuator housing with very minimal capital and time investment.”

Markforged Part Stanley Infrastructure engineers redesigned the part to print on the Markforged Metal X 3D printer. Instead of a four part assembly, the redesigned part prints in one piece without supports.

Furthermore, Stanley believe that they can save thousands of dollars per year on this part alone, while replicating the part quality and reliability that they expect from machined parts.

Physical Performance

Stanley Infrastructure tested To learn more about three identical parts printed the Metal X 3D printer on the Metal X. These parts from Markforged, visit Johannes Werner, James Wall (Founder), Jacqui O’Connor and Martyn Downey of 3D proved durable through Technology Ltd. 3DTechnology.ie for more details. tens of thousands of cycles and strong enough to handle To learn more about the better leverage the Metal X on single significant compressive load while also benefits of 3D printing for your Irish part manufacturing (in this case, Stanley being 53% lighter. business contact James Wall of 3D Infrastructure often produces single Technology Ltd. in Galway today via their replacement parts for devices in the Cost Performance website www.3dtechnology.ie. field). Because their existing process only By replacing their current manufacturing

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MANUFACTURING & SUPPLY CHAIN

DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION

MES vs ERP – What’s Right For Your Business? A

ll manufacturers seek to increase productivity, improve efficiency, solve quality control problems, and eliminate downtime associated with re-occurring production and maintenance issues. While it is widely understood that digital transformation offers gains across all of these areas, the challenge is gaining the data visibility and context from across the whole enterprise, and not least from the factory floor.

standardise the best practices and key performance indicators across a single site or multiple sites, and offer a route to continuous improvement.

It was previously thought by many that this data capability could be achieved with an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system, negating the need for a Manufacturing Execution System.

A winning combination

SolutionsPT, AVEVA Select partner for the UK & Ireland, believes that a combined approach is better and has launched a free eBook highlighting how MES and ERP should work together to deliver rapid enterprise-wide benefits. The eBook which is available for download will allow readers to see why manufacturers will benefit more from a systems alliance than a systems battle, understand the role of the ERP and MES in a manufacturing setting, and see why the right implementation partner is fundamental to digital transformation success for every enterprise.

MES vs ERP To understand why a combined approach is the most beneficial, it’s important to understand the role and emergence of each system. An ERP platform is an integrated set of software applications used to manage processes such as sales, purchasing, human resources, finance, and accounting. This creates a central data repository which then acts as a strategic planning centre for the enterprise. While the ERP platform can show how much it costs to produce a specific product and the amount of material needed, the information is collected and reviewed over a particular time frame. Because the monitoring doesn’t happen in real-time and isn’t linked to the production process, ERP systems can’t provide real-time actionable intelligence for plant managers and machine operators.

On its own an MES software can’t contextualise operations with other enterprise-level data. The full package of enterprise-wide data visibility contextualised with real-time execution level data and control is only possible with a combined MES and ERP approach. The SolutionsPT eBook highlights that MES and ERP shouldn’t be a ‘one or the other’ approach. In fact, a combined application will yield compound benefits, assuming they work closely together. Advancing business strategies while keeping a close eye on costs is important for any owner, but crucial to those calculations are the activities taking place on the plant floor. For operators looking to improve efficiency or proactively implement maintenance, they need to make decisions in realtime which isn’t possible with an ERP system alone. Manufacturers need enterprise intelligence at every level down to the finest detail. The ERP system provides the overview of operations and plays an important role in business planning, the MES software is working at the machine level and gathering information across all data silos, capable of conducting quality and performance checks in real-time and notifying operators accordingly. Combining these data stacks makes real-time contextualisation across business disciplines possible, and opens the full benefits of Digital Transformation to the enterprise. With a combined approach featuring an ERP platform and the world-class AVEVA MES software, business owners and operators alike have the information needed to proactively streamline production processes and maintain quality and compliance throughout an enterprise, however big or small. To understand what this winning combination can do for your business visit www.solutionspt.com.

An MES software platform on the other hand can provide end-toend monitoring of manufacturing processes. Covering everything from raw materials to finished products, MES software is the quickest route to maximise profitability, flexibility, quality, and compliance. By deploying AVEVA MES, businesses can digitalise the information found throughout modern manufacturing plants, MANUFACTURING & SUPPLY CHAIN VOL 1 ISSUE 4

Factory of the Future: It’s time to get going

Drive unimagined value with the staggering array of new technologies that enable the Factory of the Future. A modern infrastructure and control system can deliver maximum value. Add in a selection of analytics at the plant level, and the workforce can make better use of process data to solve the same quality, maintenance, and optimisation problems as in the past, faster and with better results.

Scan the QR code to read white paper

se.com/ie

MANUFACTURING & SUPPLY CHAIN

SMART FACTORY TECHNOLOGY

Schneider Electric transforms Flint site into leading Smart Factory

ark Yeeles, VP of Industrial Automation at Schneider Electric, describes the SMART transformation of the 30-year-old site in Flint, Wales. The first Schneider smart factory in the UK. Thanks to the complete operational visibility, and the resulting productivity and efficiency, the initial £300,000 investment was paid back within the first year of operation. This was achieved thanks to a strategic partnership with leading apps, analytics, and services provider AVEVA. Together, they can deliver best-in-class joint digital transformation solutions, implemented on-site and in the cloud.

Challenge The systems within the factory at Flint were outdated, consisting of analogue production machines. It had limited control of energy-use and the highest water consumption of any UK factory.

removing and replacing the machinery, to maximise efficiency and minimise downtime. As Schneider systems are open architecture and vendor agnostic, the different elements of the factory could be effectively brought together for easy process monitoring.

In turn, efficiency at the Flint factory was greatly enhanced. Operational efficiency was up by 5% compared to 2019 levels and productivity up by 4% – the latter represents £240,000 in savings alone. In 2021 operational efficiency is set to increase a further 7%.

