Today is the last day of Pack Expo International 2012. It was a great show! New England Machinery had a record breaking number of visitors. We will be busy in the following days working with our customers to help them resolve their packaging machinery needs.
The show was a great opportunity for us to show our customers and prospective customers what we do and how we do it. We were able to enlighten some visitors on the full breadth of our capabilities.
Trade shows are an important part of our marketing initiatives. When we return home from this show, we will all meet to discuss the show and make notes on how we can make our exhibit even better next time. By striving to outdo ourselves each time, we stay at the top of our game. It’s what makes our company a leader.
The author, Marge Bonura, is the Director of Sales & Marketing for New England Machinery, Inc. (NEM). NEM is a leading packaging machinery manufacturer of bottle unscramblers, cappers, orienters, retorquers, lidders, pluggers, pump sorter/placers, scoop feeders, hopper elevators and much more. The company has been in business since 1974 selling to the food, beverage, pharmaceutical, personal care, chemical, household products, automotive and other industries. For more information on NEM, visit their website at www.neminc.com.
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Ready, Set, Go – Pack Expo International 2012
This year marks my 7th Pack Expo International show. I never get bored or blasé about the packaging shows. Every show is different with new things to see and learn. Currently we are working industriously putting things together. In a few short days this exhibition hall will be transformed into a wonderland of machines, displays and people all competing for the attention of the droves of company representatives here to see what’s new.
We at New England Machinery are showing off some new display concepts this year as well as new machines and capabilities. We have taken the best and made it better and are now ready to proudly present it to our customers.
If you have an opportunity to visit the show, please don’t miss it. It is a great experience even if you have nothing to do with packaging. For those lucky individuals who are in the packaging industry, it is a ‘must see’. Please stop by our booth #1442 at the show and say hi. I’m always thrilled to meet fans of my blog and would love to show you the best packaging machinery at the show!
The author, Marge Bonura, is the Director of Sales & Marketing for New England Machinery, Inc. (NEM). NEM is a leading packaging machinery manufacturer of bottle unscramblers, cappers, orienters, retorquers, lidders, pluggers, pump sorter/placers, scoop feeders, hopper elevators and much more. The company has been in business since 1974 selling to the food, beverage, pharmaceutical, personal care, chemical, household products, automotive and other industries. For more information on NEM, visit their website at www.neminc.com.
We at New England Machinery are showing off some new display concepts this year as well as new machines and capabilities. We have taken the best and made it better and are now ready to proudly present it to our customers.
If you have an opportunity to visit the show, please don’t miss it. It is a great experience even if you have nothing to do with packaging. For those lucky individuals who are in the packaging industry, it is a ‘must see’. Please stop by our booth #1442 at the show and say hi. I’m always thrilled to meet fans of my blog and would love to show you the best packaging machinery at the show!
The author, Marge Bonura, is the Director of Sales & Marketing for New England Machinery, Inc. (NEM). NEM is a leading packaging machinery manufacturer of bottle unscramblers, cappers, orienters, retorquers, lidders, pluggers, pump sorter/placers, scoop feeders, hopper elevators and much more. The company has been in business since 1974 selling to the food, beverage, pharmaceutical, personal care, chemical, household products, automotive and other industries. For more information on NEM, visit their website at www.neminc.com.
Monday, October 22, 2012
The Show Must Go On – Pack Expo That Is
I leave Florida early tomorrow morning to start setting up our booth for the Pack Expo International 2012 show at McCormick Place in Chicago. It is always a busy time for the companies preparing for the show with a myriad of last minute items that need attention. You try and remember to pack and take everything you need and/or might possibly need. You also try to foresee possible emergency situations and be prepared to handle them.
I distinctly remember one show where a forklift operator was transporting a large, heavy machine down an aisle and somehow lost the machine off the side of the forklift. The sound reverberated throughout the huge hall. Fortunately, no one was hurt, but the company planning on exhibiting a beautiful new machine in perfect working order, now had to come up with another plan. No one can plan for an emergency of that magnitude, but we do try to come up with creative ideas when the best laid plans go south.
For some individuals, emergency contingency planning brings out the best in them. For me, I always hope for smooth sailing and little to no last minute drama. Regardless, the show will open on Sunday, October 28 at exactly 9:00 a.m. and we will be ready to show off the very best of New England Machinery.
