Blog

Practitioner guides, product updates, and industry analysis from the teams behind Advantive's 16+ specialty platforms.

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  May 14, 2026 · Grace Barton

  Why Scheduling is Still the Hidden Lever in Corrugated Packaging

  Scheduling is a hidden profit driver in corrugated packaging. Learn how AI improves efficiency, reduces waste, & optimizes plant performance.

• May 12, 2026 · Mark Pickett

  Why B2B Self-Service Still Fails

  B2B self-service fails because it is disconnected, incomplete, or misaligned with how buyers actually work. Learn what successful self-service requires.

• May 7, 2026 · Mark Pickett

  The Inventory Accuracy Problem Is Now a Growth Problem

  Inventory accuracy now impacts growth, customer trust, and digital ordering. Learn why distributors must treat it as a strategic priority.

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  May 5, 2026 · Mark Pickett

  Why Spreadsheets Break During Peak Construction Season

  Spreadsheet quoting works—until peak season hits. Learn why manual estimating breaks under pressure for architectural openings distributors.

• May 5, 2026 · Sharon DiRe

  What Manufacturing Leaders Should Actually Expect from AI in 2026

  What should manufacturers really expect from AI in 2026? Practical gains like faster decisions, reduced friction, and better workflow support across operations.

• Apr 30, 2026 · Grace Barton

  From Data to Decisions: What AI Could Unlock Inside Your ERP

  Discover how AI in ERP helps distributors turn data into decisions and take action with confidence using Advantive ONE.

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  Apr 28, 2026 · Mark Pickett

  Real-Time Quality Is No Longer Optional

  Real-time quality is becoming essential in manufacturing. Learn how faster visibility helps reduce waste, improve compliance, and strengthen process control.

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  Apr 23, 2026 · Sharon DiRe

  Throughput vs. Waste Is a False Tradeoff in Packaging Operations

  Throughput and waste are driven by the same operational issues. Learn how packaging teams can improve with earlier visibility and connected decision-making.

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  Apr 21, 2026 · Sharon DiRe

  Packaging Performance Doesn’t Break on the Line. It Breaks in Your Operating Model

  Learn how connected operating models improve visibility, coordination, and packaging plant performance.

• Apr 16, 2026 · Mark Pickett

  Margin Under Pressure: How Distributors Can Protect Profitability Without Slowing Growth

  Margins are under pressure across distribution. Learn how pricing, inventory visibility, and operational efficiency can help protect profitability.

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  Apr 14, 2026 · Grace Barton

  From Data to Direction: Why Advantive ONE Signals a New Era of Industrial AI

  Advantive ONE delivers real-time insights that help improve decisions and connect manufacturing and distribution operations.

• Apr 9, 2026 · Grace Barton

  When the Warehouse Becomes the Bottleneck

  As distributors grow, warehouse operations often become the constraint. Learn how to create capacity and improve fulfillment without adding complexity.

• Apr 7, 2026 · Sharon DiRe

  Why Manufacturing Still Feels Reactive After Digital Transformation

  Digital transformation added systems, but manufacturers still feel reactive. Learn why disconnected workflows and delayed insight limit operational performance.

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  Apr 2, 2026 · Sharon DiRe

  AI in Packaging: Why Most Initiatives Stall Without Real-Time Plant-Floor Visibility

  AI in packaging is growing fast, but most initiatives stall. Learn why real-time plant-floor visibility is the key to making AI deliver results.

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  Mar 19, 2026 · Sharon DiRe

  The Quiet Globalization of Corrugated Software

  Explore how Kiwiplan’s international reach, roots, and role in box plant operations caused corrugated software to become quietly global.

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  Mar 9, 2026 · Mark Pickett

  Protect Your Margins Before Peak Season: How Comsense Helps Architectural Openings Distributors Prepare for the Construction Surge

  Peak construction season exposes pricing errors and quoting gaps. Learn how Comsense helps distributors protect margin before volume spikes.

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  Mar 5, 2026 · Sharon DiRe

  From Plan to Plant Floor: One Version of the Truth

  Advantive ONE connects Proplanner sequencing with PINpoint execution signals, unlocking value from the data running your operation.

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  Mar 3, 2026 · Mark Pickett

  Where Manual Work Hides — and Why It Limits Growth

  Manual steps like data re-entry, spreadsheet “bridges,” tribal knowledge, and file handling limit distributor growth.

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  Feb 25, 2026 · Mark Pickett

  Quality Intelligence, Reimagined: How AI Virtual Assistants Are Elevating Modern Manufacturing

  Discover how AI-powered virtual assistants are transforming quality management by turning SPC data into real-time, actionable intelligence.

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  Feb 19, 2026 · Sharon DiRe

  A Better Way to Get Answers: Advantive ONE’s First Impact for Packaging Customers

  For packaging manufacturers running Kiwiplan or Abaca, every minute matters. That’s where Advantive ONE Support and AIVA come in.

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  Feb 12, 2026 · Advantive

  Security That Scales With Innovation: Building Cyber Resilience Into Advantive ONE

  Learn how Advantive ONE approaches security by design—protecting data, enforcing identity controls, governing AI, and proving trust.

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  Feb 10, 2026 · Sharon DiRe

  Before 9 AM: The 5 Signals That Tell You If Today’s Plan Is Already at Risk

  These are the 5 triggers plant managers need before 9AM to reveal whether today’s production plan is already at risk.

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  Feb 5, 2026 · Mark Pickett

  Creating a Capacity for Growth

  Many distributors have the tools but lack capacity. See how reducing effort, rework, and manual processes supports growth without disruption.

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  Feb 3, 2026 · Grace Barton

  The Power of Virtual Assistants When They’re Built for Real Work

  Explore how well-designed virtual assistants improve product support and keep work moving, starting with Advantive ONE and AIVA.

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  Jan 29, 2026 · Mark Pickett

  Why Order Automation Still Feels Manual (Even When You’ve “Automated” It)

  Learn more about Lucy's powerful automation & Optical Character Recognition (OCR) tools in our newest guide.

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  Jan 27, 2026 · Grace Barton

  From Control to Optimization: The Evolution of SPC in MPO

  Learn how modern SPC supports Manufacturing Process Optimization through real-time data, contextual insight, and continuous improvement.

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  Jan 22, 2026 · Grace Barton

  Why Multi-Plant Corrugated Operations Struggle with Consistency and How Leaders Fix It

  Explore why multi-plant corrugated operations struggle with alignment and how consistency improves performance, margins, and scalability.

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  Jan 20, 2026 · Grace Barton

  Building Export-Ready Corrugated Operations Across EMEA

  Export-ready packaging in EMEA requires consistency, compliance, and operational control. See how corrugated manufacturers compete across borders.

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  Jan 13, 2026 · Grace Barton

  What You Need to Know About FSMA 204 and the Digital Supply Chain

  CEOs need to understand how FSMA 204 reshapes compliance and operational expectations, and makes digital traceability a necessity.

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  Jan 8, 2026 · Grace Barton

  Workforce of the Future: Automation + Talent for the Customer Experience

  Competitive distributors will recognize that automation and talent are complementary levers, rather than opposing forces.

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  Jan 6, 2026 · Grace Barton

  Why Distributors Must be Ready for AI in 2026

  Explore how distributors should think about an AI roadmap, the role of ERP in AI enablement, and a realistic AI adoption timeline.

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  Dec 18, 2025 · Grace Barton

  2025 Packaging Trends That Are Driving Growth, Not Decline

  Headlines often focus on slowing demand in certain segments. Learn about the 7 growth-driving trends reshaping the packaging industry today.

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  Dec 17, 2025 · Grace Barton

  Why ERP/MES Quality Tools Aren’t Enough for Modern Manufacturing

  Learn how real-time SPC helps manufacturers reduce scrap, boost yield, accelerate audits, and outperform traditional ERP/MES quality tools.

• Dec 16, 2025 · Grace Barton

  The New Role of B2B Sales Reps: Elevated by Digital Self-Service

  Read how leading distributors and manufacturers use self-service, automation, and field tools to free reps from admin and unlock real growth.

• Dec 11, 2025 · Grace Barton

  6 Hidden Costs of Using Spreadsheets for Inventory Management

  Discover the hidden costs of using spreadsheets and why modern food & beverage manufacturers are moving to purpose-built WMS & MES solutions.

• Dec 9, 2025 · Grace Barton

  How Real-Time Inventory Tracking Reduces Waste and Boosts Margins

  Real-time inventory tracking drives measurable improvements in yield, shrink, and traceability accuracy. Read more.

• Dec 2, 2025 · Grace Barton

  Why More Distributors Are Running on Signals — Not Spreadsheets

  Still managing growth with spreadsheets? Discover how signal-driven operations help distributors reduce errors, improve margins, and act faster.

• Nov 25, 2025 · Grace Barton

  MPO Doesn’t Work Without Context: Why Your Quality System Must Talk to Your ERP

  For organizations focused on Manufacturing Process Optimization (MPO), integrating quality systems with ERP is essential. Read more.

• Nov 20, 2025 · Grace Barton

  Tips & Tricks: Understanding Board Speeds in Kiwiplan

  Small changes in board speed can have a big impact. That’s why Kiwiplan’s board speed calculation tools are so valuable. Learn more.

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  Nov 18, 2025 · Grace Barton

  Kiwiplan and the AI Imperative in Corrugated Packaging

  Kiwiplan’s AI-powered automation modules for corrugated packaging enable faster execution and scalable resilience

• Nov 13, 2025 · Grace Barton

  Error-Proofing Assembly: How MES + APP Synchronization Enhances Quality and Throughput

  Learn how MES + APP synchronization can enforce standardized work, guide operators, and prevent incorrect moves.

• Nov 11, 2025 · Grace Barton

  Change Management in Motion: Synchronizing Engineering Updates with Real-Time Production

  Organizations must adopt a tightly integrated engineering change management strategy that synchronizes PLM and MES. Read more.

• Nov 6, 2025 · Grace Barton

  Tips & Tricks: Performing a Successful Year End Inventory Count in Comsense

  A thorough year-end inventory count is essential for financial reporting, operational efficiency, and planning for the new year. Read more.

• Nov 5, 2025 · Grace Barton

  The Cost of Standing Still: Why Distributors Can’t Afford to Delay ERP Modernization

  Let’s break down the hidden costs of inaction and why moving to a purpose-built ERP is no longer optional for competitive businesses.

• Nov 4, 2025 · Grace Barton

  Why B2B Needs Personalization More Than B2C Does

  Here are 5 key reasons why personalization holds greater strategic weight in B2B commerce than in B2C. Read more.

• Oct 30, 2025 · Grace Barton

  AI That Delivers: How Kiwiplan Is Automating Packaging From Plant Floor to Freight

  Explore how these five AI-powered features from Kiwiplan bring purpose-built automation to the packaging floor. Read more.

• Oct 28, 2025 · Grace Barton

  Competitive Analysis: How Kiwiplan Outperforms Generic ERP Systems

  Many ERP systems claim to support your goals, but few are built specifically for corrugated production. Kiwiplan is the proven alternative.

• Oct 23, 2025 · Grace Barton

  Why Quality Can’t Be a Silo: Connecting Upstream Specs to Downstream Results

  Enact enables quality to become a central, connected, and collaborative part of production. Learn why your quality data can't be a silo.

• Oct 22, 2025 · Grace Barton

  How Real-Time Alerts Reduce Scrap & Rework Before It Happens

  Real-time alerts identify potential issues early in the production cycle, enabling immediate corrective action. Read more.

• Oct 21, 2025 · Grace Barton

  High-Speed Data Collection: Enabling Real-Time MPO Today

  For organizations pursuing Manufacturing Process Optimization (MPO), the role of high-speed data collection cannot be overstated. Read more.

• Oct 16, 2025 · Grace Barton

  Three Time-Saving Tips to Streamline Your Assembly Planning

  Proplanner is full of capabilities designed to make assembly planning faster, smarter, and more efficient. Read more about these 3 features.

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  Oct 14, 2025 · Grace Barton

  Stop Guessing: Expose the Hidden Factory Before You Scale

  Many manufacturers think they know what’s happening on their shop floor until data says otherwise. Read more to expose the hidden factory.

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  Oct 9, 2025 · Grace Barton

  Checklist: How to Evaluate eCommerce ERP Compatibility

  Use this checklist to identify red flags early and select an eCommerce solution that drives long-term success. Read more.

• Oct 7, 2025 · Grace Barton

  11 Opportunities You Unlock When Cloud Hosting Inform ERP with Advantive

  Cloud hosting Inform ERP through Advantive shifts infrastructure management to a trusted partner. Read more about these 11 opportunities.

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  Oct 2, 2025 · Grace Barton

  Join us at FEFCO 2025 to Drive Sustainability and Innovation in Corrugated Packaging

  We're ready to connect at FEFCO 2025 to share insights, and explore the future of corrugated packaging with peers across the industry.