The hardware solutions employed included the installation of smart panels, LED lighting, an overflow tank, and smart meters fitted to all machines which allowed for Schneider’s IoT solutions to be deployed. This was complimented by the EcoStruxure software suite which offers complete visibility of the site’s operations. The combination of advisor tools provides the factory managers with the ability to control and optimise all aspects of the factory.

Water consumption was halved – down from 4228m³ in 2019, the highest of any site in the UK, to 2138m³ in 2020, with projections of just 960m³ in 2021. Likewise, improvements to efficiency associated with the installation of motor control speed drives, smart panels, and more led to a 15% decrease in electricity usage compared to 2019 levels.

The site required an overhaul to improve efficiency, sustainability, and safety. Replacing the machinery would be expensive and labour intensive, and there were also issues of excessive operational downtime for the upgrades required.

Solution The process began with a 4-day workshop to identify key pain points and objectives and then design a solution. Schneider solutions and the EcoStruxure platform were used to monitor all the critical processes at the factory and maintain uptime. Once the solution was designed, Schneider Electric invested £300,000 to upgrade the site. This was a case of retrofitting the process rather than

Results Schneider Electric’s investment in smart technology solutions was paid back within just one year thanks to improvements in productivity and a range of efficiency-based savings. Maintenance spend was reduced by 15% (£91,000) due to the installation of an LDS system with Andon alerts and an additional £14,000 saved with the installation of Intelligent Lighting Systems onsite. MANUFACTURING & SUPPLY CHAIN VOL 1 ISSUE 4

Beyond the hardware and software introduced to the site, staff were empowered to become more aware of areas of inefficiency and take ownership of any issues. They now have instant access to dashboards and the ability to create alerts for any changes within the plant. Enrique Herrera, Industry Principal for Manufacturing at AVEVA, said, “Flint is a fantastic success story in safety, productivity, and sustainably, at a reasonable cost. The fact that the site saw a return on the investment in smart technology within just a year and dramatic decreases in water and electricity use is testament to the potential for manufacturers to transform the way they operate quickly, cost-effectively, and sustainably. It also demonstrates the continued success of AVEVA and Schneider Electricity’s strategic partnership, which has gone from strength to strength.” To find out more information, visit se.com/ie 23

MANUFACTURING & SUPPLY CHAIN

SMART FACTORY TECHNOLOGY

Factory Design Today with the Tools of Tomorrow The future of factory design brings with it great challenges, especially considering the digital transformation and progress associated with it. Increasing market dynamics, rapidly evolving digital technology, and ever-growing customer requirements, are just some of the challenges facing forward-looking companies.

here are various software tools available on the market for factory design which enable high quality, accurate results to be achieved. Most of these are 3D systems that support the design process right from the start for projects such as new factory developments and the alteration of existing factories.

The right tools for digital factory design Modern CAD systems such as M4 PLANT enable the digital representation of entire factories and plants in 3D. With this system, mutli-disciplinary 3D factory designs can be produced using existing factory drawings together with equipment models from suppliers. The plant design system helps to determine project costs even in the early stages of factory design so that adjustments can be quickly made where required. Detailed parts lists for the entire design can be automatically generated and output for use with other systems to greatly simplify and streamline the entire factory design process. M4 PLANT addresses the entire design process for plant design and factory layout projects. The 3D software provides the basis for rule-based quotation creation, integrated design, technical presentation, detailed design and documentation of your projects. With M4 PLANT, your projects can be planned even faster, regardless of size, to a very high standard from the very first step.

Realistic design visualisation with Virtual Reality Virtual reality offers the possibility to realistically present and visualise factory designs. With VR, a computer-generated interactive environment can be virtually explored in real time. Software, such as i4 MEETING or i4 VIRTUAL REVIEW, offer this capability. In virtual reality, designers and engineers can freely walk-through CAD models in real time and view them 24

As a VR specialist, CAD Schroer offers its customers the possibility to take their machinery, plant and factory CAD data into virtual reality (VR).

full size from the first-person perspective. Similarly, customers and other project stakeholders gain a detailed insight into the factory plans during project presentations and reviews. VR is also an excellent way to showcase products at trade fairs and other events. Even the most complicated production processes and workflows can be explained clearly and in detail. It really doesn’t matter how big the machine or plant is.

and optimised to suit the customer’s specific requirements. This procedure greatly simplifies the creation of individual apps. The resulting apps can then be used on tablets and smartphones, or on a PC using VR glasses. Cloud technologies can also be incorporated to enable extensive collaboration between the various user groups.

As transformation strategies become more relevant, there is an increasing shift in focus from traditional to digital design. Due to new technologies and the resulting changes in customer expectations, companies need to rethink their design processes and consider new tools for the future.

Virtual Reality applications for industry As a VR specialist, CAD Schroer offers its customers the possibility to take their machinery, plant and factory CAD data into virtual reality (VR). This is achieved using standard apps, which are then enhanced MANUFACTURING & SUPPLY CHAIN VOL 1 ISSUE 4

Factory design today with the tools of tomorrow.

CAD Schroer’s developers pay close attention to individual customer requirements and develop VR solutions that precisely meet their needs. For further information visit www.cad-schroer.com.

MANUFACTURING & SUPPLY CHAIN

ROBOTICS & AUTOMATION

Reliance Launches Dublin Automation Hub As part of its expansion plans, Reliance, which is Ireland’s largest supplier of industrial components, has opened an automation hub in Dublin.

t will be the first in Ireland to showcase the biggest range of innovative automation technology, where customers can come to visit and get hands on with the technology, according to Reliance. It will include robots, mobile robots, collaborative robots with no guarding, end of arm tools, pneumatic replacements, high speed robots (that stop when humans approach for safety), palletising robots and welding robots.

