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Friday, January 27, 2012

Conveyor Optimization – Don't Let Your Conveyor Get Loose Let It ...

The daily tasks of life like brushing our teeth, cooking, getting to work, taking a bath are done pretty much on auto pilot. We don't have to think about routine things that occur often. Things are going good so why mess with it. The daily routine offers us contentment and so we see no need to rock the boat and seek improvement. One crucial element of success, however, is to continuously fine tune and practice our art, whatever that may be. No one won the competition by being content with where he was. People that are satisfied with their daily work will often be overtaken by those who are never satisfied and are striving for a better tomorrow. One part of industry where this subject applies is the installation and implementation of a conveyor system.

Conveyors have long been industrial marvels that have been designed and tweaked for ages. Those willing to put in the time, energy and thought are the ones getting the most out of their conveyors. Although conveyors are machines that can work magically on their own, forgetting that they operate in changing and stressful environments can foster disasters rather then beneficial dynamics. For those looking to stay ahead of the curve there are certain angles to take that will better build a more viable and robust platform. If optimizing conveyor production and operations is a goal, then these tips are a great base to start from. Some steps will be easier then others and by focusing on the simpler work first it will make some of the more difficult needs easier to attend to when appropriate.

One of the first characteristics conveyor managers should be reviewing is the details of the items being moved. A deep understanding of conveyor loads is a very powerful but simpler way to enhance performance. Considerations such as load form, shape, dimension, density, flow rate and position all play a vital role in the success of product movement. By knowing everything about what is traveling on your system, the ability to design and control operation becomes much more robust and efficient. Another easier method of improvement revolves around maintenance and knowing how to fix common issues.

As a large moving machine conveyors often run into snags. Some of the basic stumbling blocks can be avoided through general guidelines for trouble shooting certain faults. Hiccups like random shutdowns, package backup and frozen belts all may be solved without the need to call in repair experts and expensive service technicians. Informed problem diagnosis is a huge benefit to the smooth functioning of any set up as it allows for fixes that may otherwise be prolonged or outsourced thus thwarting current productivity.

Lastly, diligent maintenance is key when it comes to enhancing optimization. Stay on top of all conveyor related items and focus intently on preventive maintenance. Both will be sure to offer a more fluid environment. Now we will progress into the more difficult tasks at hand.

Conveyors eat up energy. There are some energy saving devices available to streamline movement, but a large amount of room to grow in this area still exists. Some ways to capture energy efficiency is by proper motor selection, lubrication, downtime, drive reduction and gravity leveraging. Reduction in energy can be difficult to pull off, but putting resources toward efficiency can result in huge savings and a better facility. Ergonomics in production is another more intensive angle that may be taken to optimize production. A happier and healthier workplace may be had through optimal vertical and horizontal integration along with ergonomically designed employee workstations.

Pay attention to conveyor workstation architecture while optimizing your system. The height of the work surfaces and station reach arrangements are ergonomic areas that if configured appropriately will assist the enhancement in productivity. We must never overlook conveyor performance testing. Routine inspections include function checking, load analysis and error recovery tests. Creating tests to locate strengths and weaknesses of the conveyor system can uncover opportunities for improvement. No matter how you undertake the tasks, optimization and productivity must be an ongoing process for any business involving conveyor machinery.

Conveyors must have countless numbers of parts moving in harmony with no disruption. Topics like safety and upgrading along with all those mentioned above, must be embraced to get the utmost from your system. Development can be easy sometimes and difficult if not impossible at others, but one thing is sure and that is its importance. Development must never be an afterthought. Conveyors do require intense planning and utter attention to detail. If you are serious about optimization and production, you won't be taking any short cuts.

Visit Wilkie Brothers Coveyors for more information on conveyors or to order NKC Conveyor Chain, Dearborn Midwest Trolleys or any other related replacement parts.





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