The author, Marge Bonura, is the Director of Sales & Marketing for New England Machinery, Inc. (NEM). NEM is a leading packaging machinery manufacturer of bottle unscramblers, cappers, orienters, retorquers, lidders, pluggers, pump sorter/placers, scoop feeders, hopper elevators and much more. The company has been in business since 1974 selling to the food, beverage, pharmaceutical, personal care, chemical, household products, automotive and other industries. For more information on NEM, visit their website at www.neminc.com.
I distinctly remember one show where a forklift operator was transporting a large, heavy machine down an aisle and somehow lost the machine off the side of the forklift. The sound reverberated throughout the huge hall. Fortunately, no one was hurt, but the company planning on exhibiting a beautiful new machine in perfect working order, now had to come up with another plan. No one can plan for an emergency of that magnitude, but we do try to come up with creative ideas when the best laid plans go south.
For some individuals, emergency contingency planning brings out the best in them. For me, I always hope for smooth sailing and little to no last minute drama. Regardless, the show will open on Sunday, October 28 at exactly 9:00 a.m. and we will be ready to show off the very best of New England Machinery.
The author, Marge Bonura, is the Director of Sales & Marketing for New England Machinery, Inc. (NEM). NEM is a leading packaging machinery manufacturer of bottle unscramblers, cappers, orienters, retorquers, lidders, pluggers, pump sorter/placers, scoop feeders, hopper elevators and much more. The company has been in business since 1974 selling to the food, beverage, pharmaceutical, personal care, chemical, household products, automotive and other industries. For more information on NEM, visit their website at www.neminc.com.
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
Big Company – Small Company – Which is The Better Workplace?
There are pros and cons for working at both large corporations and small businesses. But having worked for several large corporations and several small companies the one thing I can say for both is that you cannot generalize about a company based solely on its size.
I worked for one multi-national company that had a wonderful corporate culture. I later took a job at one of their competitors and thoroughly disliked the corporate culture at the second company. Unfortunately, many years later the second company bought out the first one and merged the two companies.
I have worked at small companies that folded when the economy changed. I have worked for other small companies that did very well in a difficult economic environment. Some companies require an employee to work in a structured environment while others need employees to be flexible. Size does not seem to make a difference.
There is one clear thing that you can depend on finding at any company, large or small. That ‘thing’ is change. No matter what profession or place of work you are in, you can absolutely depend on change. So learn to be flexible and you will find your life much easier and your job much more rewarding.
The author, Marge Bonura, is the Director of Sales & Marketing for New England Machinery, Inc. (NEM). NEM is a leading packaging machinery manufacturer of bottle unscramblers, cappers, orienters, retorquers, lidders, pluggers, pump sorter/placers, scoop feeders, hopper elevators and much more. The company has been in business since 1974 selling to the food, beverage, pharmaceutical, personal care, chemical, household products, automotive and other industries. For more information on NEM, visit their website at www.neminc.com.
I worked for one multi-national company that had a wonderful corporate culture. I later took a job at one of their competitors and thoroughly disliked the corporate culture at the second company. Unfortunately, many years later the second company bought out the first one and merged the two companies.
I have worked at small companies that folded when the economy changed. I have worked for other small companies that did very well in a difficult economic environment. Some companies require an employee to work in a structured environment while others need employees to be flexible. Size does not seem to make a difference.
There is one clear thing that you can depend on finding at any company, large or small. That ‘thing’ is change. No matter what profession or place of work you are in, you can absolutely depend on change. So learn to be flexible and you will find your life much easier and your job much more rewarding.
The author, Marge Bonura, is the Director of Sales & Marketing for New England Machinery, Inc. (NEM). NEM is a leading packaging machinery manufacturer of bottle unscramblers, cappers, orienters, retorquers, lidders, pluggers, pump sorter/placers, scoop feeders, hopper elevators and much more. The company has been in business since 1974 selling to the food, beverage, pharmaceutical, personal care, chemical, household products, automotive and other industries. For more information on NEM, visit their website at www.neminc.com.
Monday, October 15, 2012
Creating And Using SOP’s – The Right Way
One of the most useful undertakings a company can begin is to require all employees to create SOP’s (Standard Operating Procedures) for every task they perform. It is also one of the most daunting. Some individuals will write a ‘book’ describing one simple task. Others will write three sentences they think will cover a complicated-time consuming job. So how do you get them right? You require that every SOP be tested by someone who knows nothing about the task to see if they can successfully complete it using the written instructions only. If they can’t, the SOP needs to be re-written until it works.