Expansion Reliance recently moved to a bigger office and logistics hub in Ballymount, Dublin 12. The Irish-owned company already has offices in Cork, Limerick and Dublin. The expansion is a result of both maintaining its foothold as being the market leader as well as the rapid growth of its automation division, Reliance Automation. Peter Creighton, Managing Director of Reliance, explains: “Reliance is embracing its exponential growth within the automation sector by building a new state-of-the-art innovation hub. The hub will house all of Reliance Automation’s innovative products such as Universal Cobots, Nachi industrial robots, MiR mobile robots, Onrobot and Soft Robotics end of arm tools and so much more. Customers will be encouraged to visit the innovation hub to test drive the latest technology for their industry and experience just how easy it is to work with automation today.” Not only will the Reliance Automation hub be used to allow customers to get hands on with the automation technologies, it will also act as a worldclass automation training centre. As Universal Robot’s leading distribution partner in Ireland, Reliance Automation are experts in collaborative robotics and UR+ cobot accessories. The Dublin training centre will be accessible to all and centrally located to serve all customers from the island of Ireland.

New state-of-the-art facility As well as showcasing Reliance Automation’s innovative manufacturing solutions, the Reliance team is now

housed in a new state-of-the-art facility. This entails increased warehousing to stock critical components and to expand existing product ranges to ensure superior service and same day delivery continues. 2021 has seen many other positive moves within the business. Peter Creighton continues: “The year saw the launch of the new Reliance online platform to allow our customers to order online - www.reliance.ie has moved our traditional industrial and business into the digital age of transactions. We still however remain flexible and offer the same strong relationship-

based service we always have through telephone and face-to-face interactions. How we progress as a company is and will always be in response to better serve our customer requirements and to consistently add value to our relationships. Further to our new online trading success, we also experienced MANUFACTURING & SUPPLY CHAIN VOL 1 ISSUE 4

an increase in demand for automation technologies during the pandemic. Manufacturing companies are continuing to move more towards automation to promote the safety of their workers on production lines and to create much needed production efficiencies. Social distancing at work was also made possible due to the addition of robots and automation allowed for crucial pharmaceutical demands to be consistently met.” Customer service is at the core of this Irish family-owned business, and this can be seen by the recent awards received by Reliance Automation. The

OnRobot European award for best robotic application was received due to the partnership approach adopted by the team when working with a customer partner and ensuring their needs were exceeded. For further information contact info@relianceautomation.ie.

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MANUFACTURING & SUPPLY CHAIN

ROBOTICS & AUTOMATION

Get Hands-On with Innovative Technology at Dublin’s First Automation Hub A McKinsey report analysis suggests that 39-58% of the worldwide work activities in operationally intensive sectors could be automated by employing current automation technologies.

eliance Automation, Ireland’s largest automation supply partner, has seen such a change first-hand within the Irish market where their customers are finding it very difficult to attract labour. The issue is apparent across the whole island, especially for repetitive, arduous and dangerous tasks. This shift in the market has prompted the company to seek out even more new and innovative solutions to customers’ needs in our manufacturing industries. As a result, full automation of heavy lifting, packaging, driving pallet trucks, manual picking and placing of parts and even handling dangerous components is now more commonplace.

Utilising mobile robotic technology Examples of innovations that are being continually deployed in today’s factories include the use of AMRs otherwise known as autonomous mobile robots. Previously these were known as AGVs but newer technology allows the mobile robots to now move around workers and obstacles safely and be programmed easily without any need for floor or wall sensors.

Reliance automation distributes AMRs from the world leading mobile robot brand, Mobile Industrial Robots A/S (MiR). Companies are deploying MiR robots to simplify and automate logistical tasks like moving products between clean rooms and warehouses, moving pallets to storage areas etc. Typically, this frees up crucial staff for more meaningful tasks thereby improving job satisfaction. MiR robots can be used seamlessly

with many other collaborative technologies such as universal robots, OnRobot grippers and ROEQ accessories (carts, rolling conveyors) for the top of the mobile robot. Newer technology allows the mobile robots to now move around workers and obstacles safely.

Safe human and robot collaboration Another automation trend that is being deployed on the manufacturing floor is the use of collaborative robots, meaning robots that can safely interact with humans without the use of extra guarding or safety systems. The robots are built specifically for this purpose as well as focusing on ease of programming and flexibility of re-deployment. Universal robots are the market leader and a partner of Reliance Automation. UR collaborative robots now have many compatible technologies to make the systems even easier to implement into production, by the end user themselves in many cases. OnRobot is a company based in Denmark, Europe’s silicon valley for automation. The company has a vast range of end of arm tooling that clips easily and seamlessly onto the universal robot. The tooling is high tech and extremely intuitive. It automatically MANUFACTURING & SUPPLY CHAIN VOL 1 ISSUE 4

communicates with the robot so that minimal programming is needed to run an automated process. The range includes palletising, electric suction grippers, finger grippers end even sanding and screwdriving tools. OnRobot grippers are fully collaborative, very affordable and additional safety validation is not necessary for deployment.

New automation hub Reliance Automation has opened a brand new automation hub within its new facility in Ballymount, Dublin. The hub allows engineers and stakeholders to experience innovative automation technologies firsthand on a one-to-one basis with their technical experts. The hub also houses Dublin’s only training centre for Universal Robots. Interactive technology on display at the automation hub includes innovative products such as a world’s first collaborative high-speed delta (spider) robot with built-in safety scanners and vision system. A vision guided collaborative palletising system for bags and boxes, an intelligent bowl feeding system, a robotic welding system and electrical pneumatic replacements are also showcased. For further information visit www.relianceautomation.ie/ automation-hub/. 27

MANUFACTURING & SUPPLY CHAIN

INTELLIGENT BARCODES

Powering the Future of Retail Beyond EAN - building on the 40year foundation of retail barcodes

Today’s consumer and trading partner demands for product information, traceability, visibility, authentication and a seamless checkout experience, go well beyond the original price look up capabilities of the basic EAN barcode. A new data challenge lies ahead and the GS1 Intelligent Barcodes Working Group has launched to address it.