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  Oct 1, 2025 · Grace Barton

  4 Reasons Cloud-Hosting Inform ERP Helps Distributors Focus on Growth

  More distributors are choosing to securely cloud host Inform ERP through Advantive. Read how cloud hosting helps distributors achieve more.

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  Sep 30, 2025 · Grace Barton

  The Four Core Capabilities Driving Manufacturing Process Optimization (MPO)

  Manufacturing Process Optimization (MPO) embeds real-time visibility, control, and continuous improvement into production processes.

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  Sep 25, 2025 · Grace Barton

  Manufacturing Maturity Models: How to Assess If Your Plant Is Ready for Industry 5.0

  Industry 5.0 represents a shift in how manufacturers approach growth and resilience. Learn how purpose-built solutions can help you advance.

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  Sep 23, 2025 · Grace Barton

  The Global Corrugated Packaging Market Outlook

  The corrugated packaging industry is entering a decade of both opportunity and complexity. Read more to understand the market outlook.

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  Sep 18, 2025 · Grace Barton

  5 Signs You’re Trapped in Industry 3.5

  Here's 5 Signs Manufacturing Leaders should look for if their operations feel semi-reactive and stuck in Industry 3.5.

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  Sep 16, 2025 · Grace Barton

  How Proplanner + PINpoint Are Redefining Discrete Manufacturing

  Proplanner and Pinpoint, along with Advantive Quality solutions, are your partners for discrete, connected manufacturing.

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  Sep 11, 2025 · Grace Barton

  3 Ways to Unlock More Value from Pepperi

  Pepperi is packed with features designed to make your sales operations smarter, faster, and more connected. Read more.

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  Sep 9, 2025 · Grace Barton

  Hinge Your Project’s Success on the Right Planning This Fall

  See how a CPQ-first workflow in Comsense helps openings distributors configure once and carry accuracy through quotes, submittals, and orders.

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  Sep 8, 2025 · Erik Kindel

  Beyond the Basics: What Quality Solutions Can Really Deliver

  Advantive Quality Solutions help manufacturers optimize processes, empower teams, and improve efficiency in real time.

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  Sep 4, 2025 · Grace Barton

  Meet the People Powering Advantive: Kristen Fullam, Rusty Bellar, Grace Barton, Eddie Diaz

  At Advantive, we believe growth is most meaningful when it comes from within. Read more about these four teammates' inspiring stories.

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  Sep 2, 2025 · Grace Barton

  Lucy: 24/7 ERP Order Processing That Never Sleeps

  Lucy by Commerce Vision is an automated order processing solution that integrates purchase orders into your ERP with speed and precision

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  Aug 28, 2025 · Grace Barton

  Your Quick Guide to Navigating EUDR Compliance

  The European Union’s Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) takes effect at the end of 2025. See what’s required to comply and key deadlines.

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  Aug 26, 2025 · Grace Barton

  How to Solve the Manufacturing Labor Shortage with Process Optimization

  Statistical Process Control (SPC) software offers manufacturers real-time reporting and process optimization improvements.

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  Aug 21, 2025 · Grace Barton

  Maximize Labor and Machine Efficiency With Kiwiplan Automation

  Picking an ERP & MES solution for your packaging manufacturing operations? Kiwiplan's manifold modules produce positive impacts immediately.

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  Aug 19, 2025 · Mark Pickett

  Modernizing Food & Beverage Distribution: The Shift from Manual Orders to Mobile Commerce

  Mobile-first commerce platforms built for real-world selling environments are gaining momentum in Food & Beverage distribution.

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  Aug 14, 2025 · Grace Barton

  Why Traceability Matters in Pet Food Manufacturing

  In the pet food industry, traceability has evolved from a regulatory checkbox to a mission-critical capability. Read more.

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  Aug 12, 2025 · Mark Pickett

  From Compliance to Optimization: Why Beverage Bottlers Are Rethinking Quality

  Enact for Bottlers - a purpose-built SPC solution delivering actionable insights for the beverage industry

• Aug 8, 2025 · Grace Barton

  Digital-T Software Solution

  Concepts labeled as the Digital Twin or the Digital Thread are becoming very popular recently. Read to understand Proplanner's role.

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  Aug 7, 2025 · Grace Barton

  4 Expert Tips to Get More from Your Abaca Software

  Abaca’s specialized corrugated packaging software is built to help you run smarter, faster, and more efficiently. Read more.

• Aug 6, 2025 · Grace Barton

  Quick, Secure and Accurate MES/IIOT Architecture Explained

  Proplanner's MES architecture is designed around a strong Bill of Process (BOP) authored in teh Assembly Planner Database. Learn more.

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  Aug 5, 2025 · Mark Pickett

  The Power of a Connected ERP: 5 Ways to Get More from DDI Inform

  DDI Inform helps wholesale distributors connect core operations—from ecommerce to tax compliance—using proven integrations and APIs.

• Aug 4, 2025 · Grace Barton

  Why Proplanner MES

  Many great MES systems are available, but few are tailored for the task of vehicle assembly. Read why you should choose Proplanner MES.

• Aug 1, 2025 · Grace Barton

  Job Cover Matrix Feature Enhances Worker-to-Station Assignment

  Proplanner’s Job Cover Matrix leverages the worker historical sign-on data and workstation qualification requirements. Read more.

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  Jul 31, 2025 · Grace Barton

  Why Distributors Need More Than Accounting Software

  Distributors relying on basic accounting tools risk losing ground to competitors with smarter systems and tailored software.

• Jul 30, 2025 · Grace Barton

  Proplanner Offers a Live & Video-Based Time Studies Module

  Proplanner supports live and video-based Observed time measurement as well as the largest selection of Predetermined time standards available.

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  Jul 29, 2025 · Grace Barton

  The Hidden Cost of “Almost Integrated” B2B Platforms

  ERP-connected B2B eCommerce enables consistent, streamlined processes across every sales channel, not just your website

• Jul 28, 2025 · Grace Barton

  Proplanner’s eKitting Module Generates Pick Lists and Tracks Carts

  Gain an understanding of why Proplanner's eKitting solution more effective than ERP's kitting tools. Read more.

• Jul 25, 2025 · Will Bosley

  Power BI Reporting of SFV MES and Factboard Data

  Proplanner’s new Power BI connector for Shop Floor MES (SFV) and Factboard allow you to combine, summarize and report on the vast amount of data collected by those systems. This data can then be aggregated, filtered, analyzed, formatted, charted and displayed per your needs and even shared among other users in your company. Shop Floor … Continued

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  Jul 24, 2025 · Grace Barton

  From Compliance to Control: Why Banned Ingredients Are Just the Beginning

  States are moving faster than federal regulators to ban or restrict food additives linked to health risks. Learn more.

• Jul 23, 2025 · Grace Barton

  Proplanner Assembly PLM Compared to Generic PLM

  Generic PLM systems can be toolkits for companies to develop an Assembly PLM environment, but this effort takes a great deal of time & money.

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  Jul 22, 2025 · Grace Barton

  11 Hidden Risks of Sticking with On‑Premises Quality Software

  Here are 11 reasons why sticking with on‑prem quality software holds operations back, and why migrating to the cloud is no longer optional.

• Jul 21, 2025 · Grace Barton

  Applying Engineering Changes to the Shop Floor

  Engineering Change Notifications (ECNs) are changes made to the product structure as an improvement or to introduce a new product.

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  Jul 17, 2025 · Grace Barton

  How Inform ERP’s Latest Updates Deliver Control, Clarity, and Confidence

  Inform ERP introduces a major leap forward in custom reporting capabilities through the Advanced Report Writer (ARW) API. Read more.

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  Jul 15, 2025 · Grace Barton

  A Global Legacy of Innovation in Corrugated Packaging Software: The History and Reach of Kiwiplan

  Kiwiplan’s story is one of continuous innovation, geographic expansion, and a deep understanding of the global packaging industry

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  Jul 10, 2025 · Grace Barton

  Meet the People Powering Advantive: Tori Lue, Joe Mercado, and Chad Boersma

  Our strength lies not only in our purpose-built software but in the people behind it. Read more about the driving forces behind Advantive.

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  Jul 8, 2025 · Grace Barton

  Six Ways Advantive Software Can Ease the Stress of Tariffs on Your Manufacturing Business

  Here are a few ways that Advantive’s range of manufacturing software can prepare you for an uncertain economic future

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  Jul 2, 2025 · Grace Barton

  Proplanner Tips and Tricks: Rethinking Process Authoring With A Fresh Look at Virtual Build

  We’re taking a moment to reintroduce some of the most useful, but often underused, features of the Virtual Build module in Assembly Planner.

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  Jul 1, 2025 · Erik Kindel

  DDI ERP Software Keeps Plumbing Businesses Dry When Tariffs Cause Leaks

  DDI ERP Software help mitigate the effects of tariffs on Plumbing businesses.

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  Jun 24, 2025 · Grace Barton

  SPC + AI: Moving from Insight to Foresight in Manufacturing Quality

  AI is only as good as the data it learns from. Here's how manufacturers turn clean, real-time SPC data into predictive decisions. Read more.

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  Jun 17, 2025 · Grace Barton

  Transform Your Shop Floor: Get More from ERP with Purpose-Built Process Planning Software Designed for Discrete Manufacturing

  Struggling with complex production? Discover how an assembly-focused PLM software simplifies planning and transforms your shop floor.

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  Jun 11, 2025 · Grace Barton

  Are you FSMA compliant? ParityFactory can get you there.

  Traditional systems and manual processes often fall short of delivering the visibility and efficiency needed for FSMA compliance. Read more.

• May 29, 2025 · Will Bosley

  Advantive CFO Ryan Asche Named 2025 CFO of the Year by Atlanta Business Chronicle

  We’re proud to share that Ryan Asche, Chief Financial Officer at Advantive, has been named a 2025 CFO of the Year by the Atlanta Business Chronicle. This prestigious honor recognizes Ryan’s exceptional financial leadership and the critical role he has played in fueling Advantive’s growth and innovation. The Atlanta Business Chronicle’s CFO of the Year … Continued

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  May 14, 2025 · Grace Barton

  Debunking the Top 3 FSMA Myths

  With the FDA's FSMA 204 compliance deadline approaching, we wanted to address some of the most common misconceptions we've encountered.

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  May 12, 2025 · Grace Barton

  What’s New in WinSPC 10

  The most significant release of WinSPC in years Customers often find they need answers that localized sampling into SPC charts does not illuminate. Diverse, fast and complex manufacturing flows require tools that collect everything now, integrate information from all locations, and facilitate immediate, deep analysis. WinSPC 10 goes to the heart of this requirement. It … Continued

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  Apr 30, 2025 · Grace Barton

  Price vs. Value: The True Cost of Modern Solutions

  With technology, the price doesn’t tell the whole story. You have to look deeper to discover the true value of a product or solution.

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  Apr 14, 2025 · Grace Barton

  How Inform WMS’ Job Dispatcher Streamlines Your Operations

  Let’s take a closer look at how Job Dispatcher helps you drive greater efficiency, accuracy, and visibility across your warehouse operations.

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  Apr 7, 2025 · Grace Barton

  Advantive LLC Reinforces Commitment to Quality and Security by Achieving Company Wide ISO 9001:2015 & ISO/IEC 27001:2022 Certifications

  Following our Tri-Annual ISO External Audits this year, we have achieved company-wide ISO 9001:2015 & ISO/IEC 27001:2022 certifications.

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  Apr 3, 2025 · Grace Barton

  Get More Out of Your ERP with Industry-Specific Software

  Instead of trying to customize your ERP, food and beverage manufacturers are turning to software built specifically for this industry.

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  Mar 12, 2025 · Grace Barton

  Mitigate Trade Risks and Economic Uncertainty with Manufacturing’s Missing Link

  Change is inevitable. This absolute truth might sound scary, but it can also be an opportunity for you to take a proactive approach.

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  Mar 6, 2025 · Grace Barton

  How Quality Heroes Drive Sustainability and Transform Businesses

  Learn how quality heroes are driving the charge towards a more sustainable future through continuous improvement and data-driven decisions.

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  Feb 27, 2025 · Grace Barton

  Pepperi B2B eCommerce vs. Adobe Commerce (Magento)

  Let’s examine why a purpose-built B2B commerce platform, like Pepperi, is the best option for wholesalers and distributors.

• Feb 12, 2025 · Grace Barton

  Into the Unknown: Prepare for Unforeseen Changes with Automation

  Change is inevitable. But how do you prepare for the unknown? Let’s explore how automation can help future-proof your organization.

• Feb 3, 2025 · Grace Barton

  Unleashing the Power of a Quality Hero: Could It Be You?

  There are individuals who rise above manufacturing and quality management in every organization challenges. We call them Quality Heroes.