Once completed properly, it is very simple for someone to cover for an employee out sick or on vacation. The replacement has the SOPs to tell them exactly what to do and how to do it. Every time a new task is taken on by an employee, they should be required to create an SOP for that task and test the SOP on a fellow employee.
Don’t forget that the SOPs need to be revised as time goes by. They should be reviewed and tested at regular intervals (i.e. once a year or once every 18 months). SOPs are also great to have for training new employees. If it seems like too big a task to take on, try starting small and building it up. Ask each employee to start working on their SOPs and require one completed per week. By the end of 6 months they should be all completed or nearly done.
The author, Marge Bonura, is the Director of Sales & Marketing for New England Machinery, Inc. (NEM). NEM is a leading packaging machinery manufacturer of bottle unscramblers, cappers, orienters, retorquers, lidders, pluggers, pump sorter/placers, scoop feeders, hopper elevators and much more. The company has been in business since 1974 selling to the food, beverage, pharmaceutical, personal care, chemical, household products, automotive and other industries. For more information on NEM, visit their website at www.neminc.com.
Once completed properly, it is very simple for someone to cover for an employee out sick or on vacation. The replacement has the SOPs to tell them exactly what to do and how to do it. Every time a new task is taken on by an employee, they should be required to create an SOP for that task and test the SOP on a fellow employee.
Don’t forget that the SOPs need to be revised as time goes by. They should be reviewed and tested at regular intervals (i.e. once a year or once every 18 months). SOPs are also great to have for training new employees. If it seems like too big a task to take on, try starting small and building it up. Ask each employee to start working on their SOPs and require one completed per week. By the end of 6 months they should be all completed or nearly done.
The author, Marge Bonura, is the Director of Sales & Marketing for New England Machinery, Inc. (NEM). NEM is a leading packaging machinery manufacturer of bottle unscramblers, cappers, orienters, retorquers, lidders, pluggers, pump sorter/placers, scoop feeders, hopper elevators and much more. The company has been in business since 1974 selling to the food, beverage, pharmaceutical, personal care, chemical, household products, automotive and other industries. For more information on NEM, visit their website at www.neminc.com.
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
The Future of US Industry
I had the pleasure recently of participating in Career Day for the University of Florida’s Engineering Dept. It was rewarding to see the future industry leaders excited and engaged in learning more about the world of business that they will inherit. I participated in a panel that answered questions ranging from what recruiters are looking for when choosing the candidates they hire, to what are the changes we are currently undergoing in our fields of business. The event included representatives of several fortune 100 companies seeking to recruit new trainees. I was pleased to hear all the companies encourage the students to voice their ideas and suggestions to the companies that eventually hire them. Without exception, the company representatives all stated that they need the new viewpoints, thoughts and opinions of the younger generation to keep their companies progressing. My personal opinion is that when a company stops growing, it starts to die. Injecting new, fresh ideas is the lifeblood of every strong company.
Later in the day we were able to meet one-on-one in a casual networking social event that gave us the opportunity to have a more personal dialog with individual students. The event was well attended and one of the organizers informed me that they only advertized it to the students through the Engineering Dept.’s Facebook page, a fact that highlights the difference between that generation and the more mature (I don’t want to say ‘older’) industry representatives who attended via personal e-mail invitations.
I recommend all companies to assign someone to spend at least one (much more if possible) day per year at such an event. It is a win-win for both the companies that participate and the students eager to get a glimpse into their future life’s work environment.
The author, Marge Bonura, is the Director of Sales & Marketing for New England Machinery, Inc. (NEM). NEM is a leading packaging machinery manufacturer of bottle unscramblers, cappers, orienters, retorquers, lidders, pluggers, pump sorter/placers, scoop feeders, hopper elevators and much more. The company has been in business since 1974 selling to the food, beverage, pharmaceutical, personal care, chemical, household products, automotive and other industries. For more information on NEM, visit their website at www.neminc.com.
Later in the day we were able to meet one-on-one in a casual networking social event that gave us the opportunity to have a more personal dialog with individual students. The event was well attended and one of the organizers informed me that they only advertized it to the students through the Engineering Dept.’s Facebook page, a fact that highlights the difference between that generation and the more mature (I don’t want to say ‘older’) industry representatives who attended via personal e-mail invitations.