Solving business challenges through the use of “intelligent barcodes” To help all stakeholders across the supply chain - from manufacturers and distributors to retailers and solution providers – to start on the path towards the “next generation” of barcodes, GS1 Ireland has recently launched a crosssectoral working group. The purpose of the industry working group is to explore the possibilities and opportunities for intelligent barcodes in different parts of the supply chain and to proactively support any implementation projects that participants identify.

What type of data is needed, by whom and for what purpose? An intelligent barcode, very simply, is one that contains more information about the item it is attached to. Think of the basic barcode you scan on your weekly grocery shopping. All the information about that product, such as the price and name, is stored on the retailer’s closed IT system – and it’s not available to other supply chain stakeholders. However, intelligent barcodes can do so much more – for everyone. Brands, manufacturers, retailers, construction workers, healthcare staff, patients ... each and every one, could use intelligent barcodes to achieve more.

The first working group meetings took place in June and July 2021 (and recordings are available) with further sessions planned for the autumn. Anyone interested in finding out more about the industry working group can contact GS1 Ireland or visit www.gs1ie. org/standards/intelligent-barcodes.

However, these tried-and-true barcodes were not created with the complex data needs of today’s trading environment in mind. EAN/UPC barcodes are limited to carrying only the Global Trade Item Number® (GTIN®) (identification number) associated with a product and don’t contain any dynamic or attribute data. To address industry and consumer expectations for speed and convenience, information transparency, and a variety of operational efficiencies, more and more emerging use cases require a data-rich intelligent carrier, capable of holding more on-pack data than just the product identifier (GTIN).

A small selection of the additional data that intelligent barcodes can hold includes: • Production and sell-by dates; • Use-by and expiry dates • Serial, batch or lot numbers • Shipment codes and transport instructions • Price and quantity information • Location or country of origin codes • Web links (URLs)

The new data challenge The EAN/UPC barcodes have been trusted, ubiquitous data carriers, facilitating the price look-up function at retail point-of-sale (POS), since the 1970s. This innovation automated a critical business process for supermarkets and retail stores globally.

This, and more, is possible through the use of barcodes that contain additional data and these opportunities will be explored and actioned by the participants in the new GS1 Ireland working group. And the exciting part is that these opportunities are not limited to retail grocery but can be leveraged by many industry sectors including healthcare, construction, and transport, as well as by utilities and service providers.

• Imagine if, as a retailer, you could scan a barcode and see a product’s expiry date? Wouldn’t that be handy for efficiently managing inventory, discounting shortdated stock or preventing the sale of expired products? • Imagine if, as a healthcare giver, or patient, you could record the medications you give, or take, with a simple scan? • Imagine if, as a shopper, you could better manage your food shopping and reduce waste? Or, perhaps you want greater visibility of where the product comes from and how it was made? • Imagine if, as a facilities manager, you could view and efficiently maintain the assets and equipment in a building? MANUFACTURING & SUPPLY CHAIN VOL 1 ISSUE 4

The ability to encode GTINs (product id numbers) and weblinks within a barcode creates a powerful new feature to connect physical products with their digital twins in the online world. The new standard called “GS1 Digital Link” will also be explored as part of this working group and presents an exciting new way for businesses to connect their products and their customers in a way never possible before.

Come join the barcode (r) evolution. A range of case studies from Ireland to Australia to Belgium are available to access on the GS1 Ireland website www.gs1ie.org/ standards/intelligent-barcodes showcasing how other organisations have begun to use data-rich barcodes to transform their business processes, enabling greater traceability, visibility and transparency across the supply chain. 29

MANUFACTURING & SUPPLY CHAIN

SUSTAINABILITY

Joining Lean & Green Puts CHEP Ireland on Track to Reduce CO2 Emissions by 20% Within Five Years T

he Lean & Green Programme is specifically designed to reduce the complexity associated with CO2 footprint reduction and to help organisations on the road to independently verified, accredited and recognised CO2 emissions reductions. Faced with advancing climate change, new regulations and possible financial penalties, companies around the world are tackling head-on, the challenge of reducing their emissions in a verifiable manner. This is the aim of the Lean & Green Programme, which brings together more than 600 companies and organisations in 14 countries from across Europe with the goal of recognising and rewarding their emissions reductions in a consistent and transparent way. Joining Lean & Green puts CHEP Ireland on track to reduce CO2 emissions by 20% within five years.

Environmental Strategy Since its launch more than 60 years ago, CHEP has put environmental sustainability at the core of its business strategy. With the understanding that supply chains are the largest producer of greenhouse gases on a global scale (European Environment Agency) CHEP is keenly aware of the challenges faced by businesses responsible for production and distribution. Joining the Lean & Green Programme is the next in a series of steps for CHEP, who has been working to reduce their emissions for many years already. CHEP now want to take a step further and evolve from reducing the negative impact to creating a net-positive impact on the planet and society. In other words, to pioneer regenerative supply chains. Derek O’Byrne, CHEP Country General Manager, Ireland says: “We made the decision to join Lean & Green to collaborate with other businesses that are as committed to tackling environmental challenges as we are. Cooperating with other Irish businesses and organisations in this regard allows us to have a real and verifiable positive effect on the environment in which we all live and work. We believe that sharing knowledge, working together and increasing efficiencies can have a lasting and positive effect on the natural environment while allowing us to reach and surpass our sustainability targets.”