• Feb 3, 2025 · Grace Barton

  Unlocking Continuous Improvement with ISO 9001 and 14001 Integration

  ISO 9001 & ISO 14001 provide a robust framework to help manufacturers achieve regulatory compliance and maintain critical certifications.

• Jan 28, 2025 · Grace Barton

  Achieving Quality and Sustainability Through Real-Time Data Monitoring

  Explore how real-time data monitoring enables manufacturers track quality and sustainability metrics with IoT and smart sensors.

• Jan 23, 2025 · Grace Barton

  Can Your Business Meet the Rising Customer Expectations?

  Advantive’s distribution solutions - Inform ERP, ERP-One+, and Pepperi - offer a comprehensive suite to meet these challenges head on.

• Jan 9, 2025 · Grace Barton

  Boosting Energy Efficiency to Improve Quality, Sustainability, and Profitability

  We’re exploring energy efficiency in production, including how to streamline process setup, minimize downtime, and use data-driven insights.

• Jan 6, 2025 · Grace Barton

  Reducing Waste Through Process Improvement for Sustainable, Profitable Manufacturing

  Learn how waste reduction impacts quality management and sustainable manufacturing. We'll explore process control, managing variation, & more!

• Dec 30, 2024 · Grace Barton

  Connecting the Dots Between Quality Management and Sustainability

  We’re digging into practical ways to bridge quality and sustainability, focusing on actions that deliver real-world results.

• Dec 16, 2024 · Grace Barton

  Quality and Sustainability Blog Series: Let’s Define Sustainability in the Manufacturing Space

  We’re connecting the dots between quality management and sustainability for real-world results in the manufacturing industry.

• Dec 10, 2024 · Grace Barton

  Inform ERP’s Newish Features for Demand Management

  We’re diving into some of Inform ERP's relatively new, yet incredibly useful features for demand management that you may not know about.

• Dec 9, 2024 · Grace Barton

  Walking Through Inform ERP’s Special Purchasing Scenarios

  We’ll walk you through some of the special purchasing scenarios that can significantly impact your inventory strategy.

• Dec 3, 2024 · Grace Barton

  Leveraging Inform ERP’s Warehouse Overstock & Projected Stock Transfer

  Understand Inform ERP’s tools for managing warehouse overstock and projected stock transfers to ensure optimal stock levels across warehouses.

• Nov 27, 2024 · Grace Barton

  Unlocking the Full Potential of Inform ERP’s Forecasting Adjustments

  Welcome to part 5 of our Inform ERP blog series! Last time, we discussed the key KPIs and pivot tables, demonstrating how they can help you track purchase performance and optimize inventory. Throughout the rest of this series, we’ll dive into information that will empower you to: Today, our focus is on refining your Forecasting … Continued

• Nov 21, 2024 · Grace Barton

  Tracking Purchasing Results with Inform ERP’s KPIs and Pivot Tables

  Tracking your purchases effectively in Inform ERP can help you recognize trends, measure improvements, and make better business decisions.

• Nov 15, 2024 · Grace Barton

  Managing Different Categories of Demand in Inform ERP

  we’ll dive deeper into three categories of demand—Recurring, Sporadic, and Unusual—and discuss how to manage each effectively.

• Nov 14, 2024 · Grace Barton

  Exploring Critical Inventory and Projected Purchase Orders in Inform ERP

  Explore these two features of Inform ERP that help you maintain control over stock levels: Critical Inventory and Projected Purchase Orders.

• Nov 5, 2024 · Grace Barton

  Understanding Reorder Point vs Reorder Quantity in Inform ERP

  We’re exploring the differences between Reorder Point and Reorder Quantity – two essential concepts for optimizing your inventory management.

• Oct 28, 2024 · Grace Barton

  Insights & IATF 16949 Updates from the AIAG 2024 Quality Summit

  Advantive’s quality brands proudly participated in the annual AIAG 2024 Quality Summit. Learn more about the insights and updates we gained!

• Oct 18, 2024 · Will Bosley

  Blog Series: Transform Your Operations with Kiwiplan

  Last week, we explored the nuances of our production recording module. Today, we’re shifting our focus to the crucial realm of shipping.

• Oct 8, 2024 · Grace Barton

  Connect with Advantive & Comsense at DHI ConNextions in Las Vegas

  DHI ConNextions is a cornerstone event for the non-residential door and hardware industry across North America.

• Oct 3, 2024 · Grace Barton

  Join Advantive at the UK Corrugated Industry 2024 Tradeshow

  Abaca and Kiwiplan are headed to the UK Corrugated Industry trade show at the Telford International Centre in Telford, Shropshire.

• Oct 2, 2024 · Grace Barton

  InfinityQS, WinSPC, and PQ Systems Represent Advantive at AIAG 2024 Quality Summit

  Our industry-leading brands – InfinityQS, WinSPC, and PQ Systems – will be attending the AIAG 2024 Quality Summit!

• Sep 25, 2024 · Grace Barton

  Key Takeaways from SuperCorrExpo 2024

  Advantive and Kiwiplan attended SuperCorrExpo 2024 to establish new relationships, foster deeper collaboration, and identify emerging trends.

• Sep 5, 2024 · Grace Barton

  Join Advantive at SuperCorrExpo 2024 to Take a Deep Dive into Kiwiplan’s Core Features

  Thank you for following this blog series for Kiwiplan, Advantive’s leading packaging ERP and MES solution. Join us at SuperCorrExpo 2024!

• Sep 4, 2024 · Grace Barton

  How Kiwiplan Makes Shipping Management Effortless: A Deep Dive into Kiwiplan’s Robust Shipping Module

  Last week, we explored the nuances of our production recording module. Today, we’re shifting our focus to the crucial realm of shipping.

• Aug 22, 2024 · Grace Barton

  Streamlining Your Operations with Kiwiplan’s Production Recording Module

  Today, we’re shifting our focus to an equally critical component of your operations – production recording. Read to learn more!

• Aug 22, 2024 · Grace Barton

  Unleash your quality data with SPC

  Unleash your quality data and drive success with advanced SPC tools. Statistical Process Control delivers results beyond improved quality

• Aug 15, 2024 · Grace Barton

  Drive Operational Efficiency with Kiwiplan’s Scheduling Module

  Today, we’ll focus on the nuances and capabilities of Kiwiplan's scheduling module, from manual and automatic scheduling to order status.

• Aug 8, 2024 · Grace Barton

  How to Leverage Kiwiplan’s Purchasing Module to Increase Your Operational Efficiency

  We’re turning our focus to Kiwiplan’s purchasing module and exploring how it enhances efficiency across sheet ordering and purchasing tasks

• Jul 31, 2024 · Grace Barton

  Understanding Kiwiplan’s Costing and Pricing Module

  The Kiwiplan Costing and Pricing module helps packaging manufacturers with the crucial exercise of determining how much to produce and sell.

• Jul 25, 2024 · Grace Barton

  Optimize Your Processes Using Kiwiplan’s Order Management Module

  Today, we’re diving into the meat of Kiwiplan starting with our Order Management module – a crucial part of any packaging process.

• Jul 18, 2024 · Grace Barton

  Growth in E-Commerce Calls for More Streamlined Packaging Processes

  The first installment of our 8-part blog series dedicated to exploring key modules and features of Kiwiplan

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  Jun 26, 2024 · Grace Barton

  6 ERP ONE Webinars You Can Look Forward To

  We’re excited to announce an upcoming series of webinars dedicated to Distribution One’s ERP ONE and are designed to help you maximize the value of your ERP system.

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  May 16, 2024 · Grace Barton

  Catch Up With Advantive at These Distribution, Manufacturing, and Packaging Trade Shows in June

  Advantive is gearing up for these upcoming distribution, manufacturing, and packaging trade shows in June. Read more to find out!

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  Apr 29, 2024 · Erik Kindel

  Proplanner’s Newest Features Enhance User Experience

  Proplanner's latest Assembly Planner release exemplifies our commitment to continued improvement and excellence.

• Apr 9, 2024 · Erik Kindel

  Connect with Advantive at AICC 2024 Spring Meeting & 50th Anniversary Celebration

  Learn about attendees, upcoming events, and how to connect with Advantive at the AICC 2024 spring meeting, april 8-10 in Palm Desert, CA

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  Mar 5, 2024 · Grace Barton

  Visit with Advantive at the 2024 Forte Group Annual Conference

  Join Advantive at the upcoming Forte Group Annual Conference for PCHP and Showroom distributors.

• Feb 28, 2024 · Grace Barton

  What We’re Reading: 2024 Food Processing Predictions from the NYT

  The new year always brings a fresh proliferation of predictions across industries, and food and beverage are no exception. While we’ve skimmed past articles about consumer trends on everything from packaging to teen snacking, we wanted to pause and turn some extra attention to these nine predictions from the New York Times. We spotted a few … Continued

• Feb 2, 2024 · Grace Barton

  Connect with Advantive at NAFEM’s Annual Meeting and Management Workshop 2024

  Join Advantive for the upcoming North American Association of Food Equipment Manufacturers (NAFEM) 2024

• Jan 22, 2024 · Grace Barton

  ParityFactory 172: Two Most-Requested Features Now Live

  ParityFactory’s industry-leading WMS & MES for food manufacturing and food processing has just rolled out a new version. Version 172 adds two of the most-requested features to both ParityFactory and CatchManager II, streamlining processes and reducing errors. ParityFactory 172 Highlights 1. Improved Unreceive and Unproduce Experience In ParityFactory 172, we’ve revamped the Production Run Unproduce … Continued

• Dec 21, 2023 · Grace Barton

  Want to Grow Your Medium-Sized Food Processing Operation? Embrace Automated Tracking with ParityFactory’s WMS & MES.

  Small and medium-sized food and beverage operations are the heartbeat of industry innovation and growth. At ParityFactory, we often partner with medium-sized operations that have been held back by the pitfalls of manual inventory tracking: human error, difficulty with tracing and mock recalls, and overall inefficiencies that ultimately dig into profits. ParityFactory’s WMS & MES, … Continued

• Dec 21, 2023 · Grace Barton

  How to Make Your Transition from UBS to DDI System in 5 Seamless Steps

  This blog is for our customers currently using UBS for their distribution businesses. Since UBS is no longer undergoing active development, this blog will offer a few reasons why our UBS customers would be interested in empowering advantages of DDI System. However, it could also be useful for anyone who wants more information about the … Continued

• Dec 13, 2023 · Grace Barton

  ParityFactory Updates: Mobile Improvement, NetSuite Integration and Quick Split

  In the latest versions of ParityFactory, we’ve responded to customer requests, making Mobile Shipments more efficient and less error-prone and streamlining functionality for Quick Split. If you’d like to try these features, contact Customer Support to update. ParityFactory 169 Highlights 1. Additional information is now available for Mobile Shipments. We’ve updated the mobile shipping and … Continued

• Nov 21, 2023 · Grace Barton

  New in ParityFactory: Simplified Production Runs + Better Traceability

  Each new version of ParityFactory responds to issues and needs reported by food and beverage producers like you. You can review release notes for each new version of our food and beverage WMS & MES here. See something you’d like to try? Reach out to ParityFactory Support! Two Highlights from Recent ParityFactory Releases : 1. Streamlined … Continued

• Nov 8, 2023 · Grace Barton

  How DDI Systems’ Top Industries Deployed 7 Compelling Features of Inform ERP

  DDI System has emerged as an essential solution for businesses looking to streamline their operations. The digital age revolutionized how companies’ function and made it essential for businesses to harness the power of technology to gain a competitive edge. Inform ERP delivers features that not only simplify business processes but also drive profitability and improve … Continued

• Oct 16, 2023 · Grace Barton

  Important Announcement for ParityFactory Customers: Discontinuation of SQL2016 Support

  If you’re a ParityFactory customer using SQL2016 or an earlier version, now would be a good time to consider updating your SQL subscription. Soon, we will discontinue support for SQL2016. Those using SQL2016 will be able to upgrade to ParityFactory 170, but subsequent ParityFactory versions will not be available. At ParityFactory, we are committed to … Continued

• Oct 6, 2023 · Grace Barton

  The Importance of Safety and Compliance in Manufacturing: How VIA Makes a Difference

  Whether you’re new to the industry or have been working the manufacturing floor for years, understanding the connection between safety, compliance, and Manufacturing Execution System (MES) solutions, is important. In the dynamic world of manufacturing, safety and compliance is not just a moral obligation, it’s a pivotal factor that guarantees the sustainability and profitability of … Continued

• Oct 5, 2023 · Grace Barton

  Now Available in ParityFactory: Automated Unit of Measurement Calculations

  Frequently, employees on the floors of food and beverage operations find themselves making unit of measurement conversions on the fly. This happens when you need to reconcile flour shipments from the U.S., labeled in pounds, with flour shipments from Canada, labeled in kilograms. It happens when you need to break some bottles of wine away … Continued

• Sep 28, 2023 · Grace Barton

  NEW with ParityFactory: Backflushing for Bulk, Enhanced NetSuite Support & More

  Each new ParityFactory version adds or updates features to address the way things work in the real world of food processing and manufacturing. Below, you can peruse three new features that save time and reduce errors: backflushing for bulk ingredients, enhanced support for NetSuite transfers, and lot separation based on best before dates. 1. Backflushing … Continued

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  Aug 18, 2023 · Grace Barton

  Can I chart deviation-from-target, and when would it make sense to do this?