I recommend all companies to assign someone to spend at least one (much more if possible) day per year at such an event. It is a win-win for both the companies that participate and the students eager to get a glimpse into their future life’s work environment.
The author, Marge Bonura, is the Director of Sales & Marketing for New England Machinery, Inc. (NEM). NEM is a leading packaging machinery manufacturer of bottle unscramblers, cappers, orienters, retorquers, lidders, pluggers, pump sorter/placers, scoop feeders, hopper elevators and much more. The company has been in business since 1974 selling to the food, beverage, pharmaceutical, personal care, chemical, household products, automotive and other industries. For more information on NEM, visit their website at www.neminc.com.
Monday, October 8, 2012
De-mystifying Serialization and Track and Trace – PART II
In my previous blog I started to explain how serialization and Track and Trace work. Here is the completion of my explanation in a very basic format.
Track and Trace also requires the capability of tracking each individual unit of sale backwards through the process by simply scanning the serialization code on the unit. The database should allow the pharmacy dispensing the product to be able to scan the unit and tell where that unit has been since its inception and even the exact batches of raw materials used to make it.
There can be much more information required to be tracked inside this system. For example, some companies require a double blind serialization system where two independent employees set up the same serial numbers for a batch of product and the system makes sure they ‘match’, thereby catching a potential mistake by one individual. The system may also require passwords for access to some or all of the data.
This is a very simplified description of a complicated software process and each company will need to set its own parameters for data creation, storage, collection, interaction and retrieval. If you want to see how New England Machinery can assist our customers in adding Track and Trace to the beginning of the packaging line, or inclusion in an existing system, please stop by our booth (#1442) at the Pack Expo International 2012 show, Oct. 28-31, McCormick Place, Chicago, IL.
The author, Marge Bonura, is the Director of Sales & Marketing for New England Machinery, Inc. (NEM). NEM is a leading packaging machinery manufacturer of bottle unscramblers, cappers, orienters, retorquers, lidders, pluggers, pump sorter/placers, scoop feeders, hopper elevators and much more. The company has been in business since 1974 selling to the food, beverage, pharmaceutical, personal care, chemical, household products, automotive and other industries. For more information on NEM, visit their website at www.neminc.com.
Track and Trace also requires the capability of tracking each individual unit of sale backwards through the process by simply scanning the serialization code on the unit. The database should allow the pharmacy dispensing the product to be able to scan the unit and tell where that unit has been since its inception and even the exact batches of raw materials used to make it.
There can be much more information required to be tracked inside this system. For example, some companies require a double blind serialization system where two independent employees set up the same serial numbers for a batch of product and the system makes sure they ‘match’, thereby catching a potential mistake by one individual. The system may also require passwords for access to some or all of the data.
This is a very simplified description of a complicated software process and each company will need to set its own parameters for data creation, storage, collection, interaction and retrieval. If you want to see how New England Machinery can assist our customers in adding Track and Trace to the beginning of the packaging line, or inclusion in an existing system, please stop by our booth (#1442) at the Pack Expo International 2012 show, Oct. 28-31, McCormick Place, Chicago, IL.
The author, Marge Bonura, is the Director of Sales & Marketing for New England Machinery, Inc. (NEM). NEM is a leading packaging machinery manufacturer of bottle unscramblers, cappers, orienters, retorquers, lidders, pluggers, pump sorter/placers, scoop feeders, hopper elevators and much more. The company has been in business since 1974 selling to the food, beverage, pharmaceutical, personal care, chemical, household products, automotive and other industries. For more information on NEM, visit their website at www.neminc.com.
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
De-mystifying Serialization and Track and Trace
There are countless articles available on the internet now on Serialization and Track and Trace. California has enacted laws that require compliance starting in 2015. The FDA is now working on creating national legislation that will include some form of Serialization and/or Track and Trace.
To put these programs into simple terms, Serialization is the numbering in sequence (or serial numbers) on individual units of sale of controlled substances (i.e. pharmaceuticals). This allows the manufacturer to be able to tell by the serialization code exactly when and where that unit was produced down to the individual batch. Track and Trace takes it a good bit further. Track and Trace requires the manufacturer to create a database that tracks the product from the raw materials state, through creation of consumable unit, individual packaging, aggregate packaging, shipping, warehousing, re-distribution, to final sale (to end consumer) and/or use (in hospital).