Mike Byrne, CEO, GS1 Ireland, says: “We are delighted to welcome CHEP to the GS1 Ireland Lean & Green Programme. CHEP, like many Irish businesses, want to reduce their CO2 emissions and be leaders in sustainable business. The Lean & Green Europe Programme has a wellproven record of enabling collaboration in logistics and guiding its member organisations towards a less wasteful and a more sustainable future. The programme is specifically designed to reduce the complexity associated with CO2 footprint reduction and to help organisations on the road to independently verified, accredited and recognised CO2 emissions reductions”.

Industry Leaders With the EU looking to the total value chain for carbon neutrality, the pressure to reduce emissions is mounting. The Paris Agreement, which is a legally binding international treaty on climate change adopted by 196 parties in 2015, entered into force in 2016. More and more countries, regions, cities and companies are establishing carbon neutrality targets. This trend is most noticeable in the transport and logistics sectors and is creating new business opportunities for early movers. Not only has joining the Lean & Green Programme set CHEP apart as an industry leader in environmental sustainability but it means that they are in a strong position to be able to respond to future changes in environmental regulations.

The Lean and Green Journey The Lean and Green Programme aims to encourage businesses to become leaders in sustainability by taking measures that not only cut their costs, but also reduce their impact on the environment. The Lean & Green journey begins by creating a plan of action to reduce CO2 emissions by at least 20% over five years. Participants analyse their logistics processes and implement sustainable practices that bring cost savings along with the desired emissions

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reduction. Companies that can demonstrate that they are actively working towards improving their sustainability are rewarded with the programme’s ‘Lean & Green’ Award. If they reach their goal of a 20% reduction over a maximum of five years, the organisation is awarded its first Lean & Green Star. The second Lean & Green Star is presented to organisations for achieving a further 10% reduction over a maximum of three years. CHEP has already been awarded a Lean & Green star in various European countries, and CHEP Germany has already received their second Lean & Green Star. About CHEP CHEP pallets and containers are the invisible backbone of the global supply chain. CHEP supports Irish and global brands to transport more products to more customers in a sustainable and safe manner. As a sharing economy pioneer, CHEP created one of the most sustainable logistics organisations, promoting a resource pool model based on multiple use and sharing of media. CHEP operates primarily in the FMCG sector as well as in the retail and industrial sectors. CHEP is part of the Brambles Group, which employs approximately 11,000 employees and believes in strong intelligence through diversity and teamwork. Brambles provides a pool of approximately 330 million pallets and containers used in a network of over 750 service connecting with over 500,000 network points for global brands such as Nestlé, Procter & Gamble, Sysco and others. As part of the Brambles group, CHEP operates in approximately 60 countries, conducting major operations in North America and Europe. For more information visit www.chep.com

About GS1 Ireland GS1 Ireland now offers the Lean & Green Programme in Ireland to support local businesses in the identification, measurement and achievement of their sustainability goals in the areas of transport and logistics. All Irish members of Lean & Green will have access to the European Lean & Green Community and, in the near future, a local Irish Lean & Green User Group. To find out more about our Lean & Green Programme please contact: Alec Tubridy, Industry Engagement Executive, GS1 Ireland. Direct Tel: +353 1 2080689 Email: alec.tubridy@gs1ie.org

MANUFACTURING & SUPPLY CHAIN

FOOD PROCESSING

New €140 Million Continental Cheese Facility for Ireland A new €140 million cheese processing facility is now being developed in Ireland after being granted planning permission.

he continental cheese production facility planned for Belview in County Kilkenny is a joint venture between Glanbia Ireland, Ireland’s largest dairy processor, and international dairy firm, Royal A-ware, which is based in The Netherlands.

being resolved following a decision by the Irish Supreme Court, which heard the case in January 2022.

Once fully commissioned, the new best-in-class facility will have a production capacity of 450 million litres of milk per annum. Milk used in the production process on site will be sourced from local suppliers and the cheese will be marketed and sold to global customers.

Jim Bergin, Chief Executive of Glanbia Ireland, says: “We are really pleased that we can now bring this project to fruition in conjunction with our partners, Royal A-ware. This project is in line with Government policy and is critical to our market diversification post Brexit. Getting the plant into production as soon as possible is now of huge importance to our 4,500 farm families supplying their milk to Glanbia Ireland every day.”

The Kilkenny Cheese joint venture was announced in January 2019 with the intention to enter production in 2022. However, planning issues delayed commencement of the project before

He adds: “Our team is now focused on getting the plant into production for the 2024 season. We are extremely grateful to our joint venture partners, Royal A-ware for their patience over the past two years

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as this project successfully progressed through the planning and legal processes.” As well as supporting the incomes of 4,500 farm families, the new Enterprise Ireland supported cheese production facility is expected to create 85 full time jobs and support 400 construction jobs in the south east.

Jan Anker (pictured left), Chief Executive of Royal A-Ware Group, and Jim Bergin, Chief Executive of Glanbia Ireland.