  Yes, you can chart deviation-from-target. You do this by creating a Target chart, a chart that plots the deviation of subgroup values from a target value. Target charts are popular in operations that have low-volume runs. The reason for this concerns the amount of data. To be statistically valid, many chart types, such as capability … Continued

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  Aug 18, 2023 · Grace Barton

  Capturing Data and Generating Alarms with WinSPC Real-Time Statistical Process Control Software | WinSPC Video

  WinSPC offers intuitive Quality data entry and can capture independently from your CMMs, ERP and other sources. Optimizing manufacturing processes begins with capturing and charting data, and generating real-time alarms based on trends and rule violations in that data. WinSPC’s Data Collection window is typically setup so that, on its left, users are guided through … Continued

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  Aug 18, 2023 · Grace Barton

  Common Mistakes Made by New Quality Manager

  Congratulations on becoming the newest quality manager Getting promoted at work may be the realization of a dream. You struggle, fighting tooth and nail until you get the recognition you deserve. However, many aspiring managers think less about the difficulties in succeeding in this job. Once you are in a management position, the spotlight is … Continued

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  Aug 18, 2023 · Grace Barton

  Do You Use SPC Correctly? | Ask The Expert

  When something goes wrong, we naturally react. If a product fails or a process performs inadequately, we attempt to discover what’s wrong so we can fix it. That sounds reasonable enough. But by reacting to the problem, we’re allowing that process or product failure to control our behavior. Isn’t it more effective to understand and … Continued

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  Aug 18, 2023 · Grace Barton

  Generating Reports in WinSPC | WinSPC Video

  With a few clicks of the mouse, you can set up WinSPC to generate reports at scheduled intervals that meet key Quality needs. WinSPC is designed to generate reports quickly and easily. Using the Administrator window, all you need to do, is right-click an item that contains data, mouseover Preview, and select a report template. … Continued

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  Aug 18, 2023 · Grace Barton

  How do I implement SPC for short production runs? – Part 1

  An approach to deploying control charts with short production runs is to utilize charts of common characteristics across different products. This chart pertains to the characteristic of interest (e.g., diameter) rather than for the diameter of a specific design. A single chart can monitor the characteristic even though the nominal values (and specifications) are different. … Continued

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  Aug 18, 2023 · Grace Barton

  How Do I Set Up WinSPC to Get Data on a Timed Basis? | WinSPC Tips & Tricks

  WinSPC timed data collection can reduce labor time associated with collecting data. WinSPC has the ability to prompt a device to send a reading, or prompt the operator that a reading is required, at certain intervals or at specific times during Data Collection. This can free up the operator from having to prompt a device at … Continued

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  Aug 18, 2023 · Grace Barton

  How Do I Test My Data for Normality? | Ask the Expert

  Before applying statistical methods that assume normality, it is necessary to perform a normality test on the data. Figure 1: Histogram depicting a normal (bell-shaped) distribution in WinSPC For example, all of the following statistical tests, statistics, or methods assume that data is normally distributed: • Hypothesis tests such as t tests, Chi-Square tests, F … Continued

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  Aug 18, 2023 · Advantive

  How does SPC complement my automatic inspection system?

  More companies are leveraging high speed vision systems to inspect multiple quality characteristics on their products. This testing directly on the line is a major advancement in inspection and measurement methods. Automation allows data to be collected quickly and efficiently and 100% inspection becomes feasible. A common question that arises is, “Does my 100% automatic … Continued

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  Aug 18, 2023 · Grace Barton

  How Undetected Process Changes Can Ruin Product Reliability

  By systematically detecting (and rectifying) sources of special cause variation upstream in the process, the important process outcomes become predictable. SPC and Reliability We often think of Statistical Process Control as a tool to help drive product quality by informing us when process changes occur. By systematically detecting (and rectifying) sources of special cause variation … Continued

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  Aug 18, 2023 · Grace Barton

  Hypothesis and Equivalence Testing

  This article will review statistical hypothesis testing in general and then introduce equivalence testing and its application. What is equivalence testing and when should we use it? Most quality professionals are familiar with basic hypothesis tests such as the 2-sample t test. However, depending on the goals of the study, another type of test, called … Continued

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  Aug 18, 2023 · Grace Barton

  Making the Case for SPC | Quality Insight

  SPC tells when to leave the process alone and when to react. By using SPC, companies can minimize the variation of their process by identifying, reacting to and eliminating extra sources of variation. Implementing statistical process control (SPC) takes energy and resources, so companies had better be able to show a financial benefit for having … Continued

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  Aug 18, 2023 · Grace Barton

  Measuring the Value of Real-Time SPC | Quality Insight

  We talk to companies everyday that are dealing with new challenges in Quality. In this video we will discuss common Quality issues and document the monetary value of SPC. We talk to companies everyday that are dealing with new challenges in Quality. Maybe you are frustrated with your current SPC methods and the time you … Continued

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  Aug 18, 2023 · Grace Barton

  Quality at Any Cost? | Quality Insight

  In an ever-competitive global marketplace, it’s more important than ever to develop systematic means to measure and manage costs of quality, which reflect business improvement opportunities. If there is a case being made for the importance of statistical process control software, A.V. Feigenbaum is making it. Feigenbaum, a well-known expert and author in the field … Continued

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  Aug 18, 2023 · Grace Barton

  Quality at Any Cost? | Quality Insight

  In an ever-competitive global marketplace, it’s more important than ever to develop systematic means to measure and manage costs of quality, which reflect business improvement opportunities. If there is a case being made for the importance of statistical process control software, A.V. Feigenbaum is making it. Feigenbaum, a well-known expert and author in the field … Continued

• Aug 9, 2023 · Grace Barton

  How Advantive’s Resources Bolster InfinityQS’ Enact Updates

  On July 06, 2023, the Advantive team unveiled the latest Enact update from InfinityQS, featuring user experience changes designed to cater to customer needs and deliver immediate value.

• Jun 27, 2023 · Grace Barton

  What We’re Reading: The Importance of Traceability in Dairy

  Can you trace all your dairy ingredients back to their origins? Making the leap to selling products to the largest clients – like the Walmarts and Costcos of the world – requires meeting rigorous traceability standards. Lately, we’ve been having a lot of conversations about traceability with dairy customers looking to scale up their distribution, … Continued

• Mar 5, 2023 · Grace Barton

  The Owner’s Guide to Picking the Right 3PL Software

  Everything you need to know when selecting the right 3PL software for your warehouse. Introduction The rapid growth of technology has impacted every part of businesses today, including how third-party logistics (3PL) warehouses operate and offer services. According to a Technavio report, the 3PL software market is forecasted to grow by $579.54 million with a CAGR of … Continued

• Feb 15, 2023 · Grace Barton

  A 3PL Operations Manager’s Guide to Effective Inventory Management

  Introduction The US Census Bureau noted that in October 2022, manufacturers, retailers, and merchant wholesalers carried almost $2,500 billion in inventory, 16.4% more than the previous year. As more businesses turn to third-party logistics (3PLs) to help them manage their inventory and fulfill orders, the global 3PL market is expected to grow to USD1,993.72 billion by 2028, with a CAGR … Continued

• Feb 8, 2023 · Grace Barton

  11 Industry Trends Impacting 3PLs Today

  The planning process for 3PL fulfillment centers has become more complicated as the industry faces challenges related to order volume growth and changing customer expectations. Driven by key factors, including the aftermath of the pandemic, transportation delays, and growing demand for direct-to-consumer deliveries, effective management throughout the entire supply chain is essential. Here we look … Continued

• Feb 3, 2023 · Grace Barton

  Warehouse Put Away Process: Tips & Optimization Methods

  The put-away process eats into the efficiency of your warehouse’s day-to-day operations. As a result, you need to streamline your methods to reduce their impact on your picking productivity quotas. Here we share tips to optimize your put-away methods to improve efficiencies across your entire warehouse operations. Invest in the Right Storage Equipment To avoid … Continued

• Feb 1, 2023 · Grace Barton

  Best Practices for Warehouse Inventory Management & Scanning

  Improving your third-party fulfillment inventory management process requires adopting industry best practices. To help set you off on the right path, here we share best practices for warehouse scanning and inventory management. Minimize Manual Input Even the strictest manual processes increase the risk of human error. By reducing manual input in the inventory management process, … Continued

• Jan 6, 2023 · Grace Barton

  How 3PL Warehouses Can Calculate Customer Profitability

  A significant increase in 3PL warehouse volumes puts more pressure on third-party logistic warehouses to understand customer profitability. Because changing customer expectations are driving trends in warehouse management and 3PL fulfillment, what 3PLs charge customers must also change. Even if you have already created a pricing model to bill for additional services and cover increasing … Continued

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  Dec 3, 2022 · Grace Barton

  A New Look and Improved Features for ecommONE

  Distribution One is pleased to announce the newly redesigned ecommONE integrated E-Commerce webstore! More than just a visual update, the ecommONE redesign provides improved user speed on both desktop and mobile devices. But that’s not all. Let us take you on a tour. Delivering white-label functionality, the new ecommONE site allows for customizable color branding. … Continued

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  Oct 12, 2022 · Grace Barton

  Turning Quality into a Competitive Advantage

  Accuracy and precision define your capability for excellence During recent decades, manufacturer and consumer expectations for product quality have continued to creep higher and higher. A world of customers on the always-connected internet has contributed greatly to this awareness. Customers expect quicker iterations of their favorite products without deviation from the highest quality standards. Meanwhile, … Continued

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  Jun 16, 2022 · Grace Barton

  What is ERP Software for Distributors & Wholesalers?

  Learn the fundamentals and benefits of ERP Software. What should I know to begin? To be successful in today’s business climate, distributors and wholesalers must synchronize their departments, maximize worker efficiency, and ensure the accuracy and accessibility of business data. Comprehensive Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software fulfills these requirements while eliminating manual processes and associated … Continued

• Jun 2, 2022 · Grace Barton

  Top Five 3PL Warehouse Problems to Watch Out For and How to Fix Them

  Running a third-party logistics (3PL) warehouse is challenging. It involves organizing, managing, and maintaining all operation processes that occur in a warehouse in the smoothest and most efficient manner. Regardless of how meticulous you are in your processes and workflows, every warehouse operation is prone to mistakes and problems which can affect the overall warehouse … Continued

• Mar 30, 2022 · Grace Barton

  VeraCore is a 2022 Best Place to Work in Connecticut!