For ‘The rest of this story’, see my next blog.
The author, Marge Bonura, is the Director of Sales & Marketing for New England Machinery, Inc. (NEM). NEM is a leading packaging machinery manufacturer of bottle unscramblers, cappers, orienters, retorquers, lidders, pluggers, pump sorter/placers, scoop feeders, hopper elevators and much more. The company has been in business since 1974 selling to the food, beverage, pharmaceutical, personal care, chemical, household products, automotive and other industries. For more information on NEM, visit their website at www.neminc.com.
To put these programs into simple terms, Serialization is the numbering in sequence (or serial numbers) on individual units of sale of controlled substances (i.e. pharmaceuticals). This allows the manufacturer to be able to tell by the serialization code exactly when and where that unit was produced down to the individual batch. Track and Trace takes it a good bit further. Track and Trace requires the manufacturer to create a database that tracks the product from the raw materials state, through creation of consumable unit, individual packaging, aggregate packaging, shipping, warehousing, re-distribution, to final sale (to end consumer) and/or use (in hospital).
For ‘The rest of this story’, see my next blog.
The author, Marge Bonura, is the Director of Sales & Marketing for New England Machinery, Inc. (NEM). NEM is a leading packaging machinery manufacturer of bottle unscramblers, cappers, orienters, retorquers, lidders, pluggers, pump sorter/placers, scoop feeders, hopper elevators and much more. The company has been in business since 1974 selling to the food, beverage, pharmaceutical, personal care, chemical, household products, automotive and other industries. For more information on NEM, visit their website at www.neminc.com.
Monday, October 1, 2012
Completing Your Trade Show Exhibit
When planning your trade show exhibit you most likely consider the items you will take to display. This may include backdrop, flooring, display items such as shelves, counters, tables and chairs. You may also be bringing samples of your products to demonstrate and/or show off to potential customers. You will include marketing material such as flyers and handouts. But what else are you including in your planning?
The most obvious other planning will include utilities, i.e. lighting and computer hookups. You will plan on who will set up the booth, who will be working the booth the days the show is open, and who will be taking it back down and packing it up. You may also be considering purchasing items to ‘give away’ as promotional products to help keep your company’s name in front of your customers after they have returned back home from the show. You will also have planned pre-show advertising to announce to your potential customers that you will be there.
But what else can you plan to make a difference at the show? How about pulling your team together with matching shirts? It makes it very easy for your booth visitors to recognize your booth personnel versus other visitors when your personnel are all wearing the same shirt with your company logo on it. It is a nice added touch that makes your booth look more professional and team focused.
The author, Marge Bonura, is the Director of Sales & Marketing for New England Machinery, Inc. (NEM). NEM is a leading packaging machinery manufacturer of bottle unscramblers, cappers, orienters, retorquers, lidders, pluggers, pump sorter/placers, scoop feeders, hopper elevators and much more. The company has been in business since 1974 selling to the food, beverage, pharmaceutical, personal care, chemical, household products, automotive and other industries. For more information on NEM, visit their website at www.neminc.com.
The most obvious other planning will include utilities, i.e. lighting and computer hookups. You will plan on who will set up the booth, who will be working the booth the days the show is open, and who will be taking it back down and packing it up. You may also be considering purchasing items to ‘give away’ as promotional products to help keep your company’s name in front of your customers after they have returned back home from the show. You will also have planned pre-show advertising to announce to your potential customers that you will be there.
But what else can you plan to make a difference at the show? How about pulling your team together with matching shirts? It makes it very easy for your booth visitors to recognize your booth personnel versus other visitors when your personnel are all wearing the same shirt with your company logo on it. It is a nice added touch that makes your booth look more professional and team focused.
The author, Marge Bonura, is the Director of Sales & Marketing for New England Machinery, Inc. (NEM). NEM is a leading packaging machinery manufacturer of bottle unscramblers, cappers, orienters, retorquers, lidders, pluggers, pump sorter/placers, scoop feeders, hopper elevators and much more. The company has been in business since 1974 selling to the food, beverage, pharmaceutical, personal care, chemical, household products, automotive and other industries. For more information on NEM, visit their website at www.neminc.com.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