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MANUFACTURING & SUPPLY CHAIN

LOGISTICS

The ‘Earn as you Learn’ Logistics Associate Apprenticeship T

he ‘Earn as you learn’ Logistics Associate Apprenticeship (LAA) launched by the Technological University Dublin City Campus in September 2018 offers career and education options for school leavers and mature students who prefer paid, on-the-job training while studying for a qualification over a full-time college course. In addition, it is aimed at existing employees who wish to advance in their careers. It has played a crucial role in attracting and developing new talent and helping to surmount the recruitment difficulties that the sector has been experiencing in recent years. Apprenticeships are a programme of structured education and training that alternates learning in the workplace with learning at a third-level education provider or training centre. The engagement of industry and its professional bodies is the key to the apprenticeship’s success. The supply chain is changing at a pace with technological advancements and climate developments that demand change relative to how we worked in the past. It is an exciting time, and this apprenticeship programme is a valuable option for all employers in their quest to remain viable into the future. The success of the programme can be determined by the fact that nearly 80 employers have taken part in the programme, representing every link in the supply chain, from manufacturing to warehouse and distribution, as well as shipping and freight forwarding. There have been 225 apprentices enrolled on the programme since its start in 2018. The LAA has demonstrated that, by offering structured training and qualifications on the National Framework of Qualifications, you can attract new talent into the organization and the industry. In addition, it provides benefits for employers as workforce skills are enhanced and employee loyalty is increased in line with the development of improved career progression opportunities. A state incentive of €3,000 is also available for employers who hire apprentices.

As of November 2021, apprenticeships and further education have been listed as an alternative route to third-level education on the newly reformed college entry system Central Applications Office (CAO) website. Students now have access to the information and guidance on the rapidly expanding opportunities of apprenticeships and PLC Post Leaving Certificate courses through one single portal. Anna Gorecka, Project Manager for the Logistics Associate Apprenticeship said, ‘whilst apprenticeship programmes will not compete against higher education programmes on the points system, having the logistics associate apprenticeship on the CAO application form will create awareness and offers a validity of the programme’. This is a magnificent opportunity to use the ‘Logistics Associate Apprenticeship’ as an excuse to help all aforementioned groups understand more clearly what logistics is, what the supply chain is, and the diverse type of career opportunities there are in our industry.

How does the logistics apprenticeship work? The LAA is a two-year programme providing the academic education and practical on-the-job training across the Logistics industries. Apprentices enter a contract of 2 years duration, where they will work on a full-time basis with an employer while being paid a salary and spend one day a week with TU Dublin or MTU in Cork for their academic studies. Successful completion of this programme will lead to a QQI Level 6 Award on the NFQ - Higher Certificate in Logistics. From that point, there are many routes of progression into Level 7 and even Level 8-degree courses which is one of many key strengths of this programme. Throughout the apprenticeship journey, Apprentices acquire the knowledge, skills and competencies to carry out the core tasks and responsibilities within the logistics sector and upon completion of the programme are fully equipped to progress into professional employment. As part of the programme apprentices complete a work-based project in year 2, which will help them to develop their analytical and problem-solving skills, and which MANUFACTURING & SUPPLY CHAIN VOL 1 ISSUE 4

will also directly benefit the employing organisations. In addition to project work the apprentices complete a variety of industry modules developed by the LAA consortium throughout programme, which are then assessed to achieve certification. For those seeking a career in this field, an apprenticeship is undoubtedly an attractive option. The apprentice gets an overview of the profession, gains practical work experience, and acquires the necessary qualifications while earning a salary.

Industry Testimonials: ATC Computer Transport & Logistics, Citywest Business Campus, Dublin ATC has been a strong supporter of the Logistics Associate Apprenticeship since its launch in September 2018, says Adrian Byrne, the company’s Director. “We put a great emphasis on carving out careers for our employees here in ATC, not just a job. For this reason, the Logistics Associate Apprenticeship is a welcomed addition to our business, and we are committed to nurturing our participants with the highest standard of training to ensure the best possible outcome. We see the programme as a perfect entry point into our industry, and an excellent opportunity for young apprentices to both upskill and gain a 3rd level academic qualification which is a launch pad for further career development To us, the blended learning approach of the LAA programme makes complete sense, as we see our apprentices gain valuable work experience on the job while learning the theory behind industry practices in a classroom environment. The programme also provides a great foundation to promote the logistics industry to a new generation. We are very proud to support this industry-leading initiative and we look forward to its continued success.’’ For more information on the apprenticeship scheme contact us on 018447516, email agorecka@laa.ie or visit www.laa.ie 33

MANUFACTURING & SUPPLY CHAIN

SUPPLY CHAIN

Gaining Crucial Business Insights Through Supply Chain IoT

Supply chain IoT is a path to insight, and insight enables strong business decisions that promote progress and growth. This new connected technology generates real-time data on how your supply chain operates day to day and illuminates challenges and functions that are not working well. It enables you to uncover inefficiencies that slow down flow while also highlighting opportunities for improvement you wouldn’t have been able to see before.

Supply Chain IoT and Reusable Packaging Traceable devices can be attached to many different parts of the supply chain, from trucks, to scanners on the manufacturing line, to fridges. Unfortunately, these things do not go everywhere with your products, and this can create blind spots in your IoT ecosystem. While it is often financially impractical to add IoT devices to the products your supply chain moves, the reusable packaging the products move in offers another tracking opportunity. Integrating smart devices with the reusable packaging moving your products is one of the most practical and comprehensive ways to implement supply chain IoT. A well-functioning IoT network within a supply chain depends on three major elements: stable, operating devices, thorough and well-planned set up, and intelligent insights activated by the network. It will involve supply chain, technology, and industry experts all working together to create the ideal solution. With the right partner behind you, the insights generated through supply chain IoT can revolutionize your supply chain.

Why Tosca? Introducing Tosca Asset IQ, Tosca’s reliable supply chain IoT service involving active and passive IoT applied to reusable packaging flowing through your supply chain. Tosca will work with

Tosca is a global leader in reusable packaging and pallet pooling, specializing in creating more efficient and sustainable supply chains with a diverse range of pooled plastic pallets, bulk containers, retail display solutions, crates, and more. These products are designed to last and offer many benefits to supply chains worldwide. With a full portfolio of pallets, bins, and crates serving the whole supply chain, from the first mile to the last mile, Tosca is the only packaging provider that can offer this coverage and uncover hidden opportunities for your entire supply chain. Visit our website at toscaltd.com/supply chain IoT to learn more.

you to determine the right packaging and technology to pair in order to generate the most valuable insights. Core capabilities include real-time asset location, the ability to pinpoint asset leaks, and monitoring of asset utilization, cycle times and overall pool efficiency. The service also includes a live dashboard for both desktops and phones, providing the visibility you need to benefit from the insights the service produces. MANUFACTURING & SUPPLY CHAIN VOL 1 ISSUE 4

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SUPPLY CHAIN

Making Third-Party Cybersecurity a Priority to Advance Supply Chain Information Resilience By: Mark Brown, Global Managing Director, Cybersecurity and Information Resilience, Consulting Services at BSI.