  FARMINGTON, CT, Mar 30, 2022 – We’re proud to announce that VeraCore was selected by the Hartford Business Journal as a Best Place to Work in Connecticut this year. Created by the Hartford Business Journal and Best Companies Group, The Best Places to Work in Connecticut award is given to companies who have created not just stable workplaces, but also happier, healthier company cultures – a … Continued

• Mar 28, 2022 · Grace Barton

  The Importance of Inventory Tracking by Location

  When it comes to warehouse management, the ability to track inventory by location is key to maintaining precise and sufficient inventory levels in real-time. ParityFactory’s robust location tracking functionality facilitates this accuracy through the adoption of scannable location barcodes and a variety of configuration options that allow our users to track their inventory at the … Continued

• Nov 16, 2021 · Grace Barton

  Customer Keys to Success with a New ParityFactory System

  The Project Management team at ParityFactory oversees all of our projects to get new customers ready to configure, test, and use their custom-built ParityFactory system. Our teams will do much of the work to make this happen, but every project also involves a customer handling many tasks as well, from providing us information to testing … Continued

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  Oct 26, 2021 · Grace Barton

  How to Convert from Paper to Electronic Record Keeping

  Manual data collection is alive and well in modern manufacturing. But in this age of electronic data in which we find ourselves, it’s shocking that so many manufacturers have yet to make the move from paper to electronic records. Up to 75 percent! While it may seem cheaper to manually administer quality and safety programs … Continued

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  Oct 17, 2021 · Grace Barton

  How Component Traceability Saves the Day

  Back in the late ‘80s or early ‘90s, traceability took the form of a sheet of paper that followed every tray of components through the manufacturing process. The operator would write their badge number, the time they started, and key information about the raw materials. When they got finished with the work, the operator would … Continued

• Sep 28, 2021 · Grace Barton

  7 Proven Ways to Increase Warehouse Efficiency for Peak Season

  Peak season in fulfillment is rough! Client and consumer expectations are high, volumes are up, SLA’s are tight, and good labor can be hard to find. Peak season can be challenging in third-party logistics if you don’t have a streamlined way to handle the chaos. Whether you want to avoid the mistakes of last year … Continued

• Aug 10, 2021 · Grace Barton

  VeraCore Announces New CTO to Drive Technological Innovation

  E-commerce fulfillment software company strengthens the leadership team during high growth phase with the announcement of new CTO, Suresh Babu. FARMINGTON, CT, Aug 10, 2021 – VeraCore, a leading SaaS warehouse and order management software provider, announces technology veteran Suresh Babu as Chief Technology Officer to drive VeraCore’s technological innovation during high growth phase. Babu brings to the team … Continued

• Jun 3, 2021 · Grace Barton

  3 Key Elements for E-commerce Success

  As a 3PL business owner, you’ve probably been targeted with enough e-commerce headlines, growth rates, and statistics to make your head spin. It’s no secret, e-Commerce has seen unprecedented growth and presents an undeniable opportunity to grow your business. Everything you’ve read sounds amazing, but how do you capitalize on this opportunity and grow your business? Whether you’re looking to expand your e-Commerce offering or enter the space for the first time, you need key strategies and … Continued

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  May 25, 2021 · Grace Barton

  Section 179 – A Tax Deduction for Distribution Software

  Throughout 2021, it’s important think about the benefits of the Section 179 Deduction for software purchases. What is the Section 179 Deduction?Section 179 of the IRS tax code allows businesses to deduct the full purchase price of qualifying equipment and/or software purchased/financed and installed during that tax year. That means that if you buy (or … Continued

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  May 7, 2021 · Grace Barton

  A Day in the Life of Bill the Quality Manager | Quality Insight

  Quality is kind of a big deal around here. The Story of Bill the Quality Manager Bill: I never attend cocktail parties because I have always dreaded the questions people ask in polite conversation. The number one being, “So, what do you do for a living?” As a Quality Manager of a very large company, … Continued

• May 6, 2021 · Grace Barton

  Costing for Multiple-Output Production with PF and NetSuite

  NetSuite (and many other ERPs) facilitate the costing process in production when the production run has a single output. But what do you do if you’re breaking down a side of beef? Or producing different private label products on the same line? ParityFactory’s combined solution solves this issue, and provides the ability to fine-tune the cost … Continued

• Apr 12, 2021 · Grace Barton

  How ParityWellness Could’ve Saved 15 Million Vaccine Doses

  Today, we learned that 15 million doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine were ruined when ingredients for Astra Zeneca were mistakenly mixed into the J&J doses. This is a dramatic example of something that happens every day in wellness and pharmaceutical manufacturing. Typically, it’s something a bit less catastrophic than the destruction of a critical vaccine. … Continued

• Mar 23, 2021 · Grace Barton

  A Quick Guide to Variables and Attributes Data

  Variables data is data that is acquired through measurements. This can be length, elapsed time, diameter, strength, weight, temperature, density, thickness, pressure, or height. Accuracy can be measured, for example, to the nearest inch, centimeter, millimeter, or micron. Attributes data is data that can be classified and counted. In attributes data, key concepts are “nonconformities” … Continued

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  Mar 22, 2021 · Grace Barton

  Scrap and Defects and Rework – Oh, My!

  When we talk to our manufacturing clients about their biggest issues, nearly all of them mention one or more of the big three: scrap, defects, and rework (oh, my!). The crew of the Wizard of Oz (remember the “Lions and tigers and bears, oh my!” song from the movie?) were afraid because they didn’t know … Continued

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  Feb 4, 2021 · Grace Barton

  Are Cpk and Ppk Passé?

  I’m not a statistician, but I happen to know a few (and I play one on TV). I have heard rumors—from non-statisticians, I must say—that Cpk and Ppk, as useful tools for statistical process control (SPC), are dead. I’m here to tell you that is absolutely false. Cpk and Ppk are alive and well…but (big … Continued

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  Jan 27, 2021 · Grace Barton

  11 Essential Skills Your Quality Management Team Needs

  All departments within a company are interrelated. In many cases, the quality management team plays a central role that affects all other departments’ metrics and impacts a business’ bottom line. For example, if a product does not meet the standard quality levels, then sales are impacted and customer satisfaction goes down. Any rework, recalls, and returns can cause changes in … Continued

• Jan 25, 2021 · Grace Barton

  Managing Reverse BOMs and One-to-Many Manufacturing Processes

  Most manufacturing processes begin with a Bill of Materials (BOM), from bicycles to swing-sets, tires to airplanes. Financial tools and the more robust ERPs are designed with these kinds of BOMs in mind: many individual pieces go in, and one finished good comes out. This is great for operations who specialize in discreet manufacturing, but … Continued

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  Jan 24, 2021 · Grace Barton

  The Ultimate Guide to Traceability in Manufacturing

  Traceability is more than just a “buzz word” in manufacturing.   It has become a necessity in order to provide suppliers with the data they need to ensure their Product has been created as designed, with the quality and the accuracy of their material and processes validated.    Having the ability to not only harness your data but also to utilize it in analysis is invaluable. … Continued

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  Jan 18, 2021 · Grace Barton

  Do Operators Need to Keep an Eye on Control Charts All the Time?

  Control charts are useful tools. There’s no doubt about it. They’ve been used for decades by operators and engineers to better understand their processes and know when it is time to adjust them. But as long as appropriate statistical rules are in place and those rules are being monitored by an ever-watching computer, do operators … Continued

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  Jan 15, 2021 · Grace Barton

  Statistical Process Control (SPC): Three Types of Control Charts

  If you have already made the decision to embrace a statistical process control (SPC) method—such as a control chart, which can visually track processes and abnormalities—you are already well on your way to bringing manufacturing quality control to your operations. So, what’s the next step?  Determining which type of control chart to use. “That decision is based … Continued

• Dec 21, 2020 · Grace Barton

  How to Configure Your MES to Track and Trace And why you NEED it!

  Tracking and tracing is a validation of how you execute your manufacturing processes and ensures your components, routings, testing/validations are aligned with your specifications and accepted tolerances. When a part or finished good has completed its cycle within your facility, you should be able to see all of the steps and “touches” that occurred during … Continued

• Dec 14, 2020 · Grace Barton

  How Does Proplanner’s Line Balancing Solution Work?

  Proplanner’s line balancing module is the heart of the Assembly Planner solution and includes the most features, capabilities, and performance of any other Line Balancing application in the market. Proplanner’s Line Balancing module has the ability to balance and visualize thousands of tasks, hundreds of models and options, hundreds of customer orders, and consider many hard and soft constraints … Continued

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  Nov 30, 2020 · Grace Barton

  Improving Your Quality Control on Your Shop Floor in 5 Easy Ways

  Delivering high-quality products on a deadline and reaching your goals is critical to your success. One way organizations like yours achieve this is through quality control. It ensures that every product you create is up to a pre-defined standard and anything that falls below that standard will never make its way to your customer. Quality … Continued

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  Nov 30, 2020 · Grace Barton

  Why Your Existing ERP System Needs an API to Make Your Life Easier

  The digital age has changed how we communicate. From emails to social media, the web connects us to one another. But that’s not all. The web connects our systems as well. Application programming interface, or most commonly known as API, allows two applications to talk to each other. For example, you may have seen the … Continued

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  Nov 25, 2020 · Grace Barton

  Say Goodbye to Inefficient Excel Spreadsheets With Automated Production Scheduling Software

  Production scheduling has become a must for operations that want to take their production to the next level. It shows how resources, events, and processes are allocated to create products, allowing you to have greater visibility into what is happening on your shop floor. Historically, production scheduling was done on hand-written boards or with Excel … Continued

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  Nov 23, 2020 · Grace Barton

  Top 5 Benefits of Using RFID Tags and Barcodes to Track and Manage Your Inventory

  Today, many organizations look for ways to increase the speed and ease of data collection in every facet of their operations. One way businesses can do so is by leveraging a combination of barcodes and RFID tags to make asset tracking and managing, as well as data collection, simple and quick. By combining barcodes and … Continued

• Nov 19, 2020 · Grace Barton

  5 Tips to Speed Up the Onboarding of New Fulfillment Clients

  Closing a new deal and starting a new partnership is exciting for both the client and your 3PL business. You may have spent weeks or months nurturing your leads, but now it’s time to turn them into happy long-term clients. Get off on the right foot by getting your new clients up and running smoothly and quickly. By expediting the client on-boarding process, you can deliver … Continued

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  Nov 11, 2020 · Grace Barton

  How Automation Through Direct Machine Interface Can Change the Game For Your Operation

  Direct machine interface, often referred to as DMI, allows you to connect directly to all types of production equipment and allows you to view real-time information and historical analysis from anywhere, anytime, using just the web browser on any device. Why DMI is a Game-Changer For You Collecting data manually can take a lot of … Continued

• Oct 28, 2020 · Grace Barton

  Why Manufacturing Execution Software Isn’t What You Think It Is

  When people think of Manufacturing Execution Software, one of the first things that come to mind is, “It costs way too much” or “it would be too disruptive to my current processes”. But this actually couldn’t be further from the truth. When you have a complete understanding of your ROI, the cost objection can disappear. … Continued

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  Oct 26, 2020 · Grace Barton

  The Benefits of Real-Time Shop Floor Data Collection

  The shift to mobile in the digital era has created an entirely new paradigm for the packaging industry. With increased demand for packaging and consumer’s expectations for sustainability and innovation, packaging companies are turning to digital solutions to save the day. In the industry, time-consuming manual processes and outdated technology have historically prevented businesses from … Continued

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  Oct 23, 2020 · Grace Barton

  How to Improve Your Component Traceability System

  As we mentioned in our recent blog post, How Component Traceability Saves the Day, component traceability is a game-changer for manufacturers.  Implementing a reliable component traceability system on your floor is the best way to ensure product quality, receive real-time information about the product and equipment, and ultimately be in a better position to meet … Continued

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  Oct 14, 2020 · Grace Barton

  Deming’s 14 Points – Business Improvement through Quality Control: Part 1 – Points 1-5

  The year was 1988, and I found myself standing in a sumptuous conference room with nearly 700 attendees at the iconic Hotel del Coronado. I was attending a four-day conference on quality led by Dr. W. Edwards Deming himself. It was my first professional trip outside of Seattle where I worked as a newly employed statistician … Continued

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  Sep 28, 2020 · Grace Barton

  5 Challenges That Make or Break New System Implementations

  New system implementations have a lot of moving parts and a lot of risk. There are too many factors to the success of these projects to list them all, but these stand out from the crowd:

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  Sep 22, 2020 · Grace Barton

  How to Optimize Production Performance with Traceability

  Traceability means being able to provide evidence that your manufacturing processes were followed and that all products were built according to specification, utilizing proper components. It should be the single authoritative source of performance data so that you can be sure that you’re making the right parts the right way at the right time. With … Continued

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  Sep 21, 2020 · Grace Barton

  Top 5 Reasons to Implement a CRM

  In this day and age, packaging companies have to react quickly and creatively. With increased demand and changing behaviors, the industry is faced with the challenge of keeping up with their growing list of responsibilities. That is why it’s important to have reliable solutions in place that empower companies to operate more efficiently and make … Continued

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  Sep 11, 2020 · Grace Barton

  The Number One Key to Reducing the Risk of Product Recall

  There are two main causes of product recalls: engineered defects and manufactured defects. In an engineered defect, the product was specified to be built incorrectly in the first place. For manufactured defects, the parts or products weren’t made quite to specifications. Of course, there are dozens of subcategories under each of those but generally, all … Continued

• Sep 9, 2020 · Grace Barton

  Hemp and CBD: Ensuring Compliance through Change

  As the Hemp, CBD, and Cannabis markets continue to expand and evolve through the United States, good traceability can be a big differentiator. Across most of the US, the cannabis, CBD and hemp markets are booming. The wave of legalizations that began in the 1990s has only gained speed, creating millions of potential new customers … Continued

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  Aug 24, 2020 · Grace Barton

  9 Reasons to Invest in Manufacturing Execution Software

  If you’ve got a strong understanding of manufacturing, have made good decisions, and maybe hit a bit of luck here and there, then you’ve probably been able to grow your business and have had some success. However, if you’re not using Manufacturing Execution Software (MES), then you’re missing some incredible opportunities to increase efficiency, reduce … Continued

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  Aug 13, 2020 · Grace Barton

  Enacting Quality Control in the Bottling Industry

  A bottling company is more than just a company that mixes drink ingredients and fills up cans and bottles with the drink. It’s a purveyor of things we use and enjoy every day. It supplies the products we love to the stores we frequent in containers that give us a sense of continuity, comfort, and … Continued

• Jun 11, 2020 · Grace Barton

  Can a Wellness-Focused WMS Increase Your Sales Potential?

