F O O D P R O C E S S I N G T E C H N O L O GY
How to increase productive uptime and OEE Time is money. This is certainly the case when it comes to snack food manufacturing, with product packaging playing an essential role, writes Anurag Mitra.
E
nsuring efficiency and productivity
issues, may be the first thing that springs
by minimising downtime and reducing
to mind, but optimising performance to
rejects is essential to increase the
reduce planned downtime can also have a
profitability of a production line. Beyond
significant effect.
financial factors, increasing uptime helps boost sustainability credentials too. The concept of overall equipment effectiveness (OEE) is considered the gold
THE TNA ROBAG 3 MAXIMISES PRODUCTIVITY • An advanced film feed system improves
standard when it comes to calculating
film handling and provides consistent
manufacturing productivity. It measures
film tension. With its single straight
how well a manufacturing operation is
through film pass, it offers easy film
running compared to its full potential.
threading and high accuracy.
An OEE score of 100% for example would
• Stripper tube-closers form part of the
mean a manufacturer is ensuring zero
tna robag jaw system. These stripper
wastage, with no downtime, as fast as
bars clear product from the seal area,
possible. Realistically, 85% is considered
after which the tube closers shut off the
an ideal benchmark.
tube of film while the stripping action is performed. This allows for clearing of
CALCULATING OEE
the packaged product from the sealing
OEE is calculated by multiplying availability,
area. The next batch of product can be
performance and quality.
delivered above the tube closers with no
Availability is the ratio of run time to planned production time. It refers to how
product falling through to the seal area • Product in-seal detection (PISD) software
its schedule. More specifically, it considers
monitors the jaw motion of the tna robag.
availability loss, including any events that
It triggers a reject mechanism if large
significantly slow production, whether
pieces of product are detected in the seal
planned (e.g. changeovers) or unplanned
areas or pleats. PISD also monitors bag
(e.g. technical or operator issues).
seal output and automatically selects the
is created when running at less than optimal
optimum speed to waste performance, ensuring maximum uptime.
speed. It takes into consideration anything that hinders the speed of production, from slow cycles to unexpected stops. Comparing the actual cycle times with ideal cycle times, performance ultimately highlights just how much production is lost by operating at less than ideal speeds. Quality highlights how much time is lost by producing products that don’t meet quality standards. It compares how many good parts are made versus those which are defected – therefore the percentage
patented pivot arm assembly design. This unit facilitates the unloading and replacing of the former quickly and easily. The ability to change out formers using side access, rather than the traditional front access, shortens product changeover times, while reducing manual effort. From a manufacturer’s point of view, the ability to make quicker former changes increase production uptime and improves overall plant performance, aiding the performance element of OEE. •
to impede seal integrity.
readily available equipment is according to
Performance is based on how much waste
• Former unload assist is an innovative,
The robag promises productive uptime
BEYOND THE BAGGER
The tna hyper-detect 5 helps to achieve optimum productivity. Created with a patented design, this metal detector can be positioned much closer to the multi-head weigher, dramatically increasing the speed at which the bagger can produce finished bags. It also keeps products safe from contamination. The unit offers smart thermal transfer overprint (TTO) date coder on the market, while the tna intelli-date 5 utilises an airless all-electronic system, integrated code defect detection and easyto-change ribbon drive to help improve uptime and productivity by reducing waste and rejects.
of time being spent on products that meet specification.
PLANNING FOR THE UNPLANNED Though these elements are essentially part of the OEE equation, they also highlight key considerations for manufacturers when it
ABOUT THE AUTHOR ANURAG MITRA is the product marketing manager at tna.
comes to general productivity. Reducing reject rates is a key concern. The biggest challenge for many lies in understanding how to reduce downtime. Unplanned downtime, or unexpected
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Food Review | March 2020
TNA www.tnasolutions.com/solutions/ packaging-solutions/