As we continue to navigate the challenges of the pandemic and the acceleration of technology to support business operations, it is evident that cybersecurity risks including third-party data breaches are becoming more common. Importantly, we are also seeing organizations starting to recognize the extensive impact that such risks can have on people, finances, and brand reputation.

nformation resilience is vital for safeguarding an organization’s data (physical, digital, or intellectual property) as well as its client’s data throughout its lifecycle.

Data protection regulations such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) require organizations to protect and secure their data and that of their clients. With the increase in cloud adoption, remote working, third-party data breaches and data protection regulation requirements, organizational security must become a key focus to advance information resilience across all departments and employees.

Addressing third-party supplier risks When outsourcing to third-party suppliers to support supply chain IT systems and business processes, the risks can often expand to the suppliers. It is essential that due diligence takes place in any thirdparty selection process and that there is an extensive third-party and supply chain cybersecurity program in place. Accountability and responsibility for

the outsourcing of data management cannot reside solely with the supplier - it must be covered and managed by both organizations. The risks for acquiring services vary from onsite physical and remote access to information and information systems, to offsite information processing, equipment, and applications. It can include lack of information security controls, inadequate governance, risk tolerance and compliance practice issues or over reliance on supplier services and capabilities.

Building a robust third-party and supply chain cybersecurity program Advancing your third-party and supplier cybersecurity program and allowing for agility and rapid scaling is paramount. The process needs to include internal controls, remediation process for any cybersecurity risks, creation of KPIs to manage effectiveness and for it to be set up to identify where improvements can be achieved on an ongoing basis. Taking a proactive approach across all the organizations third-party suppliers, including building an open and honest relationship with them to ensure communications are received in the right way, will help to strengthen information resilience. Organizations looking to review their current processes and programs should consider addressing the following: MANUFACTURING & SUPPLY CHAIN VOL 1 ISSUE 4

• Review and identify the organizations’ stakeholders who are managing thirdparty suppliers and supply chains. • Make visibility and transparency a key focus, engaging with suppliers to educate them on the purpose of the program and updating them as relevant on the purpose and risks being managed. • Define the supplier’s cybersecurity risk tiers and their degree of care at each level. • Review the context of the supply chain relationship and its impact on the organization. • Carry out an external cybersecurity posture scan with policy-based questionnaire responses. Ensure that it is monitored regularly and set realistic deadlines. • Review suppliers not adhering to organizational requirements and create a response plan with the relevant stakeholder managing the supplier ensuring that it is acted upon and not left unattended. • Implement a simple method of communication that works for both parties across the various channels. Keeping data secure and reducing the risk of misuse along with decreasing cybersecurity threats is a step that all organizations need to be making proactively. By adopting cybersecurity best practice organizations can reduce the threats posed to their data and strengthen their information resilience across their supply chain. The Consulting Services team at BSI provides an expansive range of solutions to help organizations address challenges in cybersecurity, information management and privacy, security awareness and compliance. For more information visit bsigroup.com/cyber-ie 37

MANUFACTURING & SUPPLY CHAIN

EVENTS

National Manufacturing & Supply Chain Conference & Exhibition 2022 – 25-26th May, RDS Simmonscourt, Dublin The 2022 National Manufacturing Conference & Exhibition will be held over two days - on 25th and 26th of May - at RDS Simmonscourt in Dublin. Incorporating a comprehensive conference programme and an extensive exhibition area displaying the latest technological solutions and business services available, the National Manufacturing and Supply Chain Conference & Exhibition is the largest event of its kind in Ireland.

urrently in its ninth year, the National Manufacturing & Supply Chain Conference & Exhibition serves as a national forum for manufacturers and operators involved throughout the associated supply chains from across Ireland - North and South - to gather to discuss pressing issues facing Irish industry. It is now firmly established as an All-Ireland ‘must-attend’ annual event, which successfully connects key stakeholders across the full spectrum of Irish manufacturing, including the food, drink, pharmaceutical, medical, chemical, life sciences and electronics sectors. The National Manufacturing & Supply Chain Conference & Exhibition is designed to reflect the crucial importance of manufacturing to the Irish economy. Employing over 250,000 people, the manufacturing industry accounts for 32% of Ireland’s GDP – significantly higher than the European average of 15% and Germany at 21%. Manufacturing also plays a key role in helping to redress the regional imbalance in the Irish economy with more than 80% of operations based outside of Dublin.

Challenges Irish manufacturers are currently facing serious challenges due to disruption to supply chains and markets caused by Brexit, the Russian invasion of Ukraine and soaring energy, transport and raw materials costs. Similarly, the COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way businesses have had to operate. Indeed, theses crises may well accelerate the adoption of new technologies and techniques within the workplace. The Irish manufacturing industry and its associated supply chain are also facing the major challenge of adapting to the disruptive changes generated by the digital revolution and the ‘Fourth

Industrial Revolution’ (Industry 4.0). A new wave of advanced technologies is transforming the manufacturing landscape. These technologies include AI (Artificial Intelligence), IoT (Internet of Things), Cloud Computing, Digital Fabrication (including 3D printing), Big Data Capture, Advanced Automated and Autonomous Systems and Collaborative Robotics This upheaval is creating both obstacles and opportunities for manufacturers and their supply chain operators, who must evolve accordingly by adopting new technologies and skill sets.