  The benefits of a robust WMS can go far beyond the factory floor One of the unexpected benefits of ParityWellness, and one that we rarely share, is how valuable our wellness-focused WMS solution can be to our client’s sales departments. While it may seem counter-intuitive at first, what’s going on in receiving, production and shipping … Continued

• Jun 9, 2020 · Grace Barton

  Support Your Fulfillment Clients From Anywhere, Anytime

  Most 3PLs have had their lives, and businesses turned upside down after the COVID-19 outbreak. Teams have had to battle through challenges at work and in their personal lives, with daily routines disrupted from childcare/school closings. For many, putting the health and safety of employees first was mission #1. Many 3PLs choose to have non-warehouse … Continued

• Jun 7, 2020 · Grace Barton

  How Much Can a Mismanaged Recall Cost Your Business?

  When it comes to recalls, manufacturers stand to lose a lot more than just money. If it seems like recalls are getting more common nowadays, that’s probably because they are. On average, we experience 10% more recalls today than a a few years ago in 2013. This may seem alarming, but it doesn’t reflect sloppier processors or … Continued

• Jun 6, 2020 · Grace Barton

  Why Barcoding for Wellness Manufacturers?

  Barcoding, labeling and scanning are all just tools, but! If used effectively, with the right WMS platform powering them, there’s no investment wellness manufacturers can make that has a quicker return on investment or further-reaching benefits. Barcode scanners, just like barcode printers, are only as good as what’s running them. We visit several new processing … Continued

• Jun 1, 2020 · Grace Barton

  The Worst Reason to Keep Safety Stock

  Most processors are holding onto safety stock for the wrong reasons To keep a competitive edge, it’s critical for consumable goods processors to minimize their need for safety stock. There are a few understandable reasons for maintaining excessive inventory, however, unreliable balance reporting isn’t one of them. There are many different names for safety stock … Continued

• May 28, 2020 · Grace Barton

  How Barcoding Can Cut Turnover and Training Costs

  With an ever increasing public focus on health, wellness, and beauty, Wellness brands are growing faster than ever. This is great news, but it can also lead to major issues when it comes to keeping factory floors staffed, especially when you have to contend with high turnover and ever-increasing staffing needs. The goal of lot … Continued

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  Apr 29, 2020 · Grace Barton

  Bringing Statistical Process Control (SPC) to Operators with a Smile

  In today’s blog we’re revisiting a favorite topic of ours, statistical process control (SPC), this time with guest Ian Farrell, Quality Manager for Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc. in the Pacific Northwest. He’s a proponent of using SPC in manufacturing and has been using InfinityQS quality management software for a while now. Statistical Process Control is … Continued

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  Apr 16, 2020 · Grace Barton

  3 Practices of Companies Who Effectively Reduce Variation Cost | Quality Insight

  We find that there are 3 common practices among companies who are effectively minimizing process variation. (1) Real-time monitoring of manufacturing with operator access to data. (2) Visualization of process output for operators and supervisors. (3) Investigation into problems and prioritization of improvement initiatives. Our discussion begins at 21:42 in the video. Real-time Monitoring of … Continued

• Apr 16, 2020 · Grace Barton

  Ten Important Questions (You Should Be Able to Answer) Before Implementing SPC | Ask the Expert

  Careful consideration of some fundamental aspects of Statistical Process Control (SPC) can go a long way toward determining whether or not manufacturers are able to effectively prevent problems and control their production processes. When applied properly, SPC identifies significant changes to a process. These can be changes that are still within specification—but are statistically different … Continued

• Apr 16, 2020 · Grace Barton

  Optimizing Product Target Weights of Foods and Beverages

  In order to maximize profitability while complying with government regulations regarding net package contents, food manufacturers and packagers must achieve an optimal balance. Consistent overfilling to minimize risk is inefficient and sacrifices profitability, while aggressive filling practices result in significant risks of non-compliance with net contents regulations leading to potential penalties, loss of reputation, and … Continued

• Apr 16, 2020 · Grace Barton

  Nutrition-Focused Bakery Digitizes Bread Production Process

  A bread company which has made public statements of intent to increase nutrition levels has installed WinSPC. The company uses the system to see charts that uncover interrelation between process factors. A large bread company is using WinSPC real-time statistical process control to alert staff, in advance, of potential bread deficiencies. The bakery has made … Continued

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  Apr 16, 2020 · Grace Barton

  What’s a Certificate of Analysis and How Does It Help Me? | Quality Insight

  Certificates of Analysis help set the stage for success in manufacturing partnerships and reduce confusion. What is a Certificate of Analysis? A Certificate of Analysis (CoA) is a document typically prepared in regulated industries to inspire confidence in the buyer of a manufactured good. The information helps to convey how well the goods match the … Continued

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  Apr 16, 2020 · Grace Barton

  The Difference Between WinSPC Subgroup Size, Subrange Size, and Sample Size | WinSPC Tips & Tricks

  What is the difference between subgroup size, subrange size, and sample size in WinSPC? You will find the answer to that question in this article. Subgroup Size/Subrange Size The term subgroup size applies to a variable characteristic and controls how many samples (also called data values or individual readings) make up a single plotted point … Continued

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  Apr 16, 2020 · Grace Barton

  Ten Ways to Improve Your Measurement Systems Assessments | Ask the Expert

  Inadequate measurement systems may result in inappropriate signals or even worse, charts that fail to detect important process changes. Thus, it is incumbent upon us to ensure that measurement systems are adequate for their intended use. Why Measurement Systems Assessment (MSA)? Effective use of data to drive decision-making requires adequate measurement systems. For example, when … Continued

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  Apr 16, 2020 · Grace Barton

  Justifying the Cost of a Quality Improvement System | Quality Insight

  You’ve identified a new system that will improve quality. Now, you need to show management a compelling financial ROI and get buy-in. Here’s how to gain support for your proposal. You’ve identified a new system that will improve quality. Now, you need to show management a compelling financial ROI and convince your colleagues that the … Continued

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  Mar 6, 2020 · Grace Barton

  Five Lessons My Kids Have Taught Me About Quality Assurance | Quality Insight

  While I have been raising my kids and teaching them about life, they have been teaching me about how to be better at my job. Recently, I tried to explain to my children what I do for a living. “Just like Daddy helps you put together your blocks to build things, my job is to … Continued

• Nov 4, 2019 · Grace Barton

  Catch Weight and Random Weight Best Practices

  Struggling to find an easy way to capture catch weight items, invoice them correctly, while maintaining the proper inventory balances? While there are manual ways to manage this, the effort is high and prone to human error. Many of our catch weight or random weight clients have the following scenario: They create Sales Orders to … Continued

• Oct 8, 2019 · Grace Barton

  Help Your Clients Deliver on CX with Customized Packing Slips

  “Ohh, nice box… cool stickers.. fancy paper” You’re probably familiar with the oohs and aahs that come from unboxing a highly anticipated package at your home. When done right, the Customer Experience (CX) can feel like rainbows, sunshine and unicorns. As a 3PL, each of your clients require a different set of specifications to deliver their unique CX. It is essential that your WMS is flexible … Continued

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  Sep 19, 2019 · Grace Barton

  How should the subgroup size be selected for an X-bar chart? – Part 2

  The subgroup size formula and application are discussed in the conclusion of this two-part topic. Last month’s article focused on the conceptual application of appropriate subgroup sizes for X-bar charts. As we discussed, the purpose of control charts is to detect significant process changes when they occur. When the proper subgroup size is selected, X-bar … Continued

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  Sep 18, 2019 · Grace Barton

  How should the subgroup size be selected for an X-bar chart? – Part 1

  The key is to specify a subgroup size so that significant shifts are detected with high probability and that insignificant shifts are unlikely to produce a signal. Click here for Part II of this article The purpose of control charts is to detect significant process changes when they occur. In general, charts that display averages … Continued

• Aug 19, 2019 · Grace Barton

  The Surprising Source of Variation and How to Reduce It

  I recently wrote a series of posts on Measurement Studies for the PQ Systems blog: Assuring Measurement Accuracy with Gage R&RMSA – When Should a Measurement System Study be Completed?Setting Up a Measurement System The next step is analyzing the data. To illustrate, we will use an example R&R study conducted on the length of … Continued

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  Aug 5, 2019 · Grace Barton

  Leading Independent Bakery Uses WinSPC to Reduce Production of Underweight Snacks

  Timely feedback from a real-time SPC system is allowing one bread manufacturer to minimize production of non-complying snacks–a costly waste of raw ingredients, manpower, and machine energy. One of the nation’s largest independent bakeries integrated WinSPC real-time quality improvement software into its plant floor production operations. One of its goals is better compliance with the … Continued

• Jul 25, 2019 · Grace Barton

  How Barcode Technology Streamlines Warehouse Processes & Reduces Costs

  Have you been putting off using barcodes in your warehouse? While barcodes may seem like a heavy lift, they are not as difficult as one would think. You can start small, by focusing on one area of the warehouse, a customer or process, and measure effectiveness from there. Using barcode technology and a WMS can … Continued

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  Jul 18, 2019 · Grace Barton

  Zero Defect Mentality…or Continuous Improvement

  “Zero defect quality control”—what do you think of when you hear that phrase? Do you think of “No headaches today?” or “No one screaming at me today?” Or does is it call to mind Lean/Six Sigma? Preventing escapes? Maybe “improvement” in your manufacturing processes in general? Or maybe you think of it in a purely psychological/motivational … Continued

• Jul 1, 2019 · Grace Barton

  3PL Customer Profitability & Business Intelligence

  Business isn’t easy for a 3PL provider. Competition is high, profit margin is low and managing distribution, warehousing and fulfillment can be chaotic. 3PL’s must be smart about the type of customers they take on and how they run their overall operation since a 3PL’s customer base determines their profitability. In order to maintain a … Continued

• Jun 10, 2019 · Grace Barton

  Setting Up a Measurement Study

  Setting up a measurement study involves looking at the measurement system with respect to equipment, technique, environment, and the people involved. I’ll use an example to illustrate the approach. This example is a classic style of study and will examine a measurement study for assessing the system used to collect the pH of a product. For your … Continued

• May 14, 2019 · Grace Barton

  Data in Everyday Life: Are Honey Bees on the Decline?

  Honey bees, both wild and domestic, perform about 80 percent of all pollination worldwide. A single bee colony can pollinate up to 300 million flowers each day. While grains are primarily pollinated by the wind; fruits, nuts, and vegetables are pollinated by bees. Seventy out of the top 100 human food crops — which supply about 90 percent … Continued

• May 1, 2019 · Grace Barton

  Problem Solving 101: 6 Easy Steps

  “We’ve got a huge problem! We shipped over 300 orders yesterday, and none of our clients got their shipping notifications.” “Hurry up and re-boot the shipping work stations, they must be stuck!” “What, that didn’t work?! Hurry up and re-record the shipments so we can update our customers!” What seems to be a critical problem … Continued

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  Apr 26, 2019 · Grace Barton

  How do I choose the appropriate type of control chart?

  Proper control chart selection is critical to realizing the benefits of Statistical Process Control. Many factors should be considered when choosing a control chart for a given application. These include: WinSPC Means Lower Costs and Higher Quality WinSPC is software to help manufacturers create the highest quality product for the lowest possible cost. You can … Continued

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  Apr 26, 2019 · Grace Barton

  Why is Cpk data important, and how can my company benefit from tracking it?

  To answer that, we need to start off with what these capability indices represent. Capability indices characterize a process as compared to a specification. Now the important thing about these capability indices is that they are calculated on the individual measurements, and all of the indices require a process that is in control in order to mean … Continued

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  Apr 26, 2019 · Grace Barton

  What is the philosophy of Process Control (rather than Product Control)?

  Process Control is proactive rather than reactive. The key elements of process control are outlined in this article. What is Quality? Ask people involved with the design and manufacture of a product the following question: “What is Quality?” Many, if not most, of the responses will be some form of the following: “Quality is ensuring that our … Continued

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  Apr 26, 2019 · Grace Barton

  How do I know what process characteristics to control?

  While the construction of control charts is relatively straightforward, often a more difficult question is: how do I know what process characteristics to control in the first place? Clearly, controlling everything is not feasible or a smart use of limited resources. In an earlier Ask the Expert topic, we discussed the philosophy of process control as opposed to inspection … Continued

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  Apr 26, 2019 · Grace Barton

  SPC 101: Differentiating Between Cpk and Ppk Values

  Let’s take the confusion out of Cpk and Ppk. Just like control charts tell us about the stability of the process, capability analyses tell us about process capability. Capability Indices help us judge whether the process is capable of producing parts that are within specifications. Among the various capability indices, Cpk and Ppk are popular … Continued

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  Apr 26, 2019 · Grace Barton

  Misapplications of SPC…and the Consequences

  Many manufacturing leaders believe that their production personnel use SPC properly, but the evidence suggests otherwise. Statistical Process Control (SPC) is a method that enables manufacturers to prevent problems and to control their production processes. Unfortunately, it is rarely applied correctly, so manufacturers tend to be inefficient, reactive, and even unprofitable. Upon investigating most warranty, … Continued

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  Apr 26, 2019 · Grace Barton

  How to Reduce Warranty Costs Using Tools That Predict Product and Process Performance

  Looking just at the auto industry, GM has recalled roughly 3 million vehicles this year in the U.S. alone. In 2009, GM recalled roughly 2.2 million vehicles. The burden of warranty costs Recent news offers a reminder that huge opportunities still exist to reduce warranty costs that drain manufacturers’ bottom lines. Consider that during the … Continued

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  Apr 25, 2019 · Grace Barton

  Can control charts detect small process shifts?

  EWMA or Cusum charts are the best charts for detecting process shifts less than 1σ. Typical control charts, such as Xbar & R and X & Mr, indicate whether or not a process is statistically stable. They detect process changes greater than 1.5σ and, because of this, are not the best tool to detect small … Continued

• Apr 25, 2019 · Grace Barton

  VeraCore Announces Relocation of Office Headquarters

  VeraCore, a leading SaaS order management and warehouse management software provider, has announced the move of its corporate office to 76 Batterson Park Road in Farmington, Connecticut. The new office space will accommodate the company’s recent growth, with additional space to support future expansion. “We were bursting at the seams in our previous office space, … Continued

• Mar 13, 2019 · Grace Barton

  Infographic: 5 Fulfillment System Essentials

  Fulfillment has a lot of moving parts. Without a fulfillment system that can handle your needs, you’ll most likely get buried in mountains of work. On the other hand, implementing the right system can help you increase productivity, efficiency, and benefit your bottom line. So how do you know what fulfillment system is right for … Continued

• Mar 11, 2019 · Grace Barton

  Assuring Measurement Accuracy with Gage R&R

  Variation is inherent in any system, however excessive variation in the measurement process can provide misleading analysis. This excessive variation may affect your data and appear on control charts as variation in the process, potentially skewing the results and preventing accurate analysis. Most organizations have a system to calibrate measurement equipment routinely. Just because the … Continued

• Feb 27, 2019 · Grace Barton

  8 SaaS Fulfillment Software Onboarding Best Practices

  Just got new SaaS fulfillment software? Congratulations! It’s both exciting and nerve wracking to make a change to such an integral part of your business. Whether you’re a fulfillment house with 20 years of experience or a brand new startup, the onboarding process will be similar. During the initial phases of onboarding, you’ll have your … Continued

• Jan 23, 2019 · Grace Barton

  Fulfillment Billing Pro Tips to Avoid a Vicious Cycle

  When it comes to billing your customers every month, do you get lost in the black hole of combing through data? How did we get into this mess anyway? Oh yeah, we want to make money! Let’s start at the beginning. Landing a new fulfillment account is challenging and often ends up in negotiation and … Continued

• Jan 16, 2019 · Grace Barton

  Wanted: Actionable Information to Make Meaningful Improvements

  I’d like to talk about information. It’s everywhere. The facts you need to make better decisions. The data you need to bring organization to chaos. Sources of information. Uses of information. But, today I want to talk about the actionableinformation that manufacturers—and, in particular, the quality management folks who work for manufacturers—need to better control and improve their processes, … Continued

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  Jan 7, 2019 · Grace Barton

  10 Things to Help the Quality Team Improve Customer Complaints

  Customer complaints are a part of doing business—and one of your best sources of valuable information. When people who spend money with your organization are giving you feedback, be glad they care enough to say something. The customers who do not say anything and take their business elsewhere are important too, but a complaint is … Continued

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  Jan 7, 2019 · Grace Barton

  4 Steps to Convert from Paper-Based to Electronic Record Keeping

  In the age of electronic data, it’s shocking that 75 percent of manufacturers still rely on manual data collection. While it may seem cheaper to manually administer quality and safety programs on paper, it is not efficient and leaves much room for error. When data collection is not done properly, records can be lost or … Continued

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  Jan 2, 2019 · Grace Barton

  What is GMROII?

  ROI (Return on Investment) is a crucial measure when calculating distribution business investment. Yet, when it comes to inventory, a more specified ROI formula is necessary to ensure you’re actually making money. For instance, most distributors (and their salespeople) look at how much money they make on a sale. While this is important, there’s much … Continued

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  Dec 20, 2018 · Grace Barton

  Why Is Standardization Important? Part II – The Challenges of Standardization in Manufacturing

  As I mentioned in Part I of this blog two-parter, standardization in manufacturing is a dirty word to some folks. It seems “unattainable,” and therefore not worth discussing. But I’m here to say that standardization is attainable, so once again, let’s discuss. For Part II, I’m going to dive into the challenges presented by standardization…and how we … Continued

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  Dec 12, 2018 · Grace Barton

  Why Is Standardization Important? The Benefits of Standardization in Manufacturing

  Standardization. Is that a dirty word to you? Is that something you consider “unattainable,” and therefore not worth discussing? Is standardization the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow? What is it? Why is standardization important for manufacturers? And what are the benefits of standardization for your organization? Let’s discuss. In general, the … Continued

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  Dec 10, 2018 · Grace Barton

  Prevent an Escape with Quality Control in Manufacturing

  When someone says the word “escape,” what comes to mind for you? Is it a last-minute meeting that suddenly “comes up,” allowing you to avoid a visit to your least-favorite relative? Or maybe the opposite; a family emergency allows you to escape a meeting you were just dreading? Is it the latest fad, the Escape … Continued

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  Oct 18, 2018 · Grace Barton

  3 Great Things About SPC Dashboards in Your Quality Control Software

  Product quality reports are dead; long live the SPC dashboard! Delivering information to the user is key to your manufacturing quality control efforts. I think there are three very important aspects to dashboards that make them invaluable to manufacturers: a visually compelling delivery system, reporting made easy (with the help of a centralized data repository), … Continued

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  Oct 8, 2018 · Grace Barton

  How Can an OC Curve Be Used to Manage Risk of Undetected Special Causes?

  An OC curve allows practitioners to determine a sample size that will result in the detection of those process changes that are of practical significance while minimizing the occurrence of false alarm. When applied properly, SPC provides manufacturers a proven method to increase profitability and achieve a deeper understanding of their processes. Additionally, SPC can … Continued

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  Oct 8, 2018 · Grace Barton

  Where do the typical control chart signals come from?

  The purpose of control charting is to regularly monitor a process so that significant process changes may be detected. These process changes may be a shift in the process average (Xbar) or a change in the amount of variation in the process. The variation observed when the process is operating normally is called common cause variation. When … Continued

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  Oct 8, 2018 · Grace Barton

  Pre-Control: No Substitute for Statistical Process Control

  Unfortunately, applying “simple” tools at the expense of tools with considerably more value (and really not much more complexity or difficulty) doesn’t cut it. Statistical Process Control (SPC) charts allow timely detection of assignable causes of process changes (e.g. shifts, trends, variation). This allows root causes to be determined and allows the production team to … Continued

• Oct 5, 2018 · Grace Barton

  Stanley Black & Decker Produces Saw Blades a Cut Above Thanks to WinSPC

  Stanley Black & Decker, the world’s #1 producer of power tools reported that it used WinSPC to reduce its RPM defect metrics and rework by 20%, attaining its ROI in 6 months. Background Stanley Black & Decker [NYSE: SWK] is the world’s #1 producer of power tools and accessories with well over $10 billion in … Continued

• Sep 13, 2018 · Grace Barton

  What do Costco, Walmart, Trader Joe’s and McDonald’s require of their food suppliers?

  It might be surprising to find out that corporate food safety standards often far surpass what is required by the government (see more about the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act below). With an increasing public awareness of foodborne illnesses and product recalls, supermarkets and restaurants are being driven to beef up their food safety requirements for … Continued

• Sep 6, 2018 · Grace Barton

  Best Practices – Labeling Goods Received

  Labeling goods received is an integral starting point for lot tracing capability. A question that often arises is, “Should I scan my vendor labels?” The correct answer varies based on a few key considerations. 1. Are your vendor labels usable? Do your vendors label product with GS1 labels? Do you receive catch (random) weight products? If … Continued

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  Jul 24, 2018 · Grace Barton

  Exploring Acceptance Sampling in InfinityQS’ SPC Solution, ProFicient

  With this blog, I hope to help shed some much-needed light on Acceptance Sampling, an important part of many manufacturing quality endeavors. Before we get started, I would just like to say that Acceptance Sampling, combined with statistical process control (SPC) techniques, can provide a serious boost to your organization’s process improvement program. A Little … Continued

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  Jul 2, 2018 · Grace Barton

  3 Big Reasons Why You Need a Cloud-Based Quality Management System

  There are many reasons why you need a cloud-based quality management solution. If your quality management solution is currently not on the cloud, please be sure to read on. We’d like to discuss some reasons to move your quality management solution to the cloud. It’s often discussed, but the lists are always a little different. We decided to pare … Continued

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  Jun 27, 2018 · Grace Barton

  What is an ERP system?

  Can you answer this question: “What is an ERP system?” Unless you’re already well into the stages of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) research and evaluation, this question may prove to be a challenge. While it’s well established that integrating ERP software can be transformative for a distributor or wholesaler, a fundamental understanding of ERP is essential … Continued

• Apr 30, 2018 · Grace Barton

  Getting a Return from Your Quality System

  Companies don’t know what they don’t know. If you really want insights into the operational aspects of a company, you’ve got to collect data and analyze it. That’s when hidden information contained within data will be revealed. Measuring the right things and periodically analyzing the data with the right tools—these are the keys to generating a … Continued

• Apr 2, 2018 · Grace Barton

  Catch Weight in the Food World

  Where does the term “catch weight” come from? Catch weight is a commonly used term in the sports of boxing and wrestling. In both sports, it is used to describe the weight of a contender right before a fight. Catch weight was instituted because athletes who had qualified for a certain weight class would bulk … Continued

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  Mar 1, 2018 · Grace Barton

  The Top 10 SPC Mistakes: Part 1

  Me: As you think about your organization’s manufacturing quality efforts—what you’ve overcome and what you hope to accomplish in the future—there is something you need to know. You: What? Who? Me? Me: Yes, you. No matter how long you’ve been playing this game, and I know many of you have been playing it as long as I have, … Continued

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  Feb 15, 2018 · Grace Barton

  Fully-Automated Data Collection is a Snap: Data Collection Series #3

  In the first two blogs of our Data Collection series, we looked at manual and semi-automated data collection. Specifically, we discussed how InfinityQS® Enact®—a comprehensive quality intelligence solution—provides a data collection software solution that makes both manual and semi-automated data collection easy and helps users focus on what’s important for them to do their jobs. For this, our third … Continued

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  Feb 1, 2018 · Grace Barton

  Manual Data Collection Made Easy: Data Collection Series #1

  Data collection is an essential part of your daily routine in manufacturing. It’s the engine that drives your quality improvement efforts, whether they are continuous improvement, Six Sigma, Lean, statistical process control (SPC), or anything else. From the data you collect you can discover things about your operation that you might never know from walking … Continued

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  Jan 30, 2018 · Grace Barton

  Operators Play a Critical Role in Your Quality Initiatives: Quality Pro Series #3

  Welcome back to the blog series written specifically for you, the quality professional. In the first blog of this series, we talked about how you can apply your statistical process control (SPC) analysis holistically across your plant and your enterprise to truly enjoy the great benefits that SPC can provide. And in blog two we discussed data collection–specifically, how shop floor … Continued

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  Jan 13, 2018 · Grace Barton

  The Modern Assembly Line and Quality Management: 100 Years Later

  It has been just over 100 years since Henry Ford introduced the modern assembly line and forever changed the course of manufacturing. The combination of interchangeable parts and time-efficient processes created a system that eventually sold 15 million Model T Fords and made the automobile one of the centerpieces of American culture. Over a century … Continued

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  Jan 4, 2018 · Grace Barton

  Use Acceptance Sampling to Improve Manufacturing Process and Product Quality

  How do manufacturing organizations confirm that supplier products comply with critical quality standards? For the most part, manufacturers rely on inspectors to check incoming materials. Those results are compared with the company’s own quality standards and supplier-generated documents such as Certificates of Analysis (COAs). Based on results, inspectors either accept or reject a shipment. However, most … Continued

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  Jan 2, 2018 · Grace Barton

  The Benefits of Statistical Process Control: Part One

  No matter what line of business you are in—from retail to hospitality to technology to finance—it’s imperative to prevent business problems before they occur. That can mean something as simple as avoiding the loss of one of your customers to poor customer service or as critical as preventing a botched manufacturing job on one of … Continued