The 2022 National Manufacturing & Supply Chain Conference & Exhibition will highlight the key trends and challenges facing the industry, while also offering practical solutions, as well as showcasing the latest innovations, developments in best practice and new technological advances.

government agencies who will engage in a stimulating blend of key note addresses and debates. The event will also feature an extensive exhibition showcasing the latest technological solutions and business services. Visitors interested in improving the performance of their business can listen to case studies and technical presentations from leading global and local manufacturing experts, and meet with providers of cutting edge technology.

Co-located Events A distinctive feature of the National Manufacturing & Supply Chain Conference & Exhibition is that it incorporates several complementary events – all under one roof. The colocated events in 2022 will cover sectors including: Automation & Robotics; IOT & Industry 4.0; 3 D Printing; Medtech & Biotech; Pharmaceuticals & Life Sciences; Lean Productivity & Continuous Improvement; Electronics Manufacturing; Procurement; Supply Chain & Logistics; and Sustainability. Visitors are free to move between the different events. Registration for the 2022 National Manufacturing & Supply Chain Conference & Exhibition is free and is now open at www.manufacturingevent. com.

Comprehensive Conference Programme The organiser of 2022 National Manufacturing & Supply Chain Conference & Exhibition, Dublinbased Premier Publishing & Events, is assembling an impressive line-up of manufacturing leaders, academics and MANUFACTURING & SUPPLY CHAIN VOL 1 ISSUE 4

For information about exhibiting at the event, contact Mark Hutchison mark@prempubevents.com.

MANUFACTURING & SUPPLY CHAIN

DRINKS PROCESSING

Chivas Brothers to Invest £88 Million in Expansion of Two Distilleries C

hivas Brothers, the Scotch whisky business of Pernod Ricard, is to invest £88 million into Aberlour and Miltonduff, two of its strategic single malt distilleries. The investment will go into upgrading sustainable distillation technologies at the Speyside distilleries along with significant production capacity expansions to meet growing global demand for Scotch whisky. The distillery expansions will grow Chivas Brothers’ total production by 14 million litres of alcohol per annum. The investment is further confirmation of Chivas Brothers’ commitment to Scotland and a testament to the growing global demand for Scotch whisky which has seen exports increase across all regions, with market gains in Latin America, Middle East, Africa and Asia. The distillery expansions will also serve to accelerate Chivas Brothers’ ambitious goal of reaching carbon neutral distillation by 2026 with the installation

of new bio plants and high-efficiency Mechanical Vapour Recompression (MVR) fan technology for pot still distillation across both sites. This mechanism enables a major energy recovery by compressing the vapor which then rises in temperature and is sent back to heat the stills during the distillation process.

Last year, the company announced plans to roll out MVR technology across all viable sites in its distillery portfolio by 2026 following a groundbreaking pilot study at its Glentauchers distillery which

resulted in energy reductions of 90% on a single pot still there. The Aberlour distillery, which has been producing whisky since 1879 will see its production capacity double to 7.8 million litres of alcohol per annum. The distillery will also undergo a significant facelift with an upgraded visitor centre which will draw more whisky fans to the area and boost local tourism. A new still house will be equipped with large windows providing visitors with views into the nearby woods and the River Spey; the water source for the spirit. Miltonduff’s expansion will consist of a brand new state-of-the-art sustainable distillery built next to the existing facility. The distillery, which will include a bio plant and evaporator, will add 10 million litres of alcohol per annum to the total production capacity. Both sites are expected to be operating at full production capacity by mid-2025.

Diageo to Invest £40.5 Million in its Beer Packaging Facilities D

iageo is making a £40.5 million investment to expand capacity at its packaging facilities in Belfast, Northern Ireland, and Runcorn, England, which is set to support the growth of Guinness Draught and Guinness Zero.

product innovation. It will enhance efficiency and competitiveness at both sites. Construction is set to begin immediately with capacity at both facilities expected to come online in 2023.

The facility in Belfast will see Commenting Aidan its canning production more Crowe, Operations Director than double with a £24.5 million for Beer at Diageo, stated: investment that will convert “This expansion is a existing warehouses into a new significant investment in state-of-the-art packaging line the development of our capable of producing 72,000 cans packaging facilities. The per hour. A further £16 million projects in Belfast and Deirdre Delaney, Operations Manager at Diageo’s Belfast Packaging site. will be invested at the Runcorn Runcorn will support our site to significantly upgrade its growth ambitions, helping us to meet global demand for Guinness bottling line and expand warehousing to deliver end-to-end product innovation, products from domestic and export capacity. and reinforce our agility to meet demand markets, with the expansion set to and provide excellent service to our support accelerated production and Diageo is making the investment customers around the world.” 40

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Exterior: WuXi Biologics, Dundalk, Ireland

WuXi Biologics enables partners to discover, develop and manufacture biologics from concept to commercialisation for the benefit of patients worldwide WuXi Biologics, a leading global CRDMO (Contract, Research, Development and Manufacturing Organisation) chose Ireland in 2018 as the location for its first site in Europe. As we progress 2022 our Ireland facility in Dundalk is now almost ready to enter service. It will rank among the world’s most advanced contract-manufacturing biopharma facilities, using single-use technology. Ireland’s standing as a biopharma hub, compliant with stringent national and international regulations, makes Ireland an ideal global location for the new facility. To IDA Ireland, who encouraged WuXi Biologics to invest in Ireland, to our staff, and to the contractors and suppliers who have helped us to develop our new facility in Dundalk, may we simply say, Thank you, for a job well done. Go Raibh Milé Maith Agat.

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