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  Sep 5, 2017 · Grace Barton

  Stay on Track with SPC Process Alerts and Notifications: Mastering Quality #2

  What’s the purpose of real-time Statistical Process Control (SPC)? The quick answer is that it’s used to monitor production processes and leverage that important information to improve product quality. And how exactly does SPC help with that? By helping you to regularly collect, monitor, and analyze production data. An important part of that analysis is providing process alerts … Continued

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  Aug 30, 2017 · Grace Barton

  Industrial Internet of Things

  The Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) reminds me of a story called “The Puppy Who Lost His Way”. The world was changing, and the puppy was getting… bigger. So, you see, the puppy was like IIoT in that they were both lost in the woods. Except the puppy was a dog, but the Industrial Internet … Continued

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  Aug 30, 2017 · Grace Barton

  Driving Optimal Performance With Traceability

  When considering tracking and traceability, we tend to think of events which have already occurred, in the past. In nature, we track where animals have been, the paths they have followed, and what they have eaten by the evidence left behind such as paw prints and carcasses. In law enforcement, we track down criminals based … Continued

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  Aug 30, 2017 · Grace Barton

  Optimize SPC Data Collection: Mastering Quality #1

  Want to improve something? You’ve got to measure it first. If you’re motivated to improve product quality and reduce manufacturing costs, the first step in establishing a successful Statistical Process Control(SPC) solution is getting some data. And if you want to make good  decisions from that data, you better make sure you measure the right things. But … Continued

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  Aug 8, 2017 · Grace Barton

  5 Risks of home grown solutions

  Manufacturing systems are complex and unique. Regardless of how well they are programmed, most home grown solutions have their own little quirks that sometimes require a few tweaks to help them run more smoothly. These home grown solutions might seem like they do the trick — after all the challenge has been effectively addressed — … Continued

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  Jul 21, 2017 · Grace Barton

  Box-and-Whisker Charts Help Improve Manufacturing Process Control

  Modern manufacturers produce more products across more lines (or more sites) than ever before. For quality professionals, it can be a tremendous challenge to eliminate process variation so that they are consistently producing the best quality and minimizing waste. One well-known Statistical Process Control (SPC) tool that all quality pros can leverage for this purpose … Continued

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  Jul 10, 2017 · Grace Barton

  Not enforcing your processes? That’s risky.

  Risk management in the manufacturing sector is vital to the success of your business — as well as its reputation. A crucial element in managing these risks is the enforcement of specific process parameters. Some of the most common — and potentially harmful — risks include the following: 1. Regulatory Non-Compliance Nearly every manufacturing sector … Continued

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  Jul 10, 2017 · Grace Barton

  Bridging the Skill Gap: 3 Ways an MES Can Help

  Manufacturers today are facing an impending crisis as skilled laborers near retirement age. Although many corporations have invested in apprenticeships or collegiate programs to train replacements for those employees, due to lengthy speed to proficiency curves and a lack of process documentation, it means that valuable skills could still leave with them. Factory-wide, and even … Continued

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  Jul 10, 2017 · Grace Barton

  3 reasons why manufacturers must invest in a Manufacturing Execution System

  The modern manufacturer is judged by its ability to operate efficiently while reducing costs and maintaining quality. Properly applied, a Manufacturing Execution System (MES) like VIA’s Vital Plant allows a manufacturer to analyze data in greater detail to improve processes. Here are just a few of the reasons to invest in a MES. Process Consistency … Continued

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  Jul 10, 2017 · Grace Barton

  Top 5 ROI opportunities addressed by an investment in MES

  As with any new technology, the initial investment in a Manufacturing Execution System (MES) seems steep until you understand just how much value you get back almost immediately. Here are the top 5 ROI opportunities you can receive from an investment in MES. Real Time Reporting If your company has an eye to continuous improvement, … Continued

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  Jul 10, 2017 · Grace Barton

  The Top 10 Requirements Of Every Great Traceability System

  Traceability is imperative due to market conditions, regulatory requirements, and competitive pressures. The risks of operating without traceability are high, including market share erosion, competitive disadvantage, unchecked liability, brand damage, and lost profits. Whether you have tried to deploy a traceability system and have failed (or have only moderately succeeded), or you are just starting … Continued

• Jun 13, 2017 · Grace Barton

  The perennial question: which chart is best?

  The perennial answer is, of course, “It depends.” For decades of users, Shewhart control charts have provided information about process stability. Like all Shewhart charts, data is plotted over time and in order from oldest to most current. The traditional control chart, an old standby, is not the only possibility when it comes to garnering … Continued

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  Feb 21, 2017 · Grace Barton

  Understanding Your Software Deployment Options

  Successful ERP implementation depends on a cascading series of decisions shaped by the budget, needed features, user requirements, customizations, and more. Once an ERP vendor is selected, one of the first options that must be researched, reviewed, and resolved is the choice of deployment. Why is Software Deployment important? Software deployment includes all the activities … Continued

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  Jan 25, 2017 · Grace Barton

  The 4 Main Benefits of a Dedicated Project Manager

  All of your careful research and decision-making has culminated in the start of the ERP installation process. This is the moment where the true vendor-customer partnership is born and tested. It’s not an exaggeration to say that successful ERP implementation begins with effective project management. What are the 4 main benefits of a dedicated Project … Continued

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  Nov 29, 2016 · Grace Barton

  The Importance of Scalability

  When companies build an ERP software feature “wish list,” one of the most necessary attributes is often overlooked. If you’re currently evaluating ERP software, take a moment to ask yourself… “How important is software scalability to me?” This question can be answered in one of three ways: Even if you did not automatically reply with … Continued

• Nov 7, 2016 · Grace Barton

  Manufacturing Intelligence

  Manufacturing Intelligence Delivers 100% Visibility to Improve Quality Across Operations Manufacturing Intelligence Manufacturing Intelligence (MI) unifies real-time manufacturing product and process data from multiple sources into one repository: the quality hub. From this central data store, reporting, analysis, visual summaries, and data synchronization enables a quality—and business—transformation across the enterprise. Intelligence management software empowers enterprises to take full … Continued

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  Oct 26, 2016 · Grace Barton

  3 C’s of ERP Software Evaluation

  Companies make the decision to implement ERP software because they understand that their investment will drive streamlined operations, competitive advantage, and increased productivity. Because of this, selecting the correct software is critical to a company’s success. You can begin the process by evaluating your options based on the 3 C’s… Is it Complete? In the most … Continued

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  Jul 28, 2016 · Grace Barton

  What is EDI?

  EDI is driving significant improvements throughout business.To understand the benefits of EDI, one must first understand what it is. “What is EDI?” To save you the time of scouring Google to read through a bland dictionary description, we have provided the answer right here: Sounds simple enough, but what does it mean for your business? … Continued

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  Jul 14, 2016 · Grace Barton

  Negative Inventory is Not a Positive

  “You can’t sell something you don’t have.” This statement should be the first commandment of inventory management. However, some warehouses don’t always abide by this statement, and a few even consider running negative quantities as a normal part of inventory processes. How many of these phrases have you heard before? While these statements demonstrate the … Continued

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  Jun 16, 2016 · Grace Barton

  Family Bakery Raises Performance

  A family run bread manufacturer is leveraging WinSPC real-time alerts to get a handle on overfill and underfill waste. The large scale bakery was started more than sixty years ago by immigrants with a commitment to delivering their signature family baked goods. Through years of hard work they were able to develop a significant West … Continued

• Jun 10, 2016 · Grace Barton

  International Baker Pursues Perfection and Profits with WinSPC

  One international baker chose WinSPC real-time statistical process control software to deliver real-time feedback to line operators at the point of production. The Quality team at the well-established bakery had long recognized that yeast, flour and chill-water temperatures during the earliest sponge and dough mixing were key factors impacting final product quality. The team likewise … Continued

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  Nov 4, 2015 · Grace Barton

  A reason to celebrate: November as World Quality Month

  From sharing quality stories and anticipating the nature of quality efforts in the future, to ordering celebration kits with magnets and bumper stickers, the annual celebration of World Quality Month in November offers a variety of ways to recognize important quality contributors and advancements throughout the world. The American Society for Quality (ASQ) sponsors the event as … Continued

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  Aug 19, 2014 · Grace Barton

  The differences between control limits and spec (specification) limits

  The differences between control limits and spec (specification) limits may seem irrelevant or nonexistent to those outside process production, but the gulf between them is in fact huge. In fact, they are two entirely different animals. Spec limits may be designated by a customer, engineer, etc., indicating the allowable spread of a given measurement. Control … Continued

• Jul 24, 2013 · Grace Barton

  How Walmart Ensures Product Quality Through Traceability

  Recently, product recalls have been dominating the news. From cars that don’t brake properly to pills that don’t properly release time-sensitive medication to child safety seats that detach while the vehicle is moving, more and more companies are experiencing the pitfalls associated with a lack of enterprise quality management. Walmart, however, is one company that has … Continued

• Jul 22, 2013 · Grace Barton

  Why Statistical Process Control is Necessary for Your Organization

  Imagine this scenario: a patient undergoes hip surgery, only to be told that the replacement product that was installed inside of his or her body must be recalled due to a defective feature. Months, or perhaps years, of grueling rehab are compromised due of a lack of statistical data that could have prevented such instances … Continued

• Jul 16, 2013 · Grace Barton

  What is Manufacturing Quality Control?

  Think of the amount of work required to transform a car from a random collection of assorted parts into the assembled entity that it is when it reaches the end of a production line. Cars don’t just spontaneously appear. There are a multitude of pieces that have to be put together in order to create … Continued

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  May 20, 2013 · Grace Barton

  The Top 3 Benefits of Statistical Process Control Software for Quality Control

  The next time you are walking through a store, take a moment to stop and look around. It can be any store, really, as long as there are products that line the shelves or showroom. Think about the level of care that went into inspecting each product that is for sale. Companies ensure the quality … Continued

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  Feb 20, 2012 · Grace Barton

  Organizing Charts in Engineering Mode: The Matrix Style

  You have four charts and only one computer screen. How do you consolidate to a multiple chart view to compare data without having to thumb through individual charts? You might be tempted to resort to flashy, “Matrix”-style moves, but fear not, there is a simpler approach that is just as effective and doesn’t require stretching. … Continued

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  Aug 1, 2011 · Grace Barton

  Modifying Control Chart Sensitivity

  Control limits are typically set at +/- 3 standard deviations for the statistic being plotted. That‘s how traditional Shewhart control charts have been constructed for nearly a century. The result is a statistical tool that is simple and elegant, yet robust enough to tackle all manner of different situations and distributions of data. Control limits and their widths … Continued

• Aug 4, 2010 · Grace Barton

  Gage R&R study questions answered

  We frequently entertain questions about MSA and specifically, gage R&R. Below are two questions we recently received: Question #1: “What are the requirements for the parts chosen in a study? Do the parts have to have the same specification?” Answer: The parts selected should be representative of the process variation that is producing them. This implies that … Continued

• Dec 3, 2009 · Grace Barton

  The difference between run charts and control charts

  A customer recently asked one of our support representatives the following questions: What is the difference between a run chart and a control chart? And when should I use one vs. the other? These are great questions because they allow us to highlight some of the benefits of control charts. When you create any chart, … Continued

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  Feb 3, 2009 · Grace Barton

  Stats tip: Within and between subgroup variation clarified

  I received a question after my last blog post asking me to clarify the concept of within and between subgroup variation which is used in calculating Cpk, Cp, Cr, Ppk, Pp, Pr and other statistics. Here is an example I used to help explain the differences. Let’s say that every day I run about 30 … Continued

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  Jan 29, 2009 · Grace Barton

  Stats tip: Help! My Ppk is larger than my Cpk

  I often get asked SPC application questions such as: Can Ppk be larger than Cpk? Can Cpk be larger than Cp? Do you recommend CPM, Cpk, Ppk or something else? I prefer to answer these process capability questions with simple one-word answers, but that doesn’t usually satisfy the quality zealot’s curiosity. So here’s the long … Continued

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  Feb 26, 2008 · Grace Barton

  3 “Nevers” of Control Limits, Part 2

  Never allow control limits to be automatically recalculated I was hiking in the Smoky Mountains National Park with a colleague, and we happened upon fellow hikers. Being the friendly sorts that we are, we stopped to take a breather and chat with our new female friends. We enjoyed resting and speaking with the women until … Continued

• Feb 24, 2006 · Grace Barton

  Techniques for the Evaluation, Reduction, and Elimination of Excess Material Flow within Industrial Facilities

  The flow of material represents 2, and practically even 3, of the 7 wastes as defined by LEAN practitioners. As such, the methods for evaluating, reducing, and eliminating excess material handling are fundamental to any LEAN improvement initiative. The 7 wastes defined by LEAN practitioners include the following: Material handling involves the Movement (relocation) of … Continued